Learning Photoshop: I have used Photoshop for several years but still struggle to find and use many of its features that would be helpful in post-processing. I noticed the there is a...

sensor1

I have used Photoshop for several years but still struggle to find and use many of its features that would be helpful in post-processing. I noticed the there is a book available entitled "Adobe Photoshop: A Complete Course and Compendium of Features". It is fairly expensive, however. I'd be grateful for comments about this book from any who might have used it for their photography.

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

First, Photoshop just released a major update. If you buy something, you may want to wait to ensure the update is included. Next, there are many free or low cost tutorials on the internet. You may want to view a few of those to get an idea of where you need help.

DWU2 Loc: Phoenix Arizona area

sensor1 wrote:

I have used Photoshop for several years but still struggle to find and use many of its features that would be helpful in post-processing. I noticed the there is a book available entitled "Adobe Photoshop: A Complete Course and Compendium of Features". It is fairly expensive, however. I'd be grateful for comments about this book from any who might have used it for their photography.

Although it doesn't answer your main question, here is a Microsoft Word document I prepared, and have posted here a couple of times, which shows the cascaded Photoshop menu structure. I find it helpful in finding features I don't often use.

Attached file:
(Download)

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

sensor1 wrote:

I have used Photoshop for several years but still struggle to find and use many of its features that would be helpful in post-processing. I noticed the there is a book available entitled "Adobe Photoshop: A Complete Course and Compendium of Features". It is fairly expensive, however. I'd be grateful for comments about this book from any who might have used it for their photography.

You will find more information on YouTube videos at zero cost vs information in a book. I had an entire shelf of Adobe "How To's," which just sat there while I watched Matt Klosowski (he is the best, Michael Shainblaum, Gavin Hardcastle, Scott Kelby, Adam Gibbs, Nigel Danson, Jim Nix, and FStoppers.

rick_n_wv Loc: Charleston WV

UTMike wrote:

First, Photoshop just released a major update. If you buy something, you may want to wait to ensure the update is included. Next, there are many free or low cost tutorials on the internet. You may want to view a few of those to get an idea of where you need help.

There are many very good tutorials by many talented instructors on the web at low or no cost. Most you can download to review anytime. I am somewhat like you though and also like a hard copy to hold, reread and ponder about. The new update to PS and LR seem to be really nice. While I resisted at first as LR gets better and better I find I use it mostly and PS a lot less. That is until something comes along where I need it.Then it is invaluable.

525erving

sensor1 wrote:

I have used Photoshop for several years but still struggle to find and use many of its features that would be helpful in post-processing. I noticed the there is a book available entitled "Adobe Photoshop: A Complete Course and Compendium of Features". It is fairly expensive, however. I'd be grateful for comments about this book from any who might have used it for their photography.

Try looking up mattk (Matt Kloskowski) he has a lot of on line instruction some you pay for and some come as no or little charge seminars

repleo Loc: Boston

I am going through Tony Northrup's course at the moment. If you buy the book, you get access to the videos. I find the combination of video and a hard copy the best. Having two monitors is pretty well essential for taking a video course.

John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK

I have a lot of trouble learning any programme due to a dyslexia related issue. I found printing off the electronic manual a great help.

Don't do this at home it'll take forever and a day. Best to copy on a stick and get a printer to do it. Previously a beneficial employer allowed me to do this.

I'm currently using Paintshop Pro and haven't resorted to this yet, but a local printer quoted me £19.00 with a binder.

Fstop12 Loc: Kentucky

The Photoshop Learning Channel, in my opinion, one of the best instructors out there. Subscribe to his channel and you will get free email notices whenever he has short tutorials. Or you can just watch his videos on the Youtube channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdQ_ZkYaMe6qPoueUyPQgpQ

tcthome Loc: NJ

525erving wrote:

Try looking up mattk (Matt Kloskowski) he has a lot of on line instruction some you pay for and some come as no or little charge seminars

I looked into it about a year ago. He was getting $150.00 a piece, LR,PS. It is refundable if your not satisfied. The courses stay on your computer if you decide to keep them. I can't remember if you get updates when Adobe releases it's updates. Maybe a year or something like that. If you get them , give a review for us in after a while.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

If sensor1 does not "know Photoshop" then he like many who fall for PS-BS is a beginner struggling for no good reasion. Why slog thru the mud of learning PS or mountain climbing, when there are great [modern] programs geared to the beginner user level [eg Affinity].

