How/where can I learn this

[Awdrey]

I want so bad to learn how to do this and everywhere I find a tut or something it's not the same. I can't even find a book or anything that I can buy. Does anyone know how I can learn this???http://www.digitalimagecafe.com/viewPhoto.aspx?type=contest&id=406423

[Barbara Brundage]

Scott Deardorff is the king of smudging. He has a couple of tutorials in the retouching forum at dpreview.com and he offers a course, too, at digitalartacademy.com

[Diana]

Awdrey,

Here's a link to one of Scott's tutorials I've saved:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1006&thread=17101687&page=1

Diana

[Awdrey]

Thank you! I just tried that tutorial and messed it all up. I tried to do the background first since he said that is what you normally do, and I have elements not the ps he has. I don't know if I'll ever understand enough to do it.

[Barbara Brundage]

It is a tricky process that takes a lot of practice. It doesn't matter much for this whether you have PSE or PS, but you do need a tablet and to download the correct kinds of brushes to get good results.

[elwoodsusanm]

It is a tricky process that takes a lot of practice. It doesn't matter much for this whether you have PSE or PS, but you do need a tablet and to download the correct kinds of brushes to get good results.
Where does one find the brushes and what type of tablet is best please:)

[Barbara Brundage]

Any graphics tablet will work. If you are seriously interested in doing a lot of this, I'd suggest something like the Intuos, with angle sensitivity. If you look up Scott's tutorials (they're available in PDF form at dpreview if you search), they have links to the Sarsa's hair brushes, which are very popular. The forums retouchpro.com are also a link-filled smudger hangout.

Pressure sensitivity is an absolute must for smudging--you can't do it with a mouse. And having the right brush for the job also makes a big difference.

[elwoodsusanm]

Thank you:) I think for the moment this is a bit (well more than a bit:o) beyond me at the moment:eek:

[Barbara Brundage]

Start small. Try doing just a simple object first, like a flower or something, and then work your way up. It would take anyone a long time to achieve the level of work in the image linked in your first post.

[ljameso1]

Sue, Don't get discouraged. Flowers are easier to do. I did my 1st flower smudge (attached) with a mouse. I will warn you the cramped hand when it was done is what convinced me to buy a tablet.

[Jancy]

Linda that came out great!!! :)

[elwoodsusanm]

That's lovely Linda:) I will have to put some time aside and have a play.

[ljameso1]

Tx, May do some more this winter. They are time consuming.