MCP Actions, a company specializing in digital editing tools for photographers, offers a selection of free Photoshop actions and Lightroom presets. These freebies are designed to assist both professional and hobbyist photographers in editing and presenting their work. The available free resources include tools for sharpening, applying textures, creating vignettes, generating gallery frames, and preparing images for web presentation. Specific free action sets mentioned include the Mini Fusion Photoshop Actions, High Definition Sharpening Actions, Mini Quick Clicks Lightroom and ACR Presets, and the Free MCP Facebook Fix Photoshop and PSE action set.
Available Free Action Sets
According to the provided sources, MCP Actions provides several distinct sets of free editing tools. These tools are intended to streamline the photo editing workflow by offering shortcuts for common tasks.
- Mini Fusion Photoshop Actions: These actions are designed to "inject new life" into photos and provide "stunning color conversions." The set includes optional tints and exposure fix layers, allowing users to customize their images further.
- High Definition Sharpening Actions: Described as a final step in transforming images, this action is intended to sharpen images correctly every time, whether for print or web preparation.
- Mini Quick Clicks Lightroom and ACR Presets: These presets serve as an introduction to one-click photo editing within Lightroom or Adobe Camera Raw. They are organized in an intuitive, folder-based structure to address common photographer problems.
- Free MCP Facebook Fix Photoshop and PSE Action Set: This set, available exclusively via the MCP Facebook page, includes four actions specifically for resizing, sharpening, watermarking, and branding images for Facebook or the web. The actions are sized at 720 pixels wide for optimal Facebook viewing and can be used to display before-and-after examples or single photos. The set also allows for the auto-insertion of photos and logos, with the ability to change frame colors.
- Free Magic Board Photoshop Action: This free action is part of the Web Presentation actions category, helping users prepare photos into web-ready collages.
Accessing Free Downloads
Users can access these free resources through the MCP Actions website. The company indicates that users can download any or all of the free actions and presets "all today for free." If users lose track of the downloads, they are instructed that they can re-download them from the MCP Actions site. The company also maintains a Facebook page where they announce new freebies and tutorials.
Commercial Products and Capabilities
While offering free resources, MCP Actions also markets commercial products that expand upon the capabilities of the free tools. These paid products cover a wide range of editing needs, from color popping and vintage conversions to retouching and web presentation.
- Fusion Photoshop Actions: This commercial set is for users who want crisp, color-popped images, cross-processed urban looks, vintage styles, or black and white conversions.
- Bag of Tricks Photoshop Actions: This set features more than 25 actions to transform photos into masterpieces.
- Eye Doctor and Dentist Photoshop Actions: These actions are specialized for retouching, specifically designed to enhance eyes and teeth.
- Magic Skin Photoshop Actions: This collection is focused on making skin imperfections disappear effortlessly.
- Web Presentation Actions: These actions help users present their work on the web or in print by creating templates, collages, and inserting branding. This category includes the free Magic Board action.
- Quick Clicks Collection Lightroom Presets: This commercial collection offers thousands of unique, customizable, and 100% reversible looks, ranging from simple exposure fixes to gritty urban effects.
- Double Exposure Effects: The MCP actions provide four distinct double exposure effects.
Compatibility and Usage
The MCP actions are compatible with any version of Adobe Photoshop above CS3, CC, and Photoshop Elements. They can also be used with other programs and work on JPG or RAW images. For users unsure about the installation process, a tutorial is available.
Community and Support
MCP Actions encourages users to share their work and engage with the community. The company directs users to several platforms for interaction, including their Facebook Business Page for announcements and tutorials, Pinterest Boards for links to tutorials and inspiring images, and Instagram for photo challenges and sharing edits using the #mcpphotoaday and #mcpactions hashtags. Additionally, the "MCP Show and Tell" section of their website allows customers to see others' work and share their own edits.
Other Offerings and Promotions
Beyond editing tools, the sources mention other resources and promotions. The company has provided free Facebook Timeline Cover Templates, complete with an instructional video for customization. MCP Actions also offers custom Facebook Page design services for photographers, with options ranging from a basic custom landing tab to a multi-tab mini website within Facebook, starting at $500. Occasionally, the company runs contests, though specific details on current contests were not provided in the source material.
Conclusion
MCP Actions provides a variety of free digital editing resources, including Photoshop actions and Lightroom presets, to assist photographers in their workflow. These free tools focus on essential tasks such as sharpening, color conversion, and web presentation preparation. In addition to freebies, the company offers a comprehensive suite of commercial products for more advanced editing needs. Access to these resources is facilitated through the official MCP Actions website and their social media channels, where the company also fosters a community for users to share their work.