Photoshop 101 PRE-WORKSHOP meeting

Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 E-mount

04/29/2007 08:21:36 PM · #1

Welcome to the Photoshop 101 PRE-WORKSHOP meeting thread.
(reference this thread for background info)

A little about me: My name is Ken, but you can call me Art (I've had a personality schism since joining DPC). Everything I know is self-taught from the time I started getting into digital image manipulation in the early 90s when I had a 386, a grayscale handscanner, a copy of Aldus Photostyler and tons of pics of my kids to experiment with. Since then, I've use nearly every version of Photoshop, but am currently stuck on CS(1) just because my urge to upgrade has become inversely proportionate to the cost. I don't do this for a living (like anyone would pay me for the stuff I produce), but the skills come in handy. I am a web developer / programmer / business owner by trade. A techy guy with a strong creative side and a warped imagination.

Like Bear_Music mentioned in his workshop, there are dozens of ways to accomplish the same thing in PS. I will cover the tools and methods I use, the way I use them. Everyone is welcome to offer their own methods or techniques - I am always learning new things from much less experienced people.

The purpose of this thread is to get an idea of what people want out of the workshop, and get a feel for everyone's skill level and what version of photoshop you are using.

Here's the latest list of people participating:

bergiekat,

joynim,

Delta_6,

Chalice,

hipychik,

jonfrommk,

suemack,

spurs,

alexjack,

slickchik,

juniemoon,

jedusi,

noraneko,

nshapiro,

colorcarnival,

liltritter,

drewbixcube,

bergiekat,

mamba,

Melethia,

rheverly,

Sunniee,

jackal9,

BAMartin

Additional Mentors:

wavelength,

simms,

geoffb,

levyj413

Since Robert (Bear_Music) has already done a PS Basics workshop and provided lots of great information that is still valid, I am going to try to not duplicate the lessons specifically, but I will reference them collectively and in part as they pertain to what we will cover. I encourage everyone to take a look at that thread and at least read through the various topics Bear covered (direct links below).
Basic Photoshop Workflow
Basic Examination and Functions of Photoshop
Photoshop Layers: the Basics
Photoshop Workflow: Where Do We Start and How Do We Proceed?
Photoshop's Unsharp Mask
Resizing to 640 pixels and Adding Borders in Photoshop

I'm not sure if people want to focus on editing photos within DPC rules or not. My preference is to not have to worry about whether something is legal in basic or advanced or not, but I will mention it if I think of it and others can feel free to point it out if they know. But if a good majority of you think that should be a primary concern, I can deal with it.

Here is a short list of Topics / Lessons I have in mind, but I am open to anything:

- Using Photoshop - Brief overview of tools, tips, tricks & shortcuts
- Light & Shadows - An overview of the methods for adjusting lights & darks
- Actions & Filters - There is a plethora of cool tools available for PS. I will go over some that I know of and then we can, as a group, compile a list of resources with examples.
- Applying Filters & Adjustments selectively

So here is what I want people to do in this pre-workshop thread:
Post very briefly:
- What you feel your PS skill level is
- Your version of PS
- Your desired guidelines for the workshop - i.e. focus primarily within basic and advance editing rules OR DPC rules should be secondary to learning Photoshop
- Any specific lessons or techniques you would like to cover

Once I get a reasonable amount of input from everyone, I can put the first topic together and I will start a new thread for the Workshop and will post the link to it here and in the other thread so we don't have this preliminary clutter.

Looking forward!

Message edited by author 2007-04-30 03:58:43.

Hipychik

Sony Alpha a6000

04/29/2007 08:31:12 PM · #2

Hey Art, I just want to make sure I understood something. I have PSP. Can this workshop still help me? Thanks, Terry

jackal9

Canon EOS-50D

Canon EF 28-135mm F/3.5-5.6 IS USM

04/29/2007 08:38:02 PM · #3

COOL, can I join in?? I have PS7. I just have a grasp of the fundamentals, not much else. DPC rules are secondary to the workshop, I feel a good working knowledge of PS is more important and in the end you will fiqure out what's legal and not in a very short time anyway.

Edited for typo...

Message edited by author 2007-04-29 20:42:14.

04/29/2007 08:39:33 PM · #4

My understanding was that wavelength has split out workshops and had one for PSP that was separate from Photoshop. So my intent was that this would be very photoshop specific.

That said, he didn't get anyone to mentor the PSP workshop and if you can translate yourself or get input from others who may have PSP, it's up to you if you want to participate, but I am still coming at this from a purely PS perspective.

Canon EF 28-135mm F/3.5-5.6 IS USM

04/29/2007 08:40:30 PM · #5

Originally posted by jackal9:

COOL, can I join in?? I have PS7. I just a basic grasp of the fundamentals, not much else.

