Picdude Loc: Ohio

My nephew is also a graphic artist and his thoughts are along the same lines. He's been doing it for over 15 years and still learns new things on a regular basis.

marcomarks Loc: Ft. Myers, FL

Lightroom seems easy to you because you already know it. The Bridge and ACR modules of PS are just as easy as Lightroom and actually easier for some users. The next step after that, the actual PS module itself, is a whole different story that takes you into layers and potential editing complexities that make you a better post editor by far than you could ever achieve with LR.

You could be working well in PS with a month of heavy usage and an open mind with no self-imposed mental learning blocks in place. But with a closed mind and unjustified prejudices toward PS, you could spend 5 years and still not have a clue.

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

Tried to look at your material, but I am getting a domain not found error.

JPL

That is because Photoshop is updated frequently and those who work with it are learning to use the improvements they get in the updates. It does not necessarily mean that it has taken 15 years to learn Photoshop.

Picdude Loc: Ohio

Yes and no. It's true that he has always kept his software up-to-date, but different jobs require different procedures, so there's often something new to learn, even with software he has been familiar with.

marcomarks Loc: Ft. Myers, FL

Which goes to show you that Photoshop can be as easy as you need it to be, or be as complex as you need it to be when the time comes that you need those functions. You can run Photoshop just like Lightroom. You could use Corel Paintshop Pro (which I did) or Adobe Elements for years and transfer that knowledge over to Photoshop.

You may never need many of the complex abilities of Photoshop but you might. Lightroom might be enough for the rest of your life or it may not and layer editing may become crucial.

I normally do photo editing every day and those functions have become pretty "second nature" to me and I work rather quickly now although not as quickly as a true editing professional who uses keystroke commands from memory at blinding speeds. But I recently needed to make a band's 4-page CD case insert booklet, CD case back cover, under-CD tray page, and CD disk label. I jumped in knowing that Photoshop could do almost all of it and I was right. It was ready and willing but I had to come almost to a stop and refer to help, Adobe tutorials, and even online sites numerous times to learn the features that were above and beyond what I normally do on a daily basis.

I ended up needed artistic text for some jazzy titles and artistic text bent into a perfect circle to put on the disk front. I suppose Photoshop could do that too but I didn't have time to delve into that whole new subject matter, so I just used a little program called Word Artist to create it, save it, and drag it into the VERY layered Photoshop .PSD project.

After all of that, I'm sure I still only tapped into 20% or less of Photoshop's capabilities. But does that mean I should drop my subscription because it's smarter than I am? Not a chance!

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

Photoshop wasn't designed with photographers in mind. It was created for graphic designers. The program is a waste for the average photographer because it is way too powerful, does way too much. Very few photographers even scratch the surface of it's potential. But is must make a lot of people happy to use, especially on this board.

marcomarks Loc: Ft. Myers, FL

That false comment is literally absolutely insane. Go pound down some more alcoholic eggnog and babble your nonsense to turkey-stuffed relatives who don't know any better. PHOTOshop is made specifically for PHOTO editing by PHOTOgraphers. If you are an average to nominal photographer then stick with Elements or $20 Smart Photo Editor.

PHOTOshop is specifically made for professional photographers which clearly you aren't one of or you'd know the professional photo editing market is dominated by Photoshop and is clearly the most used PHOTO editing software in the international professional world. Adobe's other CS or CC programs are for graphic designers and PHOTOshop is for editing PHOTOS that are placed in those other graphics programs used by graphic designers because it is 100% compatible with them.

Jeez...

Picdude Loc: Ohio

Yep, I think we're both on the same page. :D :thumbup:

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

David, you might want to brush up on your history.

http://lowendmac.com/2014/the-origin-of-photoshop/

It was designed to edit images - that were digitized on scanners. At least that's how I remember ImagePro (Photoshop).

It's best to consider Photoshop to be the "Swiss Army Knife" of image processing, with features and benefits to satisfy a wide range of needs, for both graphic artists, retouchers and photographers. If you did photography in the darkroom, you would realize that dodge and burn and gamma correction, part of it's early lexicon, are terms taken directly from the wet processed, enlarger based photofinishing end of photography.

It is powerful to serve a variety of needs. And the most recent feature additions are targeted specifically at photographers.

redhogbill Loc: antelope, calif

greenguy33, I found a web site, I, like you have struggled with the layers on photo shop cc, this site offers 3 levels of subscription , I did the 1 year for about $40.oo, it is all STEP X STEP, they do not assume you have experience!
and all tutorials are downloadable and printable and are yours forever {or until your computer breaks}
this is a sample of what I did last night , in about an hour!
mind you , this is starting with a brand new file
I rate this a 5 star!!

http://www.photoshopessentials.com/pdf-list/
http://www.photoshopessentials.com/print-ready-pdfs/

(Download)

marcomarks Loc: Ft. Myers, FL

Just read what you sent me by PM and you'll recognize I'm 100% correct. The text states exactly what I said previously.

RiverNan Loc: Eastern Pa

I remember when I felt just like this!
I called it PHOTOSHOP PHOBIA
I got over it right here on this forum!
ASK QUESTIONS
be specific. The people here are more than willing to help.
Make a copy of the photo you want to work on and then just try playing with it. I started with the filters...played with each one...then went on to another menu..
keep at it...don't give up...and just have fun!

RandyC Loc: Dallas

I couldn't have said it any better..but don't give up. It has a lot to offer.

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

It depends on how badly you want to learn it . . .