Preserved Topic: Teaching Photoshop

Hi,
I'm going to be teaching Photoshop to a group of students. I expect to have all ranges of skill levels. Help!
I guess I'm asking for any resources for teaching, or exercises that are fun.
What would you have liked to learn when you were beginning? Intermediate?
I also need images for them to work with the first class. Any suggestions where I can get some?

Thanks,
Annie

IF I were your student I would liek to learn the Basic function of each thing..."Tool Bar Menu"

* Playing with text..."Then going for some good design for my text" Like the "Asylum" grapgic up there.

* Teach me how to the texture...marble, wood, glass, stone ect.

* make my own banner....

*And the thing I hope ya would do is gave the student to express their opion by leeting them do some graphics..let them creat something...." This might be tough to do"

Teaching Photoshop can be alot of fun, but it can also be frustrating. Everyone is going to move at different paces, and they are all going to want different things from the class. That said, let's move on.
When I first started learing Photoshop, I wish I had a better grsp of the 'basics'. What I mean by that is a clear explaination of what everything does. Personally this is an area that I feel quite weak in, I was forced in to more advanced things in PS when I began. There are others here that knoow these basics better than I, so in truth they may use PS better and more efficiently than I. Many students are afraid to make mistakes, tell them right away that mistakes will happen, and that it's ok, without this reasurance, this could create frustration. Let them know that PS is a very large, very complex progam, that you can spend a life time trying to master.

As far as images go, if I were you, I'd be looking at royalty free images. Call some of these places that produce them, some may offer an education discount, but you'll have to ask for it. Just go to a search engine and look for "royalty free photo" or "royalty free image"

If you've ever more questions, feel free to ask.

The Photoshop CD has a bunch of stock images on it already that you could use for no effort at all.

Teach 'em what resolution is all about so they don't produce inappropriate images for print or the web. That is a surprisingly tough concept to grasp (I remember the struggle). Teach 'em the miracle of "undo". The thrill of unsharp mask. The utter disappointment (most of the time) of the unfortunately named "magic" wand.

And teach 'em where to go for deeper information in their chosen area. A general "survey" class IS increadibly frustrating for both teacher and student. All you can do is get 'em started with some solid basics and pointers. The ones that will go on with it will do so at their own initiative - either with more classes, or with books, or with on-line tutorials or (if they are lucky) on the job training. Give them a taste for what they can do, give them a solid foundation, and those who want to will run with it.

Most of us who use Photoshop professionally are NOT doing wild and crazy art all day long. At least I'm not. I think of myself as a craftsman, not an artist. Without a solid grounding in craft I wouldn't be able to do that. You won't be able to give them much in one course; but if they leave with a grasp of what the tools are and what the menu items contain and do, you will have done well. And if they leave a little more respectful of and intimidated by the software than when they swaggered in, that's not an altogether bad thing!

Don't forget to tell them one of the greatest things in photoshop: the history window.

When I first started out, the ability to go back several steps on the things I did was invaluable. I wish they had one for windows. heh

It should give your students some confidence knowing that if they did something that didn't come out right, they could go back a couple of steps.

yeah, such a history window, would be good for life... just delete bad mistakes.




All those who believe in psychokinesis raise my hand.

Hi everyone,

Thanks so much for your advice.
I remember the resolution stuff too, Steve.

I was thinking that I will teach it as a workshop class. Everyone
goes at their own speed, projects can range in their interest....photopgraphers being
different from web people, etc.
And see what happens. I love photoshop and hope to pass that along.
I also have to incorporate design sense into this class too.

Again thanks to everyone.

I'll let you know what happens after the first class.
Also any questions. This seems like a great forum.

Annie

OK, there are 3 really important things that you just HAVE to go over, all of your students should know...

- LAYERS
- CHANNELS
- MASKS

In addition to the basic toolbar stuff, these three things make up all that is really powerful about photoshop. I f a newbie learns how to manipulate layers and channels properly, and also how to use those channels to create masks, then they can do ANYTHING they want, follow all the tutorials, etc... Too many classworks spend too little time on these basic metaphors.

Once they know these things, they need some stuff to to with it, hmm? I would suggest borrowing a good digital camera and capturing some images they might like to work with, in class. Good sample projects should always be something that they can get some use of after class, perhaps a brochure for their favorite band or for their dad's company, perhaps a web project for an organization they know and like. I always try and avoid things that are useless after ther class is over, real projects that might get used are the best to learn from.

Perhaps you could contact some of your local non-profit organizations and see if they need anything, posters, brochures, web presences, like that? Chances are the school probably has needs like this too, ask around, make it into a shared work or a competition. A series of posters for an upcoming event could be fun, set out the basci parameters and they'll get the rush of seeing them actually printed!

Your pal, -doc-

Hey - you could give us the final and see if any of us would pass!

