** Olympics Scheduling**

Please note: All our 10 Week classes starting in January will have a two week break Feb. 12th-28th to accommodate the 2010 Olympics. Classes will resume March 1st.

This 10 week 30 hour course is designed to provide you with the opportunity to develop a working knowledge and understanding of Adobe Photoshop CS4 (CS3) Software.

This course is different from many other Photoshop courses out there because it has been developed specifically for Photographers and is a much more goal oriented rather than tool oriented program. We answer the question: How can Photoshop make my images better?

We discuss features and functionality most crucial to Photographers not wasting time with many of the other tools that are not relevant to Photographers.

We focus on clearly defined goals, and work through the steps it takes to achieve them. Examples of such goals would be image color correction, selective tonal (and color) adjustments, retouching, as well as automating your workflow.

We demonstrate and discuss real-life workflows used by today’s leading Photographers, many of whom have visited and taught for VPW and made their insights available to us. Each class session is complemented with a hands-on exercise designed to get you using the software and practicing the material presented to you.

Other Photoshop courses focus on explaining each and every tool instead of honing in on what's really relevant for today's photographers. Take your images to the next level. Learn efficient, fast, effective workflows, and have fun in the process.

In addition to the content covered in class, you will work on a personal project while supervised by the instructor. This lets you apply what you have learned to a 'real life' workflow.

*Please Note: Participants need to bring a computer (Mac or PC, Laptop or Desktop) loaded with Adobe Photoshop CS4 (CS3) Software. You can download a 30 day trial for free at www.adobe.com. It is recommended to upgrade to the latest version, so please check what you are currently using.

We do have computers available for rent for $100.*

Session 1 :

Introduction to Photoshop CS4:
System Requirements, the work area, basic navigation and most optimal set up of this software. Introduction to color management and the why and how of calibrating your system. Hands-on calibration of each student's computer/laptop.

Session 2 :

Adobe Bridge CS4 file organization software overview, customization, and most effective use in conjunction with Adobe Photoshop.
Importing Images into Adobe Photoshop, renaming files, file formats, file specs for output to web and print.
Practical exercise: using Adobe Bridge CS4 to import and organize your files, resize for web, print and slideshows and batch processing for an effective RAW workflow.

Session 3 :

Image adjustments:
Making Color and Tonal Adjustments, what tools are the most effective for Photographers to use, Levels versus Curves, Hue and Saturation, Variations, Shadow/Highlight adjustments, burning and dodging for selective tonal adjustments.
Practical exercise: adjust your images using methods presented. Darken, lighten and increase contrast selectively. Set the white and black point for optimal image quality.

Session 4:

Selections and selective Image Adjustments:
How to go beyond Camera RAW 5 capabilities. Make selections using the Marquee, Lasso and Magnetic Lasso tools (and which really work for Photographers). Use Quickmask for easy selections, make adjustments to selections and save/load selections.
Practical exercise: Compare Photoshop CS4 selective adjustments to Camera RAW 5 adjustment brush. Make selections using selection tools and Quickmask mode, apply various adjustments to your selections.

Session 5 :

Introduction to Layers in Photoshop CS4:
Adjustment versus vector and pixel layers – when to use which. Using layers to apply selective adjustments to your images, Opacity and Blending Modes.
Practical exercise: using layers to expand tonal range, correct motion/blur, extend depth of field in your images.

Session 6 :

Layering Techniques Continued:
Adding, editing and working with layer masks. Using and customizing Layer Styles, advanced burning and dodging using layers and masks, using fill and gradient adjustment layers. Practical exercise: using layer masking to apply selective tonal, contrast, and color adjustments.

Session 7 :

Fixing common digital imaging challenges:
Reducing noise and digital artifacts, Sharpening your images, creating panoramas from multiple images, Retouching images, Healing and patching, fixing perspective, using filters. Practical exercise: retouch a portrait shot at high ISO (ISO 1600+), create a panorama from multiple source images and correct perspective .

Session 8 :

Photoshop CS4 for black and white:
Popular black and white conversion workflows. Using adjustment layers to create stunning black and white images, applying creative toning and tinting effects to black and white images to enhance their mood and effectiveness.
Practical exercise: create a black and white image from color RAW files using the methods discussed in class.

Session 9 :

Personal Project:
Each Student will work on their images and practice the techniques presented throughout the course. Instructor will help and comment on an individual basis.

Session 10:

Review of student project:
Discussion about printing images, DPI versus PPI, Resizing digital images for larger prints, Watermarking, Automation of Photoshop using actions, batches and droplets. Hands-on printing of student images on Epson professional fine-art printers (Epson 3800, 4800, 7900).

Level:

Beginner. Basic photography knowledge recommended.

Enrollment:

Maximum 14 participants.

Equipment Needed:

Laptop/Computer with Adobe Photoshop CS4 installed. (We have a limited number of computers for rent for $100.)

We Provide:

Detailed course notes in binder.

Early-Bird Discount:

A 10% discount is applied automatically if you register before the Early-Bird Discount deadline date listed in the registration table below.

CAPIC & PPABC Members:

A 5% discount is available to CAPIC and PPABC members when registering online. Please be prepared to show your membership cards on the first day of your workshop.

Group Discount:

A 5% discount will be appplied if 3 or more people register at the same time for the same workshop. (All 3 tuitions must be paid for by one credit card to be considered a group registration.) Please follow the instructions on the online registration page.

In order to provide the best learning environment possible VPW keeps class sizes limited to 12-15 people (depending on the workshop). This is but one reason that we count on you to attend your chosen class, once you have registered for it.

If you must withdraw for any reason please be aware of our refund policy as follows:

For our local workshops, 1 to 5 days in length and our Local 10 Week Courses, VPW requires 15 days written notice (before the workshop start date) of your withdrawal in order to provide a refund. (Email notice is acceptable.)

If you wish to transfer to a different workshop date VPW requires 7 days written notice.

Read complete refund and liability policy

The Photoshop CS4 for Photographers: 10 Week Course is taught by the following instructor:

Read Marc's Biography

Please choose your instructor and course date from the registration table below.