Any suggestions on learning to use photoshop 7.0?

SH
Posted By
Susan Hawthorne
Sep 5, 2003
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404
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11
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My son went to college and left me his old computer. I have photoshop 7.0 on it and would like to learn to use it. I have a digital camera and learned to use some small editing things on simple programs that came with it, but this photoshop has a million tools and not much explanation. I’m definitely not in-depth on using any photo program, what is my best avenue to learn to use it. I want to be able to edit my digital photos nicely. Any suggestions?
I first posted this in the Photoshop LE forum by mistake, see? duh!!! LOL Thanks !!
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Don McCahill
Sep 5, 2003
I’d recommend Adobe’s Classroom in a book as a good starting point. The exercises can get a little boring, but they do cover the bases.

Then, hanging out in this forum is a good way to learn. You can ask questions and we will help, and before you know it, you will be answering questions from those who know less than you do.

Welcome aboard.
LB
larry brubeck
Sep 5, 2003
A good way to see what this program will do is play with it.Open a picture and try all them filters. Google searh for basic tutorials and have fun.
W
wes
Sep 5, 2003
Also Susan, just sit down with the program and play around with various tools, filters, etc. after you have learned some of the basics of the program which is where Classroom in a book comes in. I remember my first days with Photoshop and thought there is no way I can learn all of the stuff in this program. I went through the User’s guide that came with the program and learned about some of the basics about the interface and where things were located and what they could do. I would use the rectangle marquee and get the marching ants and then say to myself, now what. I knew absolutely nothing. Then, as Don has mentioned, just read newsgroups or forums, do a few tutorials and things will start making some sense. I probably still only know about 40% of what the program can do but I have still have fun learning.

As long as you don’t have deadlines to meet, just turn it on and have fun with your photos. I think learning sometimes comes in fits and starts, just enjoy.

"Don McCahill" wrote in message
I’d recommend Adobe’s Classroom in a book as a good starting point. The
exercises can get a little boring, but they do cover the bases.
Then, hanging out in this forum is a good way to learn. You can ask
questions and we will help, and before you know it, you will be answering questions from those who know less than you do.
Welcome aboard.
Y
YrbkMgr
Sep 5, 2003
Play with everything. When you don’t understand something, use F1 (help) you can search for specific words and get good information on it.

Then, as others have said, come back here and ask questions. You’ll be teaching your son soon <grin>.
MS
Mike Saxon
Sep 6, 2003
It depends on your own individual approach to learning, Susan.

If you are a hands-on type, go with Larry’s suggestion – the empirical approach. I know PS7 has " a million tools", but try out one at a time and you’ll soon be amazed at what you can do!
They say ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’; so clicking the "Diffuse Glow" button will teach you much more than will any written description that I could give you.

However, at some stage you will want further explanation; then go to

1) Adobe Help menu (sorry, but I have to disagree with you about "not much explanation")

2) On-line tutorials such as <http://myjanee.home.insightbb.com/tutorials.htm> and many others which I am sure will be mentioned in this thread

3) Good books such as Adobe Photoshop Classroom in a Book, Real World Photoshop by Blatner and Fraser, Adobe Photoshop for Photographers by Martin Evening (I have all three and they each give a different slant, some are technical, others are not).

4) This forum! An amazing family of photoshoppers from all over the world, who are generous with their time and if you ask the right (i.e. specific) questions, you will get the right answers.

Finally come full circle and get hands on again. The Swiss/German artist Paul Klee once wrote "Paint, painter – don’t talk".

I decided to teach my own 11 year-old daughter Adobe Photoshop, rather than mess around with lesser programs. Now 12 years old, she is truly amazing – and could teach some graphics professionals here in Brunei a thing or two!

Enjoy, and do have fun!
Mike
SH
Susan Hawthorne
Sep 6, 2003
Thank you all for your tips. Mike, you sound like a great teacher 🙂 Your daughter is very lucky! You’re right, the help is good 🙂
I’ve been playing around with a few of the tools and my hubby got the the Photoshop7 for Dummies book – it’s very good! I’ve learned how to set up some colors for the project I’m doing (ie: print) and that sure makes a difference! I never even knew there were different settings for that, lol, I always wondered why things I printed never looked q;uite like they do on the screen, now I know! Now I’m playing with tools. What fun! 🙂
Thanks again, Meenie
SV
Stephen Van Court
Sep 6, 2003
Once you get past photoshop for dummies, try the Quickstart Guide from Peachpit Press. To some extent, I would disagree with the idea of "just trying things." With a program as complex as Photoshop, that can get real frustrating.
P
Phosphor
Sep 6, 2003
Deke McClelland’s Photoshop Bible. Hand’s down, one of the best all-round 3rd-party books you can buy.
Y
YrbkMgr
Sep 6, 2003
I love Deke. Absolutely fabulous teacher.
SH
Susan Hawthorne
Sep 10, 2003
Thanks for the great tip on Deke McClelland’s Photoshop Bible… Do you think it will be helpful for someone who is a rank beginner with very little knowledge of the program (or any photo program)??
Thanks Meenie 😀
NC
Noel Charchuk
Sep 11, 2003
Susan,
If you are using Photoshop mostly for working with images you have taken in order to print them, another very good reference book for someone just learning about color correction, masks, layers and all the other tools is Barry Haynes Photoshop 7 Artistry.
It has good explanations of the Photoshop desktop, how the tools work, and the section on color correction was worth the cost of the book alone for me. I was stumbling around in Photoshop, having come from a Photo Deluxe program that came with my scanner, not knowing what I was doing or changing.
I read his book one weekend, and much was explained. Then when I changed something, I knew more about why, and what to do if I had gone too far, and could get back.
Watch for it on eBay, it often sells for 1/4 of the price of the bookstore, and even an older version than your 7 is full of good information.
Noel

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