How would you recommend learning Photoshop?

[zoed]

So I've only been a photographer for a few months, and I've been using Lightroom 2 only. But I think I'm ready to take my post-processing to the next level. Plus I want to work on designing marketing materials, gift certificates, etc. So I bought Photoshop CS4 and now I should probably figure out what to do with it. ;-)

I I've never used it. So I don't really understand layers or anything... I'm pretty quick to learn, but have to start somewhere of course.

I wanted to take a class at the local community college but the only one available is at a time that won't work for me.

So... I'm thinking of getting a good solid book or something to get me started. Any suggestions??? How did you learn?

(Note: I like Kelby stuff, but read a review that his Photoshop books were not really at a beginner level.)

[dmcantrell]

I read a Kelby book, but I didn't like his methods because in some cases they are destructive. In other words, he performs an operation that creates a point in the work flow that cannot be undone (i.e. Lab Color).

I bought a book called "Photoshop CS3 Workflow" by Tim Grey. There is a CS4 version as well.

Amazon.com: Photoshop CS4 Workflow: The Digital Photographer's Guide (9780470381281): Tim Grey, Christopher Robinson: Books

I -really- like this book because the flow is 100% non-destructive, easy to understand, and all based on layers. He also delves into some advanced fixes towards the end and other topics (like consistent file naming). The book is well-written and well-planned. There are easy-to-understand examples and useful illustrations.

All in all, this was a rock-solid foundation for me.

EDIT: Also, lynda.com tutorials on youtube are very well done. I became a fan of Photoshop on facebook, and they send out a nice little tutorial every day.

[texkam]

YouTube is your friend.

Plus I want to work on designing marketing materials, gift certificates, etc.

For logos, you'll want to produce them in "vector" art (Wiki it). You'll need Illustrator or you can go the free route with the ever improving Inkscape.

[mmuhlenkamp]

I've heard good things about lynda.com, pay for a month and really hammer away at the lessons and exercises to get you familiar with the program and then after that you can find a lot of free tutorials online. Adobe programs like Photoshop can be difficult to learn if you haven't used something similar before (I use the program daily and often find new tools or tricks), so a class with a real instructor would probably be best if you can find one near you.

[bondarnes]

Texas School of Professional Photography Beginning Photoshop with John Wilson or Photoshop for the portrait Photograqpher with Robert Seat.
http://texasschool.org/classes.html

[Stricks]

I tell you what...the Internet is an AWESOME place to learn stuff for free. In fact, free tutorials are how I taught myself HTML, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, etc. Sure, I got a degree, but the net is where I keep going back for new knowledge all the time.

So, it's a simple suggestion, but doing a search for Photoshop Tutorials on Google is a GREAT to start learning Photoshop with very little investment. Books and paid tutorial sites are very useful as well, but I'd say soak the web for all it has that free before you head down those paths. :D

[RKEnnis]

lynda.com is a great resource! I'm pretty sure they even have a free trial period...

[Sonny]

I agree with Robert 100%. The internet is a wonderful place to start. Like many members on this forum, I taught myself Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Lightroom, HTML/CSS, Microsoft Office and more just by utilizing many free resources on the net.

So you're asking yourself, "Where do I begin?" Getting started can be a little overwhelming. The internet is a huge place and there are literally hundreds of sites out there. I can help.

Video Tutorials - These allow you to learn on your own time. You start and stop the videos at your convenience. Some sites like Lynda.com & Kelbytraining are subscription based (monthly/yearly), but they allow you to watch as many videos as you can.

• Lynda.com is where I started learning Photoshop 7.0 in 2004. These video tutorials start from the very basics and lead you to more advanced techniques. Sometimes they are 4-10 hour videos broke up into chapters. Lynda.com has one of the largest (if not the largest) video libraries on the web.
  
• Another great video tutorial website is Kelbytraining. I've watched many of there training courses. Kelby classes are much shorter but they pack a lot of important learning information in a short amount of time. When I want to learn the basics...Kelby is where I go.
  
• Of course let's not forget Adobe. They offer some video training classes. I'm not sure of the exact links but these two will lead you in the right direction.
  Creative Suite 3 Video Tutorials
  Creative Suite 4 Video Tutorials
  
• Another well know website is Total Training. I have not used them, but I hear good things about them. Total Traing is also subscription based.
  
