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Color Swatches Actions


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I purchased Syndee's color swatch actions quite a while back but they sort of scared me so I haven't really messed with them at all. In the meantime, I have upgraded to PSE 10 (on a Mac) and the instructions that came with it are for PSE 6-8. So I guess my first question is will it work in a later version?

Here's what I've been able to do so far--take a photo and get the palette from it and install it in the swatches preset. Which is great. But what I am confused about is where are the other 5 actions that I'm supposed to be able to run on it. And what is the pattern action that came with the set as well--what's it supposed to do.

Hope these questions make sense.

Any help appreciated greatly

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Hi Melissa,

 

I don't have PSE 10, but I know the color swatch actions work fine in PSE 9 and PSE 11, so they should work in PSE 10.

 

You want to be sure you have installed the pattern (PAT) file - general directions for installing the PAT file can be found on page 113 in Scrap Girls ScrapSimple Instructions Handbook (Free ScrapSimple basics eBook)

 

NOTE: in Windows 7 the path is: C Drive>Program Files(x86)>Adobe>Photoshop Elements (You will see your version number here.) >Presets>Patterns.

 

You also want to be sure you have installed all of the ATN and PNG files found in the product's PSE folder. I found a post here with instructions for PSE 10 (Both Windows and Mac): Post #7

 

Hope this is some help for you :)

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Theresa gave you some great info.

 

I just wanted to add a couple of comments:

 

There are a couple of things you can do with this action.

 

First, like you have done, make the color palette that you load in the palette presets. You can make palettes from photos or papers, any type of .jpg file, I think.

 

Second, use the other actions are if you want to make the swatches shown in the marketing image. You can choose to use anywhere from 3 to 12 (!) colors from the preset palette you created. This is what the pattern file is for, I believe. Making these swatches is great because then you can save them and use them again and again.

 

I had this action quite a while, too, before really using it, but I always love the outcome when I do use it.

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thanks so much ladies. your remarks were really helpful. i got all the actions installed but i am still having troubles. the .pat refuses to install in the patterns preset and when i click on a color in my new swatch set it does not go to the double box thing that connotes color selection (rats! what do you call that wretched thing?) but i'm beginning to wonder if it's not working because my computer in general seems to be seriously underperforming. Way slow, way too much endless whirly rainbow ball in all its functions. do you think that is a possibility?

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Hi Melissa,

 

Are you sure you copied/installed the PAT file from inside the PSE folder and not the PAT file that's labeled SNU_SSActions_ColorSwatch6301?

 

Click to enlarge

Color Swatch SS 1 jpg.jpg

 

Here's the inside of the folder with the PSE PAT file circled:

Click to enlarge

Color Swatch SS 2.jpg

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Hi Melissa,

 

Are you sure you copied/installed the PAT file from inside the PSE folder and not the PAT file that's labeled SNU_SSActions_ColorSwatch6301?

 

Click to enlarge

post-14490-0-32897600-1405985248_thumb.j

 

Here's the inside of the folder with the PSE PAT file circled:

Click to enlarge

post-14490-0-79966600-1405986015_thumb.j

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checking it out. There are 2 .pat in the overall folder and they look alike to me, although only one in the PSE folder.

 

You want to copy/install the one that's in the PSE folder. Also, if you haven't already done so, install the ATN and PNG files from that same PSE folder.

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First, here’s an older post from Ann (AnnBK) explaining how to install actions in PSE 10 on a MAC: Post #27

 

NOTE: I am using PSE 11 with Windows 7. If you are using another version of PSE or a different operating system, you may need to make adjustments accordingly.

 

Once you have your ATN, PNG and PAT files properly installed, you are ready to use the actions.

 

I like to start by opening the preset manager to make sure the Color Swatch patterns are the current patterns:

1. In the menu bar, go to Edit>Preset Manager.

2. In the Preset Manager, click on the Preset Type dropdown and select Patterns.

Click to enlarge screenshots

Untitled-1.jpg

3. Click on the More arrow on the right side of the box, and select SNU_SSActions_ColorSwatch6301 from the menu that opens. The patterns will now load into the preset manager current window.

Untitled-2.jpg

 

Untitled-3.jpg

4. Click Done.

 

Now you can go to your actions panel and choose the color swatch you want to create. I’m creating Swatch 4.

