Pastel Actions for Photoshop
Pastel Actions for Photoshop is a set of 6 slightly desaturating actions. Free download.
Pastel Actions for Photoshop
These Pastel Actions for Photoshop have been created to desaturate certain colours in an image, rather than all of the image. I have left all the adjustment layers intact, I have also used more than one of the same adjustment layer where necessary, rather than putting the values together, so you can delete one if it doesn’t suit your image, but it won’t make a huge difference. Each action uses the High Pass filter, but once again, I have left this layer in so you can remove it if the sharpening effect doesn’t suit your photo. Free download, and the download button is after the showcase.
Pastel Actions 1
This action works well on orange/yellow based images. The effect on this example is quite subtle, but you can clearly see that the yellows and oranges have become more pastel, where the blue has ended up a bit deeper in colour.
The layers in the Pastel Action 1 Group are:
- Background copy 2
- Background copy (High Pass applied)
- Levels
- Curves
- Photo Filter
- Brightness/Contrast
- Curves 2
- Gradient Map
- Selective Color
Image credit: Shopkundusa on Pixabay
Pastel Actions 2
Action 2 works well on blues and oranges. The sky is much brighter, and the buildings are quite desaturated. The river, however, is a darker colour but brighter.
The layers in the Pastel Action 2 Group are:
- Background copy
- Background copy 2 (High Pass applied)
- Selective Color
- Photo Filter
- Curves
- Color Fill
- Gradient Map
- Hue/Saturation
Image credit: Matt Hardy on Unsplash
Pastel Actions 3
This action desaturates most colours and gives a kind of retro effect.
The layers in the Pastel Action 3 Group are:
- Background copy
- Background copy 2 (High Pass applied)
- Levels
- Selective Color
- Brightness/Contrast
- Hue/Saturation
- Color Fill
- Selective Color 2
- Curves
- Hue/Saturation 2
Image credit: Tyler Nix on Unsplash
Pastel Actions 4
Pastel Action 4 works well on yellows and blues. In this image the sky and the sand are quite desaturated, the clothing is lighter in colour, especially the denim jeans.
The layers in the Pastel Action 4 Group are:
- Background copy
- Background copy 2 (High Pass applied)
- Curves
- Selective Color
- Photo Filter
- Levels
- Selective Color 2
- Curves 2
- Gradient Map
- Curves 3
- Gradient Map 2
Image credit: Jack Irwin on Unsplash
Pastel Actions 5
This action without doubt, works best on yellows and greens. In this example, the van and the grass are desaturated, while the sky is a deeper shade of blue.
The layers in the Pastel Action 5 Group are:
- Background copy
- Background copy 2 (High Pass applied)
- Curves
- Selective Color
- Photo Filter
- Gradient Map
- Curves 2
- Brightness/Contrast
Image credit: Marko on Pixabay
Pastel Actions 6
Action 6 adds a hint of blue, particularly to reds in the image. It makes most of the colours more pastel in shade.
The layers in the Pastel Action 6 Group are:
- Background copy
- Background copy 2 (High Pass applied)
- Curves
- Selective Color
- Photo Filter
- Gradient Map
- Curves 2
- Gradient Map 2
- Hue/Saturation
- Levels
Image credit: Shiva Reddy on Pixabay
