Did You Learn Adobe Photoshop

[alexroderick]

I brought abode Photoshop because I wanted to make my space backgrounds and cool pictures but sadly it didn’t work out like that a hard program also have from web designing company may be cause I don’t know how to use it I have cs2 if wondering.

[turvas]

Umm and your question is? Did we learn PS ourselves? Well I have... But I have been working on it for like 3 years now. PS is something that takes real long time to get used to and good at.

[stiney51]

alex, it definitely can take a bit of work to learn photoshop on your own. I've been using it almost since its first release so it's easy for me to pick up a new version, but if you're looking for ideas of where to start to learn the program there are a number of good online learning classes out there devoted to photoshop.

I've recently been working on learning flash with the help of lynda.com.

The lessons on there are easy enough to follow and have been pretty helpful. They also have 9 different lessons on photoshop CS2 alone. $25 a month might be worth it if you already invested in the software.

Especially since there is no commitment and you could cancel after 1 month if you went through all the lessons you want to learn.

Again there are other options out there, but I thought I'd share one that I've had some luck with.

[stiney51]

sorry, the link is here for the listing of Photoshop CS2 courses on their site:

lynda.com Online Training Library: Training

[Jolt]

I often wonder how someone would pick up the application today for professional use without a dedicated college course. WHen I started with Photoshop it was much simpler and then it's just been a matter of learning new features as they are introduced. But today it's a daunting beast to get a hold of. It has really become a "professional" tool. Far beyond the needs of an average user.

You may be better off with an application such as Infranview or Graphics Converter if you simply want to make basic images. That's not to say you can't learn Photoshop, it just takes dedication.

[unleash]

Well I learned by myself, read "after a lot of tuturials I could find the eraser", it indeed takes a long time to do what you want, and the learning never stops really.

But it's fun to learn, as you discover new features and tricks everytime you use it. I don't know for how long you tried, but I'm trying for almost 2 years now....

[turvas]

I started off with... What was it? PS 7 I think. I got it for my bday from a friend. From the day is got it i have learned everything myself. And it has been a total pain in the neck. Atleast was. Now I think I have got the hang of almost all features (I use CS3 now). But it has taken alot of time (like pointed out before).

[notjustgraphics]

If you need a dedicated college course to wrap yourself around Photoshop, it's probably best to pursue a different career option...

Don't get me wrong... it's a daunting program, but it's not beyond the comprehension of the average user...

For the record, neither IrfanView (which I use daily) or Graphics Convert are image creation tools... they both offer basic manipulation techniques and format conversion, but do not allow for image creation.

If a user does find Photoshop beyond their needs (not their abilities)... You may want to check out Paint Shop Pro [ Untitled ] now offered by Corel (unfortunately).

I'm just a wee bit over 30 and I find I can wrap my head around just about anything... I'd like to think i'm above average, but when I see my 3 year old nephew turning on the surround sound system to play X-Box games, taking pictures with cell phones, and using an iPod, i start to wonder... At 3 years old, my Speak-and-Spell was hi-tec for me...

Kids these days have an easier time grasping video games with dual directional controls, 16 pressure sensitive buttons and a headset than I did with pacman (4 directions, no buttons... just dots!)

Mike.

[Jolt]

I believe I posted "for professional use without a dedicated college course."

I stand by that statement. Spot colors, trapping, resolutions, (true) vector vs pseudo-raster-vector, separations, color management, dot gain, ucr, gcr, are all important things to understand in a professional environment. Good luck learning most of those via a tutorial.

I was searching for a new community that may be a nice place to contribute to. However, it seems opinions that differ from the "herd" here are frowned upon. That's fine. No problem.There are million forums on the web. I'll go somewhere else and let the pretend-big fish here play in their little pond and feel important. I'm tired of arguing every point I make. It is possible to post your own opinion without trying to point out how wrong someone else is. The egos are way too big around here... you know who you are..... with your 1996 web page design and most likely bootleg copy of Photoshop. I'd hazard a guess that I've been in the industry at least 1 decade longer and have 10 years more experience to show for it, national awards and publications, professional additions to the software you use, direct lines of communication to people that effect your work every day. I could be one of the Knoll brothers for all you know. But whatever.. you seem to know everything so you go right on spouting it.



