Did you study or just practiced?

[xrobxscottx]

Well, at first I learned a little bit about Photoshop from a friend of mine who is a graphic designer in Oregon. lol

But then I started this class at my secondary High School - meaning that I go to two different schools during the day. The class I am taking is Graphic Communications, and we learned/are learning how to use photoshop and indesign.

Also, I tend to spend time in photoshop at home, or when I am out and have my laptop on me.

But I would definitely say that the only true way to learn the ins and outs of photoshop, or any design program, would be to experiment with the system, or work through tutorials. I do both, and am in a class where I am learning it.

[ScarletWolfe]

I started out in ps about 5-6 years ago now...I wanted a sig and noone could quite make what I wanted...now Im addicted and even do some freelance work...I love graphics and designing. I could spend all day everyday doing it and die a happy woman...

There is so much I still want to learn ...I think with all the software out there now a person could study a lifetime graphics art and never ever get bored or tired of it...

[pantoshi]

May I ask: How many make their living -- 100% from graphics?
And did you study or just practiced?

Thanks.

[Kimmer12345]

I'm self-taught and still learning something new after doing this for 8 years.

[riley50112]

Self taught here, with a lot of trial and error,
a few wornout undo keys
surfing the web for ideas, tips and tricks, books
photoshop user magazine/member, and did I say
I use the undo key a lot?

[TheBetwixt]

I'm self taught/practice. Biorust actually taught me a LOT. It was one of my biggest resources when I picked up PS2. I used a lot of tutorials I found here years ago to learn a lot of the tools. When I went to look at schools, they weren't teaching what I really wanted to learn. I'm at the point where I need to apprentice or something with someone. I've learned a lot of tricks, but there's still a LOT more I want to learn! (Presently I want to learn Illustrator, because that's where more of the cool stuff is!)

[DanielM]

my wife bought a mac classic way back in the then time .It used Macpaint I started to mess around with it and discovered that I could create without using the manual as I have a reading problem.I use tutorials that have screen shots so I can duplicate the procedures by looking at the screen shots.Learn by doing is my only option but I still produce what I see in my mids eye.Regards danielm

[eNola23]

I took a one semester course at my community college. I just experimented and learned from there. That was in 1998. I've been hooked on photoshop ever since. I did have a job in design, I met someone in my class that worked for a magazine and he got me a job there too. I'd probably still work there if I hadn't moved across the country.

[Queen]

i didnt vote..there wasnt a both option..i started by just clicking buttons and seeing what happened..then i did some tutorials online..i really loved it..so i took a class at our community college..now i do design work for one of the newspapers where i live..and still play around when im not workin..u could say that i have the perfect job..i get paid to play with Adobe all day, whether its PS, Illustrator or InDesign..YAY!!

[oxygendogma]

I am using fotoshop for my own pleasure - to create wallpapers for my desktop or making pictures for my friends.

[MoodsR4Cattle]

Originally Posted by pantoshi

May I ask: How many make their living -- 100% from graphics?
And did you study or just practiced?

Self taught. I started with Photoshop when it was version 1.7. I'm now employed (but work from home) and do make 100% of my living in graphic design.

[h_freezy]

practise is the best way to learn something. I like the result of this poll so far.

[binarystar320]

Practicing and learning things on your own is the best way to do it. You find out what you are good at that way and learn from your mistakes. Learning on your own helps you to appreciate it more and also gets yourself more into it.

[docvoit]

I accidentally fell into photoshop and graphics. I was always good at drawing but never considered it as a career. When I began my own gaming company, I realized really quickly that the coders would end up doing a bulk of the work after I designed the games, so to render myself relevant, I began doing simple graphics, which expanded to banners, and now hopefully full fledged graphics and web design.

[pantoshi]

Originally Posted by MoodsR4Cattle

Self taught. I started with Photoshop when it was version 1.7. I'm now employed (but work from home) and do make 100% of my living in graphic design.

That is great. I aspire to have the accumulated experience and skills to work from my home someday.

How did you get your start? Any wisdom you may have to share would be received with gratitude.