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Posts Tagged ‘Photoshop’

I cannot say enough good things about my best friend in the digital world: PhotoShop. Suffice to say I love it! As a Graphic Designer, I use it in 99% of all my projects, and now I enjoy using what I do to make PhotoShop Tutorials for others.

You don’t need to be a professional or even and “artist” to create works of art. Nowadays, you don’t even have to know how to draw! I intend to create a series of tutorials to illustrate several ways to use this program for creating beautiful pictures and illustrations just by using photographs. In this particular tutorial, I will be showing you how to turn photos into watercolor paintings in a few easy steps.

The only materials needed to follow along with this tutorial are:

–PhotoShop. I use PhotoShop CS3, but you can use whichever version you have.

–A photo. Either a photo of your own or a stock photo. Some really good stock photos can be found for free at Stock Exchange.

That’s it! I find a graphic tablet a nice tool for all work I do in PhotoShop and they are fairly cheap these days, but it is definitely not necessary.

This tutorial does assume that you have some basic knowledge of PhotoShop. Having a basic “beginner knowledge” of the program will help a lot. Also, there is a link in my bio for you to see photos that walk you through everything.

1. Open PhotoShop. Then go to File–>Open, select the picture you want to work with and then hit “Open”.

2. On the layers palette (on the right side), right click on the “Background Layer” and select duplicate. Do this twice.

3. Click on the first duplicate layer (this should be your middle layer), then go to Image–>Adjustments–>Desaturate. Then click on the second duplicate layer (your top layer) and do the same.

4. On the top layer, go to Image–>Adjustments–>Invert.

5. Still on the top Layer, set the blending mode (located within the layer palette, looks like this:) to “Color Dodge”.

6. Still on the top Layer, got to Filter–>Other–>Minimum and set the radius to 1.

Now duplicate the bottom layers (the one that still has color) one more time and drags it to the top of your layers. Go to Filter–>Blur–>Gossip and set the radius number in the box anywhere between 1 and 5. Usually the more detailed the picture, the lower you will want to set the radius. Then set the layer-blending mode to “Multiply”.

7. Select the PaintBrush Tool, select the soft round or “fuzzy” brush shape at the top and set the size to fit whatever area you are working on. Set the opacity to 20%.

Go to Layer–>New Layer and name your final layer whatever you wish and hit “OK”.

Then select the color you wish to paint with and paint the area to improve or change colors.

Each picture you do will have different results. Have fun playing with different levels and colors! I hope you found these PhotoShop Tutorials easy to follow. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.

Adobe has always been on the top of its consumers for any sort of support for its various ranges of products and Adobe Elements 7 is not an exception.

Photoshop Elements 7 has produced an online learning center with a product known as the, “Photoshop Elements Tutorials and Learn Elements Now”. This site provides tutorials in the form of videos and online Photoshop elements tutorials to help the users understand the potential of the different features of the application and make the best out of it. There are pod casts in the site that provide users with different tricks and tips for using the different functionalities of Adobe Elements 7. The site also has several downloadable user manuals. It also provides access and links to several free video tutorials. For users that are totally new to Photoshop Elements 7, there are a special set of videos known as the “Getting Started” videos. For professionals as well as people who have been through the “Getting Started” videos, there is the “Learn More” section. The “Getting Started” videos and manuals are designed to get you to a user level within under 2 hours, and master the basics of Photoshop Elements software.

Adobe has also set up an Adobe Community Help online service for Adobe Elements 7. The Adobe Community Help service includes tips and tricks from Adobe specialists worldwide who update the web regularly with their advice. It also has comments section and a forum where users of Adobe Elements 7 across the world come together in this site to discuss problems, tips, suggestions and other workarounds related to Adobe Elements 7 as well as anything related to photo-editing. Adobe has also a custom search engine where the user can search for all content – articles, videos and blogs – related to any aspect of Adobe Elements 7. This content is not limited to the tutorials and videos provided by Adobe but also from users across the world. Update. There are troubleshooting faqs and guides for technical aspects of the application.

One can also contact Adobe support directly. There are also formal support programs available for small and medium businesses and if you are a developer using the application and integrating it with another piece of software, there are special developer support programs created by Adobe. There is also Adobe TV that has how to channels providing tips, demonstrations and step-by-step tutorials on how to use Adobe Elements 7 to its fullest.