The goal is to enjoy photography and simple editing with a few twists. If special effects are wanted, then use plugin, such as Topaz making special effects easy; "Push-Pull Click-Click Its Just that Quick," as the old Shick Injector razor blade ads said.
https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search;_ylt=AwrDQrzDw69f8mgADiAPxQt.;_ylu=Y29sbwNiZjEEcG9zAzEEdnRpZAMEc2VjA3Nj?p=schick+injector+ad&fr=yhs-mnet-001&hspart=mnet&hsimp=yhs-001#id=3&vid=c16c44c2340391367af20b5faa17323b&action=view

If one needs the hype of saying I use PS, then use PSE and for more advanced use of PSE add $12 Elements Plus. One time cost, why pay monthly...its stupid!! Use the Adobe ransom money for equipment, plugins, or good coffee.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

sensor1 wrote:

I have used Photoshop for several years but still struggle to find and use many of its features that would be helpful in post-processing. I noticed the there is a book available entitled "Adobe Photoshop: A Complete Course and Compendium of Features". It is fairly expensive, however. I'd be grateful for comments about this book from any who might have used it for their photography.

I've been using Photoshop since 1993 and I am still learning it. I am proficient, but far from being a PS master. But I don't have to be. The same way I don't have to memorize Webster's Dictionary to write a letter.

One of the most important aspects of learning to edit images is to be self-critical about them. You look at an image and evaluate what needs to be done, then you go about researching how to do it. If you can't evaluate your image you are unlikely to be successful in editing it. You will likely find 10-100 different ways to get something done. In the process of researching you are likely to uncover things you didn't even know were possible. And the overwhelming majority of tutorials are free. Paying for tutorials is ok I guess, but not necessary if you do the research. Besides a tutorial is narrowly focused on the author's way he/she does it, and there is a risk that your images will develop a style similar to the author's.

There are a few that I like, but these are not the only ones out there:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkHNVO_aPDSqjfIG_XHlYIg
https://design.tutsplus.com/categories/adobe-photoshop
https://www.youtube.com/sergeramelliphotography?sub_confirmation=1
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMrvLMUITAImCHMOhX88PYQ
https://www.youtube.com/user/PhlearnLLC
https://www.youtube.com/c/RonnixPhotography/featured
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfk9uH4qd5Q7eIYb56jwIOw

Then there are a few sites that have somewhat decent introductions to PS newbies:

http://resourcemagonline.com/2017/12/10-of-the-best-free-youtube-accounts-to-learn-photoshop/83514/

I cannot emphasize enough the importance of seeing as many different methods as possible. It takes longer, but the results are well worth the time investment.

sodapop Loc: Bel Air, MD

I use Lynda to learn Photoshop. Free through local library and covers every aspect of photoshop. From very basic beginner Photoshop to advanced. They even have a whole course on selections. Each segment of each tutorial is short and comes with downloadable photos so that you can follow along with the same photo the instructor is using. I have a big thick book on Photoshop and it was outdated the day I bought it... never used it nor could ever find the answers to any of my questions.

Fstop12 Loc: Kentucky

dpullum wrote:

If sensor1 does not "know Photoshop" the... (show quote)

Besides getting Photoshop and Lightroom with your subscription, you also have access to a lot of other interesting things. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0MjzM0_tfo&feature=emb_logo

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

sensor1 wrote:

I have used Photoshop for several years but still struggle to find and use many of its features that would be helpful in post-processing. I noticed the there is a book available entitled "Adobe Photoshop: A Complete Course and Compendium of Features". It is fairly expensive, however. I'd be grateful for comments about this book from any who might have used it for their photography.

I took a class last year and the teacher used this one.
Photoshop CC, by Mike Wooldridge, Brianna Stuart

But no book covers everything, if I want to know how to do a specific job, I just google it, like this,
"how do I add a water mark to a photo?" and up will come about 20 Utubes on the subject. After watching several, I am ready to go.
But the book listed above goes over most of the major controls and sliders, it is a good place to start.

Photoshop also has many how to's built right into Photoshop, under tutorials.