How to learn about commands!

[pilotboat]

I like to follow the videos that are presented on this site. Its fun to be able to complete them and see the results. The only problem is , I don't know why I am doing something.

For example, in the last issue of the newsletter (vol 4, #2) I followed the article about putting the flag onto a rock wall. I can duplicate the steps but I don't have the knowledge to select the cmmands like the author of the article.

So, where do I find about about what the different commands available in all the menus are supposed to do. I know I can go into help and learn about them but I am looking for a reference that explains the different commands.

In another example, Dave Cross's video (Feb 16, 2007 Sharpen), he shows how to make a photo sharper using a filter (high cross), then he changes the blending mode to "hard light". How does the avg user learn such techniques?

Any help??

[CompooperTeacher]

If you are referring to the keyboard shortcuts (for example Ctrl+C to copy), then go to the help area and type in keyboard shortcuts. You can then get a list of all of the keyboard shortcuts to print and keep at your computer. I find that using them a lot really makes a difference as far as learning them.

That goes, too, for the second part of your post. The more you use and explore and play with the features of the program the more you will learn.

Hope this helps!:)

[Diana]

Hi,

The following link is a Photoshop tutorials but most of the same blending modes are available in Photoshop Elements….this is a good explanation with visual examples to help you understand the Blending Modes.
http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/glossary/ig/Blending-Modes/index.htm (http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/glossary/ig/Blending-Modes/index.htm)

Here's another link:
http://everydaydigitalscrapbooking.blogspot.com/search/label/Blend%20Mode%20Tutorials (http://everydaydigitalscrapbooking.blogspot.com/search/label/Blend%20Mode%20Tutorials)

Here's links to Jay Arraich's site where he has a lot of useful information about Elements:
http://www.arraich.com/elements/pse_hhow1.htm (http://www.arraich.com/elements/pse_hhow1.htm)
http://www.arraich.com/elements/ref2/aatoolbarV3.htm (http://www.arraich.com/elements/ref2/aatoolbarV3.htm)
This uses V3 toolbar as examples, but information is still good for V4 and 5.


Hope these help.

Diana

[mrod]

I think I can relate to what you're saying, pilotboat. It's one thing to be able to read directions (follow a recipe, as Dave Cross might put it) and do what they say, but another to sit down with your image and the program, consider the options, and know which ones to use. It can be rather daunting. I would venture a guess that we've all been there. I know I have, and still am, and probably will continue to be. One of the things I like about this stuff is that there's always something new to learn.

I liken it to tools in a tool box. You start out learning what a hammer does and how it works, then a screw driver, then a wrench, then a drill, then a saw...and eventually you're able to use those tools to build something of your own.

As CT stated, experimenting and just doing things in the program will help--gradually you'll start to figure out what things do, and when they might be used.

I do think it's also helpful when a tutorial explains "why" in addition to "how." I understand that time and/or space doesn't always permit this, but in a perfect world, the "why" along with the "how" really help the learning.

Just rest assured that you're not on an island. Lots of us can relate, I would guess. If I had a dollar for every time I said something like, "Now how in the world did he/she decide to try that tool, filter, blending mode..."

Hang in there, keep experimenting, and ask lots of questions. And who knows, maybe there's a need for a primer in some of the menu commands and tools! On that note, if you are a subscriber, Larry Becker writes a great Beginner's Workshop column each issue that you might find helpful.

Hope all this was a bit encouraging. :)

Mike

[quillabee9]

Just keep practising, doing tutorials/videos, experimenting and soon you will have the "ah, ha" experience. Take classes too. The layers class and the creative techniques are helpful. Good luck and a hearty welcome.
http://bestsmileys.com/cheering/5.gif

[msbrad]

Hang in there pilotboat, it will get better. Ask lots of questions here, someone will always help.
I've found for me...after getting to the next level....there are more levels:eek:
Lots of grat suggestions above.
m

[graficalicus]

the best way to learn the how and when is to just follow along with as many tutorials as you can find, both for PS & PSE (there's probably a million or more onlilne - )

Even though some of the tutorials will be for Photoshop, many of the tools are available in Elements - and if a tool isn't available in elements, it's a great opportunity to explore a bit and see what other tool(s) is/are available as a workaround. It'll really make you learn what button does what.

As for learning the keyboard shortcuts, a great many of them are right there in the menu - click File>Save, for example, and in the menu, you'll see "<Ctrl>+<S>" - there's your keyboard shortcut (and they're also customizeable, too, but I won't go into that here).

there's really no right or wrong way to do anything in elements, so just open any old image and start clicking away. After awhile, you'll probably start running into a lot of the same types of images, so you'll have a bit of a catalog of info already in your head to know what to do or which tool to use in a given situation.

Experiment!