01. Okay first off we need to locate our Actions window. If you don't see it, go to Window then click on Actions.



Well lookit there! There we have our Actions menu. Now there are a few things you can do here. Photoshop has it's own preset actions loaded into the program already. An action is basically a set of pre-recorded steps used in image editing. I like to use them for coloring since I always forget to save psd files. I use an action when I want to make a lot of icons at one time. Now let's make an action.

02. Now what I like to do is sort my actions by what their use is. I have my own Actions set for colorings. For tutorial sake I'm going to create an Action set as an example. To create a set, click on the folder icon on the Actions menu and name it whatever you want.



03. Okay now we've got our set created, let's create our action. To create an action, click on the icon next to the folder. I'm not sure what it is. It kinda looks like paper or whatever. Name the action whatever you want. For this, I'm gonna name it T01.



04. Alright now that we've got our action named and stuff, let's focus on the little red circle in the image above. This is called the record button and from now on, anything you do in Photoshop will be recorded. If you don't want something recorded to the action, you press the stop button. Now would be the time where you start making your icon and stuff. If you want to undo something, you press the delete button. When you are done with your icon, you press the Stop button. I usually press stop after merging my layers.

TIPS:
- When you're doing fill layers, make sure you set your colors while the action is recording. If you don't set your colors, it'll use whatever the foreground color is right now and your icon can come out wonky.

- If you're switching back and forth between photoshop windows while an action is recording, the action WILL RECORD you switching back and forth between photoshop windows. PRESS STOP IF YOU ARE LOOKING AT A PSD FILE. It'll make your life easier. However actions will not record you switching back and forth from Photoshop to firefox or msn or whatever so you're safe there. :]

- Actions, like everything else in Photoshop, take a little bit to master. Sometimes actions won't work and they won't come out right. Don't get discouraged! Just delete the action and record it again. :]