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Photoshop Processing

45 Best Free Photoshop Actions for Photographers in 2024

Joris Hermans
by Joris Hermans
Last updated: 20/11/2024-16 min read
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Unlock the full potential of your photos with these 45 incredible free Photoshop actions. These tools streamline your photo editing process, saving you time and effort in getting stunning results.

Whether you’re a pro or an enthusiastic hobbyist, these versatile actions offer an array of effects and enhancements. There are everything from vintage filters to sleek modern touches.

 

45 Free Photoshop Actions

Adobe Photoshop is a fantastic editing software. And many photographers and creatives use it to get the most out of their work.

But because it has so many possibilities, it can sometimes take hours to get the right result. So why not use these free Photoshop actions to yourself save some time?

We highlight 45 free Photoshop actions you can download and use immediately. If you need help downloading them, read our step-by-step article about using Photoshop Actions.

1. Dark and Haunted

Dark and Haunted is an excellent set of actions for those who like gloomy atmospheres. You get six general effects and two extra tools to enhance your photos further.

The general effects are all meant to make your photos look as moody as possible. You can even use them to enhance your black-and-white images.
A screenshot of before-and-after landscape and portrait photos with free Dark and Haunted Photoshop actions applied

2. Instagram

Instagram is known for its special in-app filters. These six FixThePhoto Photoshop actions re-create the most popular Instagram looks. This is a great way to add consistency to your lifestyle, portrait, or landscape photos.

This set of actions is versatile. So you can use it to enhance all kinds of pictures. You can even use it to make your indoor photos look more appealing.
A portrait of a father and daughter on a split-screen to show the before-and-after effect using a free Instagram Photoshop action

3. Winter Blues

The saying “winter blues” usually has a negative connotation. But that’s not the case here. This set of 10 Winter Blues free Photoshop actions lets you experiment with all kinds of cool photo effects.

These actions can make any winter photo look dramatic and atmospheric. But you don’t have to limit yourself to winter landscape photos only. You can use these free actions to eliminate warm tones in any image.
Screenshot of free Winter Blues Photoshop action graphic

 

4. Powder Explosion

Flour is a standard prop in dance photography. Combined with movement, it can add a whole new level of drama to your images.

This Powder Explosion Photoshop action can create a flour explosion without making you do all the work. It works best with clean photos taken in a studio. The more movement there is, the better!

Note: If you use this action for free, you must credit the designer.
Screenshot of Free Powder Explosion Photoshop action graphic

5. Cinematic Rain Effects

The Cinematic Rain Effects action is ideal for nighttime photos with lots of shadows. It fills empty spaces with rain and fog and slightly color-corrects your image, giving a haunting atmosphere. You cannot use it in every shot, but it’s perfect for creative projects.

Before-and-after diptych of a fantasy portrait using a cinematic rain effects Photoshop action

6. Night to Twilight

Night to Twilight is a free Photoshop action for nighttime photographers. It lightens dark skies and makes it seem like your photos were taken at twilight.

A paid version of the action gives you access to customizable Photoshop actions. But the free version is good enough for those who want a subtle but effective transformation.
Screenshot of Night to Twilight Photoshop action graphic

 

7. Sweet Cupid Tinted B&W

Are you a fan of nostalgic looks? If yes, the Sweet Cupid Tinted B&W Photoshop action is right up your creative alley.

This single action converts your photos to black and white and gives them a pink tint. The results look soft and romantic. It works perfectly as a wedding photo preset.
Screenshot of Sweet Cupid Tinted black-and-white Photoshop action with portrait, wedding, landscape, and animal images

8. Aquamarine Dreams

Aquamarine Dreams actions give your photos a fresh and dreamy look. It’s ideal for spring or winter photos. It enhances the cool tones there already.

You can use it to edit portraits. But ensure you use a Photoshop layer mask to restore your subject’s skin color. If you don’t, their skin might look dull.

This belongs to the same person who made the previous Photoshop action. You can find hundreds of free Photoshop actions on her blog.
Screenshot of Aquamarine Dreams Photoshop Actions with wildlife, plant, and wedding photos

9. Mermaid 

If you’re a landscape photographer who loves vibrant colors, the Mermaid free Photoshop action set is for you. It adds a color pop to your images.

There’s a cool turquoise or romantic pink tone, depending on the atmosphere you want to create. You end up with vibrant results and a tinted vignette.
Triptych showing the different color effects of a free Photoshop action on a waterscape

 

10. Sunny Photoshop Actions

The Sunny free Photoshop actions make any image look like it was taken during golden hour. You can choose from three effects. You also get one adjustment action and an extra surprise!