• Youtube, believe it or not has a bunch of FREE video tutorials. You'll have to do some searching but it's worth it.
  
• Photoshop User TV <-----Free
  
• Layers TV <-----Free
  
• Terry White Podcast <-----Free
  
• Also check iTunes and Podcasts

Step-by-step tutorials - This is where I learned the most about Photoshop! The majority of theses tutorials are written by Photoshop users.

Kelby TV
Good-Tutorials
Tutorialoutpost
Photoshop Road Map
Pixel2Life
Photoshop Lover
Tutorialized
The Russell Brown Show
Kaoz Tutorials
Tutorialsphere
Planet Photoshop
Photoshop Lab
PSD Tutorial
Enthoes
New Tutorials
Absolute Cross


School

If all else fails...go to school. There a number of schools that offer daily, weekly, and semester classes. Luckily I haven't needed these.

Friends and forum members

This one is VERY important to me. Some of you may know Jordan Chan (Redmouse). He was a huge influence in my post processing workflow. Instead of getting comfortable and staying there, he pushed me into challenging myself all the time. Not only that, he also taught me to keep an open mind and try new things...mainly software!

Way back in the day I was a jpeg shooter and did all my post processing ONLY using photoshop. This took forever! Then I learned about shooting RAW and processing the RAW files with Canon's Digital Photo Professional. Next Jordan showed me the advantages of batch processing with Adobe Bridge and ACR. WOW, my whole world changed. My workflow times were cut in haf. After a couple of years, just as I was getting comfortable he showed me Lightroom. This was even a bigger revelation for me. Thank J!

My point being, get out to some of the TPF get togethers. We have wonderful people on the forum willing to share their knowledge. Many of them bring laptops, ask questions and share ideas.



These are some of the places I've collected over the years. Hopefully you and others can benefit.

[zoed]

You guys are awesome. Thank you, thank you!

[dmcantrell]

I have been keeping a running crib sheet over the years for web pages that I've found useful at some point in time. I haven't checked to see if all the links still exist, esp the ones at the beginning.

Photoshop Help

Various techniques -->
Peachpit: Photoshop Reference Guide > Advanced Digital Noise Removal

Green eye in photos, removing using channel mixer
Working with Photoshop's Channel Mixer

Adding watermark in lightroom using photoshop droplets
Adobe Lightroom - Running Photoshop Actions using Droplets

Useful technique in lab color
Photoshop Lab Color: Ch. 1 - Digital Grin Photography Forum

Mae border on differnet layer
Photo Borders - Photoshop Borders - Picture Borders - Photoshop Photo Borders

Cross Processing -->
Cross Processing in Photoshop - color negative art effect | PhotoshopSupport.com

Matte Painting -->
Photoshop matte painting

lots of tutorials -->
Photoshop Tutorials - Adobe Photoshop Tutorials

Scott Kelby tutorial for gritty look -->
Scott Kelby's Photoshop Insider Blog » Photoshop & Digital Photography Techniques, Tutorials, Books, Reviews & More Blog Archive Getting That Cool Gritty Look Right in Camera Raw and Photoshop or Lightroom

Flickr tutorial, pseudo Dave Hill look -->
Flickr: Discussing OT - EUREKA!! the Dave Hill LOOK!!! in Strobist.com

Orton Effect
The Orton Effect – Digital Photography Tip of the Week | PCIN.net Update

Photoshop Textures -->
Texture- Heavens-Entrance on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Facial Touch-ups -->
Lunacore Photoshop Training - Beautify a Face tutorial (part 1/7)

Keyboard Shortcuts -->
Photoshop Secret Shortcuts

Healing Brush Advanced -->
YouTube - Photoshop Top 40 #22 - The Healing Brush

Liquify Filter Tutorial -->
YouTube - Photoshop Top 40 #29 - Liquify

Portrait Retouching -->
Dr Brown's Photoshop Laboratory - Portrait Retouching Experiments | Adobe TV

make a painted look -->
BMC Photo-Art: Advanced Photoshop tutorial - A Classical Portrait Photoshop Painting

Photoshop Plugin for painted look -->
Dynamic Auto-Painter, turn your photos into painting

Photoshop Tutorial, heavy manipulation -->
Creative Photoshop Animal King Photo Manipulation Tutorial | Tutorial9

[ChristopherCoy]

If your like me and cant afford a class, and hate reading a book, just open the program and start playing. I just learned what a flippin gradient fill is....

