The High Pass Filter in Photoshop allows you to create some very dramatic effects. Let’s use it in combination with some other effects and tweaks to create an epic Photoshop Action. I’m using Photoshop CS3 for the Mac but you can use any version of Photoshop to complete this tutorial. Here’s what we’re going to be creating:

Creating the Action

Step 1

With your photo open in photoshop, open the Actions Menu (Windows>Action). Click the “Create New Action” Button.

Step 2

Name Your Action and Click Record.

Step 3

Duplicate The Background Layer. On the top layer apply the High Pass filter (Filter>Other>High Pass). Set the radius to 3.0 pixels.

Step 4

Set the top layer’s blending mode to Overlay.

Step 5

Create a new Gradient Map Adjustment Layer (Layer>New Adjustment Layer>Gradient Map). Set the Gradient to Black, White as seen below.

Step 6

Duplicate the Background Layer one more time and move it to the top of the layer stack. With the top layer selected, choose Image>Adjustment>Shadow/Highlight and make the following adjustments.

Step 7

Finally, set the blending mode of this layer to Overlay and adjust the opacity to 80%.

Step 8

Open the Actions menu again and hit “Stop” to complete the action.

Now you have one-click action to add some epic drama to any of your photos.

Installing Actions in Photoshop

Loading new actions into photoshop is very simple. On the actions menu, select the more options arrow at the top right and from the drop-down menu, select Load Actions. Here you’ll be able to load any actions saved on your computer.

Download This Action

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