They all give your photos a look like the reference image below. Your final images should look sharp, warm, and ethereal.
Screenshot of before-and-after images of a teapot and vase on a table and a landscape with a sunny Photoshop actions applied

11. Van Gogh Art

Van Gogh Art is a unique Photoshop action for fans of Van Gogh’s oil painting style. It turns any image into a masterpiece resembling his famous oil paintings.

The action is quite complex, so you have many layers. Fortunately, you get access to each layer. So you can adjust each Photo setting to make your photos look as painterly as possible.
Screenshot of a free Van Gogh Art Photoshop action

12. Morgan Burks

This sample set of Morgan Burks free Photoshop actions is for lifestyle, family, and portrait photographers. It works very well with backlit photos. It adds vibrance, gets rid of cool tones, and mutes highlights.
Screenshot of a Photoshop action website with a child walking on a sunny beach by the ocean

 

13. Watercolor 

Watercolor Photoshop effects are very popular in the creative photography industry. The Watercolor free Photoshop action was made for photographers who love this effect.

It transforms any image into one that strongly resembles a watercolor painting. It is a great action for those who want to make creative photos for their clients or make their portfolios stand out more.
A before and after screenshot of a woman's fashion headshot with a watercolor Photoshop action added to it

14. Rustic

The Rustic Photoshop action helps you achieve a warm analog effect with your picture. It makes any image look like it was taken with a 35mm film camera. This action’s effects are very subtle. Because of this, you can use it to enhance almost any kind of photo.
A before-and-after image of a bicycle, plants, and old building and street with a warm analog Photoshop action effect

15. Nothing But Memories

Do you like making photos look old and textured? The Nothing But Memories Photoshop action helps you achieve that in a few simple clicks.

This action is for photographers who want to give their digital photos a faded analog look. It can be used in any genre of photography. But it might work best with landscape, still-life, and portrait photos.
Screenshot of a nostalgic analog Photoshop action effect on a child's portrait

 

16. BlackNull’s Modern Artist

BlackNull’s Modern Artist is an Adobe original. BlackNull, a well-known digital artist, originally made it. And it is one of the most complex Photoshop actions on our list.

It makes any image look like a graphic artist designed it. It is infinitely customizable. And it can help take your designs to the next level! Make sure you go through the tutorial to avoid making mistakes.
A before-and-after image of a dancer jumping with a stylized, colorful graphic design effect BlackNull added to it

17. High-Key

High-key photography has more highlights than shadows. It’s ideal for commercial, portrait, and even landscape photography. You can use it to make your subjects look optimistic and eye-catching.

The High-key free Photoshop action by Mark Galer makes a simple image pop! It’s an action set with two variations to simplify customization. Just make a few clicks, and you’re done!
A portrait of a woman with a high-key Photoshop action effect

18. Multiplicity

Multiplicity is another free Photoshop action by Mark Galer. It focuses more on effects than color correction. Multiplicity creates a distorted look in your images.

As Mark Galer describes, it makes it seem like you have triple-vision. It works best with photos featuring architecture or intricate designs. The more details, the more interesting the final results!
A photo of a building and urban landscape with a multiplicity Photoshop action effect

 

19. Daguerreotype

Daguerreotypes introduced much of the public to photography. They were high in contrast and gave their models a haunting look. And some of them had a yellowish tint.

All of that inspired this Daguerreotype Photoshop action. Given the nature of daguerreotypes, this action works best when editing portraits.
A before-and-after boudoir image showing the effect of a Daguerrotype Photoshop action

20. Pop Art

Pop art gained popularity in the ’50s. It’s vibrant and has a comic-book feel to it. Back in the day, it was made to lift people’s spirits during a gloomy time in history.

You can achieve a similar effect using one of these Pop Art free Photoshop actions. They’re highly customizable. So you can edit them as much as you like after the action has done its work.
A screenshot of a graphic using a pop art Photoshop action

21. Forest Waterfalls

Forest Waterfalls is an exclusive set of free Photoshop actions for landscape photographers. More specifically, it’s for landscape photographers who shoot forests, waterfalls, rivers, etc.

