There are 35 different actions provided that helps you design different size and styles of greeting cards. Some of these actions MUST be run against a flat image file, while others must be run against greeting card files that have been created by another action.
NOTE: If you are not used to running actions from Photoshop you need to be sure that you do not accidentally change any of the modal controls. These controls are indicated by the red dialog box icon to the left of the action name. Modal controls are not visible in Button Mode.
Standard Greeting Card Actions
The first group of actions, called the standard actions, creates greeting cards in a variety of sizes and orientations. These are divided into landscape and portrait orientation designs – Color coded blue and green when the Actions Palette is in Button Mode.
The naming convention used includes a letter to indicate orientation.
- L = Landscape
- P = Portrait
and the dimensions of the greeting card stock. This is the unfolded stock size and not the final folded card size.
Multi-Image Actions
When running these actions you must open the appropriate number of images before you run the actions. To ensure these actions run properly follow these steps;
Close all images that are currently open for edit.
In the Bridge, select the appropriate number of images that you want to include in your card.
Open those in the order in which you want them included on the card. In the card on the right, the first image opened is the left image, then the middle and finally the right side image.
In Photoshop you can see the order in the image tabs on the top of the desktop are. Also, in Photoshop you can now rearrange this order by simply dragging the tabs.
Make sure the last image opened is the currently active image and then run the action.
The multi-image actions create cards that already have appropriate borders, drop shadows etc. You are not able to run the Border Actions on multi image cards.
Border Actions
This set of six actions adds a distinctive border or edge to your greeting card. They MUST be run on a greeting card file that was created by one of the standard actions above but they are not compatible with the multi-window cards.
- Border 5 – Adds a 5 pixel black border around the image
- Border 15 – Adds a 15 pixel black border around the image
- Border 25 – Adds a 25 pixel black border around the image
- Border Torn Edges – Gives the edge of the image a torn look
- Border Over Spray – Gives the edge a spray painted look
- Border Faded Splatter – Gives the edge a rougher splatter look)
- Border Splatter – Gives the edge a rougher splatter look
- Border Brush – Gives the edge of the image a brushed look
- Border Soft Edge – Softens the edge of the image
- Drop Shadow – Adds a drop shadow to your image. (This is not the same as simply adding a Drop Shadow layer style. This action resizes the image to ensure the drop shadow does not encroach on the unprintable margin.
Specialty Actions
This last set of actions gives your greeting cards some stunning visual effects.
- Window Portrait – Run this action on a greeting card that was created with any of the portrait orientation standard actions.
- Window Landscape – Run this action on a greeting card that was created with any of the landscape orientation standard actions.
- Album Page – This action may be run against a greeting card file that was created with any of the standard greeting card actions.
- Specialty 7x10 Reflection P – This is a very special action that must be run on a flat image file. It will create a 5” x 7” vertical greeting card using your image and will create what looks like a mirror reflection of your image.
- Specialty 7x10 Reflection L – This is a very special action that must be run on a flat image file. It will create a 5” x 7” horizontal greeting card using your image and will create what looks like a mirror reflection of your image.