Author Topic: Photoshop books or tutorials for absolute beginners? (Read 14815 times)

lisafx · « **on:** July 13, 2010, 15:09 »

I have a model/client that is starting her own website. She has no photo editing experience and wants to learn Photoshop.

Of course she thought of me and figured she'd trade me some modeling in exchange for teaching her Photoshop. Eeeeek! I would rather pay her TRIPLE for modeling than have to try and teach her Photoshop!!

I basically told her I am self-taught on Photoshop (I am) and that I stink at teaching (I do!). But in order to keep in her good graces (she's a really good model) I was hoping to point her to some easy beginning tutorials.

Any suggestions?

vonkara · « **Reply #1 on:** July 13, 2010, 16:09 »

If I need any knowledge for a particular task using photoshop, I usually look for Youtube. Mostly all the photoshop tutorials on the web are there. I would like to link the very useful RJ MIZ tutorials, but it look offline by now...

cathyslife · « **Reply #2 on:** July 13, 2010, 16:17 »

Classroom in a Books are good.

http://www.amazon.com/Adobe-Photoshop-CS4-Classroom-Book/dp/032157379X

They come with a CD and sample files to follow along. I have used Flash and Dreamweaver, they taught me a lot.

Also, I highly recommend lynda.com. Very easy to follow along. You can subscribe monthly for 37.50 which includes the exercise files you download. VERY helpful.

WarrenPrice · « **Reply #3 on:** July 13, 2010, 16:23 »

Quote from: cclapper on July 13, 2010, 16:17

Classroom in a Books are good.

http://www.amazon.com/Adobe-Photoshop-CS4-Classroom-Book/dp/032157379X

They come with a CD and sample files to follow along. I have used Flash and Dreamweaver, they taught me a lot.

Also, I highly recommend lynda.com. Very easy to follow along. You can subscribe monthly for 37.50 which includes the exercise files you download. VERY helpful.

Lynda tutorials are a part of the Elements Tutorials Package. Also, Google Zach Arias.

WarrenPrice · « **Reply #4 on:** July 13, 2010, 16:24 »

sorry... double post.

lisafx · « **Reply #5 on:** July 13, 2010, 16:28 »

Thanks a lot for the suggestions!

You know, Elements would probably be a better fit for a beginner. I think I will suggest she try Elements and look at the Lynda tutorials.

Will also try Zach Arias.

Thanks again

elvinstar · « **Reply #6 on:** July 13, 2010, 16:33 »

I have always had tremendous success with the "For Dummies" series. One thing that I like about them is that they don't assume that you have ANY knowledge of the software being taught.

After finishing "Photoshop for Dummies" your model will be ready for more advanced material.

lisafx · « **Reply #7 on:** July 13, 2010, 16:42 »

Very good suggestion!^^.

Frankly, I don't know why she didn't start with the "For Dummies" series in the first place....

Talanis · « **Reply #8 on:** July 13, 2010, 16:44 »

Here's a suggestion to a book I have not read: http://www.kelbytraining.com/product/the-adobe-photoshop-cs5-book-for-digital-photographers.html

I DID read his Lightroom for Digital Photographer book and it was a great way to make the transition from Aperture to Lightroom. My guess is his Photoshop book is probably as good. Scott Kelby's book are easy to read. He's not too formal and has a good sense of humor.

PS: it's Zack, not Zach.

leaf · « **Reply #9 on:** July 13, 2010, 16:46 »

Thought you'd never ask!

I have a site that is totally made for beginners wanting to learn photoshop
Http://www.tutorvid.com

Otherwise YouTube is good, search for Photoshop in iTunes or Lynda.com if you want to spend money

WarrenPrice · « **Reply #10 on:** July 13, 2010, 16:55 »

Quote from: Talanis on July 13, 2010, 16:44

Here's a suggestion to a book I have not read: http://www.kelbytraining.com/product/the-adobe-photoshop-cs5-book-for-digital-photographers.html

I DID read his Lightroom for Digital Photographer book and it was a great way to make the transition from Aperture to Lightroom. My guess is his Photoshop book is probably as good. Scott Kelby's book are easy to read. He's not too formal and has a good sense of humor.

PS: it's Zack, not Zach.

Oh Yeah. My neighbor swears by Scott Kelly books. She's a lightroom user.

LSD72 · « **Reply #11 on:** July 13, 2010, 17:06 »

I just usually google what I am wanting to learn and go from there. IE: "How to Crop in Photoshop" or "Photoshop Pen Tool".

