Getting better at Photoshop

[macka]

Does anyone know of any good Photoshop CS2 courses in Sydney?

I'm interested in doing one. There's a lot more to Photoshop than just the basic things I tend to use it for, and I find experimenting with it to be fun.

I know I can teach myself just by reading to a certain extent, but if there were a good course I'd consider doing that as well.

Has anyone done something like this, or heard of one they can recommend?

Alternatively, has anyone got any other good Photoshop resources that have helped them learn more about the program?

[losfp]

Can't help you out with specific courses, Kris, but I definitely recommend doing one. Photoshop is one of those applications that REALLY benefits from watching someone use it. You can read all you want, but you get a much better idea if someone actually shows you on-screen. PS: Goodsey for his second Charlie in 3 weeks.

[Justin]

Sydney community college has one... haven't done it and I don't know anyone who has

http://www.sydneycommunitycollege.com.a ... ID=SC3161E

[ABG]

Hi Kris,

I can't recommend any specific courses, but I do have a couple of books that I can highly recommend. The first is the CS Book for Digital Photographers by Scott Kelby and the second is How to Wow - Photoshop for Photographers by Jack Davis and Ben Willmore.

I'm currently working my way through the How to Wow book, but you're more than welcome to borrow the Scott Kelby book. Shoot me a PM if you're interested.

[sirhc55]

Macka - a little story. I have been using Photoshop since it came onto the market and have never taken part in any courses on the program. My last partner was a designer (as I am) and took many courses but always asked me what to do when she had a problem in Photoshop. My son is a designer at BWM and has never undertaken any Photoshop courses. He is now an absolute wizard in Photoshop, even surpassing his old man.

The problem with Photoshop is that it encompasses a vast number of computations of usage, too vast to be taught. Yes, you could take a basic course, but to master Photoshop it is a day by day, year by year learning curve that is exponential.

[Yi-P]

Im not sure how advanced you are with photoshop. There are so many different levels of complexity in achieving one thing in photoshop, which each of them has their own benefit and disadvantage.

I believe photoshoping and PP is more about workflow and style of the user. Some may find certain way much more convinient for them and other may choose to go on the longer and more complex way for its 'flexibility'. So in such doing a course may or may not benefit you from your style of PP workflow.

Im not sure if Im able to help, but you can just shoot me a PM if you need some help through PSCS2. I'll do my best to answer your question there. I'd be glad to share some of my PP workflows too.

[Wocka]

Maybe have a look at http://www.photoshoptv.com/. Every week they post a new program and show you how to do things.

Cheers

[ozimax]

I have a wonderful book entitled "Photoshop Classic Effects" by Scott Kelby. Never have I learned so much usable info on PS than with this book. Just a thought. Ozi.

[Manta]

Hi Kris.

I can only echo what's been said here about a course perhaps not being the way to go. I've thought about it often but talk myself out of it when I realise I'd be paying someone a fortune to teach me what I can see for myself in very clear, step-by-step tutorials in, particularly, books by Scott Kelby (I've got seven of them) and Brisbane-based Philip Andrews (I've got this one of his).

The problem with courses is that unless you're going to pay for one-on-one contact, the course won't just cover what you want out of Photoshop - it'll be very generic and cover lots of things in probably only broad detail. With the books, you can pick and choose what techniques you can best utilise, go back time and time again for reference and the cost, compared to a course, is minimal.

Just some food for thought.

[macka]

Thanks all for your advice and opinions. I do have one book, I think the one mentioned by ABG. But thanks for the suggestions of other books, and links - I shall investigate them.

Some of you do bring up good points against taking a course, and I know its most certainly possible to learn without doing a course, but as Des mentioned it can make a difference actually working with someone in person. And doing a course would not mean that I would stop trying to learn independently, it would just be something practical to supplement that learning.

But anyway, I haven't found one yet, nor have I made any concrete decisions, so all your advice is appreciated, thank you.

[Oneputt]

Chris you are spot on. I stopped thinking about courses when I realised how much there was to learn. Now when I want to do something I just ask, and hopefully remember. sadly though I do not appear to have remembered much

[Manta]

it can make a difference actually working with someone in person.

I'd be more than happy to sepnd a few hours going through some things with you Kris but there's the small matter of geography to consider..

I'm sure there are plenty of gurus down your way adn I know Matt K used to run some sessions at minimeets. Perhaps it might be timely to crank these up again.

I don't reckon you'd be alone in wanting to increase your PS knowledge and it would be like designing your own course.

[mic]

Macka,

What Chris said is spot on, you have to use it on a daily basis so it becomes second nature to you, there is soooooo much in it.

Get in it and make heaps of mistakes, you too can become an Inverter like me

Good luck.

Mic.

[Nnnnsic]

Get in it and make heaps of mistakes, you too can become an Inverter like me

CTRL+I rocks! Woohoo!!!

[Yi-P]

Get in it and make heaps of mistakes, you too can become an Inverter like me

CTRL+I rocks! Woohoo!!!

Macro at negatives, into photoshop and CTRL+I rocks No more scanner needed

[Aussie Dave]

I also agree that PS is something that needs to be used on a daily basis. The other thing to note is that there is often various ways/methods of doing the same thing (to use an example - Sharpening). There are several differing methods, all correct in their application and all suited to differing types of images. So, in this instance, to fully learn PS one would need to learn every method, along with which type of image they are best suited to.

Very quickly you can begin to see that the world of Photoshop is huge. The basics will only get you so far and from there, it's a life-long journey (IMHO).

If you're the type of person that finds it difficult to read tutorials and teach yourself, classes might be the best thing for you....however I'd be surprised if you can find many classes that would go "completely" in-depth into Photoshop (although in saying that I'm bound to be incorrect !).

[ozczecho]

I am self taught but its a long hard slog (well for me anyway). I agree you need to keep at it and read and try, but I attended a morning where Matt K. showed us a few features of CS2 and I learnt more in that session than one could reading a book alone. A good course is a nice way to accelerate learning...

[Matt. K]

Macka
I have been running some basic PS workshops for the forum. If I can get 5 or 6 expresions of interest and a venue then I'll be happy to run another. I would also be happy to run an advanced workshop...perhaps where folk write down specific problems and we work out a solution.
I'll run it by Gary and see if he wants to put out an expression of interest.

[gstark]

MAtt,

That would be a yes.

[Oscar]

Matt, I'm interested. Let me know asap what date and I will book it in my calendar. Cheers, Mick

[Yi-P]

Great to hear another workshop is coming up

[macka]

Macka
I have been running some basic PS workshops for the forum. If I can get 5 or 6 expresions of interest and a venue then I'll be happy to run another. I would also be happy to run an advanced workshop...perhaps where folk write down specific problems and we work out a solution.
I'll run it by Gary and see if he wants to put out an expression of interest.

Matt,

Sounds great. Provided I can work around work and uni commitments I'd love to attend, and I'm sure so would Pat.