The question has come up more times than I can count, “What’s the difference between a preset and an action?” Today we will help you figure it all out! The basic difference is which program you are looking to enhance. Actions will work in Photoshop and Photoshop Elements where as Presets will work in ACR programs and Lightroom.

I for one am just as much a Lightroom addict as I am a Photoshop junkie! I just love its workflow and process and it truly cuts down on my PC time by HOURS! Presets are instant! Not that PS actions take so long to run, but I’m a New Yorker, we don’t really know how to wait for ANYTHING! The faster the better!

If you use Lightroom, or ACR presets, here is a quick tip on how to use them, brought to you buy the AMAZING Rachel Devine of Sesame Ellis Actions and Presets!

Step 1: Process your image in LR or ACR

Step 2: Export the files as a Jpeg

Step 3: Add your favorite preset to that file in LR or ACR

Step 4: Export your file again as a new jpg

Step 5: Open both images in PS

Step 6: Layer the Preset applied file on top of the first jpg

Step 7: Reduce the opacity of the layer to taste

Perfectly edited photo! Of course many presets can be left as is with no need to follow the above steps. You can indeed import to LR, apply your presets and export as a final image. And for those who have never purchased or used presets before after applying a preset you can go ahead and make manually changes to the presets as you see fit (i.e. reducing the exposure that was applied by the preset).

Now back to Rachel and her super cool Sesame Ellis sets!!! These little numbers have quickly moved to the top of my Preset folder in my top 5! All of the examples below were created with as is presets…I did not make any adjustments in PS. Only 1 or 2 needed exposure adjustment after the preset was applied (due to my error in overexposing, my bad habit!) I used a combination of Rachel’s The First Stop and Round Two Presets. Each was better than the next!

If you are just starting your collection of presets or if you have a folder that is already ready to burst, make room for these…you will LOVE them! Get ‘em here!

I just can’t pick a favorite!!!

is Patsy, from IN PLAIN SIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY, who said “I am in love with the Ocean Princess Mix!!!”

thank you to EVERYONE who entered… and don’t forget to check out todays prop review and CONTEST!

Crafting on the Court mixes modern day beanies, with flapper style! Bright colors, and vibrant yarns make darling flower flapper hats… and her diaper clutches, bibs and other sweet baby items add a touch of innocence!

Now we all know much we LOVE handmade knit hats!!! And Crafting on the Court/CLICK HERE is no exception! Her chunky knit hats, adorned with sweet little flowers, can help turn your baby & toddler shoots in to playful “dress up” sessions!

Oh, and fun is endless with your using cute props like this! Double up your Crafting on the Court prop pics with a cute vintage action (like from one of our vendors/sponsors… Lilly Blue, Kane Dog, On the Spot Studios, MCP and MORE)… and make a true piece of art!

The kind and wonderful Jocelyn of Crafting on the Court is offering (1) FREE flower flapper beanie hat to one lucky Prop Insanity reader!

HOW TO WIN: Just visit her site: Crafting on the Court and leave a comment HERE on which color beanie you like best!!!!

EXTRA ENTRIES!
Tweet & Blog us! Get (1) extra entry for tweeting about this contest, and (1) extra entry for blogging about it!  How to add the extra entries is simple…..  Just add an extra comment below with your twitter link, and an extra comment below with your blog post link!
*You MUST blog/tweet about THIS contest to receive the extra entry(s), and the tweet/blog must include a link back to this specific post on Prop Insanity.

DISCOUNT ALERT!!! Jocelyn is also offering Prop Insanity readers a 10% discount on ALL PURCHASES made in her shop, for the next 10 days. Simply add the words PROP INSANITY to your check out, and she will refund you 10% discount after purchase

Craft loving, Prop hungry girls… Tracy & Gina

Ok Ladies! You should all have your Knotty Leggies in hand! Start snapping! Each participant should submitt there favorite, most unique Prop Posing Picture by July 8th! We have started a thread in our Flickr Group for all submissions. Please choose only one shot, although storyboards are adorable, we are looking for just one pose per participant! We will narrow down the entries and post our finalists on July 10th! Then the online, reader voting will begin! 

We are suo super excited to see what you’ve got! If you have your picture ready for submission before the deadline, feel free to get to posting!

