Photshop 8 Tutorial Help needed

Pentaxbuff · 29-10-2007, 16:34

I need help for using Photoshop 8 (CS); I am looking for (free) tutorials so that I can follow step-by-step the basic procedures. I bought, installed and browsed through several times but I am not a true computer guru, I need help.
I even got sucked in to buy Elements 4, and then I have the same problem, not really knowing where to start.
Time to get back to film?
Thanks to all who will answer.
JP

GainfulShrimp · 29-10-2007, 16:51

It's a bit tricky to help without knowing what you're trying to achieve... but there are quite a few useful tutorials written by Pixalo members in the tutorials section.

What do you mean by basic procedures? I would probably class cropping, resizing, saving and printing as basic procedures, but I think those things are reasonably intuitive using the menus, online help and plain old guess work... so probably not what you're trying to do.

If you give us some more information on what you'd like to do with Photoshop, we could provide some better help. For instance, you might want to straighten a wonky horizon, add some 'punch' to a flat low contrast image or maybe cut out an object from its background to superimpose elsewhere.

I don't see why you'd 'go back to film' as often Photoshop can add some magic to scanned film/transparencies/prints too, so they're not mutually exclusive.

John · 29-10-2007, 17:50

Some good free Photoshop tutorials here:

Photoshop Tutorials videos

You can watch the video to the end then right click on it and select save target as,you can then download it and run it in conjunction with Photoshop.

Hope that helps
John.

Rob Barron · 29-10-2007, 18:08

There are always some excellent video tutorials each month free with Digital Photo Magazine, one I highly recommend for its articles and other content.

I have done a few tutorials here on pixalo and if there are any specific subjects about PS you would like some help with, please let me know and I'll see what I can do.

Cheers,
Rob

Pentaxbuff · 29-10-2007, 18:42

Thanks Rob.
I did go to the tutorial by JMitchell (on this forum), and that is very much what I need: visual and step by step. I'll be checking yours momentarily.
Actually, what I did try to do, the very first time with Photoshop, was to extract an unwanted part of the photo. Well, I got to the point where the unwanted object was now represented by a "squared" pattern, which meant I did remove the objuect. Once I got there, ... ughh.... what do I do?
This is the limit of my knowledge for now.
I can retouch a few photos with the very basics, i.e.: color, saturation, some filters ... but that is it.
JP

Pentaxbuff · 29-10-2007, 18:46

Hi Gainful,
Here is my reply to Rob:
Thanks Rob.
I did go to the tutorial by JMitchell (on this forum), and that is very much what I need: visual and step by step. I'll be checking yours momentarily.
Actually, what I did try to do, the very first time with Photoshop, was to extract an unwanted part of the photo. Well, I got to the point where the unwanted object was now represented by a "squared" pattern, which meant I did remove the objuect. Once I got there, ... ughh.... what do I do?
This is the limit of my knowledge for now.
I can retouch a few photos with the very basics, i.e.: color, saturation, some filters ... but that is it.
JP
I seem to be getting as far as the "squared" pattern once I suppressed a part of the pic I don't want. Then it is a matter of what to do next.
Cheers.
JP

silkstone · 29-10-2007, 18:48

What you did there was remove part of the photo to leave nothing - a blank background, which is represented by the chequered pattern. What you probably need is something like the clone tool, to clone other parts of the image onto the bit you don't want.

BTW when you get fed up with Photoshop you may like to have a go with Corel Paint Shop Pro which has a built-in Learning Center.

Time for a quick exit methinks.

Pentaxbuff · 29-10-2007, 19:06

Those are great tutorials, I am sure they will help tremendously once I get beyond the "learn the basics" phase.
Very much appreciated.
JP

jusu · 03-11-2007, 21:43

Try this Good-Tutorials / Photoshop Tutorials + Flash Tutorials

and this one All Photoshop Tutorials - TutorialKit.com

Rob Barron · 06-11-2007, 15:23

Pentax, as has been mentioned, the chequered board is just the empy space left because you cut a piece out of the picture. If you have something in the middle of a shot you want to remove, you need to clone it out, not cut it out. There is a simple tutorial on Pixalo that might help you with cloning. I can't find the link but maybe one of the Crew can help with that.

Feel free to ask if you have other things you would like a tutorial on.

Cheers,
Rob

**Sonsey** · 06-11-2007, 15:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob Barron

There is a simple tutorial on Pixalo that might help you with cloning. I can't find the link but maybe one of the Crew can help with that.

Is this the one you mean Rob? - Clone tool

Here's your Patch Tool tutorial aswell, might be useful for others here - Patch Tool - A simple guide

Pentaxbuff · 06-11-2007, 19:14

Thank you Jusu,
One more tutorial added to my "to do" list of favorites. .. Now, back to the other posts; I am getting to have quite a collection of teaching aids here, if I can find the time to go through them all!
Cheers.