This 10 week 30 hour course is designed to provide you with the opportunity to develop a working knowledge and understanding of Adobe Photoshop Cs5 (Cs4 + Cs3 is OK) 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.

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About our Instructor: Steve Pinter

Steve Pinter is the owner of Pinter Creative Studio.

Pinter Creative Studio provides concept to delivery pre-production planning, on-set consultation and post-production creative retouching services to photographers, advertising agencies, design firms, and corporate clients.

Over the past eighteen years Steve has executed some of the most award-winning, photo-based print advertising in Canada, appearing at: the Marketing Awards, the Extras, the Lotus Awards, Cannes, One Show, D&AD, the Clios, in Applied Arts, Communication Arts and Lürzer’s Archive, among others.

Check out Steve's website to see samples of his incredible work.

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*Please Note: Participants need to bring a computer (Mac or PC, Laptop or Desktop) loaded with Adobe Photoshop CS5, CS4 or 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 CS5:
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 CS5 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 CS5 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 6 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 CS5 selective adjustments to Camera RAW 6 adjustment brush. Make selections using selection tools and Quickmask mode, apply various adjustments to your selections.

Session 5 :

Introduction to Layers in Photoshop CS5:
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 CS5 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 12 participants.

Equipment Needed:

Laptop/Computer with Adobe Photoshop CS3, CS4 or CS5 installed. (We have a limited number of computers for rent for $100.)

We Provide:

Course Notes and sample images for you to work with.

Early-Bird Discount:

Most of our courses and workshops offer a 10% discount is applied automatically if you register before the Early-Bird Discount deadline date listed in the registration table below.

Some courses and workshops offer a discount if you're among the first 3 people who register. This discount will replace the 'standard' Early Bird Discount mentioned above, and will be applied automatically during the online registration process (as long as it is available). Check the course/workshop listing page for more details.

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 and tour sizes limited to 10-15 people (depending on the workshop). This is but one reason that we count on you to attend your chosen class or tour, 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 Lectures, Seminars, and Workshops valued at or under $100, VPW is unable to provide a cash refund. Transfers are limited to one transfer to either the same event at a later date, or a different event of equal value. VPW requires 48 hours written notice in order to make such a transfer (email notice is acceptable). The event you are transferring to must occur within 6 months of the original event you registered for. A $15 fee will be applied to all transfers.

For our Local Workshops, 1 to 5 days in length and our Local 4 to 10 Week Courses, VPW requires 30 days written notice (before the event start date) of your withdrawal in order to provide a refund. (Email notice is acceptable.)

For our Master Photographer Series workshops, 1 to 5 days in length, VPW requires 60 days written notice (before the workshop start date) of your withdrawal in order to provide a refund. VPW may retain 15% of fees paid or $150 minimum in processing your refund. If the tuition is less than $500 the minimum fee drops to $75.

Within 45 days of the Master Photographer Series workshop date all fees paid are non-refundable.

Transfers (for all events over $100): If you wish to transfer to a different workshop date, VPW requires a minimum of 30 days written (email) notice. All transfers are based on availaibility, and subject to approval by VPW staff. For courses/workshops with tuition above $101, the transfer fee is $35.

Transfer Fees as based on event pricing:
Tuition of $100 and below, the transfer fee is $15
Tuition of $101 and above, the transfer fee is $35

VPW can give no refunds:

If you registered for any event valued at or under $100
If you do not show up for your registered course.
If you register for a course beyond or below your skill or ability level.

Refunds for all events valued at $101 and above (excluding Master Series Workshops):
If a student wishes to cancel their registration for any of VPW's events, and has provided written notice within the appropriate timeframe, a refund less a $50 administration fee will be provided.

Course Cancellation:

Occasionally, we may have to cancel a course due to low enrollment. In this case, we will issue a full refund of all monies paid to VPW up to that time.

Instructor Replacement:

In the event that a listed instructor is unable to participate because of a change in his or her professional schedule, we will replace the instructor with someone of equal or similar credentials. If we cannot find a replacement in due time before the course is about to start, a particular class may have to be rescheduled.

Liability

In the event that we cancel your course, for any reason, the extent of VPW's liability is limited to the return of all monies paid. We will do everything we can to register you in another equivalent course. VPW will not be responsible for reimbursement of travel expenses of any kind.

Please note: An administration charge of $25 applies to all refunds

Read complete refund and liability policy

The Photoshop CS5 for Photographers: 10 Week Course is taught by the following instructor:

Steve Pinter

See Steve's Website!