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sprauncey1 · #7 (**permalink**) 02-09-2006

I've been out of it for a while, but not too long ago I emailed a lady who had the same question/issue. I wrote the reply in terms of PSE 3, but I'm sure 4 would be the same as well. Anyway here's what I wrote to her.....

Try this out and let me know if there is anything not clear and if it works for you or not!

First thing to do is create a folder in your C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 3.0\Previews\Effects directory with the exact same name as the atn file you downloaded. Move your atn file in to this folder.
What you need to do is once you have your action folder in the right spot (and it only has an .atn file in it right now right), then you need to copy the original.psd icon thingy from here (C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 3.0\Previews\Effects (Windows). This is the little green apple icon that you see in all the Filters and Effects.) NOTE: (You want to do all your tweeking on this copy and not the original in the above mentioned folder, and if you are really nervous about screwing something up, make an extra copy in some other folder that you can always use as a backup.) Now paste this into your folder with your atn file and then delete all the files in the effects cache and filters cache. Open up your PSE (don’t open before deleting or it won’t read the new folder & action).
Now under Effects pull down the menu that says all and you should see a subheading with your actions name. Now open up in PSE your original.psd in that you copied and put in your action folder. Rename the background layer the same as your action title (exactly). And then save as a .psd with the action title. (ie backround layer becomes MidnightSepiav2 and then you save the file as MidnightSepiav2.psd) Close out your PSE.
Now go back out and redelete both sets of cache files again. Reopen your PSE and now when you look at the Effects menu and see your action name you should now have a icon with your action name as well as two originals showing up. Open up your original.psd file in your action folder again and this time click on and drag the action-named icon to it in PSE (this time it will actually run the action on the picture). When it is done you will have several layers. Merge the visible layers (not flatten) and then rename the background layer. If the background layer is locked then duplicate the merged layer and then rename the second layer. Then click on the background layer and in the layers menu chose delete layer. This should just leave you with one layer in the end with your action title on it and it looks like it had been altered (unlike last time). Save this as your action title.psd like before and overwrite the old one.
Now go in and delete the original.psd in your action folder. Delete your cache files one last time and when you open up PSE you should be able to find in the Effects menu your action name with one original icon and one icon that has your action’s name and looks like it. And now give yourself a pat on the back and have fun!