Designers, photographers, and digital artists spend many hours working in Photoshop, whether designing, editing photos, or creating digital art. As a professional in these fields, you may receive photos from clients that need touch-ups or have to edit your own photographs. In both cases, Photoshop actions can be extremely useful for streamlining repetitive tasks and achieving a specific, and often stunning, photo effect.
Actions are pre-recorded sets of instructions that automate the process of applying a sequence of edits to an image. By using actions, you can create complex photo effects with just a few clicks. Countless actions and presets are available for free, but finding high-quality ones can sometimes be challenging.
We’ve curated a collection of over 40 Photoshop action packs that are all available to download for free. These actions will give you the tools you need to apply various effects to your photos, from matte and film to vintage styles, stunning black and white conversions, and even HDR.
With these actions and presets in your toolkit, you’ll be able to save time while editing your photos and won’t have to spend hours scouring the web for high-quality free actions. Whether you’re a professional photographer or a designer, these actions will help you achieve the look you want without spending hours on each individual photo.
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Nostalgic Photoshop Actions
These free Photoshop Actions can create a range of photo effects, including a vintage or retro look, a washed-out or faded effect, a gritty or grungy feel, or even a black and white or sepia-toned effect.
Old & Dirty Photoshop Action
Free to Download
Turn your colorized photos to black and white, and then apply a subtle vintage effect. The action works with both Photoshop and Lightroom.
Vintage Landscape Photoshop Action
Free to Download
As the name suggests, this free Photoshop action is perfect for landscape photos that you want to style to appear vintage.
Retro Engraving Photoshop Action
Free to Download
The free Retro Engraving Photoshop action replicates vintage engraved illustrations and applies a glitchy, line-based texture (similar to old banknotes or book prints) to your photos.
Instant Hipster Retro Photoshop Actions
Free to Download
This Photoshop pack includes ten actions that will make your photos appear more retro and vintage. The actions replicate Instagram-style filters.
Vintage Wedding PS Action
Free to Download
Wedding photographers rejoice as this free Photoshop action will allow you to add a vintage effect to your wedding photos. The collection comes with a total of 15 individual actions.
Retro Effects & Polaroid Frame Photoshop Actions
Free to Download
With this collection of Photoshop actions, you will be able to generate vintage, lomo, and retro effects, and quickly apply them to your photos.
Classic Film Effect Free Photoshop Actions
These Photoshop actions can create the effects commonly found in classic films and cinema. They can add a cinematic feel to your work, such as a soft and warm film look, a faded or desaturated effect, a film grain texture, or even a dramatic and moody style.
Cyberpunk Photoshop Action
Free to Download
This free action applies a specific set of effects that will give your photos a cyberpunk style. Cyberpunk is characterized by a futuristic feel, featuring neon lights and sci-tech elements.
Indie Camera Photoshop Actions
Free to Download
The free Indie Camera Photoshop action recreates the aesthetic of quirky and low-fi indie film cameras. It will add soft contrast, subtle color shifts, and light leaks to your photographs.
Film-Inspired Photoshop Actions
Free to Download
This free film-inspired Photoshop action set will add a grainy, soft tone, with mild contrast shifts to your images. It will create a dreamy, nostalgic, film-like look, making it perfect for portraits.
Vibrant Film Photoshop Action
Free to Download
This Photoshop action produces an interesting vintage effect with brilliant, vibrant colors. The action works with Photoshop as well as Lightroom.
Simple Grainy Photoshop Action
Free to Download
This simple Photoshop action will add a fine layer of digital noise or grain to your photos, giving them a textured or gritty aesthetic. You can download it for free.
Cross Processed Photoshop Action
Free to Download
The Cross Processed free Photoshop action replicates film developed with the wrong chemicals, giving your photos a high contrast, irregular color shifts, and a retro, experimental feel.
Film Effect Photoshop Action
Free to Download
Make your photos come to life with this Film Effect Photoshop action. The action makes your colors pop and applies them non-destructively.
Color Effect Free Photoshop Actions
These actions allow you to add warmth or coolness to your photos, improve contrast, or even apply selective color effects to specific areas of your photo. You can create a variety of moods and styles, whether you want a vintage, a cinematic look, or a colorful, vibrant style.
Split-Toned Photoshop Action
Free to Download
This free Photoshop action applies a vintage-like, split-toning effect to your photos, adjusting the color and feel of your shots.