P.S.-We will be announcing the 2nd Ever Prop Pose-A-Thon details on Wednesday, so be sure to chec the blog early if you want to partake!! We will post all the particulars, including the super cool prop and deal you can receive if you want to be a contender in the next Prop-A-Thon contest!

Hiya everyone… as you may notice, the wonderful Bloom Workshops are part of our magnificant vendor family! So… we’d like to send a SHOUT OUT and a reminder for the next round of Bloom Workshops!

Tomorrow, June 29th, is the next workshop for BLOOM BEGINNINGS!  A great lesson for JSO (just starting out) photographers, and a wonderful place to hone in on your skills and learn some wonderful tools!

Monday, July 6th, is the next workshop for BLOOM & CREATE!  Challenge your self to some great new techniques!  A workshop for more advanced photographers, to help boost your skills and take it to the next “level”.

If your looking for a great place to learn more, meet some other wonderful photogs, and take your photographray to the next level… CLICK HERE for Bloom workshops, and prepare to be impressed!

Wow… I totally dropped the ball on this one!!! Just a wee late… but our Mama Runs with Scissors PIRATE TUTU winner is…

Kristen L Jackson (cye girl!).

Thanks to EVERYONE who entered in this amazing contest..and be SURE to check out this rockin’ prop store… www.mamarunswithscissors.etsy.com

Argh Matey’s…. Tracy & Gina

In memory of the fallen King of Pop, today’s freebie is an action holding the same name! A quick color booster with adjustable layers for your liking!

Download it here!

The winner of the scrumptious La Knit’s giveaway is:

Kristy Preece, on June 22nd, 2009 at 12:31 pm Said:
Oh my goodness!! These are to die for……LOL how stinkin cute!! I want them ALL!! Loving the Cute as a Pumpkin Fruit Hat and the Strawberry Sweetness Fruit Hat.

Please contact us at admin@propinsanity.com to claim your prize!

The ever gracious Lisa of Hannah’s Tutus and Kerry of Bella Claire Baby are offering one of our readers their very own tutu set!!!!

Pick either set from the below tutu product shoot!!
(includes: tutu, hat, #1 onesie & #1 bloomers).

and as we always make it… EASY to win!!!

Simply visit her site DIRECT or ETSY STORE and leave us a comment on which tutu is your FAVORITE! And good luck… cuz she has MANY ALOT GIANT PLETHORAS of tutus! lol And that’s an understatement….

and if your looking for a tutu full of fabulous fluff and plenty o’ colors… check out www.HannahsTutus.com and be prepared to be IMPRESSED!

Winner will be chosen randomly this Monday.

Tutu flaunting chicks! Tracy & Gina

*tutu sets are genly used, from this very shoot pictured above!  Not used otherwise. Tutu & Hat from Hannahs Tutus, Onesie & bloomers from Bella Claire Baby.

I am getting ready to start working on my new blog design and layout with the wonderful Genevieve of Lilac Creative. I have decided to take sometime to start brainstorming about all the things that erk me about my current look and layout, what I see out there that I love and MUST have and what things I want to stay consistent with in the look of my new blog!

One thing that comes to mind immedietly, and it really is an OCD issue, but it’s a major one for me!! When I “sneak” peek or post pictures of my own to “tell a story”, it REALLY bugs me that my horizontal shots are in perfect placement. Nice and big, front and center. Then you go and resize a vertical picture or two and there just…well skinny.

I created, what I think is a clever little fix! Just push play and it all works out.

Here is how these two pictures would look before:

Yikes! It just doesn’t look perfecto to me! Kinda makes me dizzy!

My new Blog Perfect Action set comes with 4 different actions. A horizontal resizer to keep your pictures consistent in size, with a little bit of sharpening to finish it off. There are 3 (right, left and center) color adding actions that will extend the canvas on your image, giving you a clutter free, nicely organized perfect blog post. Each canvas extending action walks you right through sizing your picture, adding your color block and changing the color block to match your picture! Doesn’t get easier than that! Nice, clean and easy on the eyes!! Just load the action and click play!

See:

Ahhhhh! MUCH better! OCD under control! Check it out in “real life” here.

*Action was created in PS2. I can not guarentee these will work in earlier versions. If you have PS 7 drop me an email, I need a tester! (gina@propinsanity.com).  We have our testers!! Thank you ladies! We will update the post shortly with the results! Do to the electronic nature of this product refunds are not allowed.

Purchase the action here!

Actions will be sent within 24 hours of purchase!