Lucky 7 for PSW Las Vegas!

Let’s hit the slots…sort of! Well as most of you may know we have the next Photoshop World coming in Las Vegas from September 7-9 at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino! So to help you get you in that Vegas frame of mind and to give you an incentive for getting registered early, there is a clever little digital slot machine over at the Photoshop World website that gives you a chance to win one of seven different promotional offers. It’s probably the only slot machine anywhere where you are guaranteed a win. Try your luck and see what lucky prize you may get as part of your registration. Don’t wait too long. This promotion is only good until 11:59 pm on June 21. Click here to get started or at the very least have some fun playing with the cool slot machine! See you in Vegas!

June 16th, 2011 | Corey Barker | Blog | Comments (4)

Friday Bits!

HDR Book Available Now!
RC Concepcion’s newest book The HDR Book: Unlocking the Pros’ Hottest Post-Processing Techniques is available now. This is the source for achieving HDR as it was meant to be. RC provides clear step-by-step process using numerous techniques and software applications. He also has provided all the high res raw files available to download so that you can follow along through every step. As usual, if you order through KelbyTraining.com you can get a signed copy. Also available on Amazon and Barnes And Noble.

Kelby Training App!
Speaking of Kelby Training, have you checked out the new app that allows you to access all the spectacular online training on your iPad or iPhone? This is awesome because you can access your online training from anywhere. Whether you are traveling or just lounging around the house, there is no need to sit at your desk or carry a laptop around. The app is free but you do need to be a Kelby Training subscriber to access the videos. Click here to learn more and download the app now!

Go for a Ride at B&H
David Brommer over at B&H Photo in New York city put together a clever little video giving you a “product-eye” view of the conveyor system in the store. If you have never been to B&H they have these conveyor belts and electronic dumbwaiters that move product all around the store to the check out stations. It’s like being in some fantasy workshop. It really is quite a sight to see but you have never seen it like this. Watch as a camera is placed on the conveyor system and see what happens to your products when you are ready to check out!

June 10th, 2011 | Corey Barker | Blog | Comments (3)

My All New Makeup Course Is Live!

Ladies and gentleman, it is finally here! One of the coolest classes I have produced here at Kelby Training is available now. Think about it, have you ever done a photo shoot and everything seems to go fine but you take a closer look after the model is gone and realize the makeup just wasn’t right? Maybe there was too much or not enough and it is just too expensive to get the model back in the studio. Wouldn’t it be great if you could apply makeup yourself right in Photoshop? In Creating Digital Makeup Effects in Photoshop we show you how to do just that. Unlike most courses that show you basic retouching and some makeup adjustments, I have teamed up with professional makeup artist and hairstylist Shelley Giard to help me present not just the Photoshop techniques involved with applying makeup, but also provide expert insight into understanding the subject and choosing the right blush, lip colors, eyelashes, and so on. Because more than just getting the technique right, it is important to know why. Whether you are working on a model shoot or just shots from a friends wedding, this course will give you the tools you need to perform that extreme or not-so-extreme makeover without opening a single makeup case. This course is available now over at Kelby Online Training. Check it out and enjoy!

May 27th, 2011 | Corey Barker | Blog | Comments (6)

Quick Bits!

Catch The Re-Broadcast!
Thanks for everyone who tuned in for the live SNAPP webcast with The Photoshop Guys. If you missed the live webcast you can go here and watch the re-broadcast of the show. True it isn’t live anymore but hey, you can still enjoy the show and watch the fun video clips and cool Photoshop tips we covered throughout the show! If you have already seen it and are already a NAPP member then send the link to a friend and show them the fun in learning that comes with a NAPP membership.

New Episode of PSUTV
Speaking of the Photoshop Guys, check out the latest episode of Photoshop User TV with Scott Kelby, Matt Kloskowski, RC Concepcion, and myself as we share various tips and tutorials on Photoshop and photography. Not to mention a chance to win some pretty cool prizes! Click here to watch the latest episode.

Like Me on Facebook
Lastly if you enjoy what you see here on Planet then you definitely want to check out my Facebook fan page where I have samples of my design and illustration work, inspiring links, insightful quotes, lottery numbers, new updates, pictures of food, and just some occasional silliness! Click here to follow me now!

May 19th, 2011 | Corey Barker | Blog | Comments (6)

Oh SNAPP, It’s Photoshop Guys Live!

Hey everyone, exciting news! Be sure to come join the Photoshop Guys for a 2-hour primetime special live webcast next Wednesday, May 18, 2011 from 8:00pm-10:00pm. If you remember last year we had the NAPP-A-THON and it was a huge hit. This time around we will presenting live tutorials and the usual comedic flare with some giveaways and other cool stuff! Now the whole point of this is to raise awareness of NAPP and attract new members to our ever expanding universe of Photoshop and photography training. So if you are already a member, then invite your non-member friends and show them just a small sampling of what they have been missing and how learning Photoshop can be fun. So click here and register now. Hope you join us and yes I will be throwing in some 3D stuff!

