What is an .acv file and how do you use it in PS?

[Guest]

I downloaded a PDF about using curve adjustments to compensate for evaluating prints under 3500K SoLux halogen lighting relative to using a monitor calibrated to 5000K for editing. (by John Paul Caponigro). Along with the download came a file named "correctforhalogen.acv" but there is no mention of it in the PDF.

I know this file has something to do with doing a quick curves adjustment for color correction, but it doesn't appear to be an actions file. Does anyone know what .acv files are exactly and how you implement them in PS? Thanks.

[Wade_Zimmerman1 · Accepted solution]

It is a save curve adjustent.

Open the curves adjustment panel either as a curve or layer adjustment hit the load button and navigate to the file on your hard drive and select it and hit Ok and the adjustments will be made to your image or selection.

[Guest]

Thanks Wade.

That did the trick, once I figured out the missing step. For other folks interested, to use an .acv file to adjust a curve:

Open the Curves Adjustment Panel > Panel Options drop-down menu > Load Curves Preset... > find & select the .acv file (on hard drive) in the "LOAD" window > click LOAD. The adjustment in the .acv file will be applied to the image and appear in the curves graph of the Curves Adjustment Panel. Slick.

Apparently, moving the .acv file to the "Curves" folder in the "Presets" folder allows this curve adjustment to be a permanent preset choice. It can then be found under the Curves Panel preset drop-down menu. Just look for the original .acv file's name in the list.

[LiquidFractal]

Old thread I know, but: can anyone point me to where this Presets folder is?

EDIT: Never mind...apparently you can add them to AppData/Roaming/Adobe/Adobe Photoshop 2023 and then the Curves/Presets folder under that hierarchy.