Okee doke. :)

jackal9

Canon EOS-50D

04/29/2007 08:43:31 PM · #6

Originally posted by Art Roflmao:

Originally posted by jackal9:
COOL, can I join in?? I have PS7. I just a basic grasp of the fundamentals, not much else.

Okee doke. :)

Awesome! looking forward to it!

BAMartin

Apple iPhone 5

04/29/2007 08:45:44 PM · #7

I would love to be included in this workshop. My PS skills are at a basic plus level. I have Photoshop 8.0. I have been playing with photoshop alot recently, but my successes have mostly been "stumbled upon". I really have no expectation or specific things I would like to learn. A basic class would be wonderful.

Message edited by author 2007-04-29 20:53:45.

04/29/2007 08:46:24 PM · #8

FYI - I won't be on DPC much this evening, but will check back on this thread a couple times.

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM

04/29/2007 08:47:57 PM · #9

Originally posted by BAMartin:

I would love to be included in this workshop. My PS skills are at a basic plus level.

Gotcha down.

Everyone needs to read the original post in this thread and answer the questions... thanks.

Post very briefly:
- What you feel your PS skill level is
- Your version of PS
- Your desired guidelines for the workshop - i.e. focus primarily within basic and advance editing rules OR DPC rules should be secondary to learning Photoshop
- Any specific lessons or techniques you would like to cover

Message edited by author 2007-04-29 20:48:29.

krnodil

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

04/29/2007 08:50:16 PM · #10

I would like to participate - please put me on the list.

I have CS2 and still only basic-level skilled with it. I think it would be helpful if distinctions are made during lessons about whether certain techniques are ok for basic or advanced rulesets, but learning Photoshop should be the main focus. Personally interested in learning more about: selective color adjustments, layers, masks, tone mapping, dodge and burn - you get the idea, everything. :)

Ah...I forgot - Curves is a complete mystery to me

Message edited by author 2007-04-29 20:52:01.

JunieMoon

Sony Alpha a7 II

Sony FE 3.5-5.6/28-70 mm OSS

04/29/2007 08:50:39 PM · #11

I am a total greenhorn. I have downloaded a version of Photoshop Element for 30 days, at which time I will decide (with the help of this workshop) if I want to purchase it or not. I downloaded CS2 about 5 months ago and worked with some of the functions, so I have a bit of working knowledge on adjustment layers, color management, dodging, burning, etc. I am currently a Photo Impact user, but the Elements may give me better smoothness in my images,which is one of the things I want to accomplish.
I don't understand Workflow at all and have no idea about batch processing. I also don't know how to extract parts of images to work on them specifically and I have no idea how to use the healing brush. I haven't successfully done desaturation or nice contrasty black and whites, and I don't understand much about Channel Mixer or some of the functions such as overlay, soft light, hard light, masking, using a gray layer, percent adjustments for transparency, etc. I have dodged and burned but don't quite get how to keep color from getting weird when I do it. So, I guess I want to go from basic to advanced, anything is fine because it is all pretty new to me.
I would like to learn a bit more about the lasso tool, the bezier curve, the magic wand (or ps equivalent) and the tools used to extract parts in order to either place them in other compositions, or change their perspective, or do partial desat, etc.
I hope not to get the reputation of workshop dunce, but that may be my designation after 30 days.

Message edited by author 2007-04-29 20:54:04.

Sunniee

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

04/29/2007 08:51:17 PM · #12

Hi,
My name is Sunniee.... and I'm a Photoshop Addict......

I'm self taught in PS2 by reading tutorials and books... I'd say my skills are intermediate. I think DPC editing rules should be secondary to the skills taught since we have everything from limited to expert editing challenges available to us.

Looking forward to adding new/different skills to my repertoire.

Message edited by author 2007-04-29 20:51:35.

bergiekat

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

Canon EF 24-70 2.8L II

04/29/2007 08:51:38 PM · #13

I'm pretty much at the basic level...maybe plus...We'll see. I've PS6...and I've never used it before. Always used Elements. :P Help me!

I want to learn the processing with DPC rules as secondary! Will only rethink if I get a DQ, lol!

jackal9

Canon EOS-50D

Canon EF 28-135mm F/3.5-5.6 IS USM

04/29/2007 09:02:08 PM · #14

Originally posted by JunieMoon:

Nope, you're not the dunce...you mention things in your post I haven't even heard of so...That would be me, lol.

