9 replies to this topic

[Donna]

Anyone who has ever used Adobe Photoshop will tell you that there is a lot to learn in order to perform even simple tasks. You would be forgiven for admitting that you felt a little bewildered by the large array of menus, floating palettes and tools on offer.

I have been using Adobe Photoshop on a professional basis for the past 10 years and have seen it continuously grow. I currently lecture at a local University in this very subject and still find that during each and every lesson I find something new within this excellent photographic tool.

My students, daunted by the overwhelming size of the application, often ask 'Where do you start?'

This article is intended to answer that very question. Whether you are an absolute beginner or a veteran, I believe that the approach outline here will benefit your further learning.



1. To Begin...Don't be afraid, it won't explode!
Explore Photoshop. Feel free to open up an image and run through each menu, clicking on menu items and buttons or slide bars and submitters...EXPERIMENT!

Of course, it would be wise to ensure that the image that you are using has been back-up elsewhere before you start this expedition.

What could possibly go wrong? The only thing I could imagine that may go astray is the odd floating palette. If this happens, you can recall them by using the 'Window' menu. So just relax, sit down and muck around with your image.



2. Navigation
In order to become proficient and effective in using Adobe Photoshop, you must be comfortable with navigating around an image. A few tricks of the trade should come in handy here.

There is nothing worst than trying to move from one area of an image to another using the default Zoom tool and Hand tool. Using these two toolbar 'criminals' will MASSIVELY slow you down!

EXPERIEMENT 1: Try it out for yourself for yourself... a. Open up an image. b. Start your stop watch. c. Use the Zoom tool to increase the zoom factor to about 200%. d. Now, using the Brush tool, draw a line from the left hand side of your image across to the right e. Use the Hand tool to reveal the next part of the canvas. f. Stop your stop watch! How long did it take?

You'll find it both a slow method and a challenge to keep focused on the task, i.e. pick up brush - paint, pick up hand tool - move, pick up brush - paint, etc.

EXPERIEMENT 2: Now try this: a. Open up an image. b. Start your stop watch. c. Use Ctrl + to increase the zoom factor to about 200%. d. Now, using the Brush tool (press B ), draw a line from the left hand side of your image across to the right e. Hold down the spacebar and left click and drag to reveal the next part of the canvas. f. Stop your stop watch! How long did it take?

Firstly, Experiment 2 will only take a fraction of the time to get the same results as found in Experiment 1. Secondly, I bet you barely had to think about it! You mind was allowed to wonder onto other things.

Holding down the spacebar toggles between the Hand tool and the currently selected tool. Take you thumb off the space bar and your back to Brush tool.

Keep on practising through the above exercise.



3. So what have we learnt from this?
Using quick-keys or shortcuts are simply the best way of operating within Adobe Photoshop. They will both increase the speed of your workflow and free up valuable brain processing power. In fact, you'll find that if you adopt the use of quick-keys, you will soon start to work on a reactionary and instinctive basis. Photoshop by reflex!

I rarely have to think about what I am doing while using Adobe Photoshop. That is, I don't have to think about the technical runnings, just the creative objectives.

This is comparable to driving a car. I'm sure that any motorist reading this article will agree that while driving from A to B, you are not necessarily aware of all of the physical operations involved in controlling your car. You do it by reflex. Using Photoshop can be the same with practice.

NOTE: Feel free to use this article online and in your email newsletters as long as you leave it intact and do not alter it in anyway. The by-line and resource box must remain in the article.

James N Middleton
http://www.turningturnip.co.uk
http://www.turningtu...o.uk/photoshop/

About the Author
Currently lecturing in the creative and industrial uses of Adobe Photoshop at a local University. Over ten years professional experience using Adobe Photoshop.

[Matheus]

I oftern remember my first steps at the Abode's best.
I really think that the FIRST thing to do after the exploring thing is to visit a tutorial site... obviusly, don't start by vectors and Blending styles.

When people ask me, I tell them to start with the TEXT EFFECTS. It's simple and helps to understand the Layer Styles, wicth is one of the main tools of PhotoShop.

[DanWilliamson]

Great article =] My first job on Photoshop was beatiful it was a plain black background with dark red text =]

[Imperial GFX]

Myoto, on Apr 25 2006, 02:51 PM, said:

I oftern remember my first steps at the Abode's best.
I really think that the FIRST thing to do after the exploring thing is to visit a tutorial site... obviusly, don't start by vectors and Blending styles.

When people ask me, I tell them to start with the TEXT EFFECTS. It's simple and helps to understand the Layer Styles, wicth is one of the main tools of PhotoShop.

Yes, that's what I did, visited a couple of sites like DutchDesignz (I love their tutorials) and that kind of stuff.. I also didn't realize you could register here until yesterday, so I got some tutorials off of this site, too. I just kind of worked on Photoshop everyday and got familiar with the controls and followed every tutorial.. then about three days ago I got up the courage to try something from scratch.. it was beautiful compared to other things that I have done, so I was happy.

And I made my best sig ever (that's in my signature here right now) from a great tutorial.. very detailed and easy to follow, so that was a plus. Now I should stop rambling, lol.

[Kristopher]

good article it was a good read it made me open my eyes a bit thanks!

[AK-Productions]

Excellent article, very effective and straight to the point. Ah, it's been 2 years since my first start in Photoshop, and I must say, if this article was around that time, it would have made my life alot easier!

Just another point I'd like to add, is that learning a few hotkeys and shortcuts to your tools, options and menus. This will greatly increase your speed in achieving something. In order to check all the shortcuts and hotkeys and configure them just go over to 'Window > Workspace > Keyboard Shortcuts & Menus...'

[Spide®™]

This is what i did the first time i opend photoshop, was to just test out all the menues on a backed up image, then i used a cupple of orb tuts this realy helped with blending options and to understand layers and so on

befor i know it i was doing my own stuff after following about 3 orb tus (but makeing sure i dident follow them to the bone and making my own stuff up as go along) , thays no harm in testing difrent things out menues filters tools i think you learn a lot more in just opening a image and testing out all difrent setings , your not going to realy mess anything up (tril and error)

[Moesh]

Great Article! Seriously =D A lot of my friends often ask where i have learned my (i think still novice) Techniques, and everytime again, i have to explain that i have just been exploring and experimenting, and that i have learned from tutorials. Thanks, I can now send this to them, Great article!!

[Veej]

Myoto, on Apr 25 2006, 07:51 PM, said:

When people ask me, I tell them to start with the TEXT EFFECTS. It's simple and helps to understand the Layer Styles, wicth is one of the main tools of PhotoShop.

I agree!
That's how I learn, I remember getting into Photoshoparound 18 or so months ago, I was browsing websites, and thought, "ooh, that looks cool"

I managed to get a cheap copy of Photoshop 5 off e-bay and I stil remember the first tutorial I followed was to create 1 letter of plastic looking text - took me around half an hour at the time!

I feel tutorials will only get you so far. You are just discovering effects others have already discovered and documented. Once you have a grasp of the basic funtions you should move off tutorials once in a while, try your own things and make original graphics which you've thought up yourself.
As the author of the article said, experiment around isn't going to make it 'explode!'

[Vandalised]

Great article Donna thanks!! I also agree with the 'tutorials will only get you so far' I like finding things out on my own anyway, it feels more of an achivement when you pull something off with great results

Regards.!

Rich