Photoshop CS3 - Version 10

Totally Judy

Totally Judy

Joined
Dec 3, 2000
Messages
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I just ordered Photoshop CS3 V.10 for work/home. I have NEVER used Photoshop for even one second. Never had it on any of my computers. My best friend has it on her Mac, but that doesn't help me.

Any suggestions as to good reference books to purchase or how-to books? Photoshop V10 for Dummies, maybe? I just saw where this book came out this month.

I would like to become somewhat proficient in using Photoshop, but no way is my boss gonna send me to a class to learn it. Heck, I didn't even tell him that I ordered it. That's what happens when you ask the big big boss for a budget and he approves it and the last digits in the management account code are JUDY. I think that makes it MY budget, not mine and my boss's budget. Wouldn't you agree? Although he never questions my purchases since I got us a budget!

So if anyone is aware of any really good books on how to use Photoshop, I would appreciate the references.

Thanks.
 
i would be more then glad to e-mail you some photoshop books in pdf format if you wish
 
Photoshop classes will never teach you everything about the program. I took one several years ago.....the text book for the class sucked big time...even the instructor agreed. It was at a community college and a full 16 week semester. A class would basically familiarize you with the program as far as what its capabilities are and the different tools and features are. Books are good and there are tons of tutorials on the Web to help you out. Once you learn the basics of it, practice will be the only real way to master it. I have the CS2 version but still use version 7 that I taught myself on and haven't really found anything I needed CS2 for...CS2 was required for the class and I wrote it off as a business expense!

John
 
Judy, Judy, Judy! (with apologies to the late Mr. Grant) You bought CS3...and you have never used Photoshop? Boy are you in for a treat! :eek: :D

I have been using CS2 since it came out, I'm fairly proficient at it (photos for magazine publication, my own book, art prints, etc.) but I figure I am still only using 10% of its capabilities. :o

However, as others have said, there are good books out there (I like the Que series) but the best way to learn is by doing (like learning to play backgammon). It looks overwhelming at first but the basics are easy to master and then you expand your proficiencies at your own speed.

Good luck and enjoy the experience!
 
cockroachfarm said:
Judy, Judy, Judy! (with apologies to the late Mr. Grant) You bought CS3...and you have never used Photoshop? Boy are you in for a treat! :eek: :D
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I had no choice. I work for a K-12 school district and we order all of our software through a special education store. I didn't order ANY specific version, I just emailed for a quote for Photoshop. Plain ol' Photoshop. I had no idea what versions were what.

So my quote comes back for CS2. Okay. Whatever. Don't know what that means.

Then, "oops, can't get that, outdated, you have to get CS3." Okay. Fine.

That happens frequently. If the software we ask for has already been upgraded, we often cannot backorder the older version and we have to go with the new version. Even just to order a license and we already have the software, we have to pay for the new version. Weird, I know. But I think it's still cheaper than going through a regular online store for software.
 
jchaney said:
Photoshop classes will never teach you everything about the program. I took one several years ago.....the text book for the class sucked big time...even the instructor agreed. It was at a community college and a full 16 week semester. A class would basically familiarize you with the program as far as what its capabilities are and the different tools and features are. Books are good and there are tons of tutorials on the Web to help you out. Once you learn the basics of it, practice will be the only real way to master it. I have the CS2 version but still use version 7 that I taught myself on and haven't really found anything I needed CS2 for...CS2 was required for the class and I wrote it off as a business expense!

John
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John,

I understand what you are saying. As with any software program, it is only as good as how much you know about what it's capabilities are. I believe most courses are worthless, unless you have a really talented and experienced instructor and it is a computer hands-on type of class. I took a lot of classes from New Horizons and I learned a lot about Microsoft Office software. This was when there was the big switch from Corel Suite to MS Office.

I love to play with software and am pretty much self-taught with most of the stuff I use. I figure it will be the same with Photoshop. But I want to learn it so I took advantage of the fact that I could order it without answering to another supervisor. Plus, the Superintendent of School often asks me to doctor up some photos with pictures from magazines for some of his meetings. Not having Photoshop has required a job effort with my best friend who runs the Printshop. She is pretty good at Photoshop, but doesn't do alot of the stuff that I do using Publisher. So between us we get the job done.
 
cockroachfarm said:
However, as others have said, there are good books out there (I like the Que series) but the best way to learn is by doing (like learning to play backgammon). It looks overwhelming at first but the basics are easy to master and then you expand your proficiencies at your own speed.
Click to expand...

I have many QUE series books at work. I think their series also. I guess it will be a lot of trial and error, but what the heck, it all for fun for the moment. Once I become somewhat proficient, I will be able to use it for more cool things in my office and for Department Meetings and such.
 
Rat Finkenstein said:
Practice, Practice, Practice, Practice. . . and then some practice will help.

