I've recently returned from a photo-editing workshop at the Mendicino Art Center. Taught by Photoshop specialist and educator Markus Pfitzner, the workshop dealt with photographing pictures using the Camera Raw format, then importing, organizing, and editing them using two Adobe programs: Adobe Bridge and Adobe Lightroom. I want to discuss the neat things I learned at this workshop.
But first, I want to point out that the major photo editing program in use today is Adobe Photoshop. CS3 is the most recent version, and is by far the most powerful. You can buy a beginner's version of Photoshop, called Elements, for not much money at big box stores, but if you can at all afford it, I suggest making the investment in CS3. Even buying the previous version, CS2, online at websites like eBay would be a better investment than buying the much more limited Elements. I know of people who have a family member who is a faculty member or student and ask them to buy the educational version of CS3--It's essentially the same as the professional version, but at a fraction of the price.
Photoshop is an incredibly impressive, amazing piece of software. You can edit photos with it, add type, and even convert your photographs to artworks because you can add texture, use brushes, layer and mask images--It's all there. Having sung Photoshop's praises, I will add that it is not a user-friendly program. I have often said that someone could get a Ph.D. just in Photoshop, and still not know everything there is to know about this program. So if you just want to crop and size photos for your family album, skip Photoshop and stick with the software that came with your camera. But if you are serious about your photography and want to really master digital photo editing, Photoshop is the way to go.
Once you get the program, load it onto your computer, and open it up, it's pretty bewildering. Plus, what you see on your screen is just the tip of the iceberg. That's why I suggest you hunt down as many video tutorials as you can: Search your local library; check out eBay; borrow from friends, etc. Even one good tutorial on a CD will get you started moving your mouse around the space and getting an idea of which button does what. After tutorials, check out books on Photoshop. Starting with the books was, for me, pretty overwhelming. Plus, I was impatient and just wanted to "get to it." That's why I suggest getting your feet wet by following a step-by-step video.
All I ask is that you stick with it for several months. During that time, if you've given Adobe permission to send you information, you'll probably receive e-mail invitations to lecture and workshops. If the topic appeals and you can afford the time and registration cost, try one out. But be forewarned: The official Photoshop workshops offered in big cities like Phoenix routinely have 500 or more people attending, so you won't be getting any individualized attention. A better place for that is your local community college, university, or art center. By signing up for that level of workshop, you get the opportunity to have a Photoshop expert in the same room with you to answer your questions--which is worth its weight in gold.
But once you've mastered the basics of Photoshop, you'll never want to use anything else. You'll see why it's the preferred choice of photographers, artists, illustrators, and web people.
Next, spotlight on Camera Raw, Adobe Bridge, and Lightroom.
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