Adobe Photoshop Techniques

[jnor10]

I'm hoping to get some input on how to best learn some of the more advanced skills in photoshop. Can anyone recommend a specific book or CD that would be a good starting point. I feel that I have an ok handle on the basics, as far as levels, curves, etc. but would like to fine tune my skills to the point that I could do skin tone, smoothing, eyes, highlights and that sort of thing.

My stlye of shooting would revolve around portraiture, fashion, glamour; so a book/CD that is specific to that would be fine. I'm also open to any suggestions for training material that is all encompassing.

Thanks for the help;

Jeff

[Mr. Pickles]

Check out books by Scott Kelby or Katrin Eismann....

You could look at Photoshop Mama's site for some free video tutorials about skin retouching. She is pretty good at teaching because she is a teacher...
http://www.photoshopmama.net/psm_ezine/free_tips.html

[jnor10]

Thanks Mr. Pickles, the link looks like it offers what I'm trying to find. Funny how you think you have "googled" everything out there and yet there is more to be found.

Jeff

[TLV]

The book I used to start was "The Art of Photographing Women - Photoshop CS" by Kevin Ames. Will keep one occupied for a while (350 pages) and gives great insight.

[jnor10]

TLV, does this book also include post processing techniques?

Jeff

[Mr. Pickles]

It is all about post processing. Step by step how to do all kinds of things. With big color images too. I thought Scott Kelby helped with this book, but maybe not. Can't never think of Ames's name anyway...

[jnor10]

Thanks for the help. I liked Photoshop mama and found the tutorials helpful. Found Ames book,The Art of Photographing Women, its well reviewed, so looks like that will fit the bill. I'm also looking at Lee Varis's book "Skin,The Complete Guide to Digital Lighting, Photographing and Retouching Faces and Bodies",which was also well reviewed.

Thanks again.......

[timjon]

"Adobe Photoshop Restoration and Retouching" by Katrin Eismann is excellent, if you're already familiar with Photoshop. It's the book I see most often recommended on RetouchPro, which is a dedicated retouching forum. "Skin: The Complete Guide to Digitally Lighting, Photographing, and Retouching Faces and Bodies" by Lee Varis is also pretty good, and has a very useful section on colour correcting by numbers.

It's also worth checking out RetouchPro - http://www.retouchpro.com/ . The forums are great and some of the tutorials have techniques which I've never seen anywhere else.*

Cheers,

Tim.

[jnor10]

Thanks Tim, added to my list. BTW, I was at a local group shoot the other night. We had lights, back drops, models, and MUA's etc. Basically, a place to meet and network within our community. Anyhow, I was watching one guy take, IMHO, a pretty average picture and before my eyes, Wacom tablet in hand, transform it into a great image. Very impressive!

Jeff

[ascending Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Mr. Pickles

Check out books by Scott Kelby or Katrin Eismann....

You could look at Photoshop Mama's site for some free video tutorials about skin retouching. She is pretty good at teaching because she is a teacher...
Photoshop Mamas Free Tips e-Zine

Momma ROCKS !!.Thank you a zillion times.Im so book stupid. But her videos are so simple and straight forward.She is now part of my wake up process in the morning..pouring Java..** non HTML ** in my veins