I love Photoshop.
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I've always sorta had an interest in it, but could not justify the purchase of it. But after seeing how much fun you guys have with it, I just knew that I had to get ahold of it and teach myself how to use it!!!!

I will definitely be practicing, practicing, practicing!

And probably asking for some tips and tricks of the Photoshop variety!!
 
Totally Judy said:
John,

I understand what you are saying. As with any software program, it is only as good as how much you know about what it's capabilities are. I believe most courses are worthless, unless you have a really talented and experienced instructor and it is a computer hands-on type of class. I took a lot of classes from New Horizons and I learned a lot about Microsoft Office software. This was when there was the big switch from Corel Suite to MS Office.

I love to play with software and am pretty much self-taught with most of the stuff I use. I figure it will be the same with Photoshop. But I want to learn it so I took advantage of the fact that I could order it without answering to another supervisor. Plus, the Superintendent of School often asks me to doctor up some photos with pictures from magazines for some of his meetings. Not having Photoshop has required a job effort with my best friend who runs the Printshop. She is pretty good at Photoshop, but doesn't do alot of the stuff that I do using Publisher. So between us we get the job done.
Click to expand...

That's good if you have a friend that knows Photoshop...she can help familiarize you with it at least...the hardest part of learning any software other than Microsoft products is the way it is laid out and the menus are set up. Like was mentioned a couple of replies down, the CS3 books won't be out for a while yet, but you can find books at places like Books a Million that will have books/text books for older versions like Photoshop 7 and CS and soon CS2 at discount/closeout prices since CS3 is on the market. You can even find some useful info in books that were written for the more consumer oriented version called Photshop Elements. I've picked up several here lately for just a few dollars each. Most of the content is stuff I already know but you never know when you'll find the book with just the right tip or trick you want to use on your image.

Most of the software classes I've taken were of applications that I pretty much taught myself through tutorials and books of my own. It definitely helps to be familiar with it before you ever consider taking a class...I guess it takes the intimidation out of learning something new in a group setting. I had to have the class for an associates degree I was working on. I had a good instructor and her method of instruction included a part of letting the class finding a technique to do something with the software and create our own tutorial for it and present if to the class. Luckily, there were only four people remaining at the end of the semester. That was definitely the way to learn it.......teach it to others. I use Photoshop almost every day.....if for nothing else to put ideas in my head in the software while I'm thinking of them.

John
 
You're gonna hate my 'stock' suggestion. TAKE A CLASS. I learned PS 2.0 on my own with the one and only book around at the time- Took me a month of 4hrs a day to get it down. 2 years after that I took a class in V3.0 (AKA LAYERS!) at a local community college. Best $250 I ever spent for the 40 hrs. one year after that I was teaching it and I have to tell you, that except for Classroom In A Book, Most 3rd party books still suck. Video based tutorials are the best way. A good teacher should speed the process and give you depth that books alone can't. Even now I prefer to pay for a class to jump-start me in an application.

Knowing the Knoll Bros, CS is probably a steep learning curve. If you're not conversant with Photoshop you may hate life if you try to tackle it on your own.Others mat advise you differently and thus :) YMMV
 
Has anyone ever used the "Photoshop for Dummies" books? I think I read that they just this month released the CS3 version book.
 
Hey Judy,

I am a graphics specialist and have been using Photoshop for 19 years or more.

Photoshop is the most powerful image editing software I've ever seen, and I've seen a few. Of all the books I've seen, the books done by Lynda Weinman are by far the best.

Try http://lynda.com/. I think she already has some CS3 stuff available and there are some free tutorials on the site that may help also.

The Adobe Classroom in a book series is good also but I prefer Lynda's books. The content is easier to grasp and the images are nicer.

I hope this helps. You are going to be amazed at what you can do.

Good Luck!

Curt Wommack
Stone Mountain, GA
 
clw3 said:
Hey Judy,

I am a graphics specialist and have been using Photoshop for 19 years or more.

Photoshop is the most powerful image editing software I've ever seen, and I've seen a few. Of all the books I've seen, the books done by Lynda Weinman are by far the best.

Try http://lynda.com/. I think she already has some CS3 stuff available and there are some free tutorials on the site that may help also.


Curt Wommack
Stone Mountain, GA
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Curt,

Awesome. Exactly what I'm looking for. The best book. I don't want to waste my time and money on books that don't help me at all. I'll check out Lynda's website right now! Thanks much.
 
Man, Judy's going to be chopping m1marty pics before you know it. :D
 
Judy's gonna be schoolin' me REAL soon if she does all that is suggested.

PS has SO much to learn, but it covers a myriad of graphic and photo possibilities.

The first step is to determine WHAT you wish it to do for you--or what it is you want to do with it. I know maybe 10% of the program, and that's all I need.

K.I.S.S. ;)

Coop
 
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