The best way to learn Elements 6, from the basics, onward??

[pdxfile]

Hi all...

Now that I finally got my Elements working (knock on wood!), I have what may be a real odd question..

In anyone's opinion, what is the best way to completely learn Elements 6? I mean truly all of the features and capabilities, from scratch, from the beginning, building each lesson upon the previous one...

Previously, I've hunted and pecked my way through, and have done ok, but basically I want to learn it all, and learn it correctly...

I'm looking for opinions and help and ideas. I'm ok with videos, tutorials, web content, classes at university, and even good old books. I guess really, I'm looking for the best way to self teach myself as many features and capabilities as possible, but at a pace I can manage with real life as well...

I know there's tons of resources online and probably here as well, but I'm new to the forums and I'm curious as to others real-life experiences in learning Elements from scratch...

Anyone out there the proverbial PE6 expert now, that started from knowing basically nothing about the program??

What say you all!!!!???!!!

[Diana]

Two things helped me learn Elements when I was a newbie.

One is I found www.photoshopelementsuser.com (http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com) and subscribed. A subscription gives you a gazillion video tutorials, many written tutorials, a newsletter/magazine mailed to you bi-monthly. And that's what led me to this forum where I also learned a lot from other members.

The other is I signed up for a introduction Part I & II classes at....
http://www.lvsonline.com/

There are also great online classes at....
http://www.eclecticacademy.com/

I found I learned the most from tutorials, whether written or video. Even if the topic isn't one you're really interested in, just going through all the steps teaches you practical application of the tools, menu commands, and techniques.

Diana

[Hankw]

Hi:

Well I came from Truck driving with a P&S out the window of my truck to Retiring and knowing nothing..........Still don't know much, but more than before.

Here's what you do ..........Do some of the free tutorials on this Forum. There is a thread "TUTORIALS". pick a easy one to start with. Wendy has a ton of them. Others have posted ones that take a little more time to do, but you most certainly will get familiar with the various tools. Just keep at it, post back here when you stumble...... Someone will walk you through it. and above all HAVE FUN>>>>>>>>

[TonyW]

I agree - the best way to learn is by doing things. I started with PSE1 - read the manual many times and never quite got it. Started doing a few tutorials and picked up a lot more. Joined this forum and learned a whole lot more. But you'll never learn it all IMHO.

Tony

[rhodeislandman]

PDX

I found the best way to learn Elements was to get the book "Photoshop Elements The Missing Manual"..great reading and a very through reference..
It's factual but dry reading. However, you will know a great deal about Elements when you are finished..and I personally think its a must-have reference source to keep handy.

Then get Mark Galers book Adobe Photoshop Elements 6.. Maximum Performance.. (He is probably working on an update for Elements 7 but there really isn't that much difference between 6 and 7, IMO so don't wait. This is a very good book and contains a series of very interesting tutorials on a CD that make it much easier and fun to learn.. but it's not for a rank beginner. Being totally new, I had some difficulty but it was worth struggling through.

Also get Scott Kelby and Matt Kloskowski's book The Photoshop Elements Book for Digital Photographers. Lots of very good, practical and easy-to-follow lessons. My only gripe is that the small size of the demo pics many times makes it hard to tell the difference between the "before" and "after". I have learned,however that it is those little suble differences that ultimately add up to a big difference and that the beginning Photoshopper ( me) usually has a much too heavy hand at the controls. Still IMO the pics could have been enlarged or smaller areas of them shown to make the illustration clearer but the lessons are good and the layout and explinations are very well done being both easy to read and very clear. This is one of the three really good books that I would advise you to get.


And finally dont hesitate to ask on these boards. The people here are very friendly and have a tremendous amount of knowledge that can really help.

Oh! And before you ask....when your paintbrush is just a dot and you can't get the circle back, take your caps lock off! That is a solution to a common problem that is nowhere to be found in any of those books but apparently it happens to everyone sooner or later. I know because it happened to me. I spent a lot of time going through a lot of books but in the end I was given the answer to that problem right here on these boards!

Good luck!

[gcherry]

Every week, there's a "Be Creative" challenge that directs you to a tutorial. Do the challenges every week and you'll learn something new ... not only from the tutorial, but from other "villagers" who put their own twist on the directions. Here's a link to the Challenges & Contests section of the forum: http://www.elementsvillage.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=11
I look forward to seeing your posts!