I select the name of the swatch I’m creating then click the Play Selection button.

Untitled-4.jpg

A New Layer dialog box will open and a new document will open with the first section of the color swatch in gray.

Untitled-5.jpg

Click OK in the New Layer box and the color picker will open.

Untitled-6.jpg

Click on your first color choice in the color picker and click OK. I’ve selected red.

You will see the first section of your swatch fill with the color you selected, and another New Layer dialog box will open.

Untitled-7.jpg

Click OK in the New Layer box and the color picker will open again. For my second color I’ve selected blue.

The second section of the swatch fills with blue and another New Layer box will open.

Untitled-8.jpg

I’ll click OK in the New Layer box and the color picker will open again. For my third color I’ve selected green.

The third section of the swatch fills with green and I see a message box telling me I can now edit my type.

Untitled-9.jpg

I click the Stop button, and edit my type directly on the swatch.

My swatch is finished.

Basic Color Swatch.jpg

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But can you not pick a color from the swatch you installed in the Presets? I don't seem to be able to do that

 

Do you mean you want to select a color from the color swatches palette instead of the color picker that opens? I just tried that - I opened the color swatches palette before running the action and I was able to select a color from the swatches palette. HTH

 

Click to enlarge

Swatch SS.jpg

 

Swatch SS 2.jpg

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Can't seem to do it on mine but will continue messing with it I AM going to master this action before it's all overt. It's a little easier now that Mr Mac is a little less balky than it was even though I still don't think it's functioning optimally

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Thanks for the detailed instructions, Theresa. I gave up on this one in PSE 9. Now that I have 12, I should give it another try. :)

 

It should be a little easier - you will still have to install the PAT file, but as you may already know, loading the actions is much easier - no installing and deleting mediadatabase/thumbdatabase files and rebuilding needed. The only negative is (at least in PSE 11) you can only load one action at a time into the actions panel, and in PSE 9 you could install all of them at the same time.

 

Let me know if you have any questions - I'll try to help you if I can :)

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Still struggling. On the plus side, I have learned how to put together a palette halfway manual, halfway using the actions.

Part of it is I apparently cannot make a selection from any of the Presets. So that's got to be a problem in PSE itself I assume. Should I reinstall do you think?

Hope I can get it all running--I really would like to focus on color as I think that does not come very naturally to me.

Thx for all the help! Probably haven't stopped asking. It is kind of a relief to know that someone else has had some difficulty with it!

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​Oh dear, I don't know what that is?????

 

​Mac issues update: the guy took my whole computer apart and you would not have believed the dust and cat hair therein! So while I am still struggling with PSE, the struggles are at least going along a little faster now

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I was just reading back through this whole thread and I guess I need to understand what isn't working for you. Are you just having trouble picking colors from the Color Swatch palette to add to your Color Swatch template?

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I think I've finally got the hang of it. Still can't get a color off the swatches palette--which is a little annoying but I find I can work around that with the color wheel and color swatch actions. I am still kind of puzzled by the pattern set but it seems like you don't really getting anything different with those than you do with the actions. Is that correct or am I missing something.

Anyway I am really enjoying the whole color thing now that I've sort of got the hang of it. i am wondering if it has any applications beyond coloring embs and templates?

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Hi Melissa,

 

I'm not sure what the problem is that you are having with not getting a color off the swatches palette.

To try to answer your other questions - the pattern file is only used in conjunction with the actions - the individual pattern pieces are used to create the different swatches when you run the actions. So, when you run one of the actions, the pattern pieces automatically appear for you to add a color or other element. Here is the product description I copied from the product page:

Create a color swatch from any photo with this easy to use digital scrapbooking actions set! Also included are 5 color swatch/paint chip actions that you can add colors, photos or papers to. Instructions are included.

 

In addition to being able to create a swatch set from a photo, you can also create "paint chip" swatches as pictured in the marketing image:

SNU_SSActions_ColorSwatch6301_MKTG150.jp

 

Some of us use these swatches for the Saturday Color Challenges. Here are a few examples: Example #1, Example #2, Example #3

You can also use the swatches as decorative elements or add photos to them for layouts. Here's a sample layout from the product page:

SNU_SSActions_ColorSwatch6301_LO_150_ACU

 

Hope this answers some of your questions. Let us know if you need more help :)

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