Lumenbrite Training

Lumenbrite will be doing a 3 day Adobe Software Seminar in June. This is exciting for me, especially because I can share things here that I just can't in my regular training classes. I've been working on my presentation and have a few ideas on paper, and a lot that are rolling around in my head. Putting them together in logical order and communicating them is the challenge at hand. Here are some ideas. Your suggestions, comments or anything additional you'd like discussed are welcome.

A Smart Design Process: A good workflow will make you happy. I'll give techniques for building a project from start to 'finish.' From talking to the client to properly using design, color, fonts. There's more to design than that so, things like color psychology, read, flow and even sub conscience communications that we can make.

I'll be in and out of the CS3 software like InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop. I'll show good ways to work with all three of them together so, it makes your design and editing process more efficient. This leaves more time to be creative and have a life.

We?ll be looking at a business identity from an Advertising standpoint. How to deliver those assets in different ways. One of which includes animating it with the video editing features in Photoshop CS3 Extended. Yep, I said video in Photoshop. Yeah, its pretty cool. Watch for our Seminars link on lumenbrite.com.

Photoshop has been around a long time. In some ways it?s cool that Adobe has not nixed any ?old? features in new versions, which is good for those who are looking for familiarity in an unfamiliar environment. But folks, it?s catching up. Adobe has put some fantastic additions in the software that will not harm your original image, (non-destructive editing) -which is so sweet. But they have kept the older destructive stuff in, which just no good. Especially for your photos.

In a recent online article, I read that Adobe has had to work around hindering old code to make new functionality work. That said, look for dated features to go away in the future yet, realize that leaves room for new and improved editing tools. -hmm, out with the old to make room for the new. I?m okay with that, as that gives us a better Photoshop and best of all better photos. Yay!

There are a lot of filters and effects in Photoshop that can be applied to your videos. You know the look a certain filter will give your still photograph. Use that on your video. It’s as easy as opening a Quick Time file in Photoshop. This video shows up in your Layers Panel. Make it a Smart Object from your Layers Panel Menu and apply your filter(s) to taste. This filter is now applied to the whole time line. Add Salt and Pepper, simmer till done. Watch for more posts about Photoshop and Video here.

There are a lot of filters and effects in Photoshop that can be applied to your videos. You know the look a certain filter will give your still photograph. Use that on your video. It’s as easy as opening a Quick Time file in Photoshop. This video shows up in your Layers Panel. Make it a Smart Object from your Layers Panel Menu and apply your filter(s) to taste. This filter is now applied to the whole time line. Add Salt and Pepper, simmer till done. Watch for more posts about Photoshop and Video here.

OMG! Okay, who knew... Video and 3D in Photoshop. Like take your time lapse photos and make video. Not only that but, I learned about photography workflows, camera raw, color managment, working in LAB color (whoa!), like a billion ways to change a photo to BW, so like the grayscale mode is really bad. Don't do it. Once I get my notes and thoughts together watch for some new tips here.

Playing in Photoshop CS3 I used this feature but, chose the 'cylindrical' option. I then added the new Black and White Adjustment and enhanced the levels pushing the colors in this way. This was the result. So, keep in mind just because a function is meant to do something a certain way, experimenting can bring about interesting results. weeee...

Can you say 'geekfest?" I can because I'm, soo going! If you like Photoshop, this is an event that is not to be missed. Photoshop World [www.photoshopworld.com] is put on by the folks at NAPP [National Association of Photoshop Professionals] www.photoshopuser.com. This years event is being held in Las Vegas at the Manadlay Bay Sept 6-8. It a 3 day love fest of like 80 training classes, learn tips and tricks from the masters, gurus from every possible PS niche, you get to see that vast uses Photoshop has to offer, geek out with like minded individuals, product vendors abound, live Photoshoots etc. aaahhh so much... Learn more by visiting their websites. Hope to see you there. Photoshop Rules!

I've been working a lot with the CS3 products lately and all I have to say, whoa... For instance, I stitched two photos in Photoshop CS3 together that I took looking upwards at a building, seamlessly in like 1.5 seconds. Yep count em, one point five. Then if that isn't enough, I love the fact that I can make a layer a Smart Object, apply Filters as you would a Layer Effect and oh. oh, wait... I changed my mind, I'll just turn off that Filter. Yes 'turn it off.' Just like any Layer or Layer Effect. How cool is that.

Yes, indeed Sally. In Illustrator (CS2, CS3) if you save your file as a .pdf then choose 'Create Acrobat Layers from Top-Level Layers.' You retain layers and Illustator editing capabilities in that very .pdf. Not only that Rick, when you place that same.pdf in say InDesign (CS2, CS3) you have the option of turning on or off layers without having go way back over too Illustrator. -dang

A 'bad' photo can have good stuff in it. You just need to look a little closer. A photo such as the one at the top was almost completely black. Using Levels in Photoshop I was able to find an interesting image, with my sister doing a little ditty on Pier in Santa Monica CA. Woop Woop!