Using some of the best free Photoshop actions is a surefire way to help you save time while working on Adobe’s photo editing software. If you’ve spent any time on Photoshop at all, you know how finicky it can all get, so by using Photoshop actions you’ll be able to speed up your process and as a result, help you to save hours.
When working on Photoshop, there is a feature that allows you to track all your edits and save them as an ‘action’. If you then assign that action to a shortcut key, it means you can perform an edit at just the press of a button, saving you minutes and hours of your time. They’re an absolute lifesaver if you’re in a rush, or if you have lots of projects to edit in a similar fashion – and of course, they’re all designed by you, to suit you and your process.
You can even import pre-made Photoshop actions that were made by other creators into your very own software, which is exactly where this roundup comes in handy. We’ve gathered up all our favourite pre-programmed Photoshop actions for you so you can apply a range of effects and actions to your images at just the click of a button.
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If you make it through this entire roundup and still can’t find the tools or actions you need, then don’t worry, perhaps our guide to the best Photoshop plugins or Photoshop brushes can help you out. These are the perfect addition to your software if you’re a photographer, graphic designer, game artist and more.
Alternatively, you can skip ahead to the section you’re interested in from the drop-down menu above. Our selection includes filters, special effects and touch-up techniques, but you should definitely bookmark the entire list of free Photoshop actions to check out the rest later. (And if it’s filters you’re after, also see our best VSCO filters post.)
Or if you have something super specific that you’re looking for, then just use our super-nifty drop-down menu above to hop straight to the type of Photoshop action you’re looking for. We’ve made sure to round up a range of filters, special effects and touch-up actions, so we recommend you bookmark this page so you can nip back at any point you need. But if it’s filters you’re looking for, then make sure you check out our guide to the best VSCO filters.
Tóm Tắt
Free Photoshop actions: Photo filters
01. Cross Process
Use this traditional technique digitally
(Image credit: Fix the Photo)
- Download Cross Process from Fix The Photo
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First up on our free Photoshop actions roundup is this cross-processing effect. Cross-processing means deliberately processing one type of film in a chemical solution intended for another, resulting in oddly skewed colours and increased contrast and saturation. This collection includes six different cross process effects. We especially like the rich vibrant tone of the example pictured above (action number two of the collection).
02. Desert Dust
Feeling warm?
(Image credit: Brusheezy)
- Download Desert Dust from Brusheezy
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Want to create a dry, overly hot atmosphere in your images? Try this entry in our free Photoshop actions list from Brusheezy. It knocks out colour and gives everything a hazy look. Mimic the effect in a single click, to save you hours of editing work.
03. Facebook Fix
Everything you need for Facebook-ready photos
(Image credit: mcpactions.com)
- Download Facebook Fix from MCPactions
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This powerful set of Photoshop actions gives you everything you need to optimise images for sharing on Facebook. There are actions to resize, sharpen, watermark and brand your images for Facebook. Each resizing action will instantly apply your logo – all you need to do is move it to where you want it, and adjust the size and opacity.
04. Winter Blues
Turn chilly scenes into something more magical
(Image credit: Spoon Graphics)
- Download Winter Blues from Spoon Graphics
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At the other end of the temperature scale, these Winter Blues photo effects are designed to add some wintry magic to your landscapes. Use these free Photoshop actions to enhance overcast and cloudy skies and with subtle cool hues. The pack includes 10 actions, each with a different style.
05. Underwater Luxe
Bring underwater images to life
(Image credit: The Coffee Shop Blog)
- Download Underwater Luxe from TheCoffeeShop Blog
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If you’re a fan of underwater imagery, this is the pick from the free Photoshop actions list you need. It removes the underwater haze, sharpers and boosts contrast, sharpens, and warms up skin by removing blue tones. Ideal for transforming underwater portraits in particular. This action is completely customisable, and you can download it for free at The Coffee Shop Blog.
06. Deep Matte
The intense matte finish packs a punch
- Download Deep Matte from Exposure Empire
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This free Photoshop action does exactly what its name would suggest. It will give your image a super-strong matte finish. If you want a more subtle matte finish, Exposure Empire also offers a basic version, but we love the intensity of this one.
07. Color Pop
An easy way to make your work pop
- Download Color Pop from Shutter Pulse
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Give washed-out photos an instant burst of colour with this free Photoshop action from Shutter Pulse. One of its set of 14 Boosters Photoshop Actions, it comes as part of a free bundle of 20 Lightroom presets and 20 Photoshop actions. This action is perfect from bringing a much-needed pop of colour and contrast to any photo.
