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Posted on 19/07/11 12:16:20 PM |
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Wren
* Posts: 26 Reply  |
General advice please :-)
Hi Steve it's Wren again! I have been working on various bits trying to get my skills up and even looking into taking a course in graphic design. Please could you help me with a little advice: Firstly what does one need to know to be a photohsop master? Not sure what your plans are but if it were written I would snap up a book that would tell me not just basics but real in depth stuff on what will make me great at photoshop (hint hint -seriously Steve there are NO books of that sort out there and it would fill a gap in the market for advancing photoshopists like me). At the moment I try to deconstruct images in my head and then work out how they did it but even though I have loads of knowledge I don't really know how and when to use certain tools. I use Tutorials but they don't teach me the purpose of tools so I still feel unable to create images on my own. If there was a list of say 12 things that I need to learn to make me brilliant and help me to put it all together it would be fab. Second (don't worry only two things! :-) How did you get into your line of work? I am a comms bod but I'm branching out and am not really sure what path I want to take in this field yet, all I know is I like manipulating pictures and creating my own designs. Since the wall fiasco a few people have asked for one with their name spray-painted on in the colour of their choice! :-) Have you got any pointers and or any stark dos and don'ts? Do learn how to use photoshop don't keep bugging people who write books that kind of thing? Oh and one very last thing...what is the importance of learning InDesign and Illustrator? Is it a must that one should learn these things to bolster their photoshop knowledge? Some people have pooh-poohed my desire to master photoshop saying I would be just a one trick pony without Illustrator and InDesign... Very grateful for your time. Just about to do chapter 2 setting the scene :-) Kind regards Wren |
Posted on 20/07/11 07:33:13 AM |
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Steve Caplin
Administrator Posts: 6997 Reply  |
Re: General advice please :-)
Wren, Well, that's a lot of question! What does one need to be a Photoshop master? I'm not sure I know how to answer this. You say you don't know how and when to use certain tools. There are plenty of books that will take you through Photoshop step by step, explaining the purpose and use of each tool. However, that's not the approach I prefer to use. I take a task-based approach: this is the job we want to achieve, which tools do we need to get it done? I don't know which of my books you have, but if you don't own How to Cheat in Photoshop then I'd recommend you take a look at a copy. The InDesign/Illustrator issue is quite different. These are programs for designers, and if that's the line you're intending to pursue, then I'd recommend you at least learn the basics of InDesign. It's used for creating books and magazines, so you really only need to learn it if this is a goal of yours. Illustrator is a harder program to master, but still rewarding. If all you want to do is create pictures in Photoshop, however, then you don't need to learn either of them. I don't know if this is of any help at all! Steve |
Posted on 20/07/11 12:48:06 PM |
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Wren
* Posts: 26 Reply |
Re: General advice please :-)
Perfect Steve! Thanks. With my first question I suppose it's a matter of putting the pieces together, at the moment if I look at a piece of work I don't know exactly what to do to re-create it but maybe that's something that comes with time, practice and patience not being spoon-fed. I have 100% Photoshop, which I am working through currently, how to cheat CS4 and Art & Design in Photoshop -they are in my "touch on pain of death" pile! I enjoy going through the lessons and even when I get stuck it is rewarding having to work stuff out. Thanks again for your input. I am appreciative.  |
Posted on 20/07/11 3:18:51 PM |
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Steve Caplin
Administrator Posts: 6997 Reply |
Re: General advice please :-)
Well, you certainly have all the books! If you want to know more about specific tools, I'd recommend How to Cheat in Photoshop before getting too stuck into 100% Photoshop. Above all - keep posting questions here on the forum, and do take part in the Friday Challenge! |