Photoshop Tutorial and book recommendations?

Hello all,

After some near disastrous outcomes from shooting strictly jpeg while on my last vacation, I'm coming over to the RAW side. I realize that this will place a greater burden on my post-processing time, but I think the results will be worth the effort. Also, I will be honing my PP skills for when I move up to a semi-pro or pro setup.

So, I was wondering if you could point out some helpful tutorials and maybe a good reference book for a comparative Photoshop Newb to get started on Digital photography post processing.

I say 'comparative' because I have used the software in a limited capacity since PS 5.0 (mostly for small web graphics and application UI design). I am familair and comfortable with using layers, selection tools (marquee, magic wand etc), and somewhat familiar with some of the simpler photo editing tools like the level adjustments, saturation, filters. I have a software engineering/architecture background, so the technical details are not an issue.

I would love to hear your recommendations and suggestions. Thanks in advance

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Which version of photoshop will you be using?

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Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder



Sandy H

But plan on purchasing CS2 with my new dedicated Photo storage and processing laptop (within the next few months)
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"Photoshop bible CS2" has absolutely everything you would want to know and then some. I tend to quick reference "How to do Everything with CS2" by Colin Smith the most. It is quick and easy, but I still use the "Bible" for more in depth info.

Hope this helps.
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Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder



Sandy H

It does. Thank you.

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I have 3 CS2 oriented books that I find useful:

Fraser's Real World Camera Raw
Kelby's PS CS2 for the Digital Photographer
Evening's PS CS2 for Photographers

I've been spending less and less time in PS proper and more in ACR.

If I was starting fresh with RAW, I might be tempted to look at just using PS Elements and Lightroom or Aperture. But I'm assuming you already own PS 6.0?

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http://www.pbase.com/rboles

I just bought myself a new D50 a few months back
I have been shooting in RAW but I was thinking of switching to JPEG
Just wondering what your near disastours outcome was?

OD

Kelby's PS CS2 for the Digital Photographer will get you going. Cook book solutiosn to using PS and well written.

Morris
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http://qcpages.qc.cuny.edu/~morris/POD

For a very long time I've found Deke McClelland's books very useful in working with the many complex features of Photoshop. His latest, "Adobe Photoshop CS2" comes with a DVD that offers close to a hands-on exercise. If you're near a public library, they may stock it, as mine does.
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macnut

I was being slightly melodramatic.

I shot exclusively JPEG Fine while I was on vacation. I was also doing some minor PP (color, level adjustments) on my laptop on the run. When I got back, I started picking out the keepers and doing some more PP on them. I was unhappy with some of the colors and exposures (especially blue skies against lake waters and mountains). Some of them were just too off-base to fix in PS.

IMHO, jpeg gives you a lot less latitude when it comes to adjusting the original picture for these instances.

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I urge you to learn how to use the "Image Processor" inside of CS2. It will save you tons of work when converting and/or resizing your RAW files.

With that said, I highly recommend installing Russell Browns "Adobe CS2 Image Processor Modification". This modification will let you run an Action "after" the resize/convertion. This is very beneficial when sharpening and running other actions.

I also urge you to watch these videos on Russell Browns website:

Image Processor Secrets
CS2 Bridge Workflow
CS2 Camera RAW
CS2 Exporting RAW Images

http://www.russellbrown.com/tips_tech.html

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jack
pbase & dpreview supporter
For my latest pics, click the link below
http://www.pbase.com/jackfrazier