Recording photoshop actions

[peter_4059]

Has anyone had any luck recording photoshop actions? I thought I'd create an action to remove image noise/grain based on R Scott Ireland's grain reduction technique however when it comes to the step where a copy of the desaturated image is to be pasted into the layer masks it pastes into a new layer instead in the recorded action despite it doing the correct thing to the image when making the recording.

Peter

[mrsnipey]

Peter, I have heaps of recorded actions and none of mine do anything in a new layer unless I tell it to.
Is there a 'Create layer' command in your list of recorded actions?
If so, you could just delete that step.

[peter_4059]

Thanks for the response - can't see that command - here's a screen dump of the action steps. I think it is the "select mask channel without making visible" step that is wrong as it then goes on to paste the mask as a new layer in the next step. Is there a different way to select or can these action steps be edited?

[mrsnipey]

Hi Peter,
Once you have created your actions, you can select a step in the action and delete it. You can also move steps around by dragging them up and down in the sequence.
If you're not happy with a particular step, select it, press the record button and do the step again. Then press stop.
You'll end up with duplicate steps but you can delete the steps you're not happy with.

I usually double click on each step, one at a time to make sure they do the right thing. If they don't I just re-record that step.

To answer your question: I don't seem to be able to edit the steps once they have been created but as I mentioned, they can be re-created individually.

Try stepping through the steps in your action, but skip the step you think is wrong and see what happens.

D

[peter_4059]

I think the problem is that the step that is mis-behaving is needed but wrong in the way PS has recorded it so if I delete it there will be something missing but what seems to get recorded is not what I need??

[mrsnipey]

Mmm, interesting one. I'm not sure if I know how to help you with that one. You can export the action and send it to me if you want me to look at it, although I'll understand if you want to keep your actions secret. I know a few people who sell their photoshop actions and they spend a long time perfecting them.
Anyway, the offer is there.
D.

[peter_4059]

It took me 20 minutes to workout how to export the action! I've realised I can't attach it in this message so will email it to you....can't add attachment to email - doh@!

Thanks for your help.

Peter

[mrsnipey]

No problem.