Photoshop Elements

[tessa]

My dad bought me a copy of Adobe Creative Suite (sweet!) and I haven't installed it yet... I am just nervous that I am going to be completely overwhelmed with all of the offerings...

Does anyone have any good tips on how to dive in and learn photoshop and/or elements? Books, websites, tutorials through the software, etc?

TIA!

 

[Pooh_Girl]

Here's my two cents: I would go to your local book store and buy a reference book on whichever edition your dad bought, and then I would also look at dell.com or adobe.com for some software. I bought a book on photoshop elements 5.0 not too long ago and keep it next to my computer as a reference guide. And then I was on the Dell website and bought a program that walks you through and teaches you a LOT of tips and "how-to's" with Elements. Whatever you choose, just make sure it's for the same edition that you have!!

 

[jann1033]

there was a video professor set of tutorials i had considered purchasing( think the whole set was around $80) they sent a free trial then you decide if you want to keep it or not. since i ended up with elements i didn't keep it but it seemed pretty easy to understand to me...i liked it as you did what they were showing you as they explained it, you downloaded photos and worked on them as they were telling you what to do...rather than a book that you just read. however for ph. el. 5 i got the missing manual from barbara brundege and really find it helpful. i think scott kelby might have photoshp books as well as lightroom stuff.

 

[saturndb]

try kelbytraining.com. This site has videos and books for sale by Scott Kleby the master of photoshop. It has a wealth of products for you to spend your hard earned money on Also if you really get into photoshop you can join NAPP ( national assocation fo photoshop professionals). Have fun learning photoshop, it is a great program that has a high learning curve, but can do amazing things for you....

 

[saturndb]

Also he has a podcast you can get thru iTunes called Photoshop User TV. It is a video podcast. It might helpful to you as well...

 

[11290]

I've gotten some of Kelby's books also and they are good if you can get over his feeble attempts at humor.

Also, I get a magazine each month called PhotoPlus - Canon Edition. It has many "tutorials" on the use of Photoshop and PS Elements 5 or 6 and also a CD with the same tutorials on it so you can play it through. Get mine at Barnes & Noble. About $12 an issue (comes from the UK) but have felt like it was worth it.

 

[orchjoe]

Learning new software can be a challenging process. I have found that while books do help (if you read them) I usually sit and play with the new software a lot.

For people starting to learn photoshop I usually tell them to learn the different tools first. Printable tools list

Then they should start slow with learning how to crop, print, image rezise. Find an example of something you would like to recreate and then try it. (like converting a image to black and white). If all else fails... use google to search for your answer.


Photoshop is a very robust program (even elements) and you WILL get discouraged trying to learn it. Don't feel bad because have all experienced this with programs before. Just practice and PLAYING around with the software you will become more familiar and eventually you will be able to do what you want without directions.

 

[jann1033]

i forgot my plug for my favorite free photo mag. after capture..it is by adobe( i think you sign up for it on their website but it's been a while so i might have gone somewhere else to do that) and really can get some creative juices going...i actually look forward to it. it had a really good article on auratoning which i love the look of...(to bad it took literally 2 months for my local developing place to get my photos on transparencies( at least they didn't charge me when they finally got it done) when my printer didn't do a good enough job, next time i will try kinkos meanwhile tomorrow i can finally try it out with the 4 shots they actually got to print( after they wasted about 12 sheets of my transparency)

 

[jann1033]

after an entire day of messing with it i got that something messed up my user profile and now if i can just move my contacts from my windows mail acoount i can stop ripping out my hair

 

[11290]

I don't have an answer for you, sorry, but you might try posting over in this forum:

http://www.elementsvillage.com/forums/

They might be able to help.

 

[jann1033]

thanks i forget about that site so i asked there as well

 

[annnewjerz]

So, I got Photoshop Elements 6 as a gift from my boss. I loaded it onto the computer today and started to play around with it....and....

It seems like there is so much fun stuff to use, but this is much more overwhelming than I originally thought it would be.

....uh oh....

 

[hjd0411]

Hi!! I'm going to ask for this for my birthday (next Tuesday!). I hope it isn't too complicated!! Please let me know how you are going with it - and some results?? I will look forward to seeing them!! (You show me yours and I'll show you mine...!!!??? )

 

[Suburbanmom]

I don't have it, but I did sit and read it at Barnes & Noble one...there is a book out called, "The Missing Manual" and it looks to be very helpful. If I don't have the name right, hope someone will jump in an correct me.

Have fun!!!!

 

[YesDear]

Do not fret. My wife who does not like software like that has PE6 and after about two weeks she is really good at it. Find a book you like and play!

 

[tiger95]

Another vote the "The Missing Manual". Its a great resource, with simple, easy to understand explanations. I have it for PSE 7, and it has helped me a lot.

 

[chrisblank]

Try a google search for "The Digital Photography Connection". Though these tutorials are for Photoshop CS3. They work with elements and Gimp with minor changes.


I would do a link but I do not have enough posts yet.

 

[Merrywheather]

I actually just picked up "The Missing Manual" by Barbara Brundage this morning. I am a "layers dummy", so I'll let you know my book review after I play around with everything this weekend.

 

[annnewjerz]

Thanks for all of the replies, I am definitely going to have to look into The Missing Manual. I played around with it last night and it seems like it won't be too hard to catch onto, there is just so much new stuff to use. I just got a little nervous when I didn't see a real manual, just something that gave you instructions on how to load the software.

 

[adabob]

I use Scott kellys book and I like it is so easy