08. Reduce Motion Blur
Sharpen up your snaps
(Image credit: www.turningturnip.co.uk)
- Download Reduce Motion Blue from Turning Turnip
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Sometimes a little camera shake, or an unexpected movement from your subject, can ruin an otherwise great photo. Save the day with this entry from the free Photoshop actions roundup. It will remove motion blur from your images.
09. Pastel Effect
Give your owl some light enhancement and colour toning
- Download Pastel Effect from CreativeTacos
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Another way to breathe fresh life into your photos is with this set of 40 pastel effect Photoshop actions; they’ll provide instant light enhancement and beautiful colour toning at the touch of a button, and transform ordinary shots into something much more Instagram-worthy.
10. Mini Fusion
Inject new life into your photos with this free action
(Image credit: mcpactions.com)
- Download Mini Fusion from MCPactions
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This Mini Fusion Photoshop action promises to inject new life into images. It includes colour conversions and optional tints and exposure fix layers. There are a number of impressive before-and-afters on the MCP Actions site that showcase the results.
11. Mystical Light
‘scuse me while I kiss the sky
- Download Mystical Light from DeviantArt
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Give your photos an other-worldly air with this Photoshop action from Megan Joy, available through DeviantArt. It’ll infuse landscapes with a magical light, infusing any shot with an ethereal purple haze and making the dullest of landscape shots look like a mysterious fairy dell.
12. Instant Hipster
Get those trendy effects you love with one click
- Download Instant Hipster from Brusheezy
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For those times you want to give your photos a one-click Instagram effect, Instant Hipster’s the perfect solution. It comes with 10 ready-made filters – Amaro, Mayfair, Hudson, Valencia, X-Pro II, Willow, Sutro, Hefe, Nashville and 1977 (you’ll likely recognise those names from Instagram). Capture just the retro effect you need in seconds.
13. Nightmare
…and they were never seen again
- Download Nightmare from ShutterPulse
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If your photos just aren’t sinister enough for your liking, this free Photoshop action should make things a little more unsettling. It’s designed to let you easily give your photos a dark, haunting vibe. Perfect for creating the impression that you’re permanently about to stumble into mortal danger.
14. Cold Nightmare
Damn it, stand still when I’m trying to skewer you
- Download Cold Nightmare from FreebieJar
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Perhaps the most dramatically titled of the free Photoshop actions will transform a photo of a perfectly innocent scenario into a window into a dark world. In this example image, the archer probably shooting at a target takes on the look of someone who is definitely trying to kill a human. It’s amazing what some shadows can do.
15. Summer Haze
Get that summer feeling again
- Download Summer Haze from Photography Pla.net
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If you’d prefer to cheer up your images, take a sunny shot and make it intensely summery with this great golden haze effect. Outdoor portraits taken in natural light are most suitable for this filter.
16. Hazy Afternoon
Hazy Afternoon adds a soft gradient colour layer
- Download Hazy Afternoon from The CoffeeShop Blog
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Perfect for outdoor pictures, the Hazy Afternoon action certainly lives up to its name by creating a soft gradient colour layer. You can use this free action on black and white or colour images, plus you can easily adjust the gradient until you get the exact look you’re after.
17. HDR Action
Ramp up your HDR contrast with these actions
- Download HDR action from Deviant Art
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Remove the lack of contrast that comes with HDR photography with this set of four actions; HDR fix Light, Normal, Heavy, and Clicker. This action is designed to remove the digital grey (lack of true black) found in HDR photos, to give them back their punch.
18. Strong HDR Effect
Get vibrant colour effects with this free HDR filter
- Download Strong HDR Effect from Shutter Pulse
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Try getting vibrant colour effects with this free Photoshop actions HDR filter from Shutter Pulse. If it works well for you but you’d like more options, it’s part of a set of 30 HDR actions that you can buy for $13.
19. Night to Twilight
Turn your nighttime images into twilight photos
- Download Night to Twilight from Photoshop Tutorials
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This set of 11 actions convert your nighttime images into twilight scenes by introducing a colour cast and lightening the sky. The effect is rendered using layers, so you can adjust the degree of twilight by reducing the layer’s opacity, making it nice and flexible.
20. Bella
Create a romantic, nostalgic feel with a pink cast
- Download Bella from Deviant Art
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This action adds a beautiful warmth to your photographs, bringing out rich tones in hair and skin, and softening colours with a pink cast. Give your images a romantic, nostalgic feel in an instant.
Next page: Vintage and monochrome photo filters
