Photoshop - new user

[Hikingman]

Having loaded Photoshop 7 (yeah, I'm behind the times) this week, there's a 7 page .pdf that I found via google. It starts with a full page 'quick ref. card'. The card has over 75 symbols, and a list of shortcuts. The next six pages are sectioned, Viewing, Selecting and moving objects, Painting, Editing, Path editing,
...ending with ImageReady Color Table palette.

Wow, this is going to take time to separate the wheat from the chaff.

 

[Andrew Boyd]

I agree with Mike E above, the Lynda.com tutorials are worth their weight in gold. 25 bucks a month gets you going with lots, lots of information. To start, you just need a basic Photoshop toning recipe. Mine's on the link.
Good luck!
Andrew
The Discerning Photographer

 

[kkamin]

I agree with Mike E above, the Lynda.com tutorials are worth their weight in gold. 25 bucks a month gets you going with lots, lots of information. To start, you just need a basic Photoshop toning recipe. Mine's on the link.
Good luck!
Andrew
The Discerning Photographer

+1

I've already responded, but I feel the urging need to respond again. GO THE LINDA.COM ROUTE!!! I am in no way affiliated (pinky swear)!. But watching an expert on video teach you the program is the way to go. It is well written with the user level in mind. The written word has its limitations, as in a book, and when starting out and I feel fails at teaching subjects with heavy visuals. But this video tutorial website will teach you in a comprehensive way.

Books are great when you achieve a certain level. But something as complicated as Photoshop needs a demonstration type backing.

 

[woodywalters]

There are even on line classes "Digital Art Academy" would be a good start

 

[burstintoflame81]

I agree with Mike E above, the Lynda.com tutorials are worth their weight in gold. 25 bucks a month gets you going with lots, lots of information. To start, you just need a basic Photoshop toning recipe. Mine's on the link.
Good luck!
Andrew
The Discerning Photographer

$25 bucks a month to watch some videos? OUCH. I could put a 7D with an "L" lens on my credit card and probably pay less than that a month. ( or a brand new version of photoshop )

There are many professional grade videos and websites online for free. The library is free too. I am not arguing that these videos aren't great, I just think there are many other options especially if you are just testing the waters as a beginner.

 

[kkamin]

IMO, you seriously have no idea what you are talking about. This site is simply amazing for instruction and the major courses run about 8-16 hours in small broken up sections (3-5 min each). Each small movie builds on the previous one. That approach is a lot better than searching around for bits and pieces that are not interconnected exactly.

I swear I am not affiliated with the site in any way. $25 a month is nothing if you really want to learn; it is the cost of one book. Anyways, you can try out the first chapters of videos for free before signing up.

There's a reason they charge money. In my opinion, they could double their price and I would still subscribe. It has personally taken my skills with: Photoshop, After Effects, Flash and Illustrator to new levels and it has reaped financial rewards for my freelance work.

I agree with Mike E above, the Lynda.com tutorials are worth their weight in gold. 25 bucks a month gets you going with lots, lots of information. To start, you just need a basic Photoshop toning recipe. Mine's on the link.
Good luck!
Andrew
The Discerning Photographer

$25 bucks a month to watch some videos? OUCH. I could put a 7D with an "L" lens on my credit card and probably pay less than that a month. ( or a brand new version of photoshop )

There are many professional grade videos and websites online for free. The library is free too. I am not arguing that these videos aren't great, I just think there are many other options especially if you are just testing the waters as a beginner.

 

[burstintoflame81]

IMO, you seriously have no idea what you are talking about. This site is simply amazing for instruction and the major courses run about 8-16 hours in small broken up sections (3-5 min each). Each small movie builds on the previous one. That approach is a lot better than searching around for bits and pieces that are not interconnected exactly.

I swear I am not affiliated with the site in any way. $25 a month is nothing if you really want to learn; it is the cost of one book. Anyways, you can try out the first chapters of videos for free before signing up.

There's a reason they charge money. In my opinion, they could double their price and I would still subscribe. It has personally taken my skills with: Photoshop, After Effects, Flash and Illustrator to new levels and it has reaped financial rewards for my freelance work.

I didn't say that it wasn't great. I just said that there are other avenues that are probably better suited for someone just starting out who aren't sure if they will even be able to grasp all of the things required to make full use of photoshop. I am not saying that they shouldn't eventually go to these types of things, but I just thought a little minor research first would better suit them, and they could progress at any pace they like, because they aren't paying a monthly fee. For instance if they only have an hour or two a week to spend tinkering with photoshop, that site would be a complete waste. Personally I preferred the books, because I was pressed for time and could take books to work with me to read on my break or when I had some free time. So while you tout this as being the greatest thing since sliced bread ( which it may very well be so ), I am simply being the voice of reason to show that there are many equally beneficial ways of learning photoshop.