The Houston Photoshop Group > Event Calendar

Photoshop 101: Things You Have To Know To Make It Work

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:53:20 +0000

Date and Time

March 17, 2010 from 5:00pm - 6:00pm

Agenda

You want to learn Photoshop, but you just don't have the slightest clue where to start. You open the program to find a million palettes, commands, buttons and options. Timidly, you press one, only to have your photograph destroyed.

Tip #1: Command-Z (Control-Z on a PC) - the UNDO button

Congratulations! You're on your way to becoming a Photoshop expert!

This hour(ish) webinar is designed for those just venturing into Photoshop. We'll cover the basic toolbox, palettes, and key commands to get you functioning (and understanding) the program quickly. While it may appear to be a big 'ol mess, Photoshop is actually highly customizable and cleverly organized to fit your exact needs. So whether you're a new designer or old photographer, log in to this webinar to discover all the potential you possess with this incredible piece of software.

Link

Houston Photoshop Meetup Group Registration

How To Lose Your Job With Photoshop (2 Comments)

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:37:04 +0000

Event by KristieMac

Date and Time

January 25, 2010 from 5:00pm - 7:00pm

Address

You're having a bad day and your boss is being a jerk, so you pull out your laptop and Photoshop his head onto a donkey, leaving copies of your creation strategically posted throughout the office. It's a great idea until you get the call from HR... but the more important issue here is: how do you get the head on the donkey??

Based on the wildly popular YouTube sensation "You Suck At Photoshop," we'll spend an evening putting Photoshop to work. With every photograph/design/creation you make, there are various steps in Photoshop that you can learn just by watching someone else create. We will call on 3 Photoshop experts to talk through their compositions and the paths they chose to get there. Every Photoshopper has a unique style; come discover how they manipulate the program and utilize various tools in ways you never thought of using.

This class will cover all skill levels of compositing. You will see various selection methods, extensive and basic masking, blend modes, brushes, & layers styles all working together. Depending on the speaker, you may also experience more advanced concepts such as channels, Bezier curves or color modes.

Updates will be posted soon, but reserve your spot now. Space will be limited.
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WORKSHOP: Creating Custom Albums

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 18:42:58 +0000

Event by KristieMac

Date and Time

February 27, 2010 from 9:00am - 1:30pm

Address

The Houston Corkscrew
1919 Washington Ave.
Houston, TX 77007
713-864-WINE
google map

Agenda

Presentation is everything these days, and album companies know that. With the wide variety of albums on the market, it's possible to create a one-of-a-kind keepsake for your brides/portraits/pictures of your cat. While most companies provide a few "templates-in-a-can," many of these companies offer custom design services at outrageous pricing. But you, my resourceful Photoshop friends, can create your own custom templates... and I'll show you how to make those templates even easier to customize a step further... which insures your clients that they will always have a one-of-a-kind creation at a minimal amount of work to you.

Because you know, nothing is more detrimental than two brides opening up their album with the same design. Trust me. I know.

By the end of this 4 hour workshop, you will have at least one take-away album ready to use at your disposal. A full version of Photoshop CS or above and a laptop is recommended. Part of the class will also utilize Adobe InDesign and Illustrator, but are not required. A resource CD will also be provided. There will also be several albums on hand from some leading manufactuers for you to examine.

The Houston Corkscrew has been generous enough to donate their space for us to use, so if you're in the Heights, please stop by and thank David for his generosity to our group.

You must register through our Meetup.com site, as space is extremely limited. http://www.meetup.com/photoshophouston

GIF Ain't Peanut Butter, Baby (And other Web topics)

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 18:38:19 +0000

Event by KristieMac

Date and Time

January 7, 2010 from 5:00pm - 7:00pm

Address

Houston Public Liabary
500 McKinney
Houston, TX 77002
832-393-1313
google map

Agenda

GIF, PNG, SVG, JPEG.... WTH?

