How To Speed Up Mockup Creation With Photoshop Actions
If you are practicing a RAD methodology, you should be able to iterate quickly. While during the early stages of prototyping the “looks” are not so important, it can help if you can already have some extra design flavor in your initial prototypes.
One way to make that happen is through Adobe Photoshop actions. For the uninitiated, actions are macros that capture a series of steps that can be played back recreating some effect.
Following are some resources that will save you lots of time on your next mockup.
Tutorials
1. Fundy.net
2. ATNCentral.com
3. Digital Tools
Free Actions
1. Action FX
2. PhotoshopSupport.com
3. About.com
4. ATNCentral.com
5. PanosFX.com
6. TheLightsRightStudio.com
7. Elated.com
8. BytePhoto.com
9. DigitalThread.com
10. AdobeEvangelists.com
The Gimp
Here is some information on converting Photoshop actions to the GIMP.
–Elmer
Elmer Thomas is co-founder and a developer for ThemBid.com and Notifir.com.