May 12th, 2011 | Corey Barker | Blog | Comments (1)

Photoshop 12.0.4 Update Available!

There is a new update for Photoshop available now that fixes several bugs including some security issues, Liquify meshes, and problem with Quick Selection crashes among others. This update also makes Photoshop able to communicate with the new tablet apps that Adobe just announced a couple weeks ago. The apps are not available just yet but be sure to check iTunes in the coming weeks. That doesn’t necessarily mean you have to wait until they are released to install the update as it does fix some bug issues not related to the tablet apps. You can download the update by going under the Help menu in Photoshop and choosing Updates or download directly from the Adobe site by clicking here.

May 4th, 2011 | Corey Barker | Blog | Comments (9)

Cool Stuff for Friday!

Mastering Blend Modes on DVD
That’s right. My newest DVD is fresh off the press and available for order now. It is called mastering Blend Modes and this course is unique in that there has never been a course that specifically focused on the blend modes themselves. It doesn’t matter whether you are a pro or a beginner, you are bound to learn something that you can use right away. Learn the six most commonly used blend modes, retouching techniques, image correction, special effects and so much more. By the time you are done with this course, not only will you know what blend modes are but you will have a better understanding of how they work and when to use them. Find out more and order your copy today.

NAPP Images of the Week
Congrats to Michael Thomas for being selected for the NAPP Member gallery image of the week. An excellent composite of multiple images with some good attention to detail. Nice work! Also as Editor’s Choice picks this week include Steve Somen, Stephen Walcott, Jan Hebel, David Hodgins, Danny Wilson, and Rich. Another impressive collection of images highlighting just a portion of the hundreds of remarkable images in the NAPP member portfolio site. See for yourself.

Just Something Cool
Yes, I am a movie fanatic! Since it’s Friday I wanted to just share something really cool. The new theatrical trailer for Transformers 3 was released yesterday and I gotta say it looks pretty cool. I will not speculate on whether or not the story is any good but let’s face it, that’s not really the point. If the trailer is any indication, it’s going to be eye candy for anyone who loves big budget visual effects. Click here to see.

April 29th, 2011 | Corey Barker | Blog | Comments (2)

Perfect Layers Free Preview!

Have you heard the big news? Some of you may have perhaps heard about a new product from OnOne software called Perfect Layers. Which will allow you to bring the flexibility of using layers into Lightroom. Until now if you wanted to do something to an image and utilize layers you would have had to go from Lightroom into Photoshop. Perfect Layers save you that trip by bringing the power of layers to Lightroom. You can change blend modes, mask multiple images into a single composite using masking brushes. You can even open files you have already made into layered files in Photoshop. OnOne worked closely with Scott Kelby and developed these features specifically from a user standpoint to get the most out of using layers with Lightroom.

Well starting today you can download a fully functional public preview of Perfect Layers for free. There are a few features coming in the full version that are not in the preview like support for Bridge and Aperture but you can start playing around with the basic features and get an idea of what to expect. If you edit photos heavily in Lightroom, you will wonder how you have survived without Perfect Layers. Click here for more info and to download the free public beta!

April 21st, 2011 | Corey Barker | Blog | Comments (7)

New Photoshop Tablet Apps!

In case you haven’t heard, Adobe has announced some new apps for the iPad that you can connect to Photoshop on your computer and drive certain features right from the tablet to Photoshop. The apps themselves are pretty basic but what they do well is demonstrate this new technology that does seem have some real potential. The apps are called Adobe Nav, Color Lava, and Eazel.

Adobe Nav let’s gives you access to your toolbar and call up any open documents on your computer literally at your fingertips.

Color Lava gives you that tactile experience of mixing colors right on the tablet. You can generate several a custom swatch sets and send it over to Photoshop in seconds.

Eazel (Pictured here) is basically a finger painting app that puts all relevant tools right on your fingertips. Simply place all five fingers on the screen and a tool or option pops out. Choose a feature to adjust an away you go. You can even send your sketch over to Photoshop as a layered document.

You can see me demonstrate these apps over at the NAPP mini learning center. Click here to see this impressive new technology in action.

Now these apps alone will not work with Photoshop. You will also need to update Photoshop so that it will have the remote capabilities to connect to the apps through your local network. These apps should be available soon. Be sure to go to the Adobe mobile site for more information and to be notified when they are available.

April 15th, 2011 | Corey Barker | Blog | Comments (8)

Catch Scott Kelby Live Next Week!

From Scott Kelby’s Blog: Join us, Thursday, April 14 at 3pm EDT as Scott Kelby sits down with you to go over some tips and talk about his new book, Professional Portrait Retouching Techniques for Photographers Using Photoshop. Scott will answer your questions, share some of the same techniques he uses in his own retouching workflow, and give you some tips from the new book that everyone has been clamoring for him to write.

Be sure to register now for a chance to win some prizes and sign up for a reminder in the liveblog window to the right. Then, join us on the 14th at 3pm EST. See you there!

April 8th, 2011 | Corey Barker | Blog | Comments (3)