randall paul Posted September 8, 2004 Share Posted September 8, 2004 After reading so much about photoshop on Photo net it is very confusing to choose which one may be suitable for me. I shoot medium format and 35mm. So for now I am from the old school and am wanting to change slightly to enhance my image options. There are so many great photo's and photographers on Photonet. Great shots are being shot digitally and then being manipulated in the digital darkroom. I use to think that this was either cheeting or prints lacked the edge and saturation from that of film. Well welcome to technology! I plan on purchasing a new Nikon DX2 when it is released. I also want to purchase Photoshop but which one is the big question. Then you have to learn how to use the bloody thing. This would be the big challenge as I have looked at 6.0 and 7.0 and it is mind boggleing to say the least. So what would be the best way to learn? Tutorial cd's? local college? Private instruction? It is ok to say experiment with it but the language on the software can also be confusing for begginers and very frustrating when trying to do even simple tasks. So any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Then I may be able to actually upload my photo's here! Thanks in advance! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricM Posted September 8, 2004 Share Posted September 8, 2004 Start gradually, but immediately. Don't wait for a camera. Get your computer and software set up now, and start by playing with some of your scanned images. I recommend going Microsoft. Get a great tech and get him/her to build you a hotrod out of the warehouse. They know the parts and it's much better than just buying one from the local electronics store. I used to be a mac person, but xp pro is great. You don't necessarily need photoshop to work or get started with digital files. But I do recommend getting the latest Photoshop, CS. with a gig of ram. Especially if you?re going to be feeding lots of jpg?s through it. It has many new features, the file browser in particular, is especially designed for this. Welcome to the revolution. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yves montreal Posted September 8, 2004 Share Posted September 8, 2004 Hi Randall, Don't be afraid of Photoshop especialy if you only wnat to ehnance your photos. Assuming your photograph are goog from the start, there is little to do with photoshop. "Good pictures=littlephotoshop". Get the latest copy of Photoshop (CS) if you plan to buy the D2X so if you shoot in RAW format you will be able to open them with an update of Camera Raw in the future. Make sure to calibrate your monitor and learn how to set your "color settings" and buy a good book on photoshop. There are plenty of it but anything by Bruce Fraser(Real world series), Scott Kelby or look also for Adobe's books "Classroom in a book". By the way most of us use about maybe 10% of photoshop capabilities. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jack paradise Posted September 8, 2004 Share Posted September 8, 2004 Randall, Photoshop can be a little intimidating at first, but once you get the hang of it you'll like it. You need a workflow. Once you have that, you'll use the same tools over and over and it will become easier. Once you've done b&w conversion, ajusted overall density and contrast (level and curves), local density and contrast, spotting (dust removal) sharpening (unsharp mask), you're ready to print. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.W. Wall Posted September 8, 2004 Share Posted September 8, 2004 I've had good luck with classes at the community colleges - in particular (in Arizona), Phoenix College and Pima Community College (Tucson). Both instructors were well-qualified and happened to be photographers as well as computer people. In Tucson, it was Steve Romaniello, who wrote Photoshop CS Savvy. There are a number of good books. Also, I'm sure some of the workshops would be helpful that run anywhere from a day or two, to a week or more. If you're basically computer literate, then you're way ahead. If not, I agree with the post that say, just plunge in right away. Also, get Photoshop CS, no sense starting with yesterday's stuff -- tomorrow will be here before you know it. It's a learning curve, but certainly not impossible. Remember, Photoshop is just another tool. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul - Posted September 9, 2004 Share Posted September 9, 2004 If I didn't already have Photoshop CS and an Epson 1280,<br>I would buy a 1280 from Epson for $399,<br>get the current $100 rebate,<br>start off using the bundled Photoshop Elements 2.0 software,<br>then upgrade to Photoshop CS using the "Special Price Upgrade" offer that comes bundled with the 1280.<p>Details of the special price aren't given online, but I suspect it is the same as the academic/educational price of $299.<p>Or, you could sign up for a community college class on Photoshop, and buy PS CS at the academic price from the bookstore, thereby getting the software and education for about the total price of the retail software.<p>Or, you could sign up for a Photoshop class and get the academic/educational price of $399 for the entire $1200+ Adobe Creative Suite Premium, which even includes PS CS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randall paul Posted September 9, 2004 Author Share Posted September 9, 2004 Thanks guys for the valuable suggestions I will get on it. I gather work flow means that when you set up say PS CS you can customize your preferences to avoid all the other areas you may not use. Also excellent ideas of how to save on the pricing of CS. Once again many thanks. Randall Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mediamanipulation Posted September 10, 2004 Share Posted September 10, 2004 i would also consider joining napp "national association of photosop professionals" great website, subscription to monthly magazine filled with reams of info, tips and tricks related to photoshop, plus a multitiude of retailer discounts. you can find the mag at most bookstores and magazine shops. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mediamanipulation Posted September 10, 2004 Share Posted September 10, 2004 almost forgot, as far as books go, anything by bert monroy is great i have gone to some seminars and got to spend a few hours in his classes he is a genius but his images are completly rendered in photoshop no scanning or photos, he wrote the first manual forphotoshop! for books more aimed at photography and photoshop cs the two i like the bestthis year are kevin ames "the art of photographing women" and "how to wow photoshopfor photography" by jack davis and ben whitmore. my 2 cents hope it helps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellis_vener_photography Posted September 12, 2004 Share Posted September 12, 2004 <I>I plan on purchasing a new Nikon DX2 when it is released. I also want to purchase Photoshop but which one is the big question. Then you have to learn how to use the bloody thing.</I><P>Get photoshop Cs because you'll be dealing with 12 or 16 bit per channel images if you shot NEF images. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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