Need an 'Idiots Guide' CS4/Bridge

[Sutton Warrior]

OK, I now have a copy of 'CS4+Bridge', so all my possible needs can be met in the world of photo manipulation???? My problem is, having looked at it, compared it with 'Elements v7', it like a Ford 'v' a Roller, both have 4 wheels, steering wheel and engine, they both do the same job, but at the moment, I sort of understand the Ford, the Roller . . . where the 'f***in h*ll'!!!! do you start.

 

My 'Elements 7' (Ford Escort version ), is nice and easy, does far more than I have needed up to now. The 'CS4/Bridge' (Silver Shadow ), needs to be explained, its got the functions I'm used to with knobs on, plus a lot more besides, where do you put the ignition key!!!

 

For 'simple, quick and now', its still going to be 'Ev7', but as time goes by, I need to be able to unravel the hidden depths of CS4. I dont have the attention span, available time or desire to do more than short stints when I'm in the mood . . . I'm in no hurry?

 

So, advise, and where to look for a good idiots guide? . . . please

 

Any suggestions, SW

[Angly]

Everyone likes a different method of learning, but I really liked the PhotoshopTV online videos. It's a slow way of learning, but in some respect that's good. Some don't like the advert fuelled jokey nature of the videos, but I just skip the sections I don't want to watch.

 

PhotoShop TV

 

Current episodes, and those from about 3 weeks ago are free, anything older you have to pay for. Don't worry that you've missed some, they go over the same stuff regularly.

[Steve Randles]

First of all, remember that Photoshop is many things, its NOT just a photo manipulative tool. I've been using Photoshop since version 4 and know/understand many of its secrets, I even write tutorials on how to use it and have been called by some a master. BUT, I know only a small percentage of the program and some things are best left alone. Photoshop CS4 extended has 3D capabilities now, but its not for me so I wont go near it...I wont click on any of the tools to use 3D..its pointless (to me).

 

As far as idiots guides go, probably the best known and publicised is "Photoshop for Dummies" http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/....do?sku=6441497 but remember this is for the whole of Photoshop, even the things you'll never use, let alone need. Scott Kelby is a name associated with digital Photography and Photoshop ( He's a NAPP member - National association or Photoshop Professionals) and has an offering here http://www.kelbytraining.com/product/photo...tographers.html. He's one of many who offer writings on the subjects.

 

Personally, I prefer the simple approach of minimal adjustments and I'm perhaps a little bit old school in that I prefer to get it right in camera so that little post processing is needed.

 

In my opinion (and it is only my opinion) a photo needs the following workflow...and not all of these will be needed on any one Photo.

 

1. Photo rotation - Is the photo straight? does the horizon need adjusting? ( I use a spiit level on my tripod as shooting from the side of a hill in the lakes can throw things off, a level helps me skip this part)

 

2. Levels and/or curves - Does the exposure need adjusting? Is the Photo "muddy", photo's with a "grey" or "muddy" appearance can be corrected with one or both of the levels or curves commands.

 

3. Satuation - Certain shooting conditions will strip some saturation from an image, ie shotting towards or at an angle to the sun, saturation adjustment will put some back for you.

 

4. Resize for use - as it says, resizing for Print, email or web use.

 

5. Sharpen - If needed.

 

6, Save.

 

 

This is very basic stuff, much you will already know from your Elements use and you know it works so use it and build upon it one thing at a time. There is much that can be read and learned in online tutorials so go and google for curves or levels and spend an hour working with that one command, trying to learn the whole program is an impossible task but a good place to start your online learning would be the points I mention above for the very basic stuff. One tip I can give is that every tut you read will be written differently, some will say click this click that and your done, whilst others will go so far in depth its almost like they are writing in Elvish, if a tutorial confuses you Cliff, hit your browsers back button and find another to read...dont wind yourself up.

 

Take it slow and steady and build on what you already know, as you have already found out, Photoshop is Elements grown up big brother....and then some!

 

You should also spend some tme reading up on "adjustment layers" and how to use them, its a big subject but one worth understanding how to use, again take your time and read/follow many different tuts on the subject.

 

Slow and steady Cliff..

