Why Do I Feel Intimidated Learning Photoshop? I am one of many that has the monthly subscription with Adobe, which includes Lightroom CC and PS. I am wondering if I'm the only one that...

Feiertag Loc: British Columbia, Canada

I am one of many that has the monthly subscription with Adobe, which includes Lightroom CC and PS. I am wondering if I'm the only one that avoids PS because it is a major learning curve? I love learning which I do each day but this seems different for some unknown reason!

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

My left brain is nagging me to ask why you don't go with something less intimidating? PS Elements has been super-enjoyable for me...once I learned how layers and layer masks worked

orrie smith Loc: Kansas

Feiertag wrote:

I am one of many that has the monthly subscription with Adobe, which includes Lightroom CC and PS. I am wondering if I'm the only one that avoids PS because it is a major learning curve? I love learning which I do each day but this seems different for some unknown reason!

Photoshop is a very complex program that does many things. Narrow down what you would like to accomplish and do not be concerned about learning everything at one time.

sodapop Loc: Bel Air, MD

Don't be intimidated. Pick one easy processing step and perform it in Photoshop. Like any program, it does require a certain amount of getting used to tools, layout etc. I look it as a mechanics tool box with every conceivable tool in it. You only use the ones you need at time and some you never use or maybe don't understand why they are even there. I heard one of the developers of that program state that they were always finding new things in it.

Country Boy Loc: Beckley, WV

Don't question yourself, you are not alone in the learning curve. It is like playing a musical instrument, you need to dedicate some time on a regular basis in order to learn new techniques without forgetting the last one!

DWU2 Loc: Phoenix Arizona area

I had a couple of false starts in getting my hands around Photoshop until I took a short and inexpensive course in PS at a local community college.

Ron Dial Loc: Cuenca, Ecuador

Photoshop is not a program that you can all of. There are people who built entire careers around a portion of PS. Consider that it is not a program of "How To", but rather a program of "Why To". For any given task there are probably a half dozen ways to accomplish it in PS. To get a handle on PS, you need to determine the way that YOU want to accomplish a task. So don't think that you have to learn it all. I've been an Adobe Instructor for years and I still don't even begin to know even most of it. For most of the most common tasks, you can obtain a plug-in that will do the same thing easier and quicker. To learn it, the best way is obtain one of the "Adobe Classroom In a Book" books and follow the lessons. Pretty soon, you will understand the approach that Adobe uses. This will make it all easier for you.

hassighedgehog Loc: Corona, CA

I've had PS Elements ever since it came out. Don't claim to know everything about it and it is not as comprehensive as full Photoshop. Think of it as a encyclopedia of tools that take time to learn. And you don't need every tool every time it is used.

SonyA580 Loc: FL in the winter & MN in the summer

Feiertag wrote:

I am one of many that has the monthly subscription with Adobe, which includes Lightroom CC and PS. I am wondering if I'm the only one that avoids PS because it is a major learning curve? I love learning which I do each day but this seems different for some unknown reason!

Learning Photoshop is like eating an elephant ....., you have to take it one bite at a time. I've had the original Photoshop 7.0 for 15+ years and I still learn something new about it weekly. Get a book or find a good tutorial to help you.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

Photoshop isn't really something one can master in an evening or two. It takes time and patience.

IDguy Loc: Idaho

Feiertag wrote:

I am one of many that has the monthly subscription with Adobe, which includes Lightroom CC and PS. I am wondering if I'm the only one that avoids PS because it is a major learning curve? I love learning which I do each day but this seems different for some unknown reason!

IMHO Photoshop is poorly designed for users. It gives me the sense of a program that grew over time with add ons and little attention to the user interface. Much of it is counter intuitive.

The earlier versions of Elements were a similar hodge podge. They finally reworked it about version 10 or 12 to be much more user friendly.

My suspicion is that Adobe feels if you want a simpler interface you should use Lightroom.

PeterBergh

Feiertag wrote:

... I am wondering if I'm the only one that avoids PS because it is a major learning curve? ...

I am in the same boat. I did, however, find an excellent video course by a Kelly Macsomething; something like 15 hours of video lessons. It covers Photoshop CC 2015, but it's close enough for government work.

Steve DeMott Loc: St. Louis, Missouri (Oakville area)

Check your local library. Here in St. Louis a valid library card will give you access to lynda.com for free. From there you can take all the Photoshop courses they offer.
Deke McClellen has three courses broken up into 40 different modules. Each module is around 1 hour each. There's also a course "Photoshop for Photographers", plus courses in Lightroom. You can also sign up for 30 days free of charge and have full access to all the courses. I've done this twice (before I learned about the library) without a problem.
Photoshop is not for the weak at heart, It takes time. Search the web for a learning path then spend at least 30 minutes each day following that plan.

Hope this helps
Steve

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

Feiertag wrote:

I am one of many that has the monthly subscription with Adobe, which includes Lightroom CC and PS. I am wondering if I'm the only one that avoids PS because it is a major learning curve? I love learning which I do each day but this seems different for some unknown reason!

It's a complex program, but, and that's a big but, you don't have to be an expert and know every command to get value out of it. Nearly everything you can do in PSE you can do with similar ease, and even more ease once you nail down your process, and the results will likely be better.

Peruse the various sites that show how to do one technique or another to do something that might help one your images. After doing this a few times it really gets easier, and you'll find you'll be doing some fairly complex things with relative ease.

sodapop Loc: Bel Air, MD

I subscribe to Lynda via the local library. It is free. Lynda has dozens of well executed courses on Photoshop, Lightroom and many aspects of photography. For instance, I am currently working through a course on Black and White photography taught by Ben Long. It is excellent.

steve DeMott wrote:

Check your local library. Here in St. Louis a vali... (show quote)