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06/28/2015 07:12:18 PM · #1
What are some good free PS tutorials for intermediate to advanced techniques? I would love to start trying a crack on some expert challenges.

gyaban and Samantha_T both your input would be highly appreciated!
06/28/2015 07:57:32 PM · #2
I've recently used Samantha's tutorial for portraits and learned a lot. You could start there.

I'm on a new computer and the link will not post. Just copy and paste.

https://vimeo.com/116512964
06/29/2015 07:39:10 AM · #3
I know that Christophe (gyaban) has said previously that he learned most of his skills online, but I cannot remember details.

He is helpful and I,m sure he would tell you of his main resources as he has mentioned them here before.
06/29/2015 08:00:37 AM · #4
Originally posted by SEG:

I've recently used Samantha's tutorial for portraits and learned a lot. You could start there.

I'm on a new computer and the link will not post. Just copy and paste.

https://vimeo.com/116512964


fixed link
06/29/2015 09:29:19 AM · #5
Tiny is right, I learned most of what I know by watching online tutorials. Photoshop comes with many tools, but in my opinion lots of them are quite secondary. In fact, I would say they are only 4 main topics that you should worry about at first:
1) Layers: it is mandatory to fully understand how you can 'stack' your different photos or adjustment layers, and combine them together
2) Masking: it is very important to understand how to isolate certain parts of your different photos or adjustment layers
3) Various coloring tools: it is very handy to understand how you can adjust colors of the different parts so that everything fits together in harmony
4) Resize and various deform tools: I find very useful to know how you can adjust the shapes of your different photo parts so they fit all together (for composites)

That's pretty much it. Once you know how to deal with these 4 areas, you are mostly set. The good news is, there are many ways of handling those, so you can pick your favorite way. I would recommend browsing youtube for tutorials. I literally spent dozens of hours looking at them, and trying to use the various tricks in my projects. There is so much information available! You can virtually learn about any Photoshop tool in an hour or less. For example, regarding the topics I mentioned before, you can try typing on youtube "Photoshop Layers Basics", "Photoshop Masking Basics", "Photoshop Warp Tool", etc.

Of course, you don't need to look at everything at once, and doing so would be overwhelming. First, learn some basics about layers (if necessary). Play a bit with those, until you are comfortable with the basics. Then, put your camera on a tripod, take a photo of an empty room, then another photo with you sitting inside that same room (without changing the camera settings). Try to combine those 2 shots in Photoshop, using what you learned about layers, and using layer masks. As soon as you don't know something, look at youtube for 2 or 3 tutorials about that particular step. Simply repeat the process as needed.

This is exactly how I (still) do it: I never ask myself "How am I going to do it?" before starting a project. It is not important. The most important by far is to know what result you are after. Then, work hard, and search tutorials that will permit you to get that result. It is always possible, it is a matter of time and will :)

Additionally, in that DPC post, I explained what I keep in mind when creating composites.

I also gave some information about how I created 3 of my pictures on 1X.com: "Burnout", "Alone", and "Primordial Soup".

I hope you can find some useful stuff in there. In any case, I would be happy to answer any specific question, feel free to poke me anytime.
06/29/2015 11:05:18 AM · #6
For me, I learned everything I know from googling free tutorials on the techniques I saw from other people, at the time, on Flickr (I would say about 5 years ago). For example, one girl had a photo where there were three of her in the same frame, all interacting with each other. I wanted to know how she did that and after reading her description I learned that the technique was called "cloning", meaning, she cloned herself in the photo. After searching the web, I found a tutorial that I could follow along with. That taught me a LOT about layers and masks how they interacted. Then I remember I saw a photo of a person "floating" and wanted to learn how to do that. After figuring out it was called "levitation" I googled some stuff on that and found tutorials that made sense to me, and learned more about masking with layers etc. Just learning that little bit helped me apply what I learned on my OWN ideas in my head. So now, I can look at most photos and "know" how they did it, but more importantly I can apply those same basic editing concepts in any and ALL photos. This is why I like Expert editing. Aside from being able to make the fun, creative things I see in my imagination, I can also do little things, like pull a cloud or two from another photo if I need some extra clouds in the sky. I can't do that with Advanced and it feels limiting, and is more annoying than anything.

There was also a LOT of time behind the computer in Photoshop and a lot of trial and error with some of the tools. I think I also googled certain Photoshop tools and what they were good for, because I wasn't sure, but really, whenever I need to learn something new I just google what it is I am trying to do.

So what is it that you are trying to do? :) What is it you want to learn? If you can narrow that down to something more specific, it may be more helpful than just googling "Photoshop Tutorials". Knowing exactly WHAT I wanted to learn was more helpful for me to actually learn.

I am always open to questions!
06/29/2015 11:08:20 AM · #7
The Phlearn channel on YouTube has some really great tutorials on everything from basic editing to really advanced stuff.
06/29/2015 11:22:00 AM · #8
Originally posted by smardaz:

The Phlearn channel on YouTube has some really great tutorials on everything from basic editing to really advanced stuff.


Phlearn is good too! Aaron has some good stuff on there. I was around on Flickr with him back before he started that site, and he has grown it into something great! I think he has searchable tutorials as well, so like I said on my initial post, what helped me most is picking something specific and learning it, that was it was especially pertinent to me.
06/29/2015 12:43:08 PM · #9
this is a cool thread :-0))

The input i is amazing and much appreciated
11/10/2015 04:38:07 AM · #10
I would suggest to subscribe with Lynda website. They are very good in teaching steps of learning Photoshop!
02/11/2016 01:13:30 PM · #11
If You Hate Photoshop Tutorials You'll Love This Parody
02/11/2016 03:31:06 PM · #12
Originally posted by GeneralE:

If You Hate Photoshop Tutorials You'll Love This Parody


Hahahaha! Yeah, I've also watched THOSE tutorials :)
02/11/2016 11:48:10 PM · #13
Originally posted by smardaz:

The Phlearn channel on YouTube has some really great tutorials on everything from basic editing to really advanced stuff.


Another big thumbs up for Phlearn. Really well done videos.
02/15/2016 04:15:19 AM · #14
Originally posted by GeneralE:

If You Hate Photoshop Tutorials You'll Love This Parody

Its funny Man!
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