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I am new to Photoshop actions. In fact, I started using actions since last year ago only. Photoshop action is one of those least explored features of Photoshop. An action is a series of tasks that you play back on a single file or a batch of files. The Photoshop actions may include menu commands, tool actions, palette options, and so on. You can create a Photoshop action that changes the size of an image, applies a filter to the image for a particular effect, and then saves the file in the desired format.

However, if you want to use Photoshop actions it is best if you learn how to create them first. Photoshop Support.com has a video tutorial on how to create Photoshop actions titled “Recording Actions To Automate Tasks”. It is a must-see video for those who want to give Photoshop action a try.

In my last post about Photoshop action, I listed down some free Photoshop actions that you can use for editing images, such as sepia and black and white effect, soft skin effect, and so on. And since we also find ourselves needing to put effects in texts, I think it will be worthwhile to also look at free Photoshop actions for creating text effects. By the way, if you are not interested in using free  Photoshop actions and would rather create the text effects from scratch, I also have a post about the best tutorials for making text effects in Photoshop. Please also check that out!

So here are the free Photoshop actions for creating text effects in Photoshop. To use these files, just go to the actions palette (if it is not opened yet, go to “Windows” and make sure that “actions” is checked or just press the shortcut “Alt+F9”) then click “load actions” or “replace actions”. A “load” dialog box will pop up and then select these files (the saved actions) from your disk. The load actions command will load the new actions while the replace actions command will replace the default actions or the current actions in the actions panel. All of the items I am posting here are from finnessefx.com. This site has enormous amounts of Photoshop resources. Also, the descriptions of each effect here are direct quotes from the author’s site.

1. FREE PHOTOSHOP ACTIONS: Superheroes
Author: finessefx.com
Description: Do not settle for ordinary text — make it super! Here’s an effect to help you do just that. This is actually a Photoshop action set comprised of 6 different actions. The first creates the generic superhero text, the second gives a thinner 3-D effect, and the third takes the 3-D text into the distance. This action works with Photoshop CS or higher.

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2. FREE PHOTOSHOP ACTIONS: Auburn Xtacy
Author: finessefx.com
Description: It seems rather difficult to describe in words exactly the appearance of this free Photoshop action. As you can tell, it forms a dark brown textured border around the text, with the inside being a lighter, streaky yellow.
Requirements: Photoshop CS or higher

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3. FREE PHOTOSHOP ACTIONS: Starry Text
Author: finessefx.com
Description: This looks exactly like what it sounds like — an endless star field encapsuled by a glossy blue border. You get text full of a multitude of stars, novas and dying novas. At the end, the file is left unflattened and all the layers are put into a set for easy manipulation and movement.

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4. FREE PHOTOSHOP ACTIONS: Beams of Light
Author: finessefx.com
Description: This dramatic effect simulates the appearance of heavily backlit text with the light busting at the seams around the letters creating beams which expand in all directions. This free Photoshop action requires that your extra set of contours which came with Photoshop be loaded into the Preset Manager. Instructions are given on this within the action. For detailed instructions on this relatively simple process, see the “Loading Extra Contours” section on the F.A.Q. page.

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5. FREE PHOTOSHOP ACTIONS: Fluid
Author: finessefx.com
Description: Create a beaker of fluid inside your text with this free Photoshop action. The appearance is rather like a lava lamp or perhaps you might describe it as an “oil in water” clone. The substance is covered with a glossy glass case, surrounded by a textured white border.

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6. FREE PHOTOSHOP ACTIONS: 1930s Glitter
Author: finessefx.com
Description: Be transported back in time to the age when the upper class ladies adorned themselves with long, flowing dresses covered in sequins. Relive the glitter and glamour! This free Photoshop action recreates the era of glitz and glam by putting these colorful sequins all over your text! You have the option of changing the color of your glitter, and when the action finishes all layers are in tact and placed into a handy layer set for maximum flexibility.

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7. FREE PHOTOSHOP ACTIONS: Lights of Las Vegas
Author: finessefx.com
Description: Experience the dazzing brilliance of the Vegas strip on your Photoshop text with this free Photoshop action. Inspired after seeing footage of the strip, I created this free Photoshop action to mimic the bright, gaudy feeling. As you can see from the preview, you can use the free Photoshop action with all the interior elements, or disable them after the action has run to get a simple neon effect around the border of the text. Colorful and unique, this action fits that niche when you’re looking for something just a little different than anything else!

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8. FREE PHOTOSHOP ACTIONS: iMac
Author: finessefx.com
Description: A tribute to Apple’s personal desktop, this free Photoshop action takes your text and creates a vivid blue with subtle swirls inside and a bright highlight coming from the top. The end result is quite beautiful. A shout out here goes to Rick Kelly, one of the original pioneers of Photoshop actions, whose techniques I studied and who inspired some of the methods used to formulate this action.

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9. FREE PHOTOSHOP ACTIONS: Graffiti
Description: Somewhere in the city… in a dark alleyway… a punk marks his territory using all the artsy skill that he could have developed if he wasn’t living on the street. Now you can have that work on your desktop with this free Photoshop action. Just watch out you don’t get sprayed while the action is running

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10. FREE PHOTOSHOP ACTIONS: Sapphire
Author: finessefx.com
Description: This free Photoshop creates a deep blue gem-like effect out of your text. It is simple to use– just load in and play. Works with Photoshop CS or higher.

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11. FREE PHOTOSHOP ACTIONS: Night Life
Author: finessefx.com
Description: This free Photoshop action creates an entire atmosphere. It puts your text on the surface of a placid lake with the moon reflecting on the water. Just load it in and play. Requires Photoshop CS or higher to run.

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12. FREE PHOTOSHOP ACTIONS: Psychadelic Satin +
Author: finessefx.com
Description: This updated version covers your text in a psychedelic gradient intertwined with swooshes and swirls and bottles it all in a reflective glass container.

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13. FREE PHOTOSHOP ACTIONS: Chrome Nostalgia
Author: finessefx.com
Description: Relive the wondrous period of chrome, stylish cars, and roadside diners of yesteryear with this action! The effect yields chrome bars backed with a semi-transparent frame, all shaped to the contour of your text.

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14. FREE PHOTOSHOP ACTIONS: Brushed Iron +
Author: finessefx.com
Description: A companion to “Glossed Iron”, this text effect has also been updated and dramatically enhanced! The border looks like it has been shaved off this chunk of iron and polished to the extreme. Inside, the unique textured “iron” gives this action a dramatic and pleasing look.

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15. FREE PHOTOSHOP ACTIONS: GRUNGE
Author: finessefx.com
Description:This free Photoshop action takes your text, batters it, tears it, and puts it through the ringer to create this grungy effect! The effect looks a little different each time you run it, so you can use it multiple times and the results will never be identical. Additionally, you’re given the option to customize the color and saturation to your own liking.

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OTHER RESOURCES FOR FREE PHOTOSHOP ACTIONS:

If these text effects saved as Photoshop actions are not enough for you…or, if your desired text effects are not included in this list, please check other websites that offer free photoshop actions specifically for creating text effects:

1. Photoshop Actions Blogspot

2. DownTR

3. Indigo Actions

4. Grunge Text Effect (Photoshop Action) Tutorial