Install Pioneer Woman’s Actions in Photoshop Elements 5 on XP

Installing Actions in Photoshop Elements 5 on XP is quick and easy if you follow these directions:

Using Pioneer Womans’s actions for Photoshop Elements:  When running the actions, whenever the action presents a message with the choice of “Continue” or “Stop”, press “Continue.” Pressing Stop will completely undo the action.

To install actions into Photoshop Elements, start by downloading the action folder from Pioneer Woman and save it onto your desktop.  Better yet, save it into a folder in your documents where you store all your actions – this makes it easier to upgrade PSE or restore actions if you need to re-install your software.

Next, you will copy (right click) and paste the Action folder into the appropriate Actions folder based on your version of PSE and operating system (see below).  To paste, right click and select paste.

Photoshop Elements 5 Action Installation Path

  • Start Menu
  • My Computer
  • Local Disk (C:) (This could possibly be a different letter, but is usually C and most likely will be your computer’s root directory.)
  • Documents & Settings
  • All Users
  • Application Data (Program DATA is not the same as Program FILES.  If you don’t see Program DATA, it’s probably hidden. Go to Start/Control Panel/Classic View/Folder Options/View and select Show Hidden Files & Folders)
  • Adobe
  • Photoshop Elements
  • 5.0
  • Photo Creations
  • Special Effects
  • Photo Effects

Click on image to enlarge:


Photoshop Elements 5 Action Installation Technique:

  1. Make sure PSE 5 is closed
  2. Download action files from Pioneer Woman to your computer. Within the Photoshop Elements folder will be a folder for PSE 5.
  3. Open the PSE 5 folder and copy the entire PW Folder for Set 1 or Set 2 into the Photo Effects folder using the installation path above.  Copy the folder with the action files inside – don’t copy the action files separately.
  4. Open PSE 5 and open an image. This process might take longer than usual as Elements will be rebuilding its Artwork and Effects palette.
  5. Look at the Artwork & Effects Palette, usually on the right side of the screen.  If the Artwork and Effects Palette is not visible, go to the Window menu and click on Artwork & Effects.
  6. Click on the Apply Effects, Filters, and Layer Styles button (3rd from the left under the words Artwork & Effects).  In the drop-down list underneath this button, select Photo Effects.  In the next drop-down, select PW Set 1 (or Set 2).

To run the action, double click on its thumbnail.  Make sure an image is open and enjoy!

Troubleshooting:

  • If the new action is not in the Artwork and Effects palette after restarting Photoshop, restart your computer.
  • If the new action still doesn’t appear, close Elements and hold the shift key while restarting.