I have been exploring Photoshop Actions recently and, because I share what I am doing to build my business, I thought that I would share this with you.

Part of the reason for playing around with Photoshop is that I am creating a product called Easy Web Page Graphics sharing what I know about how to create graphics.

I am mostly self-taught.  I started out with Macromedia Fireworks which was bundled with an old purchase of Dreamweaver.  I find that Fireworks is now relatively simple to use and I use it a lot for simple graphic creation for that reason.

However, some time ago I managed to get a free copy of Photoshop CS5 (which I have since upgraded to CS6).  I was buying products that had Photoshop Actions as part of the purchase and was curious about how to use these.  With a little bit of experimentation, I soon found that Photoshop Actions make graphic creation very easy.

Recently I discovered a site called GrahicRiver.net that sells loads of Photoshop Actions for very cheap prices and I have been buying a few of these to take my graphical skills to the next level.

Recently Brad Gosse was offering some free stock ‘spicy’ photos.  Whilst these do not really have a place in my internet marketing business, I thought that I would share some of the stunning results.  

I think that design excellence when presenting your website, content and products is extremely important and I am hoping to take my graphical skills and turn my content into works of art.  This combined with green screen video where I can use images as video backgrounds will make for some interesting results.  I can also use nice images for squeeze page backgrounds, headers, banners etc.

These sketches have been created from ordinary photographs – some are cropped and others have been touched up.  I just wanted to show you what is possible with Photoshop Actions.

As you can see I love creating digital art.  For many years, I think I have buried my creativity because my employment (banking and consulting) has really been more about logic than art.

I remember writing an essay at school about an apocalyptic, post-war scenario.  The creative process was extremely hard work and I think I frightened myself by my creative potential.  I gained outstanding top marks for the work but I never again exercised my creativity to the same extent.

Only during the last year or two, with my websites and now with my graphic creation, I am I now re-finding the creativity that at one time scared me into almost a lifetime of burying the creative muse.  I find that this is the kind of work I would like to do but I wonder if I can make a living from it?

Anyway, I love exploring Photoshop Actions – please comment below if you have any ideas on how I can make money from this!

Update:

I am finding the images I have created with Photoshop Actions super-useful for my web design business.  When I have a free few moments, i create more designs that I hold in readiness for use on future projects to set my work apart.

They are also useful for eCovers, banners, headers and general website images or even to drive traffic from Pinterest or Facebook.  If you want to know how  I am doing it, then you may want to pick up a copy of Easy Web Page Grapghics.  This product could set your design business alight with the possibilities and tools I reveal.