An action or set of actions are series of tasks that you can play back on a single file or a batch of files – tool actions, menu commands, palette options, and so on. For example, you can create an action that changes the size of an image, change its resolution, applies a filter effect, and then save the file in your desired format. Save that action and simpy play it to apply. Photoshop actions are absolutely great time-saving tools for designers and photographers.

Photoshop and Illustrator each have their own predefined actions installed that will help you perform common tasks. You can already use these actions as is, customize them, or create your own new actions. You can record, edit, customize, and batch-process actions, and you can manage groups of actions by working with action sets. If you don’t want to worry yourself creating your own actions, you can take advantage of the many that are freely available from the web. Today, let me make it easier for you if you’re particularly looking for photo enhancing Photoshop actions. Here are ten (more than 10 actually as some of them contain multiple actions per set) of the most useful photo enhancing Photoshop actions available for free.

1. Turning Turnip Soften Skin Effect
Turning Turnip Soften Skin produces a natural ‘clean’ appearance whilst retaining important skin textures.

2. Vintage Photo by Mutato Nomine on devianArt
This is an action that obviously make a photo look vintage.

3. Shutter Freaks: Hayes Island Variant
A variety of actions to make a photo look like a painting with a canvas finish.

4. Cross-processing Action by Mutato Nomine on devianArt
Cross-processing, briefly, is a photographic technique where (usually) slide film (E6) is processed in the set of chemicals usually used to process print film (C41).

5. Eye Color by Jean31 on devianART
A cool action to color some eyes.

6. Vivid Blur by AlenaJay on devianART
Action to give photos vividly blurring effect.

7. H.D.A. Soft Elegance by H-D-STOCK on devianART
Cool softening effect.

8. IR Effect Look by hanyasatu on devianART
IR filter and modified cam to IR effect.

9. Polaroid Generator V1 by rawimage on devianART
Rawimage from deviantart.com has made 10 great Polaroid Generator actions.

10. Action no.4 Spooky Portraits by bellalleb-stock on devianART
If you like scary looking effects, try this one.