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06/07/2008 03:46:09 PM · #176 |
Alan, let be the first to tell you this... Photoshop can be very intimidating but with some basic skills you can turn a turd into gold. Make sure you go to the tutorials section of this site and watch some of the basic how-to's. I don't know how much you know but look for things like layer masks and adjustment layers. Once you have the basics you pretty much have everything you need. CS3 is a lot like PSE4 but in Ps everything is just about in one place. If you would still like to know something just ask us, were happy to help.
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06/07/2008 04:09:15 PM · #177 |
Well, well. June the seventh already.
Before: 
After: 
I think I prefer the 'before'.
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06/07/2008 04:13:31 PM · #178 |
Originally posted by alans_world:
I have a couple questions. I have seen on this side challenge everything from “this is a nice improvement” to “ How the hell did this become this”. I purchased CS3 because Adobe had a good deal on upgrading from Elements4. But right now I feel like I bought a backhoe to drive to the local convenience store. So my questions areâ€Â¦
How did you learn how to do what you do?
A) Take a coarse at school.
B) Read boring techey books.
C) Just start playing with it to learn what it can do.
How do you approach getting your results in possessing.?
A) Know what you want to accomplish, do this-this-and this, just like riding a bike.
B)Know what you want to do but have to research or review notes on how to do it.
C) Just play around, and somehow by trial and error come out with something that you like.. |
When I first got photoshop (version 4 or 5 I forget which) I read a few books on photoshop mainly to learn about curves, masks and color space. The rest I just picked up by doing. Once you fully understand masks and curves it opens up lots of possibilities so just experiment and try to stay away from just using presets and actions. Unless you reverse engineer them and figure out how and why they work you won't learn anything except how to apply other people's effects, which only gets you so far.
To answer your second question, it depends. Sometimes I know exactly what I want to accomplish and just do it (ex. most of my challenge entries) and other times I'll just experiment (ex. most of these side challenges).
Message edited by author 2008-06-07 16:17:53.
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06/07/2008 05:18:55 PM · #179 |
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06/07/2008 05:26:38 PM · #180 |
Originally posted by alans_world:
I have a couple questions. I have seen on this side challenge everything from “this is a nice improvement” to “ How the hell did this become this”. I purchased CS3 because Adobe had a good deal on upgrading from Elements4. But right now I feel like I bought a backhoe to drive to the local convenience store. So my questions areâ€Â¦
How did you learn how to do what you do?
A) Take a coarse at school.
B) Read boring techey books.
C) Just start playing with it to learn what it can do.
How do you approach getting your results in possessing.?
A) Know what you want to accomplish, do this-this-and this, just like riding a bike.
B)Know what you want to do but have to research or review notes on how to do it.
C) Just play around, and somehow by trial and error come out with something that you like.. |
i'm a very hands-on sort of person and find that i learn the most when i just do it ..
i pick up stuff along the way, especially in dpc, when people say something like "i used an adjustment layer, made it blending mode multiply, opacity 30%, etc etc" .. i'll often try out that action to see what it does ..
& there are a lot of ways to approach the same result in photoshop .. eg .. dodging and burning .. sometimes i'll use the actual tools and sometimes i'll use levels or curves and erase in parts of that adjustment layer ..
a bit later .. edit to say .. .. just made a comment on richard  yanko's squirrel and read how he dodges and burns .. "Dodge and burn accomplished using the paint brush on blank layers set to soft light and overlay blending modes. " .. i tried it out and its excellent ..
anyway, its a very personal thing .. some people learn better & easier reading 'how-to' books or watching a dvd ..
there are various places online where you can learn as you go .. or play their dvd and do it at the same time, which i think is an excellent way to go ... here's a couple of great sites .. radiant vista and photoshop tutorials
in my processing i'll occasionally have a finished result in mind before i start and other times i'll go somewhere i never imagined .. !! ..
Message edited by author 2008-06-07 18:22:30.
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06/07/2008 05:28:27 PM · #181 |
Originally posted by yanko:
To answer your second question, it depends. Sometimes I know exactly what I want to accomplish and just do it (ex. most of my challenge entries) and other times I'll just experiment (ex. most of these side challenges). |
My experience is pretty much the same, except I started with version 2.0 (before Layers!), and learned it to scan photos for professional offset printing. I actually get by with using very few tools: Curves, USM, Gaussian Blur, and painting/selection tools for making masks ... I still use PS 5.0 for most routine editing; I'll use one of the CS versions only if I have to upsample an image significantly.