[mljrbg]

I learned by asking a lot of questions and joinging the PET Website. In addition I played all the Challenges which is not only a lot of fun but a great learning experience. I had trouble understanding Layers so I took Matt Ks Layers Class for PSE4 (http://www.kelbytraining.com/instructors/matt-kloskowski.html). Layers are pretty much the same in all versions of PSE. Once I understood Layers things started to fall into place. There is always something new to learn...that's the name of the game!! Above all enjoy and have fun!!

HTH

[vawitt]

All the previous advice is great. If you start with a project in mind - all the better, because you'll be learning on one of your photos with some improvements in mind. My earliest fixes were to adjust lighting and remove unwanted elements from photos. My first book purchase was "50 Ways to Create Cool Pictures in Photoshop Elements 2.0". I still consult that book from time to time, even though I'm currently using PSE 6, because the basics haven't really changed.

I found this forum shortly after (well, the photoshopelementsuser.com area), subscribed, as Diana recommends, and started working through the video tutorials, asking questions, making mistakes, playing with challenges.

Jump in - ask questions, try stuff. Everyone is SO friendly and helpful here.

[alibony]

Ditto on all of the responses above. For me, the best learning comes when I have a specific problem to solve. For example, how do I place a person from one photo in another photo of a scenic landscape?

Here's the process I use most often:

1. Do a Google search to see if there is a tutorial out there that will help.

2. Check magazines - I subscribe to Photoshop Elements Techniques and also get Photoshop User magazine. I'm always learning something new from them.

3. Consult a book. The books that helped me the most are:

The Photoshop Elements 6 Book for Digital Photographers (Scott Kelby and Matt Kloskowski)

Photoshop Elements 6: The Missing Manual (Barbara Brundage)3.

4. After I've learned something new, write it down so I don't forget it!

Karen

[jjvera00]

Also if you are an iTunes user, you can go ans search for Photoshop Elements in the iTunes store and subscribe to free podcasts which are very helpful.

[frank abramonte]

pdxfile, no matter what you will have a learning curve.
The important things to learn are the terminology, the tools, where to find them and what they do.
You can pick up quite a bit by checking the various posts on this site.
Follow some simple tutorials to gain familiarity with the software.
Buying a basic "how to book" will also help you.

www.wiley.com
Has a series: Read Less, Learn More! Which are extremely easy to follow tips/
Each is illustrated with absolute clarity as what tools used and where to find them. It' a step by step on 100 things you would want to do in Elements.

I purchased mine at Barnes & Noble.

I did a search but their site is not responding at this moment.
http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=read+less+learn+more&fr=yfp-t-501-s&toggle=1&cop=mss&ei=UTF-8

[swalkr]

PDXfile: This is how I learned all the basics of Elements, and it was very inexpensive. Go to Eclectic Academy here (http://www.eclecticacademy.com/graphics.htm#pse5basics1) and look at the basic lessons for Elements 5 (doesn't seem to be lessons on 6). There isn't a whole lot of difference between 5 and 6. Sara Froelich is a WONDERFUL teacher. She will take you through what you need to know about the software. Sara is available to ask questions and I just can't say enough good things about those lessons (they don't employ me by the way :D:eek:). And six weeks of lessons is only $30! After taking the basic courses, then you will be ready to follow the tutorials here on this site and on others. I started with Elements 4, and truthfully I almost un-installed it, because it was so overwhelming when I tried to figure it all out by myself. Everyone on this site is so very helpful. That is how I built on what I learned in the lessons on the Eclectic Academy.

Hi all...

Now that I finally got my Elements working (knock on wood!), I have what may be a real odd question..

In anyone's opinion, what is the best way to completely learn Elements 6? I mean truly all of the features and capabilities, from scratch, from the beginning, building each lesson upon the previous one...

Previously, I've hunted and pecked my way through, and have done ok, but basically I want to learn it all, and learn it correctly...

I'm looking for opinions and help and ideas. I'm ok with videos, tutorials, web content, classes at university, and even good old books. I guess really, I'm looking for the best way to self teach myself as many features and capabilities as possible, but at a pace I can manage with real life as well...

I know there's tons of resources online and probably here as well, but I'm new to the forums and I'm curious as to others real-life experiences in learning Elements from scratch...

Anyone out there the proverbial PE6 expert now, that started from knowing basically nothing about the program??

What say you all!!!!???!!!