Dumb question ... where should I start?

[Blondn6ft]

OK ... as a new user to PSE4 (PSE in general) I was looking at the
online courses to get me started in the right direction using the program.
Is there one better than another to help with getting started? Or is there some other form of "tutorial" to walk me through the basics?

Looking for input from the pros around here ... :)

[Carbone]

Hi Robin,

There's the Learning Centre, right here on PET (Photoshop Elements Techniques, in short, PET) :

http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/learningcenter/

Also two classes I would recommend to start with : The Digital Workflow and Portrait Retouching (if that is something you're interested in)

http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/training_courses/

Finally there are other on-line resources, such as on-line classes (written form assisted with a teacher) at www.eclecticacademy.com. Sara teaches the PSE series and she does an amazing job at this. There are several levels, from "Ground Up" to Expert. Sara is a regular contributor in PET magazine.

And, and also, if you're a subscriber here, you'll have access to the 100+ videos. They're little project which shows you how to accomplish a given task.

http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/subscriber/

Ray

[Blondn6ft]

Thanks Ray ...

I know of the 100+ video project thingies.

I was looking for something to really get my feet wet
before trying to be too creative without understanding how
or why things do what they do.

I was planning on doing the on-line courses here but was
concerned they might be too much for someone like
myself with very limited knowledge of the program.

I have played with it a bit ... but really have just played.
Not exactally knowing what I have been doing ... sometimes
I learn better that way but there are too many shortcuts and
things here ... so I want to learn.

Thanks for the info on the electric academy. I will check them out too!

[Carbone]

If you're really not sure, Sara's "From Ground Up" is all indicated. It assumes you know about your computer (where are the files, how to print, copy and paste, that stuff), but not a thing about PSE. I would start there.

Ray

[Pauline]

Robin you might want to check out www.lynda.com (http://www.lynda.com) There is a great section on there for elements. You can sign up for unlimited access for a month and it's quite reasonable. I really enjoyed the ones on elements but also watched other ones for photoshop too.

[kimi_boo]

there are other on-line resources, such as on-line classes (written form assisted with a teacher) at www.eclecticacademy.com. Sara teaches the PSE series and she does an amazing job at this. There are several levels, from "Ground Up" to Expert. Sara is a regular contributor in PET magazine.

Ray

RE: www.electicacademy.com

There is a filter class starting tomorrow that a couple of us are signed up for. If anyone else wants to take a look. The more the merrier!

[GaryK]

Robin

Probably a little late now :rolleyes:, I did a couple of the Eclectic Academy courses for PE3 and found them to be excellent. I have also done a couple here and found those to to be great as well.

IMHO the EA courses will give you a better understanding of the basics, while the ones here give some invaluable tips and techniques and are more focused on their respective subject. :)

[NMarti]

Hey Kimi
Which course are you taking? They have several that I might be interested in but how do they work? Are there videos like here? Being more of a visual person I wonder if I would do as well without Matt or Dave's videos.

[GaryK]

Nancy

The ones I took were written, but you got a ton of information.

The only caveat I have is that they like you to take their courses in sequence. Great if you are brand new, not so great if you have some experience.

I don't know if they check, or if they actually would refuse to let you take a course if you didn't have the prereq but it is implied.
Probably designed more to keep people from taking one that was over their head and then having them ask questions about things they should know.

[kimi_boo]

OMG!!! Class officially starts tomorrow but the lessons have been posted. I know I do much better watching the videos but she seems to provide all of the information in a way that is easy to grasp. I want so bad to understand a deeper meaning to all of this that I signed up for both filters classes. (no prereq.) Now that I see the detail that she goes into I may not be here for the whole 6 weeks. :eek:

Nancy, I took Photoshop Pizzazz! and More Photoshop Pizzazz!
I think Alice is taking the More Pizzazz class also.

It is just what I was looking for. Learning more about effects and how to achieve them. But, wow... she covers everything.

I just keep telling myself I have a whole week to get my homework done.:o

[kimi_boo]

I don't know if they check, or if they actually would refuse to let you take a course if you didn't have the prereq but it is implied.
Probably designed more to keep people from taking one that was over their head and then having them ask questions about things they should know.

Gary, I did notice that on one part, we are learning to make smoke and you have to make a simple selection. There was a note saying... if you did not know how to do this to go and look it up on line. She welcomes class questions but I think she expects some basics and does not want to spend her time trying to explain them.

I'm really scared I took on too much but I am pumped about all I am going to learn.

[Blondn6ft]

You guys are fantastic !

I can't jump into the class that starts today but will definately
take the next one ... I have too much OT and vacation comin up to be
able to follow in a class with actual due dates on assignments.
I will continue to try and play ... I just never seem to find enough
time to just sit at the computer and be "creative".

Thanks again for the input!:D

[Wendy]

Hi Robin ...

I found that a good way to learn was simply to do tutorials ... it didn't matter what they made the important part was learning the different techniques that they used. :)

After I time I found myself using the techniques in other ways and the knowledge just gradually sunk in ...

Wendy

[kimi_boo]

re: Electic Academy

under resources, we are the very first thing listed.

Photoshop Elements User Newsletter and web site: This site has free downloads, video tutorials, and you can subscribe to Photoshop Elements User Newsletter, which is similar to Photoshop User magazine but is all for Elements!

It is nice to see that everyone supports each other. :D