These actions boost your photos’ color and sharpness. The results are meant to be subtle and natural. Thanks to these actions, you’ll likely save a lot of time.
Waterfall diptych photo showing before-and-after editing with a free Photoshop action

 

22. Space

The Space free Photoshop action gives your images a galactic feel. Your subject will stand out among a sky full of stars, vibrant lights, or smoke. This action is suitable for creative projects and design work. It’s guaranteed to make your photos stand out.
Screenshot of a space Photoshop Effect action graphic of a hooded figure running in outer space

23. Orange and Teal

Orange and teal are colors that work wonderfully together. You might have seen them in images by popular photographers. They’re often used in lifestyle, portrait, and landscape photography.

This vibrant color duo gives your photos a surreal and dreamy look. This Orange and Teal pack has a set of five free Photoshop actions inspired by orange and teal. The different variations work well with any photo.
Screenshot of an orange and teal Photoshop action graphic of a rocky forest landscape

24. Hologram

Science-fiction movies and TV shows often feature holograms. They’re effective thanks to their vibrance and sharpness.

The Hologram Photoshop action makes any photo look like it belongs in a science-fiction movie. All you need to do is brush it over your subject. The action does the rest.
Screenshot of a hologram Photoshop action graphic with a cat

 

25. Fusion Photoshop Action

The Fusion Photoshop action is ideal for portraits and fashion photos. Sometimes, you want to change the mood of your images. And the right change in color, contrast, or tint can make a significant difference. 

It’s a simple and quick way to add unique effects and a personal touch to your pictures. This versatile action set is perfect for editing photos for publications, ads, posters, and graphics.
Triptych of two Photoshop action effects applied to an image of a female dancer

26. Sepia Photoshop Filter

The best thing about the Sepia free Photoshop filter is that you don’t have to download it to test its effects. You can upload a sample image on the website and instantly see what your picture will look like.

When you download it, you get more customization options, which saves you time. This action gives your photos a brown tint with yellow highlights. It’s ideal for creating nostalgic monochrome images.
A screenshot of a sepia Photoshop action graphic with a bride and groom kissing beside a car

27. Blur Background

A blurred background can make your subject stand out more. It can also eliminate distractions and add depth to your image. The Blur Background Photoshop action helps you achieve this.

It comes with three variations, depending on how intense you want your background to look. After the action is applied, all you need to do is mask your subject. That way, only the backdrop is blurred.
Blur Background Photoshop Action

 

28. Boudoir

If you’re a boudoir photographer, you know how important it is to make your model look as appealing as possible. This can be difficult to achieve if you have a deadline and a messy editing workflow.

These Boudoir free Photoshop actions are made specifically for romantic boudoir photography. They give images a soft, hazy, dreamy feel. There are even a few black-and-white options.
A screenshot of a free boudoir Photoshop action graphic with a woman sitting in a bathrobe

29. Greater Than Gatsby

This set of free Photoshop actions by Greater Than Gatsby is perfect for wedding, portrait, and newborn photography. Each action is taken from the creator’s premium collections.

This is a great opportunity to try out their resources for free. And there’s one action in the set that’s not available in any of their exclusive products.
Screenshot showing effects of four free Photoshop actions with portrait, wedding, and newborn photos

30. Mini Fusion

This is a simple but effective Mini Fusion action by MCP Actions. It’s perfect for newborn, portrait, and family photography. It gives your image a boost of color. And it works best with flat photos that lack vibrance.
Collage of images using the Mini Fusion Free Photoshop Action

 

31. Cross-Processing Effects

Cross-processing comes from the darkroom. Photographers process their film using chemicals produced for different types or brands of film. It’s also known as X-Pro. And it used to be very popular in fashion photography.

The results are unpredictable but often look very cool. These Cross-Processing free Photoshop actions can simulate this effect with your digital photos.

Screenshot of cross processing Photoshop action graphic with a female portrait

32. Duotone

A duotone effect is very popular in graphic design. It looks modern and timeless. These free Duotone Photoshop actions are perfect if you’re looking for a way to combine photography and graphic design.

This set features some excellent duotone effects. Use them to take your graphics to the next level and produce cool artwork. Experiment with different colors and fonts to create something unique!
Free Duotone Photoshop Actions

33. Lifestyle

If you’re into lifestyle and design photography, these Lifestyle free Photoshop actions you want. They take social media photos to the next level, especially if you’re an Instagram influencer.

Get the look you want with a few clicks. And luckily, this set is not a one-trick pony. You can also use them for creative adventure, portrait, and landscape photography.
Screenshot of a lifestyle Photoshop Action graphic with a female model posing

 

34. Pastel Effect

Soft pastel is hip these days. It’s popular among photographers, bloggers, and graphic designers. This is an awesome set of free Pastel Effects Photoshop actions to turn your photos into beautiful pastel artwork.

