Photoshop CS5

I've been useing Nikon Capsure 2 for my photo editing and I'am looking to jump over to Photoshop CS5.My question is what is the best way to learn how to use this program. I've tried the trial version and it appears to be pretty complex to use.

Darryl, I'm FAR from an expert with CS5 - The learning curve will be very steep, and, yes, it is very complex.
The manual I have is very helpful - "Photoshop CS5 - the Missing Manual;" - ("The book that should have been in the box", it advertises..)

You can likely get a good used copy on Amazon.com by now. There are lots of other CS5 manuals, too.
You'll just have to learn step by step and practice a lot.
Good luck -

Sandy

Sandy,Thanks for the help.I will check out the book.Learning something new is always a good thing.

A book specifically targeted to photographers titled 'The Photoshop CS5 Book for Digital Photographers' may be what you're looking for. Kelby's book certainly helped me get up to speed! Check the user reviews for more info.

NAPP ( National Assoc. Photoshop Professionals) .....check it out online. It requires a yearly fee, but is probably the best source for learning Photoshop ground up. It is well worth the money in my opinion.
Joe Rogers

Darryl,
I also use NX2 and have considered PS.
Seems most of the "good photographers" use this.
Do you have any idea of differences? I don't.
I have NOT been happy with NX2 sharpening engine.
I've been using CaptureOne4 out of England for RAW processing, then going to NX2. I think I get a crisper photo but I still lack a lot of "masking" procedures that those with PS appear to do. Heck, I don't even know what "masking" means.
If you have time, keep me informed of your purchase and thoughts.
If you are convinced it is significantly better, then I'll have to start saving the money, too.
Feel free to e-mail me anytime with a refresher on the subject.
the fisch

A good source for learning specifics is youtube believe it or not. Granted, it won't give you a good breakdown of everything, but if there is a specific task you are looking to do you'll find a good tutorial there.

I really liked the "Photoshop CS5 For Nature Photographers" by Ellen and Josh Anon. It's so easy to follow and it specifically geared toward the type of photoshop work that Nature Photographers do. Skips all the junk we don't need to concern ourselves with.

You might want to review what Tim Grey has to offer by way of books and CD's and DVD's. He also has a daily QA and a quarterly "newsletter" that covers specific PS subjects. Start with www.timgrey.com

I find him to be a good teacher.

Another approach is to find a community college that offers digital darkroom courses.

Its a big elephant. Digest it a slice at a time.

Bill Brennan

Darryl,

You didn't say specifically what you are going to do with CS5. Full Photoshop is a very, very complex program... You may not need all that CS5 has to offer unless you need a lot of pre-press support. You might want to check out Photoshop Elements. It may very well do all you want and more, plus you'll save a ton of $$$...

When I first started photoshop (it was CS4) back in those days) I found it useful to take a course at the local adult ed center (or, as Bill says, at a community college) to start with. For a book, I've purchased Scott Kelby's, as mentioned by John above, because it got the best reviews.

Another source is the Photoshop and Imaging Tips at the West Coast Imaging web site.

There are some neat tricks that I use all the time, and, if you are making prints, the info available from the page below will be invaluable.

Take a look, here

--P

All good suggestions above.

If you can't find a course in CS5, consider a course in Elements. At least initially, you'll want to have some familarity with what the Photoshop products can do. The tools and menus are a bit different, but there are enough similaritiesthat things should click fairly quickly.

What tools did you use most frequently with Nikon Capture 2? Let us know and we can direct you to the equivalents in CS5.

Also, is Lapeer anywhere near South Bend, Indiana? If so, Danny Burk there offers photoshp classes and that be helpful.

When I'm in Nikon Capture 2 The Tools I use the most are Color Control Point-Auto Retouch Brush-Red-Eye Control Point sometimes and the Adjust Menu. I also use the batch menu alot and I convert color to B&W.I mainly work on Outdoor photoghaphy but I also do graduation pictures.I would like to be able to do lite editing but I want to start working with Layers and Masks and adjustment layers and I want to have more ability to remove unwanted idems in my photos plus I need to be able to do panoramas and I must have away to file my photos.Thanks all of you for your help.

Darryl,

Was in the same quandry as you and wanted all the features you wanted, plus I was a Capture NX2 guy. Thought I wanted CS5 and then Elements 9 came out with all the tools you identified. Went the Elements 9 route for now. Much less expensive and gives me what I want at this time. Another advantage, at least in my mind, is that I can learn all the functions and if, or when I need more processing abilities, I can move to CS5 or CSx and have a easier learning curve. The one downside is the RAW converter in Elements does not appear to be as good as NX2. Since I needed a better Data Management system I just got LR3 for 1/2 off from Amazon. So, for less than half the price of CS5 I have two very capable programs.

Glenn

Thanks Glenn,You have helped me alot! I'm going to check out Elements 9 & Lightroom some more.It seems to be more of what I'm looking for.

You're welcome Darryl. Another point on LR3 is you have a fully functional Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) converter. In many ways better than NX2 for a RAW converter, especially in how noise is handled and minimized.

I started with elements5 years back, then they had a 2 day internet special for CS3 through B&H photo for $200.00 vs $600.00. I then made the leap. Have not looked back since. I now use the CS5 version for editing photos. So I did hot get the top version for video ..Etc..I use Studio14 for video.

Plus, after you make the initial investment in PS, you get the new upgrades for around $200 which is what I paid for CS4. Then came along CS5, same price for upgrade..but..I waited until November of this year and got another $50 off..so I paid $149 for the CS5 upgrade. These upgrades come around every 2 years or so.

PS3, 4, and 5 are powerfull, No I do not use all of the features but it is nice to have them if needed. I learned alot from the Scott Kelby book also when I stated with CS3, then I bought his book for CS4 and now I will be picking up the CS5 book. He does a good job going over new features, plus, so far, he still covers the basics for those using photoshop for the first time.

I have not used other imaging programs, so I cannot speak for them..I am sure they are good also.

Just my 2 cents on the subject, good luck in your decision.

Dave