One of the main things I learned from the scanning training was to use Photoshop's "on-line densitometer" (aka the Info Window) to evaluate tonal values, and not to trust the monitor, no mater how "calibrated" it may be. |
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06/07/2008 05:53:06 PM · #182 |
Originally posted by alans_world:
I have a couple questions. I have seen on this side challenge everything from “this is a nice improvement” to “ How the hell did this become this”. I purchased CS3 because Adobe had a good deal on upgrading from Elements4. But right now I feel like I bought a backhoe to drive to the local convenience store. So my questions areâ€Â¦
How did you learn how to do what you do?
A) Take a coarse at school.
B) Read boring techey books.
C) Just start playing with it to learn what it can do. |
I haven never taken a course and never read a book. I would have to say that everything I have learned about editing has come either directly from DPC or from links posted in the threads followed by a ton of experimentation.
Originally posted by alans_world:
How do you approach getting your results in possessing.?
A) Know what you want to accomplish, do this-this-and this, just like riding a bike.
B)Know what you want to do but have to research or review notes on how to do it.
C) Just play around, and somehow by trial and error come out with something that you like.. |
I do all three of these. Sometimes I know exactly what I want from an image before I shoot it and I know exactly what I will do to get my end product. Other times (probably most of the time) I mess around and see what I end up with. Probably what it really comes to is that I think I know what I want and when I get there I continue on different paths and end up with something else. And there are the times (though they are much further between) where I have to do some research into the edit. I think when it comes to that type of scenario I shoot a certain image to play with new "recipes" or effects.
Also - we too recently upgraded to CS3 because of your posting of the special for Elements users. We are slowly figuring out new techniques and realizing more the power of the program. But we just take it step by step and try not to get overwhlemed with all it has to offer. Just keep adding new aspects of editing to our arsenal to make our end product better and the time getting to the end product shorter. |
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06/07/2008 06:42:15 PM · #183 |
Originally posted by yanko:
When I first got photoshop (version 4 or 5 I forget which) I read a few books on photoshop mainly to learn about curves, masks and color space. The rest I just picked up by doing. Once you fully understand masks and curves it opens up lots of possibilities so just experiment and try to stay away from just using presets and actions. Unless you reverse engineer them and figure out how and why they work you won't learn anything except how to apply other people's effects, which only gets you so far.
To answer your second question, it depends. Sometimes I know exactly what I want to accomplish and just do it (ex. most of my challenge entries) and other times I'll just experiment (ex. most of these side challenges). |
Know what's silly? I have NEVER been able to run any action but the ones I have written in PS LOL! Just can't seem to work it out properly. Oh, and I have to write a new one every time I use an action, can't figure out how to retrieve them either. I know, I'm a retard (in a good way). So, I suppose I am following good advice by idiocy ROFLPIMP! :P |
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06/07/2008 06:46:23 PM · #184 |
Originally posted by TCGuru:
So, I suppose I am following good advice by idiocy ROFLPIMP! :P |
Someone get her some rags to clean up her mess.
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06/07/2008 07:05:05 PM · #185 |
 final
Day 7
 straight from camera
Message edited by author 2008-06-07 19:06:09. |
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06/07/2008 08:26:58 PM · #186 |
Thanks everyone for the strait up answers. My plan of attack will start by purchasing Photoshop CS3 All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies, which for some reason costs more than just the CS3 for Dummies book. The way I figure it if it costs more it must be better--right-- No really I did a little research LOL. The for Dummies books have in the past have been easy to read, well at least for me; but then again I’m a concrete finisher living in the Mojave desert, a place the temps for ½ the year are 100+, lets face it even cows are smart enough to get out of the hot sun, ha-ha, he-he.
Seriously, by my figuring at least I will have a reference, so when someone talks about dodge & burn with a whisk, on a blank layer blending to a hard peak , I will at least know the type of meringue we are baking.
OK really, Thank You for your answers.
Alan |
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06/07/2008 10:14:04 PM · #187 |
Originally posted by alans_world:
so when someone talks about dodge & burn with a whisk, on a blank layer blending to a hard peak , I will at least know the type of meringue we are baking.
Alan |
lol lol LOL .. funny .. !! ..:)
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06/07/2008 10:37:55 PM · #188 |
Originally posted by roz:
Originally posted by alans_world:
so when someone talks about dodge & burn with a whisk, on a blank layer blending to a hard peak , I will at least know the type of meringue we are baking.