There is also a subscription based newsletter in the Adobe web site wherein subscribers get an annual newsletter that has a whole lot of articles, instructions and how-to-do tutorials and insider secrets from the leading photo-editors and photographers in the industry. It also provides a subscription based access to a community forum that allows people to discuss their issues related to Adobe Elements 7.

The Adobe site also has recommended DVDs by Adobe certified instructor, Matt Kloskowski. It also has a list of books that users can refer to while using Adobe Elements 7 and can be readily bought from the Internet. If you would like to discover Photoshop Elements tutorials and begin to master Photoshop Elements software, then visit –

While there are a number of different computer software programs that allow you to create and edit images for personal and business use, none remains more widely used than Photoshop. Developed by Adobe Systems, Photoshop continues is the primary software program utilized by graphic design artists, advertising agencies, web developers, publishing companies and photographers for their image and graphic needs. Many graphic design degree programs have now incorporated the use and mastery of Adobe Photoshop in their curriculum in order to equip students with the knowledge and know-how on utilizing this software program as opposed to other graphic design programs available in the market today.

Because of the extensive use of Photoshop for both personal and business use, there have been many different books and articles published focusing on teaching people on how to maximize the potentials of this wonderful graphics design and imaging software program. While these books and articles are indeed helpful and useful especially for beginners who are just learning the ropes with regards to the basics of Photoshop 6, more and more beginners have begun to favor video tutorials than those where the instructions are just written down.

Just like print tutorials, video tutorials are segregated to focus on a particular task. The difference between the two is that video tutorials are more visual oriented. Instead of merely reading the instructions provided, you are shown exactly just how a particular task is completed. Because of this, video tutorials can be able to utilize a number of different examples in order to help you understand the procedures on how to be able to complete a particular task in Photoshop. This allows beginners to learn more about the basics with regards to the task being taught at a much faster rate as compared to just merely reading through the instructions. Beginners can have the option to stop the video at various points in time to allow them to do the instructions as it has been demonstrated in the video. In effect, video tutorials regarding the different things that you can do using the Photoshop software programs is the closest that one could have on sitting in a classroom and being guided by an instructor.

The great thing about utilizing video tutorials is that beginners may be able to attempt more advanced projects depending on their ability to learn and grasp the different tools and procedures used in Adobe Photoshop. Because they use examples to be able to explain the procedure step-by-step, people who are using the software program for the very first time would be able to see just how easy it is to do seemingly complicated projects in a few simple steps.

Photoshop 6 video tutorials can be found all over the Internet. Free video hosting websites such as YouTube have a number of different videos to teach you the basics on the many different things that you can do with the use of Adobe Photoshop. The best part of this is that many of these video tutorials are free to view so you do not need subscribe to access them.

Good PhotoShop tutorials should introduce the same concept and principle you are using as a graphic designer. Writing, after all, is somewhat related to design. Both have a purpose to communicate with an audience. Keeping that in mind is a surefire strategy to grab the reader’s attention. Here are a few values you need to acquire.

Technique. A good tutorial should impress the readers with its rarity. Dozens of tutorial writers on the web are vying for the readers’ trust and interest. There are readers who just need to learn something new. Some of them might just want to create a design that they can brag about. Try giving them what they ask for by experimenting.

Get inspirations elsewhere. There’s nothing wrong with picking up a few techniques from a movie poster or an album cover you’ve seen. Truth is that nothing is original. Interpretations are what matters in this post-modern world. As a designer, everything that we do is a recreation of other people’s works whether we are conscious about it or not.

So what exactly do we mean by rarity? We are talking about the final effects. The results alone can lure a novice designer into reading your PhotoShop tutorials. Those who have genuine interest in design would always want to know how a certain effect is produced. These people, who have passion for technique, are what the industry need. They might as well be your audience.

Functionality. If original ideas make the design interesting, function gives its value. Unlike painting that stands in itself, the quality of a graphic design leans on the purpose it shall serve. Topics of good PhotoShop tutorials should always have the audience in mind. Principles of aesthetics and elements of art matter a lot but in addition to that, graphic designs need to make all these work to achieve an ulterior motive. Graphic design is always propaganda. PhotoShop users need a tutorial that they can actually apply apart from its ability to entertain them.

