GUEST BLOGGER DENESIA HERE!
First, I would like to thank SuChin, MTV Engine Room, and the MTV Engine Room bloggers for this opportunity! I will do my best to keep you all entertained and I hope to get a few of you hooked on Photoshop along the way.
Up until two years ago, I was doing all my effects myself or using plug-ins in Photoshop. Then one day, I thought there has to be an easier way to add some pizzazz to my graphic artworks. That’s when I stumbled upon Photoshop brushes, actions, styles, gradients, and etc. My graphic design professors never told me about that stuff. I was so clueless. lol
Now, I feel like a wizard with magical powers, my powers being my Photoshop goodies. I can bring a blank Photoshop page to life by using my art skills and magical powers. All this week, I am going to be talking about these magical powers, oh I mean Photoshop goodies and the websites I like to visit. I know there’s a ton of lists online showing you where to get Photoshop stuff, but I think my Photoshop goody lists will introduce you to a few websites you have never been to before.
I was thinking long and hard about what Photoshop goody to talk about first, and then I started thinking about movies and how people at movie theaters sit on the edge of their seats waiting for the action scenes, so why don’t I start with Photoshop actions. I know we all know what they are, but let me explain what they are to those that don’t know. A Photoshop action is a recorded series of tasks in Photoshop. I know, you’re scratching your head and still wondering what the heck it is. Let’s say you drew a yellow sun and added an orange glow effect to it and wanted it to look like it was so hot that it was melting stuff so you added a slight blur to it and then closed the file. Hours later you open a blank page in Photoshop and decide to recreate the sun, but you can’t remember how you made it.
That’s when a Photoshop action comes in handy. If you would have recorded every move you made in the other file, then all you would have to do this time was play the action and everything would be done for you. Photoshop actions aren’t only good for helping you keep track of what you did to an object, they’re also good for producing effects that would normally be too time consuming or difficult to do. Actions make your Photoshopping life a little easier. Below, I have listed the action websites I go to frequently. Being an artist/graphic designer with not a lot of money, I usually go to the action websites that offer free actions, so all the websites below offer freebies. Some of them offer paid actions too. All I know is that no matter what they cost, they are darn good to me and I hope you will feel the same way about them too.
Check out what else these websites have to offer, such as online stores, portfolios, bios, graphic and web design services, tutorials, blogs, and etc. If you don’t come away with a Photoshop action from these websites, then at least you’ll come away with a plethora of knowledge. I know you’re getting tired of this history lesson, so let’s get this party started!
So there you have it, all the Photoshop action websites that I love to visit. These actions should provide you with hours of Photoshop fun. If you have any Photoshop actions, other Photoshop goodies, or any digital art tools that you love to use and want to tell us all about, then feel free to talk about it, you’re amongst friends. lol Tomorrow, I am going to get down to the nitty gritty on Photoshop brushes. So be ready for that. I must go now and be one with Photoshop. I’ll see you beautiful digital artists tomorrow!
The Photoshop addict is outta here! Peace! 
- Denesia
October 17th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
Gracias and Congratulations Denesia!!! I still have a lot to learn… Nice links…
October 17th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
these are cool Denesia. Good post.
October 18th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Hey Dee! cool blog entry! Hope there’s more to come!
good on ya’!
October 18th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Awesome! And I have never heard of this before!
October 18th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
Yeah, good post! I know this tool in photoshop, but I didn’t know that there are so many websites that offer actions for photoshop. Nice! Thank you!
October 18th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
Wonderful Dee, just wonderful
I’ve always enjoyed the selections you’ve shared with me and I’ve learned that if I’m in need of Photoshop goodies, I turn to you and the links you’ve pointed me too. You are the action and brush goddess and you’re where you’re supposed to be! I look forward to going through these and any others. I look forward to more brushes! I’m addicted to them 
Thanks Dee!
October 19th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
I hardly ever take advantage of Photoshop actions, so this post is definitely a cool intro.
There is a really cool “lomography” action that I have used, that basically makes your photos look like they were taken with a lomography camera, blur, shadows, light leaks, etc. Really fun to play with!
