Toria wrote:
OK...this is something that very few people know...even my closest friends...and I have decided to bring it out on this forum because while I have been embarassed and debilitated from this for years, I'm tired of it "owning" me in terms of creativity....

I am fully prepared for juvenile comments, harassment and general mean-spirited-ness that comes with almost each and every post here on this forum, but I also know that I have met some wonderful people here and I know that there is someone out there who would be willing to help me...I think the good people here far outweigh the bad ones...

So...here goes...when I was 29 years old I suffered from bacterial spinal meningitis.  Besides the fact that it caused me to almost lose my life, it also caused some permanent learning disabilities that I am unable to overcome.  For instance, I can't read a map, or find my way through a building with a lot of hallways.  I have to have my faucets marked with "HOT" or "COLD" because I can't remember simply that you turn hot one way and cold the other.  I have never been able to learn how to operate my camera manually or learn how to use lighting properly...everything I do takes me 5 times longer than the average photographer.  I can live with the camera problem, but what I really am longing to know how to do is Layers in Photoshop.

Thus...the problem that I am requesting help for... I have bought probably a dozen books on photoshop and downloaded lots of directions from the internet, but I have yet to come up with a way of it being explained to me so that I can understand it.  I have tried to follow step by step instructions and even ones with the illustration...but always I get to a point where I get confused and can't go any further.  I have tried to find classes in my area to learn...but nothing is available.

I know this might just seem like a minor inconvenience to some...but for me, it would mean everything if someone would take the time to spell it out as if you are spelling out to a 5 year old how to use layers.  I would even pay someone a reasonable fee if they could help me.  I feel quite ridiculous and ashamed as I write this, to let the entire community here in on my secret....but I have hopes that someone will be able to help. 

Thanks so much for any help you can give! 

Toria

Okay ~ heres the deal...  Rarely am I ever serious, about anything.  HOWEVER ~ as one who has suffered 5 concussions, I have to write stuff down all the time or it goes kaput.  Not only that as a PPA memeber, we encouraged to help others learn to do things they may not know.  Instead of dealing with all of the silliness here, if you like PM me, and lets see what we can't do to get you up and running.

Ciao!

jasontheartist wrote:
If you know nothing about PS than who did all your photo work in your portfolio, They seem pretty good at it, ask them to help you out?

I agree

Toria wrote:
OK...this is something that very few people know...even my closest friends...and I have decided to bring it out on this forum because while I have been embarassed and debilitated from this for years, I'm tired of it "owning" me in terms of creativity....

I am fully prepared for juvenile comments, harassment and general mean-spirited-ness that comes with almost each and every post here on this forum, but I also know that I have met some wonderful people here and I know that there is someone out there who would be willing to help me...I think the good people here far outweigh the bad ones...

So...here goes...when I was 29 years old I suffered from bacterial spinal meningitis.  Besides the fact that it caused me to almost lose my life, it also caused some permanent learning disabilities that I am unable to overcome.  For instance, I can't read a map, or find my way through a building with a lot of hallways.  I have to have my faucets marked with "HOT" or "COLD" because I can't remember simply that you turn hot one way and cold the other.  I have never been able to learn how to operate my camera manually or learn how to use lighting properly...everything I do takes me 5 times longer than the average photographer.  I can live with the camera problem, but what I really am longing to know how to do is Layers in Photoshop.

Thus...the problem that I am requesting help for... I have bought probably a dozen books on photoshop and downloaded lots of directions from the internet, but I have yet to come up with a way of it being explained to me so that I can understand it.  I have tried to follow step by step instructions and even ones with the illustration...but always I get to a point where I get confused and can't go any further.  I have tried to find classes in my area to learn...but nothing is available.

I know this might just seem like a minor inconvenience to some...but for me, it would mean everything if someone would take the time to spell it out as if you are spelling out to a 5 year old how to use layers.  I would even pay someone a reasonable fee if they could help me.  I feel quite ridiculous and ashamed as I write this, to let the entire community here in on my secret....but I have hopes that someone will be able to help. 

Thanks so much for any help you can give! 

Toria

why dont you make a cheat sheet just like what you do with
the faucets hot and cold ? maybe that will help ?

Shadowscape Studio wrote:
Kiddo, I can't help you, but I can tell you that at 54 years old I can't figure it out either.  I have tried and tried and have all the books, but I don't get it.  You are not alone in this.  All those pallete things are off my screen, because I don't know how they work.

Sure you can ~ first tip ~ before blowing HUGE money for Photoshop CS2, Get Photoshop Elements 3  (I don't think 4 is all that they crack it up to be, it has more issues than anything).  PE 3 has 75 perecent of CS2 does, costs a fraction, and is way easier to use.  Hung up someplace using it?  Gimme a shout, always glad to help!

Toria wrote:
I can't read a map, or find my way through a building with a lot of hallways.  I have to have my faucets marked with "HOT" or "COLD" because I can't remember simply that you turn hot one way and cold the other.  I have never been able to learn how to operate my camera manually or learn how to use lighting properly...everything I do takes me 5 times longer than the average photographer.

You just described the average male .. jk

Post here and on free sites (craigslist, myspace.. etc) for a one-on-one tutor to sit down with you and go over it.

I'll bet you get the hang of it quicker than you think.

Good luck!

TXPhotog wrote:
Is there someone near you that can actually sit at a computer with you, and talk you through it?  I doubt that any books will deal with the problem in a way that meets your particular needs, but a knowledgeable Photoshop user could.

That was my first thought, too.  Failing that, is it the learning to master it yourself that's the most important to you, or the final image looking a certain way that's most important to you?  It might be worth hiring a retoucher sometimes if you have a specific vision but can't learn how to realize it.

