Hey everyone....

Just a quick couple of q's. I was wondering who uses Itty Bitty Actions and what you think of them? Worth the $99 for the 52 action set? Worth the $35 for the Boarder set? Are they easy to use? Easy to upload into your CS? Just curious.... Would love to hear your honest opinions/comments!

As usual, I appreciate any and all comments/advice!

Cheers,
Jeanette

I'm not crazy about the actions. Out of the 52 there was only one I liked and it certainly wasn't worth $99 for that one action. The border set - it's super easy to make those yourself - if you don't want to take the time to do it then they're worth the $35. They're easy to use but I'd invest my money in to a Kevin Kubota set or the new set from the Boutwells instead.

ditto. I like them, but I don't find that I use them much on weddings.

I have my eye on it when I have the extra $$$! http://totallyradactions.com/

Hmm. Ook, I do have Kubota's action pak... I was looking for more actions that give nice color POP and can convert to a really true b/w. I want a sharp looking b/w conversion. I do like the idea of borders... because I do not know how to create them myself. One day I hope to learn the ins and outs of CS to be able to create on my own, but for now, I need some actions to help me out.

This Boutwells... anyone have a link to that? I'd like to check them out. Also, Shelby.. how much are those actions that you suggested? I didn't see a price list on the site. I'm blind at this hour. Jessica, I don't do weddings (yet.. toooo chicken) so do you think the itty bitty actions are good for regular photography? Just curious. I'm stumped when it comes to adding a few more actions to my bag of tricks. I'm leraning my way around with editing, so the actions have been very helpful. I'm just wanting some fun editing tools.

Thanks for the input you guys!
j

Which Kubota set do you have? I loooove his B&W Midbright for a truer contrasty b&w. For color pop there are a ton of good FREE actions out there... just google it.

Hi... Well, I have Artistic pak I and II and Productions. I love them.. don't get me wrong.. but, maybe it's me?? LOL. That might be the problem. LOL. I realize it totally depends on the image I'm working with that sometimes leads to inconsistant results with the actions. But, in my opinion, I haven't really gotten the great crisp dramatic b/w using his actions. Again.. perhaps it's me. You all are probably much better at editing than I am. It's rather new to me. You know how to bump curves and this and that just right to make the perfect image. I can achieve it sometimes.. but I want to cut down the amount of time it takes me to create it. Does that make sense? Your advice has been really helpful. I will spend more time searching out "free" sites first. LOL. I am new to the world of digital (by new I mean I made the switch from film to digital about 2 years ago) so editing is a whooole new world. I will spend more time with the Kubota actions and see if I can learn how to utilize them better.

thanks!
j

i for one like them, and use them frequently....

I find I used them the most when making slideshows @ weddings along with of course the show it effects..

Nobody asked you!

Wow, That's encouraging to hear being that I frequent your website a lot! (have you bookmarked) Great images! I love your work. I really love the b/w's you produce. I just want a little extra kick to my pix and want to invest a small amount in actions to help bump me up a notch. Vivid color and TRUE black and whites are the main area I want to improve on. If you think Itty Bitty can help in those two areas, then perhaps I'll make the purchase... but... if there are other suggestions, I'm all ears. I really want to learn how to use actions/CS2 in an effective manner. I don't think I know enough about editing to truly get the best out of them... but I'm learning. I appreciate your input. Thank you so much!

J

Jeanette-- The one thing that I liked about the itty bitty actions is that they offer very good color pops. There are about 5 "new color" actions that I really love. Sadly, these are the only ones I've used from the set. I didn't really like the black and whites that this set offered.

I can justify spending the money, because these color pops are great when batching weddings. They work overall with any image I send them through.

It really all comes down to what you plan on using them for.

Hope this helps...

Hi Josiah!
Yes.. this does help. I hate when they offer soo many actions, and you only end up using a few. I do love my Kubota actions and use a ton of them all the time. I saw the sample on Itty Bitty's website and the color on the sample is beautiful! I would love that kind of POP. Hopefully I will find a set of actions that offer both great color popping actions as well as great true b/w actions. I would pay the money if they are really great actions that will be used a lot. I'll keep shopping, and take what you said into consideration.. Thanks so much!

JK




CORRECTION ----- I'm an idiot. Didn't look at that website to clearly Shelby. LOL. I now see that those ARE the Boutwell Actions and I do see the price on them. Duuuh. sorry about that.

Anyone else out there that has the Boutwell Actions willing to share an opinion?? Just need to find a good set of b/w and color actions in one purchase. Thanks!

