After working with Photoshop, I realize that nobody really knows everything Photoshop can do. This makes it an excellent toy and gear because there’s always something new to discover. But you’ll learn most of it and continue learning. I like to recommend the subsequent habits if you would like to become an expert in Photoshop.
- Imitate something from the real world (for example, how shadows and lightweight really work, how glass and water bend light).
- Guess with reasonable precision how somebody else created a specific effect in Photoshop.
- Fix your own mistakes and someone else’s.
- Manipulate pixels non-destructively.
- Work efficiently through the right use of shortcuts, panels, actions, and tools.
- Know-how and when to use most of Photoshop’s functions.
- Here are the ten things I like to recommend you are doing if you would like to be a Photoshop expert.
Own the newest version of Photoshop
It’s quite difficult to experiment with Photoshop if you do not have your own copy reception. Having the newest version is additionally important. These features generally make your job easier (like the Settings panel) or offer you tools that did not even exist in previous versions (like a number of CS4’s 3D capabilities).
You can run your Photoshop software on two machines. I even have one copy on my desktop PC and one on my laptop for travel.
Play games and make mistakes
Experimentation and play are the keys to learning something beyond the fundamentals. Try all types of tools and filters, and see what they are doing with different settings. You cannot really screw up Photoshop. And if you are doing this, you’ll reset all the defaults by closing Photoshop, then pressing and holding the Shift + Ctrl + Alt keys (Mac: Shift + Cmd + Opt) while Photoshop restarts.
Take many photos from your camera (or online) and put them together. See how blending modes change an overall image as layers move. Try all the layer settings and every filter combined with another filter. Don’t be concerned if it’s ugly. You’re learning, and there is always the History panel that allows you to return several steps and check out something else.
Take a category
To be honest, I had a terrible Photoshop teacher. It did little beyond what was scheduled that we were alleged to complete within the textbook. I ended getting into a flash. He had learned not to teach, and 4 years later, he was teaching Photoshop.
Attend seminars
Kelby Training offers absolutely fantastic seminars everywhere in us. I even have had teachers just like the incredible Bert Monroy and Dave Cross. These seminars have increased my creativity and efficiency in Photoshop in a fantastic way. The one-day seminar is usually fun and really inspiring. If you’ll, attend one among these seminars or find something similar in your area.
Read Photoshop magazines
NAPP’s Photoshop User Magazine is that the undisputed master when it involves American Photoshop publications. You’ll find it for $ 10 at bookstores or get an automatic subscription once you become a member of NAPP. You’ll need that NAPP membership to access the tutorial files online. Each issue has plenty of tutorials in the least levels, plus product reviews and industry news.
Are the pictures really beautiful or interesting? I even have a book here that I taught before actually evaluating the pictures. They’re on the verge of ugliness. Find a book that creates you are feeling such as you can’t wait to make those images.
Is the book written at your level? It is often really frustrating if the instructions are too easy or too difficult for your level of experience.
Does the book match your learning style? Some books use blocks of text et al. turn each step into a bullet point. Some have more step-by-step images than others. Decide what works best for you and appearance for books written that way.
I have three specific book recommendations. Each of the books below contains wonderful tutorials and is extremely well written.
Do online tutorials
I love doing online tutorials. Some good places to seek out Photoshop tutorials are psd.tutsplus.com, good-tutorials.com, and tutorialized.com. If you’re employed with online tutorials long enough, you’ll find some favorite writers. Search for tutorial writers who provide enough images, correct their work, and do not skip steps. You ought to be ready to create a result that appears tons just like the one promised by following exactly what they need to be written like books, search for tutorials written supported your skill level. But push yourself to try to do tougher things than you’re wont to.
Be a member of the community
This can take many forms. Sometimes I prefer to go to Photoshop forums online and see if anyone needs a solution to an issue. I often find interesting ideas for myself also. I also leave on Twitter and follow an outsized number of fellow graphic and web designers. They’re always providing me with new links to amazing online resources. I even have RSS feeds that I read from my favorite design blogs and discuss all the articles that move me. I read everything on smashingmagazine.com and minervity.com.
Of course, there are design communities within the offline world too. I’m a member of the local group called ADAC. Once, I had longer a couple of years ago; I used to be even a member of the board. Real-world design clubs are an excellent opportunity to find out all about design, plus a number of the business aspects of freelance work (ADAC once had an excellent talk with a property lawyer about copyright law for artists). More importantly, you’ll leave inspired with fresh ideas by watching the works of others.
Learn other Adobe programs too
Photoshop rarely works during a vacuum for many designers. There are many occasions when a Photoshop project is enhanced by contributions of artwork made in Illustrator, for instance.
