job interview photoshop test advice

[welling1]

Hi all,

I'm wondering if anyone out there could advise me on what photoshop skills i should brush up on for a test I have to take for a photoshop job. The job is taking people and possibly changing their clothing and maybe making some blemishes dissapper. This is for a company that produces trading cards. Has anyone taken a test like this before and if so, could you advise me on what skills are essential?

[DCurry]

I've not taken a test like this before, but if I was administering it, I'd want to see that you have a good grasp of "safe" working practices, like using layers, working on a copy rather than the original, adjustment layers, etc. I'd also want to see that you had good selection techniques and a mastery of the pen tool for drawing paths. I would also want to see that you know your way around inside Photoshop, and aren't spending a lot of time looking for commands and stuff.

If you have this kind of skill set, then the other stuff can be taught if you don't already know it.

[Creativepaintballer]

DCurry is right all that stuff is very important. The selections and masking are a 100% must know. Along with adjustments if they want you to change the colors also make sure that your selections are nice and smooth think about feathering. Also depending on the type of photo and what they want you to do you need to be fast and perfect. The last time i took a test like this i asked the guy to show me what he wanted no problem he said he was able to mask out a photo in 7 mins. I could only do it in 12 mins. So I would work on speed and ask them to show you want it is they want. I would think about retouching skills also that was aside part of my test just to see if they need it they could count on you.

Selections
Masking
Recoloring
Retouching

That's what i would go over before i walk in the door.
Good luck on the test hope that helps

[The Repro Kid]

I've taken more than a few photoshop tests over the years. One thing I would recommend above all is getting out there and taking the test, whether you think it's over your head or not. The one thing that will prepare you most for taking these types of test is getting a few under your belt.

Removing blemishes is a common practice, this sounds like a specific subject on the test and for this you will need to know to use the clone tool, the doge tool, and the new healing tool. One industry secret is that the dodge tool can effectivley burn and overexpose a blemish, which then tends to match the underlaying skin tone while not removing, smudging, or altering any of the natural skin texture. I recommend using a 50% strength or less while doing this and not hitting the same area too may times. It works great on freckles and zits. Athough the clone tool is your best friend it takes a while to learn to wield it without botching the texture of skin and leaving humongousyl noticable shifts in the gradual tones that describe a face.

Just get out there and take the test regardless, this will prepare more than anything else for future tests.