New Video Tutorial | New Course at Kelby Training

Be sure to check my newest video tutorial on creating cool stylized backgrounds. The cool thing about this technique is that it utilizes layer styles to make the finished effect completely adjustable. Even after it has been applied. This effect was inspired, not surprisingly, by a cool movie poster from the movie Hairspray. Check it out here.

Matt Kloskowski has a new online course over at the Kelby Training site called Mastering Layers in Photoshop CS4. This course is for anyone who wants to get a solid grip on what is perhaps Photoshop’s most important feature. Everything from creating and managing layers to adjustment layers and layer styles. If there is one feature in Photoshop you should master this is it. Find out more here.

November 24th, 2008 | Corey Barker | Blog | Comments (1)

Freeway Special Offer| PS User Digital Back Issues

The makers of the popular web design software called Freeway are having a special Black Friday offer. From now until Dedember 7th. If you purchase full priced version of Freeway Pro or Freeway Express directly from their website you will receive a free iTunes gift card. Those who purchase pro versions will receive a $50 iTunes gift card and purchasers of the Express version will receive a $20 iTunes gift card. Here’s the link.

Also for you NAPP members. You can now purchase digital back issues of Photoshop User magazine over at the NAPP members site for $9.95 each. The cool part about it being a digital version is that it is instant. You can purchase and download them immediately. Again, this offer is only for NAPP member so if you are still not a NAPP member yet. Click here.

November 21st, 2008 | Corey Barker | Blog | Comments (0)

Configurator Is Go!

There has been some talk, even before Photoshop CS4 was released, about something called the Configurator. I have to say, as a long time Photoshop user, I am really excited about this one. Configurator is a new application from Adobe that allows you to basically create your own custom panels. With all the different industries that Photoshop is used for, users will find that there are some tools and panels that they never use. For instance, you may be a retoucher and have no need for the 3D tools so why have them there. Sure you can set up workspaces but the toolbar and panels never change. They show all the tools all the time. Configurator let’s you consolidate your commonly used tools and functions into one convenient panel. Just try it and you will see what I mean. It’s a free download over at Adobe Labs. Here’s the link. Also, RC did a short video on using the Confgurator over at the Layers magazine website. Check it out.

November 19th, 2008 | Corey Barker | Blog | Comments (1)

Visual Selections

For those of us that have spent some time in Photoshop know how unhelpful the ‘marching ants’ selection preview is. It is hardly a good representation of the actual selected area. Now if you are selecting a definite area with hard edges, then what you see is what you get. But what if it isn’t? What if you wanted to create and edit a selection visually. Meaning what if you you could see everything the selection covers. Even the soft edges and transparent areas. This is where Quick Mask comes in. Quick Mask is a temporary color representation of your selection. Simply press the ‘Q’ key when using a selection tool. You can use paint brushes and gradients to create selections visually where the colored area can represent either the selected or unselected areas. These type of selections would be impossible with just regular selection tools. The mask itself is, by default, a reddish-orange color. However, by double clicking the Quick Mask icon at the bottom of the toolbar you can modify the mask color and opacity. When done modifying the mask, simply press the ‘Q’ key once more to return to the standard marching ants. Even though the marching ants have a definite edge, the softness of the selection is still maintained.

November 17th, 2008 | Corey Barker | Blog | Comments (4)

More 3D on Layers TV | Bond is Back

If you guys are thrilled as much as I am about the new 3D stuff in CS4 then go over and check out the newest episode of Layers TV. This week I play around with 3D and show numerous way you can use it in your work. Even wrapping a video clip around a 3D object. Here’s the link.

Also for you fans of motion graphics and movies. The new James Bond movie Quantum of Solace opens this weekend and I do believe we are in for a treat. However I did cheat a little and found the opening title sequence online. It really is quite impressive with a slight nostalgic feel. Although the song doesn’t thrill me. At any rate, I think this is going to be a good one. If you remember the previous bond movie Casino Royale, also had an impressive title sequence, with a much better song in my opinion.

November 14th, 2008 | Corey Barker | Blog | Comments (3)

Documenting Your Work

Did you know you can record every step of your work in Photoshop as a text file or even as Metadata that is attached to the file? In some professions, it is critical to document every step of your work. For instance, things like forensic imaging involve very detailed work and there is a risk of digital evidence being compromised. So documenting every step is crucial. However, there are those that aren’t necessarily working on something that critical. Maybe they want to record their process for reference or perhaps to improve their skills overall. Whatever the case, it’s really quite simple. Go to your Photoshop Preferences into the General category. At the bottom you’ll see the History Log. This allows you to have your History attached to your file as Metadata or as a separate text file. You can even do both. I personally used this sometimes when I am experimenting just in case I do something and don’t quite remember how I did it.

November 12th, 2008 | Corey Barker | Blog | Comments (6)

New 3D Video Tutorial

In this week’s video we take a look at using the new 3D features in Photoshop CS4 Extended to create interesting design elements. While some may think that 3D in Photoshop is only the domain of 3D artists, there are a number of features that Photoshop artists may find very useful. Unfortunately, these features are not available in Photoshop CS4 Standard. If you haven’t yet upgraded to CS4 and are not entirely sure whether you want to go with Standard or Extended, give this video a look to see one of the many possibilities with Extended. Here’s the link.

November 9th, 2008 | Corey Barker | Blog | Comments (3)

Layers TV Is The New Must-See TV

So if you haven’t been watching Layers TV lately you’ve been missing out. There has been some pretty exciting stuff in the last few episodes. Just recently, Matt Kloskowski of Photoshop TV came in to discuss working with HDR in Photoshop. I also had the privilege of having Dave Cross (also from Photoshop TV) on the show. Dave and I got to discuss some of our favorite new features in new CS4 apps like Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop. Don’t wait! Check these episodes out now. Lots of good stuff and more coming. Here’s the link.

November 7th, 2008 | Corey Barker | Blog | Comments (0)

Photoshop User Awards Call For Entries

The Photoshop User awards are back. As of November 1, you can now submit your best Photoshop artwork for a chance to win a trip to Barcelona, Spain. Not only that, but while you are there you will get to shoot an inspiring image that will grace the cover of a future issue of Photoshop User magazine. As mentioned, the call for entries started on November 1,2008. The deadline to turn in your artwork is December 31, 2008. So you do have some time, but don’t wait too long. This is a great opportunity to get your worked noticed and see the world, or part of it. Here’s the link to the official site. Good Luck!!

November 4th, 2008 | Corey Barker | Blog | Comments (2)

New Video Tutorial | Photoshop CS4 for Photographers

Photoshop Senior Product Manager John Nack just recently had a guest post on his blog written by fellow Photoshop Product Manager Bryan O’Neil Hughes. The post basically asks the question, “What’s in Photoshop CS4 for photographers?” So if you are a photographer and haven’t yet come to a decision on whether or not to upgrade, read this post to aid in your decision. Here’s the link.

Also, there is a new video tutorial here on Planet. This week we venture further into creating custom brushes for unique effects. In this case, we will create a bullet hole brush. Again, the beauty of these kinds of effects as brushes is better control and it’s always available in the brush menu. Try the effect as you see, but try and venture further than that and experiment with other combinations. Here’s the link.

November 3rd, 2008 | Corey Barker | Blog | Comments (3)