Photoshop Crimson Shimmer Action
Free to Download
This Photoshop action is sure to make your photos stand out, as it adds a subtle touch of crimson to any image. The action is easy to adjust and apply.
Dark Mood Photoshop Action
Free to Download
The free Dark Mood Photoshop action will deepen shadows, desaturate tones, and add contrast to your photos, creating a dramatic, moody, and atmospheric effect.
Honey Photoshop Action
Free to Download
Choose this Photoshop action if you want to make your food photography pop. The action is applied non-destructively and can easily be adjusted.
Copper Photoshop Actions
Free to Download
Apply an interesting copper look to your photos with the help of this free Photoshop action. You can tweak and adjust the action to your needs.
Creamy Photoshop Actions
Free to Download
If you want to apply a soft, almost pastel-like look to your photos, this collection of Photoshop actions is a must. The action works best for portrait and outdoor photos.
Sunset Photoshop Action
Free to Download
Get more out of your sunset photos or give any other photo a warm, golden glow. This action works best with nature and outdoor photography.
Special Effects Free Photoshop Actions
These special effects Photoshop actions add texture, lighting, and color improvements to your photos, allowing you to create a one-of-a-kind look.
Heatmap Photoshop Action
Free to Download
This free Heatmap Photoshop Action will apply a color gradient based on thermal imaging, giving your photos a bold and surreal look and feel.
Create Tiny Planets Photoshop Action
Free to Download
Tiny planets are all the rage, but creating them from scratch takes work. This Photoshop action will change that and allow you to transform any photo into your very own tiny planet.
Corrupted VHS Photoshop Action
Free to Download
This Corrupted VHS Photoshop action will make your photos seem as if they were captured on an old VHS tape, giving your shot a distinctive and artistic appearance.
Brick Mosaics Photoshop Actions
Free to Download
Ever wanted to turn your photos into fun mosaics? Well, now you can with the help of this Photoshop action! The pack includes a total of 10 actions.
Simple Halftone Photoshop Action Set
Free to Download
Turn your photos or graphics into a dot-based halftone pattern with this simple Photoshop action. It is perfect for comic-book styles, pop art, or retro printing effects.
Pixelate Photoshop Actions
Free to Download
Similar to the action above, this Photoshop action collection will pixelate your photos. Perfect for creating unique backgrounds. The collection also includes frame and border styles.
Dispersion Effect Photoshop Action
Free to Download
Try this Photoshop action if you want to produce a cool-looking dispersion effect. Make any photo appear as if it’s dispersing. Play the action and make adjustments as necessary.
Glitch Effect PSD Photoshop Action Kit
Free to Download
This free Photoshop action adds a subtle glitch effect to your photos, giving them the appearance of old VHS tapes. The action works non-destructively, and you can make adjustments.
High Dynamic Range Free Photoshop Actions
These Photoshop actions can help you achieve a range of HDR styles. These actions will improve your photo’s contrast, saturation, and sharpness, resulting in a bold and vivid photo effect.
HDR Lightroom Preset & Photoshop Action
Free to Download
Use this Photoshop action to expand the dynamic range of your photo and apply a beautiful, bold effect. The action works with both Photoshop and Lightroom.
Warm & Faded Free Photoshop Actions
These actions will add a matte effect to your photos by reducing contrast and saturation, and adding a subtle haze or film-like grain. They help to highlight the texture and depth of your photos.
Matte Lightroom Preset & Photoshop Action
Free to Download
With the help of this free Photoshop action, you will be able to quickly and easily apply a subtle matte effect to your photos. The action is available as both a Photoshop action and a Lightroom preset.
Deep Matte Photoshop Action
Free to Download
If you’re looking for a deep, matte look, be sure to try this action. It’s compatible with both Photoshop and Lightroom.
Vintage Matte Photoshop Action
Free to Download
The Vintage Matte Photoshop action will make it easy to add a lovely vintage effect to your photos. The action supports non-destructive editing.
Light Effect Free Photoshop Actions
These actions replicate the appearance of light leaks, which happens when light enters the camera, creating a washed-out and soft effect on your photos. They can help you achieve various styles, from a soft, romantic look to a more dramatic and surreal effect.
Light & Bright Photoshop Action
Free to Download
Add bright light leaks to any photo with the help of the Photoshop actions in this pack. The action creates layers and supports non-destructive editing.
25 Light Leaks Photoshop Actions
Free to Download
These free actions allow you to add various light leak effects to your photos, creating the illusion that light has leaked into the camera body during exposure.
