Learning curve?

[jowensphoto]

Sooooo I am making the dreaded leap.

From GIMP to CS6. A gift from a very generous family member.

Have to say, I'm nervous. I feel like I've only recently tapped in to the power of my current editing software, but am really excited to work with the "gold standard." The GUI is similar, but CS has a lot of capabilities I don't currently have.

Any suggestions for the migration? I am currently looking into some tutorials on YouTube.

 

[AaronLLockhart]

read as much as you can... I've been using Photoshop since 5.0 and Creative Suite ever since it came out, and I'm still no where near perfect at using any of it. Practice makes perfect, and don't use tutorials to do your work. Do tutorials on random images while learning to remember the tools, features, and steps. Relying on a tutorial every time you need something done with your work will not allow your brain to learn what you are doing. Instead, it will be using the tut like an instruction manual on how to put a bed together.

CS has a LONG learning curve, but it's completely worth it!

 

[jowensphoto]

Oh yeah, I don't rely on tutorials now, but use them to learn the different functions. GIMP has served me well, and I'm not abandoning it completely.

 

[Big Mike]

Consider joining NAPP. You get access to tones of great learning resources from the pros (not just anyone who can post to Youtube). Plus you get the magazine and other benefits like discounts on photo gear etc.

Or just check out the Adobe network of websites and/or the (Scott) Kelby sites.

 

[Jaemie]

Torrent a handful of tutorials and go from there? I use CS6. There is a lot to learn, but it's a pretty fun experience. Mostly.

 

[HughGuessWho]

Torrent a handful of tutorials and go from there? I use CS6. There is a lot to learn, but it's a pretty fun experience. Mostly.

"Torrent a handful of tutorials"? You surely aren't suggesting the theft of copyright material?

 

[e.rose]

Torrent a handful of tutorials and go from there? I use CS6. There is a lot to learn, but it's a pretty fun experience. Mostly.

REALLY?????

:banghead:

OP... honestly... when I made the jump, I just looked up tutorials on youtube or searched google as things came up that I wanted to do.

Also... go to Barns and Nobel and sit down in their Digital Photography section and flip through some of the books on editing/retouching/whatever and pick up one or two.

Ask questions on the forum as you have them... read books, online articles/tutorials, watch youtube tutorials (although be careful with this cause there IS a ****ton of crap on there too, hahaha), etc.

I remember how intimidating it was to make the switch, but it's actually not too bad once you get your feet wet. :sillysmi:

Just remember that you're NEVER gonna learn EVERYTHING photoshop can do all at once.

I'm STILL learning things.

I know brilliant pro photographers that STILL don't know half of what PS can do because they just know how to do what it is they like to do to their images.

So don't overwhelm yourself with trying to learn EVERYTHING... at least not all at once. :sillysmi:

 

[AaronLLockhart]

There are TONS of free tutorials all over the web. The need to torrent anything involving tuts on how to use photoshop is completely irrelevant.

Adobe Photoshop CS2 101: The Tools Pallet

That tutorial is VERY helpful. Pay attention. It's for version CS2, and there have been a couple of tools added from CS4+, but over all, every single one of the tools in CS4-CS6 operate in the same fashion as that video tutorial.

I cannot emphasize to you enough how important it is to learn what each tool is and what it does.

For everything completed in photoshop, there are about 10 other ways to get that exact same result. So it is truly important that you learn the tools and their complete functions. Everything from the basic functions of each tool, to how to use them in layer masks. It's crucial to your end product that you learn it all! (about the tools that is, it isn't so important that you learn everything there is to know about photoshop, but get to know the tool pallet. it is your friend.)

 

[jowensphoto]

Wow! Thanks for the advice and links, everyone! I don't have lunch plans today (well, I was thinking of doing the 10 things within 10 feet challenge lol) so I might ride over to the book store and see what I can find.

I'm actually using Design Standard CS5.5, but it's obviously still very capable even though not the latest edition.

It feels like so many new doors have opened! I have Photoshop along with the other tools to work on my graphic design.

 

[KenC]

The kinds of adjustments you usually make are the ones to learn about first. There are plenty of things PS can do that you could learn from tutorials but might never actually use, or use infrequently. My basic list would be to learn adjustment layers, curves, cropping and perspective adjustments because these are what I use most, but your workflow might be different. For example, you might spend a lot of time doing color adjustment, in which case you would need to learn the color balance, saturation and hue functions early on (but you would still want to know about adjustment layers). Layer masks are probably the next thing - they make adjustment layers much more powerful by allowing selective application of edits to parts of the image. Selective color is also pretty good.

 

[KmH]

Tutorials will leave a lot of gaps in your knowledge and significantly flatten the learning curve because they leave out a lot of information.

o learn the features and capabilities of each tool/function/feature CS 6 has available for you to use get and keep handy for reference - Adobe Photoshop CS6 for Photographers: A professional image editor's guide to the creative use of Photoshop for the Macintosh and PC

No one has yet released a new book for using Camera Raw 7 yet, but keep your eyes peeled for one.

Real World Image Sharpening with Adobe Photoshop, Camera Raw, and Lightroom (2nd Edition)

Add Products | Photoshop | Adobe TV to your bookmarks.

When you get CS6 installed and open - press your keyboard's F1 key. Once Adobe Community Help has loaded, click on Getting Started with CS6.

Join the National Association of Photoshop Professionals (NAPP), visit their learning aids, exclusive forums, and get the 10 yearly issues of Photoshop User magazine

Here is my NAPP referral link - Learn Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom and Digital Photography | NAPP

 

[jowensphoto]

Thanks!!

I checked out a few books today @ the library. They had everything "for Dummies" except 5.5 (or 5). I am reading through Color Management for Digital Photographers which is mostly Elements centered, so I'm wondering if the info can be transferred to PS.

Also got a copy of something else I can't remember (only that it's by Kodak...) and the National Geographic Book of Photos for inspiration.