Alan |
lol lol LOL .. funny .. !! ..:) |
I just snorted out loud.. :)
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06/07/2008 11:02:40 PM · #189 |
Originally posted by gwe21:
Originally posted by roz:
Originally posted by alans_world:
so when someone talks about dodge & burn with a whisk, on a blank layer blending to a hard peak , I will at least know the type of meringue we are baking.
Alan |
lol lol LOL .. funny .. !! ..:) |
I just snorted out loud.. :) |
That's okay, as long as there was no one around... *You were alone... right?* ;) |
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06/07/2008 11:56:06 PM · #190 |
Alan, Alan, Alan.... I'm in a trailer in Afghanistan and the guy sitting at the desk next to me is giving me this look like "what the heck is wrong with you?" You crack me up! You need to use that sentence as your signature...
As for learning how to edit, I'm to the point where I'm willing to pay for lessons. I know some of the tools, but I suck big time at "seeing" what it is I need to edit. I want to learn how to add more dimension, more "drama" to my shots. I suppose I should just practice more. I think I may start with a couple of basic shots and edit the crap out of them, saving along the way to show the different versions, just to show myself what may or may not work. Sound like a plan? By the way, I'm enjoying watching this side challenge and really appreciate all of you sharing your steps. Hopefully you won't mind if I pester you for more info from time to time! |
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06/07/2008 11:57:58 PM · #191 |
Originally posted by TCGuru:
Originally posted by gwe21:
Originally posted by roz:
Originally posted by alans_world:
so when someone talks about dodge & burn with a whisk, on a blank layer blending to a hard peak , I will at least know the type of meringue we are baking.
Alan |
lol lol LOL .. funny .. !! ..:) |
I just snorted out loud.. :) |
That's okay, as long as there was no one around... *You were alone... right?* ;) |
hehe... |
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06/08/2008 12:07:58 AM · #192 |
The image on the right was my May FS submission. I had a lot of fun working on this one. |
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06/08/2008 06:15:45 AM · #193 |
I know its last months image but here is the B&A after of my FS.
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06/08/2008 08:53:56 AM · #194 |
After
[thumb]686688[/thumb]
Message edited by author 2008-06-08 08:54:48. |
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06/08/2008 10:51:04 AM · #195 |
Hi all -
Sorry for not posting but things have gotten pretty busy around here. I will try to post and comment during the month but it will likely be few-and-far-between.
Steve |
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06/08/2008 11:46:31 AM · #196 |
June 7
Before  After  |
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06/08/2008 12:31:48 PM · #197 |
Originally posted by alans_world:
I have a couple questions. I have seen on this side challenge everything from “this is a nice improvement” to “ How the hell did this become this”. I purchased CS3 because Adobe had a good deal on upgrading from Elements4. But right now I feel like I bought a backhoe to drive to the local convenience store. So my questions areâ€Â¦
How did you learn how to do what you do?
A) Take a coarse at school.
B) Read boring techey books.
C) Just start playing with it to learn what it can do.
How do you approach getting your results in possessing.?
A) Know what you want to accomplish, do this-this-and this, just like riding a bike.
B)Know what you want to do but have to research or review notes on how to do it.
C) Just play around, and somehow by trial and error come out with something that you like.. |
Hey Alan,
Funny, I asked almost the SAME question, for the SAME reason. I decided that I need a book, but a GOOD book, as opposed to the hundreds of so so, or downright bad ones. If I might make a suggestion, I would check out Scott Kelby His books are not boring, not techey, and I've probably learned more in the 4 days since I picked one up then in the last year of playing with sliders to see what would happen. Happy hunting! |
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06/08/2008 01:06:41 PM · #198 |
Originally posted by Jaker:
Hey Alan,
Funny, I asked almost the SAME question, for the SAME reason. I decided that I need a book, but a GOOD book, as opposed to the hundreds of so so, or downright bad ones. If I might make a suggestion, I would check out Scott Kelby His books are not boring, not techey, and I've probably learned more in the 4 days since I picked one up then in the last year of playing with sliders to see what would happen. Happy hunting! |
Thanks Jake, I will look into Kelby's books. I have already ordered Photoshop CS3 desktop reference for Dummies.. |
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06/08/2008 04:23:10 PM · #199 |
Day 07
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06/08/2008 09:56:43 PM · #200 |
Befores: 1)  2)  3) 
After: 
I may get freaky later with some strawberry shots I took today... so be prepared for WEIRDNESS tomorrow ;) |
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