Photoshop and Me

This is the last week of 2D Illustration II, and I feel like I’ve really pushed myself a lot farther than I’m accustomed to. It’s funny how many deadlines you can meet if you really put your mind to it.

I’ve learned a lot about the different techniques of Photoshop, and started to form my own habits with using the program. There are still so many things to learn, but education is a never-ending thing.

I feel like I’ve created some really unique pieces to add to my portfolio, and am proud of my progress throughout the course. I am definitely looking forward to the opportunities that the future holds.

Shortcuts are the key to success

Photoshop shortcuts are key to productivity. While teaching a tutorial, I was informed of several shortcuts that I did not know existed. They make things so much easier, and your work gets done so much faster.

There is also an option to set up your own shortcuts, but I do not recommend this. It may seem easier for you to remember shortcuts this way, but it can only hurt you in the long run of things. Should you have to use an employer’s copy of Photoshop, then you will be relying on the custom shortcuts you learned, and they will not be the same on that version.

It may seem hard at first, but by taking a little extra time to learn the standard Photoshop shortcuts, it will definitely cut down on how much time you spend trying to do a certain action on Photoshop.

Finding a relevant tutorial

We’ve been given the task of finding 3 tutorials (one must be a text tutorial) to teach to the class. Finding a relevant tutorial that isn’t too complex has been a fun challenge.

For my first tutorial, I chose “Changing an image’s color with an adjustment layer.” I found it very useful when working with a few of my projects. It’s much easier to use an adjustment layer, because it can be changed very simply at a later time. It’s very difficult to change the color of an image once you’ve applied the effect directly.

I found my tutorial at Layers Magazine.

It's all about the angle

"A photograph is not an accident – it is a concept."

Ansel Adams

I am starting up 2D Illustrations II, and working with Photoshop again. It's been a little while since I've toyed around with Photoshop. I've picked up some new shortcuts, which definitely make things smoother and quicker when editing a photo.

I spent all yesterday afternoon and evening just snapping photos, to see which angles and lighting work best. I've found that the best shots are planned out, although that's not to say an amazing shot cannot be spontaneous.

I also discovered that the more you work on composition of the photo before you shoot, the less time you actually have to spend fixing it up afterward. I am definitely looking forward to learning more techniques during this course, and hope to see an improvement in my photography style.