How to Record Custom Actions in Adobe Photoshop

This guide explains how to automate repetitive editing tasks in Adobe Photoshop by recording custom macro sequences using the Actions panel. You will learn how to set up a new action, record precise tool movements and adjustments, stop recording, and replay the automated sequence across your images to streamline your workflow.

Open the Actions Panel

To begin, open Photoshop and ensure the Actions panel is visible. If it is not on your screen, navigate to the top menu bar, click Window, and select Actions (or press Alt + F9 on Windows / Option + F9 on Mac).

Create an Action Set

Organizing your macros into sets prevents clutter and keeps your workspace efficient:

  1. Click the Folder icon at the bottom of the Actions panel to create a new set.
  2. Enter a descriptive name for your set (such as "Batch Resizing" or "Photo Retouching") and click OK.

Create and Configure a New Action

  1. Select the set you just created, then click the Plus (+) icon at the bottom of the panel to create a new action.
  2. In the dialog box, name your action clearly according to what it performs.
  3. Optionally, assign a Function Key (like F2 or F3) and a Color to execute the macro quickly with a single keystroke.
  4. Click Record. The circular record button at the bottom of the panel will turn red, indicating that Photoshop is now logging your actions.

Record Your Sequence

Perform the exact operations you want Photoshop to automate. The Actions panel records commands sequentially:

  • Adjustments and Filters: Apply adjustments like Curves, Levels, Hue/Saturation, or Unsharp Mask.
  • Layer Operations: Create new layers, duplicate existing ones, or apply blend modes. When selecting layers, it is best to use menu commands (such as Layer > Select > Next Layer) or keyboard shortcuts rather than clicking layer names directly, ensuring consistent execution across different files.
  • Canvas and Sizing: Adjust image dimensions via Image > Image Size or Canvas Size. Using percentages rather than fixed pixels makes macros more adaptable to images with varied resolutions.
  • File Operations: If you want the macro to save and close the file, execute File > Save As or File > Export, then File > Close.

Stop the Recording

Once you complete the final step of your editing sequence:

  1. Return to the Actions panel.
  2. Click the square Stop button located at the bottom-left of the panel.

The red light will turn off, indicating that the macro is saved and ready for use.

Test and Refine Your Action

Open a new, unedited image to test your macro:

  1. Select your new action in the Actions panel.
  2. Click the triangular Play button at the bottom of the panel.
  3. Verify that all steps execute as intended.

If you need to adjust a step where a dialog box appears—such as custom text input or specific brush adjustments—click the empty box next to that specific step in the Actions panel to enable the Modal Control. This tells Photoshop to pause at that specific step during playback so you can enter custom values before the macro continues automatically.