wjones8637 Loc: Burleson, TX

This is more or less in reply to a thread started recently by jerryc41 posted here to avoid interfering with his chain.

Previously as PS and LR were updated every year or so books were published to help us learn. No with the subscription versions are updated frequently and as far as I can tell no hard copy is being produced. I have tried a few YouTube videos, but found them lacking, thus the title.

Thanks for your input.

Bill

Hamltnblue Loc: Springfield PA

Same way you eat an elephant. 1 bite at a time. Learn one piece and only after that, move onto the next.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

They teach it at Hogwarts in the advanced "Black Magic" courses.

Don't bother calling Security, I will show myself out.

OK, more seriously, if I can't figure something out I search Adobe's Help and Support on line. And there are some who keep up with the new features like the "Lightroom Queen".

ejones0310 Loc: Tulsa, OK

Kelbyone teaches the updates, you of course have to have a subscription. On the free side, Photoshop Cafe posted the latest updates on YouTube in a live session. I’m not sure if that was a first for them, but I got the impression that it was not.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

First, Lightroom and Photoshop are both very complex software. They are not designed nor intended to be used by a complete novice. Even just an hour spent with some 'getting started' video training will save multiple hours of frustration.

The ongoing feature updates to the subscription model, for the most part, doesn't change the fundamental design and flow of each software. Books that cover the software since 2015 (LR6 or CS6) are still 90% exactly the same as the software operates today in 2021. You're not wasting time with older titles, if printed training is desired.

But, free video-based training is your best option. Adobe has a wealth of videos in their training and support section on their website, this is just hard to find as the titles are intended for subscribed customers. There are numerous other authors. Many like Anthony Morganti, easily found on u-tube.

Lightroom is the less complex of the two titles. You should focus on one title, not both. The two titles complement each other, but are very different in their interface and usage. Consider LR as your initial area of focus and training. Consider too starting with only your newest work in LR, don't get caught up with existing images until you have about 6-month's experience and understanding of LR.

Start your own electronic notes, saving the URLs to those titles you like and find useful. Beyond a book, don't pay for anything until you've exhausted all the free options. You really just need maybe 2 to 6-hours of total training, coupled with hands-on work in the tools with your images, to be up and running independently and successfully.

A google like this will get you started: Lightroom getting started video training

Use the pause and rewind / replay tools to watch a video until you understand what is being said or done. If you don't like the author, make a note of it and return to your google results set and move onto the next video from someone different.

steveo52 Loc: Rhode Island and Ocala Florida

I originally learned LR from Lynda.com. It’s now owned by LinkedIn prices were raised too. When I was learning it I had a company paid subscription to Lynda.com for other topics but just so happened I had photography as a hobby so it worked out.

DI Seller Loc: Knoxville, TN

I purchased the PS Elements 2021. I purchased "Photoshop Elements 2021 for dummies" on Amazon. Can't remember what I paid for it. I also joined a facebook page related to this software.

Cany143 Loc: SE Utah

I could be totally off base here, but.... It seems that most want to learn how to use some piece of software before they figure out why they want to use it in the first place. Sort of bass-ackwards, if you ask me.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

Not exactly, Stevo. The first part is right, Lynda was acquired by LinkedIn, which was then acquired by Microsoft. For most, it can be free through public libraries.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

"...as far as I can tell no hard copy is being produced. I have tried a few YouTube videos, but found them lacking, thus the title."

Hard copy is too limited when learning an interactive visual interface on a screen. YouTube episodes are usually aimed at a specific function. What you might consider is a "course" with a beginning, that then builds the basics and goes on in an organized flow. There are a half dozen online trainers that sell very good courses.

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

It's like learning a foreign language. First you have to give some thought to what you want to say, then you have to learn the words, then you have to learn the grammar, the pronounciation, etc.

With software like PS/LR, you first have to be able to understand what your image needs, or what creative touch(es) you want to add to your image. Then you read tutorials or watch youtube videos that address your goals (there are 1000s of them, mostly free), and try them on your raw file in LR or a copy of your image in PS. Don't get frustrated by the many approaches people take with PS, some are simple and pretty effective, others are fussy and involved, but the results can often be superior to the simpler approaches.

Gspeed Loc: Rhinebeck, NY

For specific questions, and even some basics, you can call them at Lightroom Classic. Staff will answer and walk you through.

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

PS and LR both have great tutorials that are useful. And yes, Utube videos are also very good, IMHO.
I do have a book I really like, it is titled
The Adobe Photoshop CC book for digital photographers.
by Scott Kelby.
New Riders publisher
I use it more as a reference, if I want to do a particular thing in PS, I simply look it up and read a couple of pages and I am usually good to go.
Good luck and keep on shooting until the end.

sodapop Loc: Bel Air, MD

I gave up on books a long time ago. There are tons of YouTube videos. I recommissioned an old computer, and watch them on that then apply the instructions on my main computer. You can start Abd stop, freeze reverse the screen as much as you need. Anthony Morganti is a great place to start for beginners, Photoshop Café for more in depth and the list goes on. Lynda is free via my local library and there and videos galore. When I get really stuck, I simply google the question, and almost always get an answer that was impossible to find in a book

LCD

Udemy and Great Courses produce decent low cost courses that deep dive into lots of features and techniques that you may or may not use. As with learning a new language, or anything else, the key is to usage. You learn LR and PS one trick at a time.