See ya.. I'm out.

[stiney51]

I think we welcome everyone's opinion here and honestly looking at Jolt's posts, it would appear he does not.

This website is first and foremost about the community and helping people with common interests (at least it should be in my opinion). This includes people who are just learning.

Good luck in you career Jolt, I think you'll find many people out there as skilled as you who never went to college. Any and all of the things you learned in college are taught every day in the real world.

I know because I went to school for graphic design with a double major in advertising and journalism graphics. I learned in college, but I'm constantly learning and helping people learn who are in the field but do not know certain things. That's the great thing about design, you can always learn to make yourself better.

alex, stick with it. Photoshop may not be easy to learn, but there are tons of resources out there to help and tons of people on here willing to help as well.

[Jolt]

You will not find a single post of mine anywhere on the web that so blatantly claims another user is wrong when giving an opinion-based reply. Ego is rampant in the creative industry, some people can handle it, others feel it's necessary to try and one-up other experienced users in order to inflate their own self-worth. This forum clearly favors the one-up format. If you don't see it, you may be guilty of it, simply complacent or inexperienced enough to believe the crap being dished out buy others.

[stiney51]

Experience is not something you get in college, period.

I don't know your background Jolt, and I'm sure you are experienced and talented, but there are aspiring designers who know more about photoshop than a college professor before they get our of high school. You can't tell me that these 13 year old kids that are on here took a "college course."

I'm sorry if you think someone was attacking you personally, but it doesn't help anyone to answer this person's question with a response about needing to take a dedicated college course. That is all I took from NotJustGraphic's post.

[MoodsR4Cattle]

Ya know, I usually stay out of ego driven squabbles, but I'd like to throw my .02¢ in here. I've used Photoshop for quite some time (I still have the "Photoshop 3 bible" and the spine isn't even cracked) I use the program professionally and have for several years, and I never had any 'formal' training. No, I haven't won any fancy awards but I make a decent living. Yes, to learn the program now from scratch would take more work than having learned the simpler versions from way back first, and if someone wishes to take college courses more power to them, but I don't feel it's absolutely necessary, just quicker.

Jolt states, "Spot colors, trapping, resolutions, (true) vector vs pseudo-raster-vector, separations, color management, dot gain, ucr, gcr, are all important things to understand in a professional environment. Good luck learning most of those via a tutorial."
Maybe there aren't online tutorials on the subjects, but their definitely should be. I always thought that's what people like you and I are here for, to help out someone trying to better their skills. Otherwise, why bother joining a forum at all?

Interested in writing some tutorials?

[notjustgraphics]

Wow

Guess somebody is a bit on edge!

I guess once Jolt gives his opinion, no one is allowed to differ with it...

My guess is that the majority of the users here are accomplished photoshop designers without college training... I didn't think discounting their abilities or discouraging new and young photoshop enthusiasts was in the best spirit of BioRUST.

Forgive my Ego if anybody else took it that way...

Anyways, for those who aren't 'Professionals' don't give up on Photoshop or any thing you want to learn...

The majority of the crowd here will be pleased to offer any assistance they can... hopefully without the discouraging words.

Ohh look at that! Jolt docked me two rep points for having an opinion!

Geez...

[Tamlin]

Everyone at BioRUST is free to state an opinion, but equally everyone is free to challenge any opinion...as long as they do it reasonably and in line with the Forum Rules. The following remark:

Originally Posted by Jolt

..... with your 1996 web page design and most likely bootleg copy of Photoshop

is a cheap jibe that is tantamount to libel and will not be tolerated here. Either offer up some evidence of software piracy or retract it.




PS: For what it's worth, I taught myself Photoshop from books and experimentation.