There is so much info on the net that I usually don't bother with books.

donding · « **Reply #12 on:** July 13, 2010, 17:35 »

Quote from: leaf on July 13, 2010, 16:46

Thought you'd never ask!

I have a site that is totally made for beginners wanting to learn photoshop
http://www.tutorvid.com

Otherwise YouTube is good, search for Photoshop in iTunes or Lynda.com if you want to spend money

I was just getting ready to suggest that when I saw your post. Guess you beat me to it..

Kngkyle · « **Reply #13 on:** July 13, 2010, 18:03 »

http://www.pixel2life.com/ has a ton of free tutorials for Photoshop.

lisafx · « **Reply #14 on:** July 13, 2010, 18:52 »

Really great suggestions everyone! Thanks so much! You guys are saving me a world of agony in trying to tutor her

Tyler, I will be sure to pass along your link to her and anyone else who asks. I never realized you did that sort of thing

Kone · « **Reply #15 on:** July 13, 2010, 19:43 »

Hi Lisa,

This site was good but I haven't visited it for a year or so, so it might have changed.

http://www.photoshopcafe.com/

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #16 on:** July 13, 2010, 19:55 »

I'd second the suggestion to use lynda.com. For $25 (for one month) she can review really excellent training videos. I'm using them now for CS5 new features and learning Lightroom using a month I got as an Adobe gift for registering Photoshop CS3!

I like books for some things (Katrin Eisman's masking & compositing book, for example) and books are easier to skim for one quick thing you don't remember, but the videos are really a great way to learn something new.

leaf · « **Reply #17 on:** July 15, 2010, 04:39 »

Quote from: jsnover on July 13, 2010, 19:55

I'd second the suggestion to use lynda.com. For $25 (for one month) she can review really excellent training videos. I'm using them now for CS5 new features and learning Lightroom using a month I got as an Adobe gift for registering Photoshop CS3!

I like books for some things (Katrin Eisman's masking & compositing book, for example) and books are easier to skim for one quick thing you don't remember, but the videos are really a great way to learn something new.

For one quick thing you don't remember you need the 60 second tutorials on TutorVid

Dreamframer · « **Reply #18 on:** July 15, 2010, 05:02 »

Lynda is great....although there are many free tutorials on youtube. I am self-taught but from time to time I check out youtube for some new interesting tutorial.

I don't know how good is photoshop for dummies, but I guess it's good for a beginner. Later, she can check http://photoshoptutorials.ws

cathyslife · « **Reply #19 on:** July 15, 2010, 05:40 »

Quote from: leaf on July 15, 2010, 04:39

[For one quick thing you don't remember you need the 60 second tutorials on TutorVid

Tyler, th link above works ok, but the first one you posted in this thread does not. It tries to go to http://http.tutorvid.com which of course it won't.

etienjones · « **Reply #20 on:** July 15, 2010, 07:13 »

Also a good tip for beginners can be found at Planet Photoshop. They have a "Planet Tip of the Day" that arrives at your email address once a day if you sign up . . . . . . . . . .

For example:

Monday, July 12, 2010 10:01 AM
Planet Tip of the Day - Light depth with layer blending

leaf · « **Reply #21 on:** July 15, 2010, 07:29 »

Quote from: cclapper on July 15, 2010, 05:40

Quote from: leaf on July 15, 2010, 04:39
[For one quick thing you don't remember you need the 60 second tutorials on TutorVid

Tyler, th link above works ok, but the first one you posted in this thread does not. It tries to go to http://http.tutorvid.com which of course it won't.

thanks - it's fixed.

travelstock · « **Reply #22 on:** July 15, 2010, 07:56 »

There's quite a lot of tutorials produced by lynda.com available on the adobe site too - probably a lot of topics that would be of interest to someone geting started: http://tv.adobe.com/show/learn-photoshop-cs5/

cathyslife · « **Reply #23 on:** July 15, 2010, 08:30 »

Quote from: leaf on July 15, 2010, 07:29

thanks - it's fixed.

lisafx · « **Reply #24 on:** July 15, 2010, 16:07 »

I've forwarded all the tips from this thread to the model. Hope something works for her. Thanks again for all the help! You guys are great

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Author Topic: Photoshop books or tutorials for absolute beginners? (Read 14815 times)

lisafx

vonkara

cathyslife

WarrenPrice

WarrenPrice

lisafx

elvinstar

lisafx

Talanis

leaf

WarrenPrice

LSD72

donding

Kngkyle

lisafx

Kone

Jo Ann Snover

leaf

Dreamframer

cathyslife

etienjones

leaf

travelstock

cathyslife

lisafx

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