This IS a great forum. I've never encountered quite this mix of enthusiastic people who are both willing to help AND know what they are talking about! Think of us as your secret resource, and don't be shy about floating a question about your class here.

you know what, Annie, you sound like a good teacher. (not that I've had much of them in my life :P)

but, IMHHHHHHHHHO, this is the best PS forum around.

Hi,
Steve I'll send you the final and anyone else who wants it.
Doc, I'll email you when I'm at channels and using masks.
I'll need some help.
I have done some masking that I thought was complicated for an illustator, a night scene with
a flashlight. Used a mask and channels to make the light. What a pain! Also did alot for a piece of software.
I think I blocked out how it was done. I seems to have a problem with reverse thinking.
I hope the class gets that far. Find out soon.

You're all great.
Annie

annie - consider yourself lucky, you've gotten some of the best damn answers you can get, from some top notch users of PS. one person im waiting for an answer form still though is warjournal, the king of play.fiddle.learn.
he is REALLY good at just giving you a taste of what a filter/technique can achieve, and letting you use your own imagination to implement it.

quote:

---

I was thinking that I will teach it as a workshop class. Everyone
goes at their own speed, projects can range in their interest....photopgraphers being
different from web people, etc.

---

this is a good idea, except perhaps for your first day, or so.
it will be very tricky, as using PS for photo manipulation, or for web graphic design is very different, but everyone whouls still know the basics, so i think that the previously mentioned ideas of going through the basics (tool bar, etc), and the fundamental aspects (layers, channels masks), are necessary for anyone who wants a grasp of the product.
...oh and make sure you leave them with lots of URL's to check out, so they can push themselves. dont forget http://www.gurusnetwork.com and http://handson.nu/ .
....perhaps another good idea is to teach them how to go through a tutorial. this may sound silly, but believe me, it would be very helpful. its a great encouragement as a newbie to go through a tutorial and achieve the desired result, and in the controlled environment that you would be able to create, every student is almost guaranteed this (worst case scenario, you step them through it).

so, how long is this course exactly?
...oh and dont forget layer blending modes!
um, i know this will take a lot of work, but as far as teaching technique goes, try to change this:
"ok class, this is a layer blend called screen. basically, it sets black to transparent. everyone set your top layer to screen. done."
to this:
"ok class, this layer blend is called screen. basically, it sets black to transparent. it can be very useful for things such as A, B and C, or even just for putting a lens flare above a layer. everyone create a plain black layer, then let's put a lens flare on it. now, set that layer to screen, and we can then fiddle with the layers opacity to change the intensity of the lens flare.
OK kids, now lets put at least 12 lens flares on each of our images - that's what the professionals do!"
um... alright, PLEASE dont encourage lens flares, but do you get me? try to focus on practical applications of a function.
good luck, and i would love to hear your post-mortem of the lesson, and see any documentation that you may have!
...and i wont even get started on documentation, and the way it should be a concise listing of any iomportant things for beginners so that they can reference it when a week has gone by and they have forgotten everything you've taught them.....

Hi bunchapixels,
Thanks for the response.
Where do the nicknames come from? neurotic, lunatic, etc on these posts?
Neurotic is good for me.
The class is only 9 weeks. Then next semester is Quark and Illustrator.
It's actually called Commercial Art and Design.
So I have to teach design too. Which I will.
Really depends on the classes goals and where they are at.
People that have taken it before told me there were people that had never turned on a computer
to people that were very advanced.
I'll go with the basics and you're right, show a few practical places something can be used.
I learn things all the time. Especially now that I'm reviewing stuff.
The one's that will continue will get alot of design and photoshop in the future.
I think it will be fun.
I'm going to have 30 people I think!!!
I'll let you all know what happens. And be asking alot of questions.
Thanks
Annie

30 people! OUCH! good luck!
...and the nicknames are form one of two things:
1) number of posts. it changes as you make more posts.
2) mad scientists are asylum admisintrators, psychotics are forum trustees.

We are here for you Annie. We are all PS lovers, this is a program that you can never really 'master' everytime you think you've got it down another door will open for you.

Learning Curves and Levels, is a must for anyone who is doing anything with PS. It's used in both graphic design and Photo Minip.
Do you have a class syllabus that you could post for us, that way we won't get to far ahead of what you may be teaching. I can truly sit and think of dozens of things I'd like to learn, have been taught (not just discovered), and items I'd love to teach. Also will your class be meeting five days per week or less? Judging for time is important, especially when dealing with those that have never touched a computer before. You'll have to break there fear before you can teach.

ooh damn i wish my skool had a photo shop class what level of skool is it ? like what year? or is it a tafe/uni course.

damn you sound like a kick ass teacher. unlike all my teachers who wouldent know what a computer was if it bit them on the ass.

