ReadMe File for ShutterFreaks Rule of Thirds actions for Photoshop Elements
First, Extract the Files
If you haven't done it already, create an empty temporary folder, and extract the contents of the ZIP file into it. Then open this Read Me file from there.
In the following steps, you will be copying these files into other folders.
Instructions for Elements 5
If you have Elements 4 or earlier, these instructions are not correct.
Use ReadMeRuleOfThirds.html for Elements 4 and earlier.
If you have Elements 5, keep reading.
How to set up the actions
-
If you have Elements open, close it.
- Then go to the Photoshop Elements 5.0 special effects folder on your hard disk:
On a Windows XP computer
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\5.0\Photo Creations\special effects
If you don't see the "Application Data" folder under "All Users," click here for instructions for showing hidden folders.
On a Windows Vista computer
C:\Program Data\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\5.0\Photo Creations\special effects
If you don't see the "Program Data" folder, click here for instructions for showing hidden folders.
If you have a Mac, click here.
-
Now, from your Photoshop Elements special effects folder, create a new folder named "ShutterFreaks Effects" if
you don't have one already.
-
Now open the ShutterFreaks Effects folder, and create a new folder named "SF Rule of Thirds".
Note: If the SF Rule of Thirds folder already existed
from a previous version of the actions, delete all the files
that are inside it before
proceeding: if you have any "extra" files in the folder, the actions won't work properly.
-
Put all the action files (ending in ".atn") and the "thumbs.psd" file into folder you just created.
Note: Be sure NOT to put any other files in this folder.
How to use the actions
-
Start Photoshop Elements and wait for it to rebuild the artwork and effects.
Note: If Elements doesn't rebuild the artwork and effects automatically, close Elements
and then start it again from the Start menu, and then choose "Edit and Enhance Photos."
While the Elements editor is starting up, hold down the Control
and Shift buttons until you see that Elements is rebuilding artwork and effects.
-
Then open an image
file. If you edit the image after opening it, save it, close it, and reopen it
before you apply an effect.
-
Open the Artwork and Effects Palette.
-
Click the "Apply effects, filters, and layer styles" icon to show the list of special effects.
-
Choose "ShutterFreaks Effects" in the left list, and choose "SF Rule of Thirds" from the
right list.
-
Double-click a thumbnail for an action to run it. The actions create a copy of your file, to protect your original.
Notes:
-
If you have trouble, try these steps:
-
Double-check that the .atn files and the .psd file are in the right folder.
-
If you are still having trouble, you can contact us at
shutterfreaks@shutterfreaks.com.
-
If you'd like an action that will help you crop your images to conform to the Rule of Thirds
and the Golden Mean, check out our
Rule of Thirds Pro Action.