Sometimes, the need will arise to make your photographs look like they were produced for a big-budget film. And while you can manually create these looks within Photoshop, it would take you a reasonable amount of time. Photoshop actions to the rescue!
Today, we’ve compiled a fantastic collection of cinema and movie effect Photoshop action sets that take your photos to the next level in post-production quality. Why leave this to guesswork when you can so accurately achieve the aesthetics you want with minimal effort?
Be sure to read the terms of use and licensing information on each of these Photoshop action sets before you use them. Otherwise, you should be all set for diving headlong into gaining blockbuster status with your photos.
The Retro and Vintage Photoshop actions set instantly turn your photos into works of art that appear as though they were taken sometime several decades ago. All of these actions are non-destructive and allow you to create retro effects in a huge number of ways. Recreate something that looks like Blade Runner. Or Stranger Things. Or The Goonies. These actions make it all possible.
The Matte Film Emulation Photoshop Actions set makes it super easy to create the look of real film with just a single click. This set comes with 33 actions that are fully editable and non-destructive. It also comes with 33 real film grain textures and a snapshot prerendering that makes it easy to play one action and pick the effects.
Another great option is the Grand Trend Art Photoshop Action. This one comes with five frame templates, five collage templates, and 15 overall color presets. This set of actions works fantastic with figures, inanimate objects, and 15 color presets. Each action is layered and fully customizable. Everything is non-destructive as well.
The Film & Retro Photoshop Actions set is an all-encompassing option that comes with 75 effects that create faded, vintage-looking effects. You can implement all of these actions with one click. It comes with snapshot prerendering, and it’s super fast to add to your images. In fact, most effects only take up two layers.
The FilterGrade Film Series Photoshop Actions set is actually a set of 20 film effects that are realistic and offer filters that give the look of a variety of different cinematic experiences. From horror films to westerns, these actions make it a snap to imitate this look with your photographic artwork. Additionally, this set comes with letterbox and vignette options plus help files.
First up, there’s the CineStock Photoshop action. This makes it easy to recreate the look of film and includes 18 actions to choose from. Each of these offers slight adjustments to your photos, including modifications to contrast, saturation, and tonal levels. You can use them all at once or pick and choose – it’s up to you. And it’s non-destructive, so your original photo goes unscathed.
Vintage Film Photoshop Actions is another great set to try out. This one adds a film-inspired look, but it also has a vintage vibe that creates a retro aesthetic. This set comes with 10 Photoshop actions, each of which were inspired by the effects left behind by vintage film, including Fujifilm, Kodak, and others. These actions also add film grain and vintage tones to your photos.
The Movie Effect Photoshop Actions set is another solid choice. This one works by recreating the appearance of film effects using a variety of filters. It works on many different types of images and can be implemented with a single click. This set comes with 1 Photoshop action file, 11 DNG files, 11 CameraRaw Xmp files, and 4 Readme files for further instruction should you need it.
The Digital Film Supply Photoshop Action Bundle is another excellent choice. This set comes with 74 total actions that offer some level of film photography effect for your photos. There are matte versions for each of these actions as well. All of these actions work to add a subtle and understated film effects with ease.
The Film Noire Photoshop Actions Bundle is an all-encompassing collection of color grading actions that can offer a vintage and retro look to any photo you want. It’s simple to use, and with just one click, you can create a grainy look. This bundle includes a variety of actions, including 30 cinematic colors, 20 black-and-white, and full instructions.
This is another excellent choice for giving your photos a cinematic look. This set comes with 15 ready-to-use actions that you can use to create film effects in your photos. You can customize these actions to suit your individual purposes. They’re non-destructive and have multiple layers, so you can adjust each to meet your required specifications.
Another set you might want to take a look at is the Analog Camera Photoshop Actions set. It comes with 24 analog camera effects and an instruction manual for guiding how to use them effectively. Each effect is implemented with just a single click and are non-destructive, so your original photos are still preserved.
The Film Noir B&W Photoshop Actions set comes with six black and white Photoshop actions that look fantastic on portrait, street, and fine art photography. Each of the actions targets a specific end result, like sept, matte, female portrait, or porcelain.
The Anaglyph 3D Photoshop Action is another great choice. This one makes it possible to add a stereoscopic 3D effect to photos with a single click. The best thing about this one is that it works with 3D glasses! What’s more retro than that? This set comes with eight actions, and they can be combined with any other actions that don’t modify colors.
The Cinematic Photoshop Actions set comes with 25 actions, 19 of which offer cinematic looks and six add-on tonal adjustments. This set comes with snapshot prerendering, the effects are fast to implement, and the end result is professional and stunning to look at.
Last on our list is the Infrared Photoshop Actions set. This one comes with numerous color presets that are fantastic for using on landscapes, fashion photos, weddings, and more. Let’s break down what it includes: five infrared actions, 12 style presets, and it’s non-destructive, so your original photos remain intact. This set comes with full instructions as well.
How to Install Photoshop Actions
- Download and unzip the action file
- Launch Photoshop
- Go to
Window > Actions - Select
Load Actionsfrom the menu and go to the folder where you saved the unzipped action file to select it - The Action will now be installed
- To use the newly installed action, locate it in the
Actionpanel - Click the triangle to the left of the action name to see the list of available actions
- Click the action you want to play and press the play button at the bottom of the
Actionspanel
Hopefully, at least one of these cinema and movie Photoshop actions will appeal directly to your needs. Each has a little something different on offer, and I think that stands to make your overall results extremely compelling.
So, enjoy browsing these options and trying them on for size. And we wish you the best of luck in creating unique photographic pieces of art!
