Learning To Use CS5 and LR3

newb

So, I moved up from Gimp to CS5 and LR3 recently. I used Gimp mostly for cloning, saturation, contrast and levels adjustments. So, naturally thats all Ive used CS5 for so far. Ive used some Youtube tutorials for other things, but not too much. Ive been lookin through the Grad School lately and seein how some different stuff is done. My question is, how is everyone else learning to use CS5 or LR3 for more than just the steps I mentioned? I hate to let this program go to waste like this, and it bothers me even more to know that I have the potential to make my pictures that much better by learnin to use what I have. Thanks.

newb

No one has a go to guide that they could recommend?

MomaZunk

I recommend starting with the Kelby books.
He has a step by step for lightroom that got me off to a good start, and I am using his PS Elements book now which talks about specific tasks.
There is so much in PS, that I recommend finding specific tings you need to-do then go look for how-tos on the web.
The kelby training is also supposed to be good, but I have not looked at those videos yet.

arodney

Personally, unless you want a dumbed down approach, stay away from Kelby (the humor in the text is unnecessary too). In terms of a very well priced and absolutely superb set of video’s, from a fellow who was the Lightroom evangelist at Adobe, check out the work of George Jardine. You can get a free sample of his style in a stunning video on using LR to do B&W conversions. Its a good 30 minutes. Its not fast food, quick and dirty stuff like Kelby but you’ll learn an enormous amount:

http://mulita.com/blog/?p=1244

newb

My problem is I dont know everything PS can do. I look at edited pics and try to figure out the steps that were involved and ask when I cant. But that isnt always everything I need.

Thanks for tips. Ill look these ppl up.

catspaw

If you are into book learning and a few videos, check out http://www.creativeedge.com depending on your time frame for learning, you can search through probably close to 50+ different books on LR and PS and see which ones REALLY suit you -- and learn from them. If you've the time in a month's membership, it's a great way to find out what ones you might want to end up buying and keeping desk-side, or just read and learn and learn and learn. tons of great stuff in there with new ones added constantly.

Cindy

Lynda.com for $25 p/month that you unsub anytime you want youhave full access to a huge video library teaching how to use CS5, LR and practically any other software you can imagine. I Love it! Take lots of notes while watching as doing so helps you retain it all and gives you something to refer back to.

colourbox

I'm just throwing in the Photoshop channel on Adobe TV because they're free, haven't watched all of them myself...but since you said you don't know what Photoshop can do, the "feature tour" videos might give you a sense of the features they feel are unique enough to sell the product with (i.e. why should you pay $600 for this instead of using free GIMP).
http://tv.adobe.com/product/photoshop/

newb

Sweet, thanks for the tips. Ill lookin into these as well. Thanks again.

mhandy

I recommend kelby and lynda.com as well

cmason

+1 for Kelby too. I don't like the humor, but I do like the result oriented approach. I recommend his 'for digital photographer' series, for both Lightroom and CS5, and they provide step by steps for accomplishing tasks, vs a textbook assembly of all features.

[Deleted User]

Martin Evening books on lightroom and photoshop are great resources to have at your desk - I joined NAPP and am kinda new to the video-tutorial methods - I am easier following written how tos but every time I needed to do something in Photoshop I found a reference in either the books I have or the NAPP website. I maximize lightroom from importing / improving / editing / to publishing. It is very powerful.

basflt

how about ; just doing it ???

open some pics and click around
best practice there is IMO

you can buy books , and read them , if you have time
or watch video for hours

but ,
it wont get you anywhere
just experiment = doing it is the best learning source

mhandy

I agree that tinkering can be beneficial. After doing so for a while though, at least for myself, I wanted to know what I was actually doing. Or if I was trying to produce a specific effect I'd want to know what to use to get there. That's where I think the Kelby and lynda stuff can come in handy. if you just want to get a feel for the programs then tinker away.

Jason Hermann

All free over here, and pretty much everything you "need" to know:

http://jhpvideotutorials.com/tutorials/

Best,
Jay

rockingcpa

Lynda.com and Macprovideo.com Are Both Good
I just made the switch to LR, too, and I've been doing the Photoshop Lightroom 3 Essential Training by Chris Orwig at lynda.com. It is excellent. For $25, you can do as many or few of the tutorials as you want. i used MacProVideo.com in the past for Logic training, and they also have LR courses. I'm a Mac guy, but I liked the lynda.com LR course a little better. They both allow you to watch a portion of the course so you can decide if you like it, before committing to the monthly subscription fee.

newb

Sweet, thanks for the extra tips everyone. Ive got a lot of work to do lol.

My problem with just using the program, is that I fall into a rut of using it for very basic things that I already know how to do. And when I do that, Im not getting the results that I could be getting.

bobmielke

+1 for Kelby Training. I've been a member for 4 years. It's not just specific software but equipment courses as well as photography tutorials. Check out NAPP & Kelby TV online as well.