Last we we introduced many of you to Adobe Configurator. This week we have put together a very simple tutorial showing you how to create action palettes in Configurator 1.0.

Configurator 1.0 is designed for creating palettes in CS4 but they can be upgraded in Configurator 2.0 for use in CS5.

Step 1.

Open Configurator 1.0 and Create a New Panel. Give it a name a set the size you’d like it a appear in your Photoshop Workspace.

Step 2.

There are plenty of other tools and commands you can add into your panel but today we’re crreating one just with actions so simply drag the Run Photoshop Action play button into your panel space.

Step 3.

As you’ll need the titles of the actions and the action sets to be correct open the Photoshop Actions Window.

Each button will represent an action within a set so you’ll have to create a button for each part of the action set…… and yes…. this can takes ages with actions sets that have lots of actions.

The caption section is basically what you want to to appear as so it’s not important if the name is the same. Just make sure Action Set and Action are the same as they appear in Photoshop

I find it easier to copy and paste the namesAction set and Actions into the spaces.

Step 4.

Next you’ll have to set the size and position of the button within your panel. You can do this by dragging the button manually but it just looks a bit better if you set it all in the fields supplied.

Step 5.

After plenty of copy and pasting the names of actions and playing around with the button layouts you’ll end up with something like this.

Step 6.

Time to export the palette. Whilst still in Configurator 1.0 firstly save the palette. The go to File > Export Panel

Open the folder that has been created and double click on the file with the that ends in .mxi

This will create a .mxp file > double click on this and it’ll install via the Adobe Extension Manager

Step 7.

Open Photoshop and go to Window > Extensions > and you should see your newly created panel. You might need to restart Photoshop and do this again.

Step 8.

Drag your new actions panel into place and you’re done.

You might want to save your Workspace when you’re done Window > WorkSpace > Save WorkSpace