Photography Tutorials

Four times the fun

Sometimes we all need a little more, so here we are – four time more and for free!

If you’ve got a photo that needs a bit of livening up or if you just feel like playing in Photoshop then here you go – a Photoshop Action by me called 2×2 that reflects your image in three directs so you end with something quite unexpected and surprising.

Some photos work better than others – branches are good for creating an abstract pattern…

And there’s nothing stopping you reapplying the action again and again…

I think it works particularly well with photos of people…

The possibilities are endless!

Here’s what you need to do.

Firstly – download this file and remember where you saved it:

2×2 (right-click on link and choose ‘save link as’)

To get this (or any) action into Photoshop you need to do the following…

  1. In Photoshop make sure you have the ‘Actions’ palette open (go to ‘Windows’ and ‘Actions’ or press the F9 key).
  2. Click open the little twirly menu in the top right of the palette (fig A) and choose ‘Load Actions’ – go to where you downloaded the 2×2.atn file and select.
  3. That’s it – all done. You don’t need to do this each time – it will be there each time you open Photoshop.

Now, all you need to to is open an image – any shape, any size, just make sure it’s ‘flattened’ (i.e. no layers). Make sure 2×2 (fig B) is highlighted then hit the ‘play’ button (fig C).

Tada!

That’s all there is to it – let me know how you get on with it, I’d love to see.

 

+++ U P D A T E +++

2×2.atn (right-click on link and choose ‘save link as’)

Great news – this will also work in Photoshop Elements – this is what you need to do…

Copy the lemonlight.atn file to the one of the following locations:

Windows XP
C:Documents and SettingsAll UsersApplication DataAdobePhotoshop Elements8.0Localeen_USWorkflow Panelsactions

Vista
C:ProgramDataAdobePhotoshop Elements8.0Localeen_USWorkflow Panelsactions

  1. Now, restart Photoshop Elements and go to EDIT.
  2. Open an image you’d like to experiment with.
  3. Go to ‘EDIT Guided’.
  4. Under ‘Automated Actions’ choose ‘Action Player’.
  5. From the dropdown choose ‘2×2’
  6. Now click ‘Play Action’.

That’s it! You should now see four times the photo you started with :)

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16 Comments

  • Reply
    Ashley @ Ramblings and Photos
    27 July 2010 at 23:36

    Will it work in PSE…because I want it!

  • Reply
    Mary
    28 July 2010 at 03:54

    cool! I’m going to use this….thanks! 😉

  • Reply
    Life with Kaishon
    28 July 2010 at 16:00

    So super fun Angie! I am going to tell my friends this instant! I still don’t have photoshop so I can’t utilize, but it sounds great : ) You are creative as can be! : )

  • Reply
    Lisa
    28 July 2010 at 21:33

    Amazing result (on my blog).
    Thank you so much!!!
    You are so creative.

  • Reply
    rebecca
    28 July 2010 at 22:42

    OOOOhhhhh it works in elements…can’t wait to try it out. Thanks.

  • Reply
    Rocio
    29 July 2010 at 03:28

    cool!!!!!
    I am so trying this!

  • Reply
    Lesley
    1 August 2010 at 10:10

    Great fun, thank you so much!

  • Reply
    kelli
    3 August 2010 at 02:44

    this is amazing! I found you through flickr (a shutter sister’s post I think it was?) I’ve been playing with this action in PSE8 and I’m still a total amateur so please forgive me if this is a dumb question, but my result was a HUGE file…what is the best way to size and save a photo after using the effect?
    I’ll blog some results this week and link to you-
    thanks for sharing the fun!

  • Reply
    Deirdre
    5 August 2010 at 21:24

    Awesome! Where should I install it in PSE8/MAC?

  • Reply
    Brigitte
    21 August 2010 at 13:24

    I’d so love to do this as well, but somehow it doesn’t work :-(
    I have PSE 6 and work at a Mac – I tried to figure out where I would put it, but without success. Would I need a PSE 8 for it?
    Thanks a lot in advance!
    P.S. BTW, I’m using the German version – but I don’t think that is the problem…

  • Reply
    Ilan
    7 January 2012 at 03:19

    works! thanks!

  • Reply
    Adriana
    24 July 2012 at 05:32

    Hi Angie!

    I’m having a little trouble to download this action!
    The link you posted is not working and is being redirected to a new location. Can you post the action again?
    Thank you for your attention,

    Adriana

    • Reply
      Angie
      24 July 2012 at 12:37

      Well spotted! I moved web hosts a while back and this must have got left behind – check back in a day and I’ll have it all fixed. Thanks for letting me know! :)

    • Reply
      Angie
      30 July 2012 at 21:53

      Hi Adriana – this should be working now! Thanks for spotting :)

  • Reply
    Sai Ram
    19 January 2013 at 07:44

    I love it! ^_^ Really Amazing!

    • Reply
      Angie
      20 January 2013 at 23:01

      Thank you 😀

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