October 19th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
Rey, gracias y de nada! You get me pumped up. I can feel the energy emitting from your posts. lol I hope you have fun with the links.
Thanks Kelse! I was nervous about this first post. I was scared of sounding too graphic design 101-ish, but I wanted people that come here and like to look at our work and is curious about how this is done or how that is done and want to try to their hand at it a chance to learn more about it and check out some goodies while they’re at it. I hope I gave the hardcore Photoshoppers some good goodies too.
Thanks Mui! There’s definitely going to be more to come. I can’t wait for you to see them!
Cool Alyissnesss! I am happy that I was able to introduce you to Photoshop actions. They’re cool to use. I used one from Finesse FX called Tack It! for a MySpace birthday card or should I say tacked birthday note for a friend. lol Here’s the link to it: http://www.divshare.com/download/5623682-31b I have noticed that you use a lot of textures and backgrounds in your work. I think you’re going to like my blog about textures and patterns. I don’t want to give too much away, but one of the websites I have on my texture list called Brush Fanatastic has some great textures. I can see you doing something cool on top of one of those textures.
You’re welcome Manon! Yeah, there are a lot of Photoshop action websites out there. You just have to do one long search through Google to find them. I am a Google searching fool now. lol
Thanks and you’re welcome Tony! I feel like I should curtsy now. lol I am addicted to emailing or IMing you links to Photoshop goodies. I look at them and I’m like oooh Tony would like this. lol My next blog is going to be all about brushes. You’re going to be in brush happy land. lol I have some brushes on there that I have never showed you. So get ready for a brush festivus! lol
October 19th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
I don’t know why my spacing isn’t showing in my comment above. Oh well! lol
Alyissnesss, I thought divShare showed pngs online, but I guess not. I am going to upload that pic again as a jpg this time so you can see it online instead of having to download it to see it.
Thanks Adam! I am happy you thought it was a cool intro. I was scared that I was going to get a few actions suck, talk about something else comments. I don’t know what I was thinking. lol You know how in some cartoons, there’s a cartoon character with a devil and an angel on their shoulder telling them to do this or that. Well, I think there was a little devil on my shoulder trying to infuse that crazy stuff into my head. I ended up listening to the little angel on my shoulder and my blog turned out great and I am getting great comments from you and everybody. The lomography action you’re talking about sounds cool. I love when stuff have leaks, scratches, stains, or burn marks. It makes the image really look authentic.
Everybody, I was going to talk about shapes and vectors in my last blog. Would you all like me to talk about free Photoshop plug-ins too?
October 19th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
Alyissnesss, here’s the new link to that pic. It’s showing this time.
http://www.divshare.com/download/5625254-e04
October 20th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
Wow, Wow..! You guys are freaks..! hahahhaha…. Denesia..(?) you know I am so clueless about all this subjects… I am like a person who dont knows how to read.. with a book with no pictures on it,,, in a library shop…..
Pretty Please….! lol
Any way, I do enjoy all your passion… Maybe one day I’ll understand a bit….!
Well.. Joe the plumber to the pipes, everyone else to their thing..! ;o
Congrats to U and all the Pros here…!
Please,,,,…Lets talk about something easier like… death penalty…!
A Huge Hug to all of U.!
October 20th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
Hug right back to you Doris! Thanks! You’re not going like what I am getting ready to say. My next four blogs are going to be about Photoshop too. I know, I know. I should’ve taken a break on the Photoshop. I didn’t know what else to talk about. I know you all wouldn’t want to hear about my daily routine, it is kind of boring. lol
October 20th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
lol
October 20th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
Great job Denesia! I really like your website and your portfolio. You have a great style and I’m glad you were able to share the various info/insights on Photoshop!
-Xavier
October 20th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
Thanks Xavier! I like your website and portfolio too! Your illustrations are out of this world! What medium did you use in the illustration of the magical wind and water goddess? I am thinking it’s 1/3 charcoal, 1/3 ink, and 1/3 Photoshop. I love looking at mixed media artworks.