Topic: beginner

hi...
as a beginner, what are the best things to do first?
what are the primary things that one must first be familiar with?
what are the things that one must remember always as a beginner and moving on to become better at photoshop?
tips and tricks... and tutorials.

thanks a lot...

there are so many tutorials on the web that sometimes it becomes confusing where to go first... and links and resources in every site add to more of the confusion.

thanks so much... hope you all can help.

Hello and welcome to the Asylum alexiecorelle.
I'm going to pinch a quote from warjournal, one of our esteemed Mad Scientists, that answers all three of your questions

quote:

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Play, fiddle, learn

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Here is a link to introduce to the asylum Welcome to the OZONE Asylum FAQWiki!
As for tutorials I've learned an awful lot from the "Hands On Tutorials" the link is at the bottom of this page. Equally marvellous, are the photoshop tutorials over here at the Guru's network.
The best things to do first is to get to know Photoshop and the best way of doing that is by using it. So what is it you want to do? this is the next thing to ask yourself.
Are you editing photographs, creating images for the web, or creating digital images from scratch. In all cases, practice x3 is a good teacher.
Also never ever ever forget to read the manual and help file (press F1)

If you have an image you are working on and are having problems with it. post it up or link to the photo here so we can better help. You will get a much better response from others if you show you have actually worked on the problem yourself.

If you work through some of the tutorials listed above in the links and have difficulties start a post and ask here. If anyone can help they will.

::tao:::: ::cell::

Join the circus and become a finger contortionist. In other words keyboard shortcuts are a must if you're serious about learning PS or any other program for that matter...but especially paint and draw type programs.

Using a mouse to go back and forth to a menu bar or tool bar becomes tedious very quickly. Keyboard shortcuts should be very near the top of your list of things to learn... probably immediately following a basic understanding of the difference between raster and vector images. And you should know the difference between those types of images before before you begin....save yourself a while lot of frustration.

Welcome aboard.... and enjoy! =)

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"Capitalism hears all prayers...." Lore Sjöberg

Photography? Painting? Web Graphics?
Which is your principal usage?
=)

Nature & Travel Photography
Visit the Sleeping Wolves

thanks guys... i'm experimenting right now. but since i'm just starting, i'm a bit slow with some of the things.

would it be ok if i follow tutorials and try to practice on them? i mean, 1 tutorial at a time and try to master it.

It sounds reasionable, but remember that it's not the tutorial itself that's important, but understanding the techniques that lay behind it. So don't slavishly follow it, but experiment, try it with this or that variation. Figure out how it all works. Anyone can create images with enough filters and tutes. Such things do not the photoshopper make.


Justice 4 Pat Richard

Honestly, if you're that green, and don't know what you're doing, I would just draw something out of a hat.

Start with Google, and look up "cool business cards", "cool logos", "inspirational design", etc. Even if you don't like corporate logo/brochure type stuff, you'll need to learn basic design and composition aesthetics.

Some of it might be intimidating, but once you figure out layers and text, you'll pick stuff up quick.


DO TUTORIALS. No matter how daunting stuff is, you only get better by actually using PS, not by looking at stuff. I would recommend taking a class, and if you're serious, think about getting at least a Bachelors. Anything less is pointless.

My best advice is to hang out with someone who knows what they're doing. If not, start with beginner tutorials, and think about going to Borders and buying a good book, one that teaches you example by example. A structured book is far better than random tutorials, but be prepared to spend $30-$40 for a book with a companion DVD. But that shouldn't be an issue since you were able to buy PS... right?

www.greggorelick.com

Obsessive-Compulsive (I) Inmate

Look at you, you're everywhere! Awesome, I salute you!

Layers. Learn to love layers.

Also learn how to be really really good with selections ( The pen tool [I feel] is the best at selections, but it will be rather annoying at first to use)

Tuts of course, but I found it partially useful when I started Photoshop to read a book and learn what means what.

?Play, fiddle, learn? couldn?t be more true. Just say OOOoOO What does this button do?!?!
Depending on what you may do with it later in time, Source photos are a big thing as well.

In time you will find that Photoshop is alive ( I talk to it daily XD )

Welcome to the rest of your life.

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Some people say im mean, but I actually have the heart of a sweet, little girl...In a jar... on my desk...