I use itty bitty actions but I too only use a handful and that's because I don't really do a lot of other looks just mostly the popped look (I photo mostly kids). It's been worth it to me because it's the first set of actions I purchased when I knew nothing about them and have used them a lot. If you want you can pm me, send me a picture and I will apply some of the actions and send them back so you can see for yourself. BTW, I do like using her b&w (light b&w and dark b&w) and maybe cuz hers is the only ones I have

I bought them and they are nice, but I don't necessarily think they are worth $99. But...I hardly ever use actions anymore other than a couple of KKs. And I don't do that many childrens portraits.

If anyone is interested, I will delete mine from my computer and sell them to you for $65. Seriously, the only reason I haven't deleted them already is b/c I paid so much for them. And I don't mean that as a slam to itty bitty (I swear!) - that sounds horrible, but that isn't how I mean it! I just bought so many actions when I first started to play around with the I have way too many. As I said earlier, I just don't use actions any more. I could see how they would be great for someone who does a lot of childrens work.

So...if you are interested, post here or PM me. Obviously, I can only sell them to the first person who responds.

[b] has been using them on his latest trip with Jessica Claire across the southwest. TotallyRadPictures

B's and Jessica's pictures are STUNNING. I check both their blogs daily! Maybe even twice to look at their pictures a second time

this is so funny! i'm shocked you guys!

i absolutely LOVE my itty bitty actions. when i switched to using lightroom, i made my own actions, but when i use PS2, i use them all the time....the new color ones rock, and i love the light bw/dark bws. i love all of them, i think it was the best $99 investment i made! STRANGE that ya'll aren't big fans!

<3 kristy

ps. totally rad actions looks kinda cool!

Hi!

Thanks for the info! I think I might just shoot you a few images and request your help if you don't mind.... I will try to get to that at some point tonight... but, well, we've just received some horrible news today and I'm not sure when exactly I can/will get to it. I just wanted to make sure that I replied to you because you were so kind to take the time to help me out..... Thank you. I'll PM soon... I hope...

Cheers,
jeanette

Hi Jill... Thanks for the reply! I appreciate your honest opinion. I have come across many cool actions and just can't seem to committ! I only need some great b/w conversion actions and some great color pop. I hate having to pay for a set that I'll only use 5 out of... I do own Kubota's actions and LOVE them, but feel I still need a bit more. Let me browse around a bit more and get some more opinions to see if they are worth the investment. I appreciate your help!

BTW, are Itty Bitty's easy to use? Are they pretty much load and click and apply? Kubota's rock with how easy they are to use... That's what I'm reallyl looking for..... Any bites on that topic? Who has the easiest to work with actions? I'm L-A-M-O when it comes to all this tech stuff. Please forgive me for that... I'm learning though...

J



Hey Kristy!
You were the one I was actually waiting for to comment on this! LOL. I thought I had seen another post from you stating that you loved the Itty Bitty's. That's what made me look into them because I LOVE your work! I of course am happy to hear other views on them.. so this has been very interesting and informative to me... but now I'm really confused. LOL. I'm not nearly as sassy with actions as you and others.. but.. I'd like to be and I'd like to bring my images up a notch... All of your advice helps a lot!

Thanks for your honest opinion......

I also am a BIG fan of the itty bitty actions... probably a little more so than Kubotas, although I like his B&W's better. BUT the pack has nice web sharpening actions, resizing actions, plus GREAT color ones. I think it's totally worth the investment.
Totally easy to use... you load em' click play on an action, adjust to taste in the layers pallete... done!

Thank you Kate.. I appreciate your reply/opinion..... and I also thank you for your input on my "other" post this evening. OSP helps to keep my mind active.... I love that.

Again.. thank you.
J

Alrighty, I have to put my vote in! I have all of Kubota's except for the latest that was released in Decemeber wich I am getting reeeeeeeal soon. His are just hot hot hot hot! I just love the little daily vitamin, I put that on EVERYTHING and then if I feel real saucy I'll go for some more actions... Love the Lord of the rings, the new B&W with midbright and just the midbright is super cool, hollywood, digital fill flash, smokeless burn, modern antique with a glow is super cool it's old fashioned type with a hint of color... I can go on and on about this, but you get the point! Oh and for a time saver you can batch the heck out of Kubota's actions too! I have the production but it just sits there just incase I need to use it, I don't really use that one...

Oh and the nik filters are super cool too! I dig the monday morning ones and the midnight ones! There's a bunch more too, but those are my fav's!

Good luck and happy action shopping!
T