Premium Looks Photoshop Actions
Free to Download
Add a touch of class to your portraits with the help of this Photoshop action. The action contains five different effects and two light leaks that can be combined for a unique look.
Golden Hour Free Photoshop Actions
These Golden Hour actions replicate the soft, warm glow of golden hour light, allowing you to bring out the beauty and atmosphere of your photos.
Golden Hour Photoshop Action
Free to Download
Use this Photoshop action whenever you need to make a photo appear as if it were taken during the golden hour. It works well with cityscapes and nature photos.
Golden Glow Photoshop Action
Free to Download
This Golden Glow action will lighten your photo and give it a golden tint. Use it with landscape and nature photos, but don’t be afraid to experiment with other types of photos as well.
Drawing Effect Free Photoshop Actions
These actions will add a hand-drawn effect to your images, creating a unique and artistic look. They will add depth and texture to your photos.
Pencil Drawing Photoshop Action
Free to Download
Make your photos appear sketched using this Pencil Drawing Photoshop action. The action works non-destructively and produces a black and white sketch.
Sketch Photoshop Action
Free to Download
This set of Photoshop actions makes it easy to apply the sketch effect with a single click. You can even adjust the result to your liking.
Lomo Effects Free Photoshop Actions
These Photoshop actions replicate the look of the Lomo camera, which creates photos with high contrast, vibrant colors, and vignetting effects. They will add a nostalgic touch to your photos.
Lomo Photoshop Action
Free to Download
Apply a Lomo effect to your photos and make them appear as though they were taken with a Lomography camera. The action produces a fun vintage effect.
Soft Color Free Photoshop Actions
These watercolor effect Photoshop actions replicate the artistic charm of watercolor painting. They will add depth, texture, and vivid colors to your images.
Michelangelo Watercolor Photoshop Action
Free to Download
The aptly named Michelangelo Painting Photoshop Action will quickly transform your photos into beautiful watercolor works of art. You will also get a free watercolor brush (ABR) and pattern PAT file for Photoshop.
Split Toned Photoshop Action
Free to Download
This free split-toned Photoshop action will apply different color tones to shadows and highlights, creating a moody, cinematic, or vintage color effect.
How to Install Photoshop Actions
Here’s a quick tutorial on how to install and use Photoshop actions:
- Download and unzip the action file.
- Launch Photoshop.
- Go to
Window>Actions. - Select
Load Actionsfrom the menu and go to the folder where you saved the action file to select it. The action will now be installed. - To use the newly installed action, find it in the
Actionspanel. - Click the triangle (▶) to the left of the action name to see the list of available actions.
- Click the action you want to play and press the play button at the bottom of the
Actionspanel.
How to Create Your Own Photoshop Actions
Creating your own Photoshop action involves recording a series of steps you perform on a photo or graphic and saving them as an action. Here’s a step-by-step guide to creating your own:
- Open an Image: Launch Photoshop and open the photo you want to use as the base for creating the action.
- Open the Actions Panel: Navigate to the
Windowmenu and click onActionsto open the Actions panel. - Create a New Action: In the Actions panel, click on the folder icon to create a new action set. Click the
New Actionbutton (represented by a ■ square icon) to create a new action. - Name and Set Shortcut (Optional): Give your action a descriptive name that reflects the edits you’ll be recording.
- Record the Steps: Click the
Recordbutton in the Actions panel to start recording and perform the editing steps you want to include in the action. - Stop Recording: Once you’ve completed the editing steps, click the
Stopbutton (■ square icon) in the Actions panel to stop recording. - Test the Action: Open another photo to test the newly created action. From the Actions panel, select the action and click
Play(▶ triangle icon) to apply the recorded steps and effects to the new photo. - Adjust & Customize: If needed, you can open the action in the Actions panel and adjust settings or delete unnecessary steps.
- Save the Action: To save the action for future use or sharing, right-click on the action in the Actions panel and choose
Save Actions. Select a location on your computer and assign a name to the action file. The action will be saved with an.atnextension. - Load the Action: To use the action on another computer or version of Photoshop, you can load the action set by going to the Actions panel’s menu and selecting
Load Actions.
You’re a creative talent. The last thing you want is to be stuck performing the same task over and over again on various images. These Photoshop presets and actions are for you, freeing you up for the real work: being creative.
The post 40+ Best Free Photoshop Actions & Effects in 2025 appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.
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