Attention to Detail. PhotoShop tutorials should be written with a novice user in mind. Some might think that such approach seems as if the writer is underestimating the skills of the readers. The thing is that PhotoShop tutorial writers aren’t speaking to a single audience. It is difficult to determine the skill levels of the majority. If erring is inevitable then might as well err on the side of explaining too much. Great designs, after all, can be seen based on the details. Tutorials that expound on every detail are not only considerate. They also manifest the writer’s skills as a graphic designer.

Nevertheless, every step has to be explained thoroughly yet concisely. The whole tutorial should illustrate the values readers need to acquire to achieve the final effect.

Brevity. Much like in graphic design, PhotoShop tutorials should also try to eliminate clutter. Too much unnecessary information may leave the readers confused. That can only lead to the failure of your tutorial however great the final result is to them. One value of a good graphic design that also applies in the realm of content writing is the ability to simplify without missing out on important details. Without unnecessary clutter, the necessary is emphasized. Tutorial writers should always strive to focus on the instructions. Writing PhotoShop tutorials is far from mere blogging. Here, you are communicating directly to an audience who needs information. You are not just expressing yourself. You are teaching.

It doesn’t mean though that you have to be all-formal about it. In fact, it is best to use a more conversational tone so that the readers can easily relate to what you are saying. The important thing is that you are clear and direct to the point. No more metaphors or cryptic messages. The power of good PhotoShop Tutorials lies in being understood.

So you have a copy of the Adobe Photoshop software and still don’t know how to use it? Don’t worry. There are plenty of resources you can use online that will turn you into an expert in a few weeks. Here’s your guide to the free Adobe Photoshop tutorials online:

Adobe
We recommend you go to the guys who made this software possible. If there are people who could teach you how to use Adobe Photoshop, it’s the group who created it. Click on the ‘tutorials’ page to access the lessons and simply pick which ones interest you best.

Absolute Cross
This site offers free Adobe Photoshop tutorials, all neatly categorized in 6 groups: tools & basics, text effects, interfaces/layout, special effects, photos and textures. If there’s one particular lesson you want to access, simply click on the category and find it there.

N-Sane Art
Want to learn every Adobe Photoshop tutorial in under 20 steps? Go to this site. The free tutorials are extremely easy to follow and will prove helpful no matter what level of Photoshop experience you have.

There are only 4 categories but everything you need is right here – from the basics to the layout to the texts to the all-important effects. Learn to create standard fare like water drops, 3D spikey balls and solar surfaces then advance to making organic raw flesh, mutant amoeba and electric plasma gel. The art is insane, as the name suggests and the tutorials are priceless.

Photoshop Tutorial
This site’s database is filled with more than 600 Adobe Photoshop tutorials you can access for free. Because of the number of lessons, the site offers the tutorials through 7 categories. Simply click on which category you need to learn from and begin. New to Photoshop? We suggest going through the basics first and then learn digital art and special effects. Want to learn some photoshopping secrets? Click on the miscellaneous tutorials link and find your poison.

Good-Tutorials
More experienced Photoshop users know this site as Photoshop Design. It became http://Good-Tutorials.com in 2003. These days, it boasts the largest collection of Photoshop tutorials on the internet. The vast resources will have you using Adobe Photoshop with ease and they’re easy to access by category. Click on ‘Basics’ if you’re an absolute beginner or go directly to ‘Effects’ if you can’t wait.

Photoshop Lab
This is one of the newer sites but it doesn’t lack in Photoshop offerings. Pick out which free tutorial you like best, click on the link and find out how the experts do it. Learn smart objects, layer comps, halftone, aging, using brushes and many more.

myJanee
This site features more than 70 original Adobe Photoshop tutorials, all free. Get more inspiration from the wide selection of finished works in the gallery. Got a project you’re proud of? Enter the Art Challenge where visitors vote for the best entries. You can also get in touch with other Photoshop users through the site’s forum. Ask questions, post messages or if you’ve learned enough, answer inquiries.

Blue Sfear
Want effects? Lots of effects? This site will give it to you. Basically an online community populated by Photoshop fans, this site has grown tremendously over a short period. It has now about 200 Adobe Photoshop tutorials online, all for free. You’ll find a few basic tweaking stuff but most of the tutorials here are not for the weak of heart – abstract designs, fire effects, lightning, smoke, image alterations, interfacing, etc. You’ll like the fact that most of the lessons come with actual photos and screen captures, all of which you can use for reference later when it’s your turn.