It includes 40 different effects that can be used to impress your social media followers. These actions work well with most Photoshop versions.
Screenshot of pastel effect Photoshop actions graphic with a woman model posing

35. Retro Vintage

Get this Retro Vintage Photoshop action set to add a retro flavor to your photos. This retro look is great for creative urban portraits. It might also fit with car photography and a lot more.

Try it out on a few of your photos. I’m sure you’ll like it for various genres of photography.
Screenshot of a free retro Photoshop action pack graphic with two ballerina's posing

36. Film Light Leak

Light leaks are still popular in many types of photography. The Film Light Leak free Photoshop action pack simulates light leaks from film photography.

A light leak occurs when a small crack lets extra (unwanted) light in. The extra light exposes the film and creates surprising colors and effects. It’s perfect for social media. With a few clicks, you can make ordinary photos perfect for Instagram.
Screenshot of a film light leak Photoshop action graphic with a person running in a field with balloons

 

37. Skin Retouching

Here’s another set of free Photoshop actions to simplify portrait photo editing. These Skin Retouching actions with portrait photography and save yourself a lot of time.

This Photoshop action does all your necessary skin smoothing. This set works best with fashion portraits.
Screenshot of a free skin retouching Photoshop action graphic with a woman's headshot before and after

38. Animated Glitch

The Animated Glitch free Photoshop action adds movement to your photos. It’s a great way to add a unique glitching effect. It turns your photos into an animated GIF. It’s a great way to create quirky graphics.
Screenshot of an animated glitch Photoshop action graphic

39. Vintage Wedding

Wedding photographers can also benefit from free Photoshop actions. The Vintage Wedding action makes your photos look like stylish, vintage photos. This style was and is still popular in wedding photography.

This bundle contains professional, elegant, color-enhancing actions. They add beautiful colors to your pictures. Both seasoned pros and enthusiasts will love using these.
Screenshot of a vintage, wedding Photoshop action graphic with a bride posing with flowers

 

40. Fairy

Here’s a great action pack for baby and family photography. These free Fairy Photoshop actions offer a collection of lively pastel filters. 

You can use these creative effects for blogging or Instagram. They can also work for food photography and ads.
Screenshot of a free fairy Photoshop action graphic with before-and-after images of macarons and a snail

41. Royal Wedding

Do you shoot outdoor weddings? The Royal Wedding free Photoshop actions offer a simple filter for wedding photos. With just a few clicks, you can add great colors and tones.

It’s optimized for outdoor photos and adds a unique look to every wedding. The contrast and colors in your photos will pop like never before.
Screenshot of a free professional royal wedding Photoshop action with a couple posing in elegant clothing

42. Natural Light Landscape

Landscape photography is not easy. Sometimes, waiting for the right light to get the right shot takes hours.

This free Natural Light Photoshop action pack saves you a lot of hard work in post-production. Adjust the exposure, tones, brightness, and more to take your landscapes to the next level!
Natural Light Landscape Photoshop Action

 

43. Glitch Effect

Can’t get enough of that glitch effect action? Here’s another one. This ’80s Glitch effect looks great on any photo to create interesting artwork. It’s easy to use and leaves an impression.
Free Glitch Photoshop Action - best free photoshop actions

44. Skin Retouching 2

If you’re a portrait photographer, then you know retouching portraits is hard. You can’t go too far, or your photos look unnatural.

This Skin Retouching set is all about smoothening skin and beauty retouching. It makes your work a lot easier and faster. You have to pay for the full version. But the free ones are a few must-have portrait tools.
Screenshot of skin retouching Photoshop action graphic with a close-up before-and-after image of a woman's face

45. Color Pop

Do you feel like your photos are missing something? This Color Pop free Photoshop action makes the colors in boring photos pop. They add brightness and make those images lively and vibrant.

The free bundle includes 20 Photoshop actions and 20 Lightroom presets. With a few clicks, you’ll bring your photos to life.
Screenshot of a free color Pop Photoshop action graphic showing a person's legs, hands, shoes and dress

 

Conclusion: Free Photoshop Actions

Don’t let the countless editing possibilities of Photoshop intimidate you. Many photographers have done the work for you by creating these free Photoshop actions.

Add cool effects to your photos in a few clicks, making your editing process much easier and faster. Most actions work with any version of Adobe Photoshop.

When you’re done experimenting with these free Photoshop actions, why not create some actions yourself? Photoshop actions reduce the time you spend editing your photos.

 
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