Delta_6

Canon EOS-7D

Olympus 40-150mm f/3.5-4.5 Zuiko Digital

04/29/2007 09:09:18 PM · #15

I have got PS 7.0 and I'd rate myself as beginner-intermediate. I know how to manipulate saturation, curves and levels but not how to use the tools to their best effect. I have got a dummies guide to PS 7.0 but I think this mentorship will be better for me to get a hands on approach to PS.

joynim

Olympus E-500 EVOLT

04/29/2007 09:10:18 PM · #16

Hi Art

Thanks ever so much for doing this I have admired your work ( and sick humour)for a long time. I am very excited to take part. I have CS2 ( but please dont ask me how I aquired it!) I am kinda at a basic level but not absolute basic Have done a course but I really need structure to force me to use what I have learnt which my course did'nt provide (plus the tutor was absolutey hopeless!)
I am not so worried out wether techniques are dpc legal or not as someone said we can find that out soon enough. I m willing and wanting learn anything :)

bvlindalou

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II

04/29/2007 09:19:57 PM · #17

Hi Ken,
My name is Linda Cope and I use Photoshop cs2. I'm learning a lot from this site and consider myself avg. I have a lot more to learn. I would like to be included in this workshop. I need to learn how to use mask, layers, and advance techniques. Love to learn how to use gradients and map toning.

wavelength

Nikon D300

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

04/29/2007 11:17:29 PM · #18

Hi, I'm Steve. I like long walks on the beach, puppies....

oh, oops, wrong group ;)

CS2, and previous purgatory in Elements and the oooold PSP.

I've been using photoshop for probably really a total of 4 years, I took a loooong break between high school and when I started at DPC.

I'd consider myself an intermediate user, but I tend to be conservative of my assesment of things. I've never been able to really understand curves, and I'm not sure I ever will.

I have done some pretty advanced things in PS, but I'm not a freehand artist, so thing are a bit difficult when I don't have a reference point.

I've done photo restoration, and I'm pretty good with re-touching, cloning, healing, changing colors on objects, I'm pretty adept at dodge&burns, moving light around.

Things get a bit iffy for me when trying to edit things per channel in RGB or CMYK, and trying to visualize what the effect of each is (such as selective color) and understanding what I did even though I usually get the result I want.

I'm pretty set on my workflow, but I'm open to suggestions on improvement. I have the DPC rulesets down and I've been working under them for a few years so I specifically don't need to do that. I think I could help identify anything that might be illegal under those. I'd rather not stick to the rulesets, and get into some real PS mojo eventually though.

I find that I usually learn best through teaching, so I'm expecting a lot of sideline questions to be thrown my way. If anyone reads through the old threads and has questions about a technique, please feel free to PM or e-mail me with it.

Message edited by author 2007-04-29 23:19:00.

drewbixcube

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM

04/29/2007 11:18:59 PM · #19

Hi, my name is drew and I am an addi...oh, uh...anyway ; ) I am a very basic student of PS 7. I used very few tools. I've had success with layers like in "move the light" and "curves to create a metallic look" tutorials on DPC. Other than that, I can clone out stuff and Fade the Auto-Levels/Contrast/Color to get my prints looking decent.

I would like to learn how to manually control my pictures (curves, layer masks, etc) and am more interested in Photoshop as a whole, instead of DPC editing rules.

Thanks,
-drew

Man_Called_Horse

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

04/29/2007 11:24:14 PM · #20

I...(ahem)this is embarrassing.

I would be...interested in some of the insights brought forth in this thread.

Can I have membership?

I am not one to join any, or many type of 'groups', but, could use some info.

I as well have info to share, but only on a limited basis.

Tlemetry

Olympus E-300 EVOLT

Olympus 50mm f/2.0 Macro ED Zuiko Digital

04/29/2007 11:37:19 PM · #21

I would like to join this workshop.
I consider myself intermediate at photoshop. I currently have CS.
I know a bit about layers and blend modes but haven't gotten used to using masks effectively. I would like to see some instruction reguarding isolating and removing objects from busy backgrounds, using adjustment layers. Oh and I would also like to learn about moving a light source.
I have seen it done but not how its done. (though this might be something for a pro workshop down the road)

Melethia

Canon EOS-80D

04/30/2007 12:24:14 AM · #22

I'm Deb, I use PS CS2 (though may buy the new one as a present to self), and consider myself somewhere around low-medium on the experience scale. I know how to use some of the tools but am hesitant to use them. I cannot clone well at all and am most a'feard of that tool. My normal post processing is levels, maybe curves, sharpen, resize, save for web. For advanced challenges, or something I'm not entering in a challenge, I do like playing with blending modes.

I worship the ground that Art/Ken walks on and will most assuredly be keeping an eye out for a plaid skirt. :-)

suemack

Canon EOS-20D