When venturing into the world of web design, there's a lot of things to consider. Most people take one look at the code involved and quit immediately. Others take a timid step into the great web frontier, only to fall into the monstrous cavern known as browser compatibility. Still others hit it with Mircosoft Frontpage and a monster ego, frustrated when browsers take their design and turn it into digital oatmeal.

Designers have polorized into two camps: Codehounds and Artfiends. The two rarely meet, content to hurl elitist comments about the geekiness/arrogance of the other side.

Can't we all just be friends? Photoshop says YES.

This class will focus on creating web-friendly elements that are maximized for speed (happy coders) without sacrificing style (happy artists). We'll cover the basic file formats, how to optimize them for the web, and how to use many of Photoshop's built-in features (slices, animation, file optimization) to create a positive web presence. We'll cover Layer styles extensively (a feature that can be used in all aspects of design) as well as some of Photoshop's hidden but still awesomely cool features (like it's ability to create Flash slideshows with ZERO code experience, and its HTML code generator for quick and easy web sites). Learn how to create beautiful buttons, slick interfaces and web-ready art all within Photoshop.

We'll put it all together in a fully functional (and PRETTY) website that's ready to go in TWO HOURS.

This class is designed for the Brand-New-To-Web-Design-Noobie. If you're interested in creating your own site, but don't know where to start, this is a great place to begin. We will briefly touch on various types of code, but only long enough for you to decide what type of code is best for your site (no long, boring details, I promise). As a member of Team Artfiend, my heart lies in the design; I leave the coding to the engineers. But after this class, you'll at least be able to hand over files they won't snicker at over their Star Wars lunchboxes while they talk about how ridiculously stupid you are for saving your design as a TIF.

Take that, Codehound, and stick it in your pocket-protector!

Photoshop In Your Jammies

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 02:34:58 +0000

Event by KristieMac

Date and Time

December 21, 2009 from 5:00pm - 7:00pm

Agenda

Hey, it's the holidays.... and no one wants to get out in the middle of this retail mess to endure traffic, dodge crazy last-minute shoppers, and fight for a parking space.... even if it *is* to learn about Photoshop. So my Christmas gift to you:

Photoshop In Your Jammies!

On December 21st, I will be tucked happily in my Snuggie with Pixel on my lap, plunking away at Photoshop behind my Mac keyboard, and I'm inviting you to attend! It will be an open-format meeting; come with your Photoshop questions. I'll also reveal a few tips and tricks in photography retouching, web design, layer styles and lots of other cool little tricks to make your creations come to life.

There are 15 spots available; please only RSVP if you plan to attend. You will receive instructions on how to log in to GoToMeeting.com prior to the Meetup. It does require installation of their program, so if you don't want to install anything, please leave the space open for someone who does not mind.

If you've got nothing else to do, log in and learn. Just remember to shut the webcam off if you prefer to Photoshop naked. Please. :)

Curves Are Sexy! (1 Comment)

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:29:40 +0000

Event by KristieMac

Date and Time

November 30, 2009 from 5:00pm - 7:00pm

Address

Houston Public Library
500 McKinney
Houston, TX 77002
832-393-1313
google map

Agenda

What if I told you that 85% of all photography corrections can be made with a Curves layer? Would that get your attention? I know it's a scary looking palette, but what if I told you that by the end of the evening, you would have a complete grasp of everything on it?

Would you believe me? Then I have some waterfront property to show you...

Seriously, Curves are one of the most powerful adjustment corrections in Photoshop with undoubtably the scariest palette to master. But once you venture into the mechanics of it, even a beginner Photoshopper will wonder how they ever got by without it. A simple Curve adjustment can easily knock out a color cast, enhance/correct contrast, & fix exposure mistakes. But Curves can also be used for a variety of other special problems that photographers face: hazy, misty or dull photographs are immediately saturated and sharpened. Special effects are easily attained. Change the mood of your entire photograph.

One layer. That's all. Drab to Dramatic. Blah to Brilliant. Poop to POW!

