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Some Fundamentals in Photoshop

CATEGORIES: Living In Layers | RC | November 13, 2007

photoshop fundamentals
I wound up getting into a conversation with someone about what it takes to get really good at Photoshop. They were wondering about what the most important things are to learn first, and then how to get into cooler stuff.

To me, I think that mastering the most basic commands is only half of the battle. You also need to have some concept of why you would use one technique versus another. For example: Two of the most basic skills that someone needs to know are how to zoom and move, without using the tools palette. However, it’s also important that they understand why and when they should do it (like working in a quick mask).

(Update: Check out Matt’s Killer Tips tutorial on how to zoom, as well as Corey Barker’s Tutorial on using the keyboard to zoom)

Same thing with Layer Masks. It’s great if someone knows that black will hide and white will show, but do they know why you would work on a layer mask? Why are Curves more specific than Levels when working with an image?

Once you have an understanding of the why of the tools, then you begin to create a series of questions that you ask yourself in your head when you open up a Photoshop project. Your inside voice tells you “OK, I have this image – and the following things need to be worked on…I could use the lasso tool to do this, but I would run into a problem with XYZ. For that part, I am going to need the XYZ tool. I’ll finish that part with the ABC tool instead of the BCA tool for this effect.” That (in my opinion) is when you start mastering Photoshop.

Now, I believe EVERYONE needs to have a couple of aces in their pocket when working with Photoshop – which is one of the reasons that I’m a big fan of Scott, Matt, and Dave. What they do is give you a way of learning through a finished product. At best, their tutorials teach you the why as you go through step-by-step with them. At worst, you have a bag of tricks that you can unleash on your next project. Check out a cool Scott Tutorial about some of the basics of the Pen tool.

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So, how do suggest someone learns the “why”. I’m learning the “how” with lightroom and photoshop – but I’m still at the point where I can look at a photo, know the composition is good, and know that it needs “something”, I’m just not sure what it needs to go from an ok or nice photo to a wow photo. Any suggestions for “learning” that? Other than just trying lots of stuff – is there a work flow (lighten, darken, blur background, etc) that you try – or is it that you just look at a photo and know what it needs.

Comment by Candy | November 14, 2007 @ 4:32 pm

Great question Candy:
I always go back and take a look at everything that I do, and tweak until I cant tweak anymore – for the night. I see the “Why” as a constant process. Now, this is just my opinion – but this is what I see as a good step:

Analyze other people’s workflows and try to incorporate them to your own: I am always trolling the web to find out how other photographers take their images to the next level, and I keep notes on what is done to what kind of images, so that I can go and play with the workflow on myself. This is one case where something like Scott’s 7 Point System can be a good thing. In the book, he talks about his own personal workflow to get an image from OK to great. It doesn’t have to all work for you.. but its a great step to see how to finish something off.

Get your pictures on websites that can offer critiques. There are many places that you can submit your photo and have others (strangers) tell you what -they- think is something that you need to work on. Obviously, not all steps need to be followed, but at least it gets other sets of eyes looking at the images to give you opinions.

Take a look at the work of people who inspire you: I spend a lot of time surfing the web to try to find Photographers that are doing really cool things with images, and I try to sit and take notes of what I feel made their images impactful. Once I have the reasons as to why they impressed me, I go into Photoshop and start analyzing the tools that will help me get closer to that point.

Let me know if that helps. If I can point you in the direction to some sites, I will.

Thanks for stopping in!

Comment by RC | November 14, 2007 @ 11:34 pm

Thanks for the response RC, it helps alot. I am at about lesson 15 in Scott’s book. That’s where I realized that I can do “it” to a photo. I do the lesson, it looks great (as it should with his direction), I have the confidence that I can do this to my photos… I open one of mine and it’s like I get brain freeze.

I will take your advise to heart and start searching web sites. I am a member of NAPP and will start posting photos there.

If you would be so kind – I’d love to be pointed in some direction.

Thanks again for your time.

Comment by Candy | November 15, 2007 @ 12:19 am

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