hehe yeah i'd be interested in doing the final paper. just to see how much i acctually know

good luck wif the students, i know we can be real bastards some times


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Maruman http://catgirl.mokushi.net
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The class is nine weeks, once a week, three hours and on a Saturday.
It's a community college and for credit.
That's why I am going to try and make it fun for them.
Get them to fall in love with ps and with design.
I'm going to try and get a final project at the end that will
include an image from each, possibly a show in the library.
I've taught before, but it was English in Europe and I did well.
I tend to get excited about stuff and I love people.
Let you know after Saturday.
Syllabus........after my first class.
First class is finding out about them and what they want to do, where they are at.
Then I thought I'd have them do an icon using layers, basic shapes, color,
and if they are advanced they can go for it with whatever they want to use.
The icon can go with a logo or they can just have fun with it.
I just did one and it was fun. and I'll emphasis that they should be able to make layers, shapes filled with color, transform, rotate, move the shape,
and the how far they go with it is up to them. filters, photos, whatever.
Keep it simple, less is more.
design.
enough rambling.

Thanks for your time.
Annie

Thats sounds like a great beginning. It'll start the beginners and it's something the more advanced folks can go nuts with.

Another question for you; will the students have access to computers with PS during the week, or only on Sat? I'm thinking 'homework'.

I've done some teaching and tutoring. More painting and drawing than computer / Photoshop related. So I know what a joy theaching can be.

p.s.
Syllabus
I have to cover resolution, color basics, toolbox, palattes, scanning, selections, painting tools???(seems like toolbox would cover this)am i missing something?, & layers.

F1_error
woops lost my message.
I'm a painter too. (Earn my living doing freelance design)
Have you manipulated any paintings?
Would love to try that.
I taught English in Europe for 3 years, but that's it as far as teaching.
loved it.
Thanks
Annie

You bet! I've often manipulated my work on a computer. Some of my larger items, I've had to take photos of and then scan, but it's all fun in the end. I play lots 'n lots. I get goofy ideas and try things. Once I wanted to try painting a hologram, of course, I cannot get a hologram the same in a painting as real life. Scanning that was really nifty, and it gave me a 2D, of a 3Dillusion. Neat stuff.

In your syllabus I'd make sure you cover the color wheel when discussing color theory. Scanning stuff can reallylead to neat things, encourage them to explore with the scanner. Scan leaves, foil, photos, print images, etc.. The toolbox is really complex and I know can be daunting to new users (just what do *all* these buttons do?) Break the tool box down into 'bites', there's a lot of hidden stuff there. When you cover layers, after your students have a good or very good grasp of the layers, then touch on channels. Maybe show them how to use channels to make a heightmap for lighting. This is something many of us here do.

Have you checked out http://www.GurusNetwork.com/ for other tutorials and maybe more ideas?

Don't take this the wrong way but if I was your student I would like a teacher who know what the hell they were doing

Annie, I havent read the entire thread so if this is covered already don't bother reading further, but I would suggest going over the basic Photoshop tools. Give the students a feel for everything and the filters for the first week or so. Afterwards, let them go on there own. Give them guidelines to stay in but give them creative freedom. Walk around and help. Thats really all a teacher can do. I don't believe Photoshop is something you can really teach. Some people are just naturally gifted, others are not.

I had to teach an old lady once who wasn't computer literate at all....

I found success by teahing her about the toolbar first and foremost....from there everything seemed to fall into place for her.

Hey! Have you forget Selecting images in PS????

What about teachig how to select?
With the quick mask or the (i dont know the name of that tool in english, is the one tho make path!)
Or the selecting tools as well!!!!

I think (-i think-) that is important....

Wakkos....your Sig bothers my ID....gimme the Thorazine!

Wich one Bougda?
Remember that i use "Super Max´s Rotating sig 2K"

But tell wich causes this effect.....

hi,
Bunchapixels, going to check out the sites right now.
Jestah, that's what I want to do, workshop class with help.
It would be nice for them to do something they can use/print/web
The students can use a computer lab all week. Lots of hours.
F1-error-Scanning is fun but there's only one in the class, attached to a computer from the middle ages.
We'll see on that one.
Is that you, Wakkos? Nice photos.
Talk to you later.
Annie

the sexi chick!

hmmmm... well I havent posted yet, but wakkos does bring up an exellent point..

as well as what you have mentioned, selections imho are quite a critical part of finding success with photoshop. As much as understanding layers, and definately way more important than filters.... just my opinion of course. My point being that a fundemental of PS is to be able to define an area by selection, or else one is doomed to editing/creating on the whole layer.. generally not done.

When covering the tool bar, I would emphasize the selection tools... baring in mind your class sounds like it is an introductory class... the path tool and the use of channels and layer masks is worth mentioning, but is more than likely outside the scope (and time restrictions) of a basic course. I have a friend in England is also teaching a basic PS class in a local college (evening classes) so if you have any specific questions perhaps I can pass them on or hook you up.

Soundslike you have a pretty good idea of what you are attempting and to reitterate F1's and most of the other guys around here.. feel free to ask questions.. like has been siad.. we are all a bit Photoshop obsessed around these parts ..

~Vp~