See you there! ;)

Animotion: You Are My (New) Obsession

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:40:36 +0000

Event by KristieMac

Date and Time

November 5, 2009 from 5:00pm - 7:00pm

Address

Hey, did you know you can animate in Photoshop?

I know what you're thinking; why?

Because! It's cool!

The day of the animated gif is over; it's time to step into the new millennium. The animation engine in Photoshop CS4 has made animation even easier for people with no prior experience. You can create stunning shorts in a matter of moments. Have a video feature on your camera? You can apply a filter to the video quickly and easily. Want to create your own version of South Park? No problem! Need a simple slideshow of your photographs for a portfolio site or a client presentation? Easy!

In Photoshop??

YES.

Using the layer concept that has made Photoshop the cornerstone of all things digital, Adobe makes it easy to create interesting and creative movie files by layering graphic elements, filters, adjustments and video on top of one another. You can even add sound in Photoshop, so if your sound files are pre-prepared, it's possible to create an entire video without owning a video editing package (however, if you're serious about video, I wouldn't recommend leaning entirely on Photoshop). But as a designer or photographer, it's a great feature to help showcase your work, and it's already BUILT-IN.

I didn't believe it either, so you need to come see for yourself. Adobe continues to push the bar higher with Photoshop, making it a one-stop shop for all things graphic. Bring your laptop and your imagination, because we're about to set your work into motion.

(Location is tentatively scheduled; subject to change)
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A Little Less Conversation, A Little More Action (4 Comments)

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:32:35 +0000

Event by KristieMac

Date and Time

October 1, 2009 from 5:00pm - 7:00pm

Address

Winter Street Studios
2101 Winter St
Studio 31
Houston, TX 77007
google map

Agenda

One of the most feared palettes in the Photoshop arsenal... the Actions palette looms like a monster lurking in the closet. Few have dared to press the dreaded "Play" button, only to watch in horror as Photoshop seemingly goes berserk on your beloved image. Many just close it entirely, banishing it to the realms of other unused palettes in a desolate, uncreative wasteland.

Others have fallen prey to the Photoshop Marketing Machine, and paid thousands of dollars for actions that create stunning special effects. But why pay for something that is readily free out there on the Internet? Or something you could have created yourself in a few simple steps?

This class will delve into the powerful automation features of the Actions Palette. Learn how to record your steps in Photoshop to create your own special effects time and time again. Simple black and whites, stunning sepias, eye-popping cross processed images, desaturated antiques... incredible text effects, quick and easy marketing techniques, automated template creation.... you can have them all simply by pressing ONE BUTTON.

Who doesn't want to know how to do that???

We'll also go over how to dissect actions to discover the hidden secrets of designers, where to find actions for free, and most importantly, how to create your own! Are you REALLY going to pass this up?

Blending: Masks, Modes & Margaritas

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:37:48 +0000

Event by KristieMac

Date and Time

October 20, 2009 from 5:00pm - 7:00pm

Address

The Coffee Groundz
2503 Bagby St
Houston, TX 77006
google map

Agenda

At the heart of every eye-popping special effect in Photoshop is a simple layer... and many, many, many masks and blend modes. This class will delve into how to get those layers to interact with one another to create seamless blends and amazing effects.

The class will be broken into two parts:

The Art of Masking - "How to Get The Frog Into The Blender"
We've touched briefly on masking in past classes, but this is the class where you'll learn all the mechanics of a mask. Non-destructive editing begins here, maximizing your creative flexibility while keeping all of your artistic options open. We'll look at how to create both simple and complex masks, production shortcuts while working with masks, and how to effectively store them for future applications (aka saving your tail in a time crunch!)

Blend Modes- "How to Get The Frog To Really Look Like It's In Mortal Danger"
Perhaps Photoshop's most misunderstood menu, Blend Modes are one of your most powerful tools. You click on them, they do weird stuff that no one seems to understand, and finally in frustration you just go back to "Normal." We'll take an in-depth look at exactly what each mode does and give examples of how they can be used in your every day workflow.