Tay. Posted February 12, 2011 Share Posted February 12, 2011 Firstly, I'm gonna say, I'm hopeless when it comes to editing... I don't usually have much of an idea on what I want the photo to look like and just fiddle around until I sort of like what I see. Lately, I've been using Photoscape. Last night I downloaded a free trial of Photoshop Elements 9. I've only ever used it once before, in art class to do some digital colouring, but that's all. And basically I just have no clue even where to begin! So what I'm looking for is some basic tips and tricks to get me started. Surely I can't be the only one slightly frighten of PS ;) Are there any helpful sites that might help me out? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lic_82 Posted February 12, 2011 Share Posted February 12, 2011 Try Youtube ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tay. Posted February 12, 2011 Author Share Posted February 12, 2011 ^ Righto, will have a look ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirst_goldens Posted February 12, 2011 Share Posted February 12, 2011 im not much help im a bit the same relly lol!! I got arcsoft pic editing program and its almost identical but i find it much simpler then PS... but i guess its like them all once u know ur way around ur ok... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rozzie Posted February 12, 2011 Share Posted February 12, 2011 I have Photoshop and have never used it. It's scarey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tay. Posted February 12, 2011 Author Share Posted February 12, 2011 ;) I'm glad I downloaded the free trial before buying it... if I'm getting no where once the trial is up, I don't think there would be any point in me buying it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~*Shell*~ Posted February 12, 2011 Share Posted February 12, 2011 google "photoshop for beginners" or "beginners tutorial photoshop" and you'll find lots of info. Once you've got your head around layers, you should be fine! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirislin Posted February 12, 2011 Share Posted February 12, 2011 I've looked at some tutorials on youtube and find the blokes who do them mumble in an American accent and dont clearly show what they're doing. They just zoom the cursor around and I cant see what they're clicking on anyway. It just made me feel even dumber so I am relieved to see others find the whole thing daunting. If there was a local course on it I'd jump at the chance. I dont even get layers. I know you're supposed to create separate layers for each action that you do but I've still not seen how you are supposed to merge them all into one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vickie Posted February 12, 2011 Share Posted February 12, 2011 (edited) A number of years ago I did an "out of bounds" tutorial. It was the first time I had done anything even remotely complex in elements. I will see if it is still online as it really explained layers to me as well as a few other bits & pieces. I think using Photoshop is a bit like picking up a DSLR for the first time, it is impossible to master it all at once (or ever lol) but as you learn each function, you can apply it to others. I think it's normal to overdo everything when you start too. Eta, just found it, it was on flickr, not sure if you are on there? The guys name is serrator, if you do a search on out of bounds tutorial elements you will find plenty, I just found serrators tutorial very easy to follow Edited February 12, 2011 by Vickie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PossumCorner Posted February 12, 2011 Share Posted February 12, 2011 Best help I have come across is "Scott Kelby's Seven Point" book - I think there is one for CS3 and one for CS5. It goes through every tiny baby step of what to click, doesn't leave anything to assuming you should know this or that already. So it is especially good for making layers and when and how to flatten them, but keeps it as basic as you want. Good book, recommend, it takes the mystery out of using layers. Cheaper ex USA than borders. And yes, I'm sure some you-tube tutorials are made just to boost the tutor's self-importance at being all-knowing and without actually showing any of the small steps. So they are more like this is what you can do than actually this is how you do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whiskedaway Posted February 12, 2011 Share Posted February 12, 2011 Layers Tutorial: http://www.photoshopcafe.com/tutorials/layers/intro.htm That whole website is pretty good, though I've only had a quick look. Kirislin, with merging, I normally just don't. I create groups for my layers - Ctrl+G on Windows - which are like folders that you can drag your layers into. Keeps everything looking nice and neat, and you can close them so that you can't see all the layers. However if you really want to merge, only merge layers that you're completely happy with, because you can't change anything once you've merged them. The shortcut is Ctrl+E, and if you have no blending modes, start at the top and merge your way down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kja Posted February 12, 2011 Share Posted February 12, 2011 Or download Lightroom and dive in by playing with sliders. You see your results immediately and undoing something is super fast. Like what you've done? Click the + symbol on the left hand side and it will save your steps so you don't have to recreate them - best thing? If you use that new preset on another photo you can still tweak every single thing. Lightroom is where I (and many folks I know) do the vast majority of editing. I rarely open Photoshop (but I still need it). If you are big into layers and textures and lean more towards digital art then you'll need to learn Photoshop eventually. Otherwise, Lightroom - simpler, less expensive and fabulous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tay. Posted February 13, 2011 Author Share Posted February 13, 2011 Thanks for the replies ^ I think I'll spend most of today watching turtorials Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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