Best of luck to you.

Toria wrote:
I have to have my faucets marked with "HOT" or "COLD" because I can't remember simply that you turn hot one way and cold the other.

I don't have any learning disabilities... but am kinda glad to know that I'm not the only one that can't remember which way to turn the handle!!!

Toria wrote:
I have never been able to learn how to operate my camera manually or learn how to use lighting properly.

I've met 'professional photographers' that have spent many years in the business that don't know how to operate their cameras, and have no clue about lighting!

I remember first seeing your work at another photography/ modeling website and seeing how you've advanced from 'ok' photos to showing some really outstanding work in an extremely short amount of time!  So don't be so hard on yourself.  You may not know the technicalities of how a certain light works, but it's obvious that you do understand when the lighting is correct... and that's the key to success.

Toria wrote:
I can live with the camera problem, but what I really am longing to know how to do is Layers in Photoshop.

Thus...the problem that I am requesting help for... I know this might just seem like a minor inconvenience to some...but for me, it would mean everything if someone would take the time to spell it out as if you are spelling out to a 5 year old how to use layers.

I wish we lived closer together.  I'm pretty good at taking very technical terms and translating 'em into concepts that everyone can understand.  (I've taught people how to use a computer without having a computer anywhere around us)!

In any case... photoshop layers.   A little bit of history may help clear up the confusion, so here goes.


Any BASIC photo editing program allows you to add and remove objects from it.  For instance, if you want to add a title to a picture, you'd simply type a title onto the picture, and it's done!

However, if you decided that you want to change where the title is located on the picture, you'll have to erase the title, and re-type the title on the correct part of the picture.


ADVANCED photo editing programs (such as Photoshop) have different 'layers' to help make corrections easier.
 
A layer is like a clear sheet of plastic that covers the photo.  You can scribble, draw, and type all over the clear plastic sheet... and it will look like you're actually drawing on the picture... but the original photo will still remain there, untouched and unharmed.

When you type a title on the clear plastic 'layer', it will look like it's part of the original photo.  If you need to change the position of the title, all you need to do is move the clear plastic sheet around until the title is located where you want it to be.

If you decide that you don't want the title at all... all you have to do is remove the clear plastic layer and throw it in the garbage!

That's the basics to understanding layers.  Once you understand those concepts, then you'll start to understand some of the other features such as 'viewing', 'merging', and 'arranging' layers... but for now, play around with the basics, and don't worry about the more technical stuff until then.

Hope this helps.

TXPhotog wrote:
Is there someone near you that can actually sit at a computer with you, and talk you through it?  I doubt that any books will deal with the problem in a way that meets your particular needs, but a knowledgeable Photoshop user could.

Me...I just sent you an email with my number...use it...I will sit down with you and help you go through it....not a problem...we can get layers working for you!

Toria wrote:
but always I get to a point where I get confused and can't go any further.
Toria

I have not read every post, so if this was said I do not know. I want you to really think about this as an approach.

A wise man knows his limitations. You have found yours. Do what every successfull billionaire has ever done and create yourself a team of professionals and delegate authority! You are the photographer, but that doesn't mean you MUST be the photoshop guru as well! Find yourself a talented PS expert and hire him/her to do the work for you. Honestly think about this. Stop working yourself to death over PS and let someone else do it. You might find they are better than you might have been yourself, because it is what they want to do, just as photography is what you want to do. Together you make a stronger force than just you trying to do everything.

I'm at the point where I need an assistant. The more I try to do myself the less productive I become. Do you see my point? Just let it go and give it over to someone else. Your work will improve and you'll be happier. Try it anyway.

IMHO,

David

lotusphoto wrote:
www.worth1000.com

has a photoshop tutorial section...

yes yes and It is also a fun web site to get involved with

SayCheeZ! wrote:
In any case... photoshop layers.   A little bit of history may help clear up the confusion, so here goes.

Any BASIC photo editing program allows you to add and remove objects from it.  For instance, if you want to add a title to a picture, you'd simply type a title onto the picture, and it's done!

However, if you decided that you want to change where the title is located on the picture, you'll have to erase the title, and re-type the title on the correct part of the picture.

ADVANCED photo editing programs (such as Photoshop) have different 'layers' to help make corrections easier.
 
A layer is like a clear sheet of plastic that covers the photo.  You can scribble, draw, and type all over the clear plastic sheet... and it will look like you're actually drawing on the picture... but the original photo will still remain there, untouched and unharmed.

When you type a title on the clear plastic 'layer', it will look like it's part of the original photo.  If you need to change the position of the title, all you need to do is move the clear plastic sheet around until the title is located where you want it to be.

If you decide that you don't want the title at all... all you have to do is remove the clear plastic layer and throw it in the garbage!

That's the basics to understanding layers.  Once you understand those concepts, then you'll start to understand some of the other features such as 'viewing', 'merging', and 'arranging' layers... but for now, play around with the basics, and don't worry about the more technical stuff until then.

Hope this helps.

Excellent layman's description. This could be in "PhotoShop for Dummies". The only thing I would add here is this: one of the cool things about layers is that with each layer your create (whether it's a new text or effect layer, or a duplicate of an existing layer image) you have the ability to apply any or all of PhotoShop's other tools, styles, and techniques to that one, specific layer.

UnoMundo Photography wrote:
get the photoshop VIDEO...so that you can REPLAY it over and over.

And you are way smarter the 90% of the numbnuts here.

There are actually several companies that do them, and they will vary in quality and level of difficulty. The local libraries here at least, have several PhotoShop DVDs.

Hmm, she can spell and knows when to end a paragraph, and what a period is. Yup, much smarter....