 

Steve...

[Sutton Warrior]

Thanks Steve, as you say, a lot of basics is covered by my use of 'Elements', however there is greater depth in CS4 and knowing where to set a number or level, I find daunting. The other problem is 'layers' . . . ???? O'boy Never have got my head around this one, which means many of the tools are a mystery to me.

 

Fortunately, I go along with your philosophy of 'get it right in the camera'. I'm learning, these days one is much happier with what comes out, I still crop and adjust a bit on occasions, but compared with the early days . . . !! Level horizon? can be a problem, don't use a tripod much . . . still a 'have camera will travel type', take the opportunity when it presents, this means dragging a tripod around can be a pain, the lined grid in the viewfinder helps . . . sometimes

 

I do find the 'play' element with any photo prosess program, a bit pointless, grumpy old sod that I am, get serious 'Victor Meldrew syndron', probably because I dont understand layers??? and cant join in

 

So onwards and upwards . . .

 

SW

[Steve Randles]

Layers are simple enough as they are just that....layers!

 

Put a printed Photo on your desk, now put a clear plastic bag on top of it. Your Photo is the "Background layer" and the plastic bag is "Layer 1".

 

Now put a second plastic bag on top and where on the bag it says "Do not put on head, can cause suffocation", place the bag so that sentence is over your photo, this is "layer 2"

 

This is simply what layers are, one thing on top of another. However, in photoshop layers can be used in many ways and for example you could make a "levels layer", its exactly the same as the clear plastic bag but it adjusts the levels of your photo for you. By using the levels command on a seperate layer you are making an adjustment your familiar with but you are doing it "none destructively". Your background layer (Photo) remains intact and untouched because the adjustment is on the layer, not the Photo. You can make as many adjustment layers as you want and either leave them on or switch them off so their effect no longer takes effect. This is the beauty of layers in that you can commpare adjustments or sets of adjustments or see a before and after. In Elements you made your adjustment and it was done directly to the Photo.

 

You said "there is greater depth in CS4 and knowing where to set a number or level, I find daunting" which shows to me your already far too ahead of yourself and knowing how these things affect you I'll say again to stick with the basics, learn one thing at a time, in your own time. This is my 9th version of Photoshop I have used and I know a lot about it, but I dont know its depths yet, nor do I want to.

 

Slow and steady Cliff..

 

Steve...

[Angly]

Scott Kelby is a name associated with digital Photography and Photoshop ( He's a NAPP member - National association or Photoshop Professionals) and has an offering here http://www.kelbytraining.com/product/photo...tographers.html. He's one of many who offer writings on the subjects

 

PhotoshopTV is of course by (and with) Scott Kelby and the NAPP.

[Steve Randles]

PhotoshopTV is of course by (and with) Scott Kelby and the NAPP.

 

Indeed, as is Matt Klosowski...another good 'shopper, but Kelby is the only one I have read (book) and hence recommended, I appreciate his simplistic approach in a world of complexity.Although photoshop tv is an excellent resource I would not recommend to a starter, purely because they will have more questions than answers after each episode.

 

Steve...

[yorkio]

When you registered with Adobe, they should have sent you a gift certificate: one of the choices was a 30-day subscription to the lynda.com training videos. There was also a 30-day subscription to Safari Books Online if you prefer written material.

[Sutton Warrior]

I've had a look at Scott Kelby offering on the Amazon site, they let you 'look inside' at the index and a few pages of text. He launches straight into Camera to Bridge, then starts talking about RAW? . . . scary stuff . . . for me?? The style is very 'hold the hand', I'm still wary of RAW as a main medium? He does seem to go into JPG and TIFF etc shows in the index, but not sampled in the 'look inside' pages.

 

Then again looked inside a couple of others, equally . . . or more scary!!!

 

I'll think on it . . . its got to be a book as a screen partner (Bible) but which one?

 

SW

[Steve Randles]

Cliff, just use adobe camera raw to open the RAW files into Photoshop...then your in familiar territory as you can save as tif, psd or jpeg.

 

There is nothing scary about RAW at all, honestly. But the benefits are huge.

 

Steve...