How to learn Photoshop?

[esthers]

After being an "old-fashioned" photographer for years, I decided it was about time to enter the world of digital photography. So I bought myself a slide scanner of Nikon, an Epson 2200 printer, and have started the process of archiving my work.

It seems that I really need to expand my knowledge of digital imaging as well as photoshop 7.0.

Can anyone recommend me a website or book that I could use?
Any suggestions are welcome,

Thanks
Esther

[mrdinh]

try this one...its pretty cool...but its only a start doesn't teach you everything

[autumnsky]

Originally posted by esthers
Can anyone recommend me a website or book that I could use?
Any suggestions are welcome

There are literally hundreds of web sites out there with bit and pieces, but good foundational book to begin with is "Adobe Photoshop 7 Classroom in a Book" by Adobe Press. You should be able to pick it up used on Amazon. A hands on book that is broken up into 18 lessons, covering most of the basics. All of the components of the lessons are include with a CD that comes with the book.

[IcarusFree]

The best two books I have used are Photoshop for Digital Photographers by Scott Kelby and Photoshop Restoration & Retouching by Katherine Eismann. Both offer to-the-point tutorials and techniques that will cover 99.9% of what a digital photographer need to know an will use in Photoshop.

If you are more into animation and creating graphic art from scratch, thet get the Photoshop Bible for a detailed description of each tool and preset.

Hope this helps

[esthers]

All,
Thanks for the info. I will definitely order one of these books then. Main question is: which one also explains the concepts and terms of digital photography and not only how do do things in Photoshop.

For example, the book that I bought 2 days ago already expects me to know what is hue, when to use the curves tool and when to use the hue/saturation tool, etc.

There are lots of terms in digital photography that are new to me, and I need to understand them before I can actually apply them in Photoshop! So which of the 3 recommended books would be the best for that?

Thanks!
Esther

[IcarusFree]

I would go with Photoshop for Digital Photographers by Scott Kelby.

[Augie]

One thing I like is Kelby doesn't present
his material in the usual 'cut & DRY[as hell!] style that most texbooks do. That
may account for his success. He emphasizes much of what is glossed over by others, or, my pet peeve: others ASS
UME you know, when in fact you don't. Kelby covers it, and in such an informal way you'll understand it better!

[esthers]

I've bought both the book by Kelby and the Classroom book. So now I just have to start reading them and learning.
Pfff, it ain't an easy subject I must say. Color profiles is the part I'm stuck on right now. But I have faith, and I keep you guys updated on my progress..

Thanks all for the helpful info!

Esther

[Augie]

But, figure it's all in the spirit of self-improvement. And the results easiably noticeable. But, remember, only
YOU are your worst critic!

[Greg]

Hi Esther

Here's some stuff I dug up. You can save the video's to disk if you go into explorer--tools--internet options--general tab--settings--view files, find your quicktime targets, right click and copy to your video folder, it's probably best to delete the temporary internet files before you begin this exercise, less garbage to sort through. Hope you’‚’‚…‚’‚…¾‚re on broadband. Looks like you've got a steep learning curve ahead of you. For me it was and still is full of peaks and troughs, but there are always lots of wonderful people on the net.

Welcome to digital...Greg.

Phil Askey's site dpreview...digital imaging glossary.
http://www.dpreview.com/learn/Glossary/Digital_Imaging/

Everything you wanted to know about sharpening in Photoshop but were afraid to ask.
http://www.creativepro.com/story/feature/11242-1.html

Michael Reichmann's site the luminous landscape...tutorials...a Photoshop workflow.
http://luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/workflow1.shtml

Rob Galbraith's site...resources.
http://216.197.110.125/bins/content_page.asp?cid=3

Recent Photoshop video tutorials.
http://www.adobe.com/products/tips/photoshop.html

Russell Brown video tips and techniques. Click on more tips.
http://russellbrown.com/body.html

Total training... video on curves...It takes a few minutes to download, even on broadband.
http://www.totaltraining.com/videos/TOT_0006.mov

Photoshop cs resource center videos.
http://www.photoshopuser.com/photoshopcs.html

[me_wrestler]

Any book by Andy Anderson is great. If you can handle it, his 1001 photoshop tips is fantastic. I've been playing with PhotoShop CS for a bit over a week now and I can tell that I will be looking for another book to add to my library. Here are a few sites I like.
http://www.teamphotoshop.com/index.php
http://www.photoshopuser.com/
http://www.photoshopuser.com/

I've taught PhotoShop for a number of years and there is so much to learn that you pretty much have to concentrate on what is interesting to you otherwise you get information overload.
Colin

[ceebee]

Another site worth taking a look at is :
http://www.eclecticacademy.com
I have enrolled in the Photoshop Elements from the Ground Up
and find many things becoming clearer, even though I have many of the suggested books here and some for PE.
As a newcomer to the computer darkroom, I need all the help I can get. And it's fun!
Happy learning, whichever form it takes!

[esthers]

All,
Thanks SO much for your input! If I can't become a Photoshop wizard with all this info, then I must be doing something wrong!

I started this week with Kelby's book, and I agree, he writes in a nice and funny way.

It seems like an enormous task to master Photoshop, but I'm gonna give it a try.

Esther