Photoshop is packed with tools, many of which are tucked away in menus you might never explore. Among them are Quick Actions, a feature that simplifies common edits with just a few clicks. If you’re new to Photoshop or looking for faster ways to improve your workflow, these tools are worth exploring.
Coming to you from Anthony Morganti, this helpful video introduces Quick Actions in Photoshop, showing how to access and use them effectively. Quick Actions aren’t listed in any obvious menu. But once you find them, you can choose actions like blurring a background, adding a lens flare, or even removing a background entirely. Nonetheless, Morganti emphasizes the importance of duplicating your background layer before applying these actions, which ensures your original image stays untouched in case you need to backtrack or tweak the effect later.
The video demonstrates several Quick Actions, starting with background blur. After isolating the subject, the tool applies a Gaussian blur to the background. The blur is adjustable—just double-click the Gaussian Blur layer to refine it. Another example shows how to add a lens flare. While effective, Morganti points out that the lack of a full-size preview makes adjustments trickier. However, with some patience, you can place and modify the flare to match your vision.
Not all Quick Actions are flawless. For instance, removing a background can produce great results, but only if you remember to turn off your original background layer. Neural Filter-based actions, like skin smoothing, require an additional step to activate the effect. Morganti explains that after applying a Neural Filter Quick Action, you’ll need to manually open the Neural Filters dialog for it to take effect. This extra step can feel unintuitive but allows for further adjustments once activated.
Some Quick Actions, like colorizing old photos, are less reliable. Morganti shares his experience with the tool misapplying colors and leaving parts of the image untouched. While the Neural Filter offers ways to fix these issues, the process is time-consuming and often produces inconsistent results. This serves as a reminder that while Quick Actions can save time, they aren’t always perfect solutions. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Morganti.