[JohnT]

Kelby is coming to town for a one-day PS seminar on Jan. 29. Send me a private message with your email address, and I'll forward the info to you if you're interested.

[Bruce M. Morris]

Don had a short message and suggestion for Texas School of Professional Photography. Highly recommend that this be considered if you can take the time to go.. If not, Lynda.com is convenient and has a HUGE database of information, not just photoshop...

[ZONE]

Lynda.com

[Five0angel]

Originally Posted by Sonny

[*]Youtube, believe it or not has a bunch of FREE video tutorials. You'll have to do some searching but it's worth it.

I love YouTube!!! Especially starting out I learned so much there!

[zoed]

I'm signed up for the Kelby seminar in Arlington 1/29 too. I grew up in Arlington, so that's perfect. Thanks again all. I can't believe how helpful you are! Sonny & David, those are some crazy-helpful lists. THANK YOU!

[Sonny]

My pleasure Zoe. Glad I can help.

[klynam]

Photoshop is an amazingly powerful and complex program. Classes by well known speakers are fun and exciting, but when first learning to use Photoshop (as most things) the more direct instruction you can get, the better.

I began working in Aldus Digital Darkroom before Photoshop even existed. I'm a teacher by nature (not career) and I teach digital photography and post production privately for jr-high and high school ages.

So many parents have asked for the same thing, I will soon begin offering direct instruction via online WebEx sessions and private in-home sessions for Introduction to Digital Photography and Introduction to Photoshop.

I don't want to hijack this thread or run afoul of the "self promotion" prohibition here on the forum, so if you want to know more please PM for information...

[Sonny]

Originally Posted by klynam

Photoshop is an amazingly powerful and complex program. Classes by well known speakers are fun and exciting, but when first learning to use Photoshop (as most things) the more direct instruction you can get, the better.

I began working in Aldus Digital Darkroom before Photoshop even existed. I'm a teacher by nature (not career) and I teach digital photography and post production privately for jr-high and high school ages.

So many parents have asked for the same thing, I will soon begin offering direct instruction via online WebEx sessions and private in-home sessions for Introduction to Digital Photography and Introduction to Photoshop.

I don't want to hijack this thread or run afoul of the "self promotion" prohibition here on the forum, so if you want to know more please PM for information...

I wish you were around when I was a kid. You got some mad sick skillz!

[crazyfoo]

Check out the site below. I received an email from Adobe the other day with this link and check it our briefly... learned some new things rather quickly! It's nice because you select from different categories on how you want to use photoshop.

Adobe Photoshop CS4

[doctahjones]

Originally Posted by klynam

Photoshop is an amazingly powerful and complex program. Classes by well known speakers are fun and exciting, but when first learning to use Photoshop (as most things) the more direct instruction you can get, the better.

+1

when i started learning photoshop in '98 i learned by watching a guy i knew who was a "graphics" guy. it didn't take much to get the basics of it (understanding layers, etc) and then i was off. everything from there was self taught or a plugin/filter. nowadays youtube is a godsend. when there's something i need to do, i just youtube it and in about 10 minutes i have it down.

then there's always this place. if you're having trouble with one thing not looking right, you could always ask. i know i learned how to use the "patch" tool from scott watters (really scott, that was and excellent tip), which is now something i do on almost every photo i edit.

[911Newfs]

another option is LVS Online
They offer several online classes, some are instructor-led, others are self-study.

_

[klynam]

Originally Posted by Sonny

I wish you were around when I was a kid. You got some mad sick skillz!

Thanks man - post is da'bomb dog...

[elliottmm]

Depending on what level you're at... I agree, you-tube may have some easy tutorials.

I was teaching my niece Photoshop one day I noticed she was getting a bit board, so I looked for something on line and found this awesome funny tutorials that she finds useful... not that I'm not as entertaining...

You Suck at Photoshop You Suck At Photoshop: Our Favorite Tutorials by Our Favorite Person