Greetings everyone. In this thread I'll give you some ideas and informations how to get started before you say "Photoshop is hard to use!" because if you say that, you're wrong. It's easy to use after you learn the basics and practice a little.
But before I begin with this tutorial itself, I'm gonna show some examples that you can create using photoshop.
Photo Manipulation:
Photo manipulation is the application of image editing techniques to photographs in order to create an illusion or deception (in contrast to mere enhancement or correction), through analog or digital means.
http://www.youthedesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/photoshop-examples-21.jpg
http://webdesignledger.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/photo_manipulation_12.jpg
http://webdesignledger.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/photo_manipulation_34.jpg
http://webdesignledger.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/photo_manipulation_23.jpg
http://fuskbugg.se/file/8OMEW8/1040572_136977306509326_1394978310_o.jpg
Typography:
Typography is performed by typesetters, compositors, typographers, graphic designers, art directors, comic book artists, graffiti artists, clerical workers, and anyone else who arranges type for a product.
http://d2f8dzk2mhcqts.cloudfront.net/117_Earth/final_1920.jpg
http://webdesignledger.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/typeinp13.jpg
http://webdesignledger.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/typeinp16.jpg
http://webdesignledger.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/typeinp18.jpg
WebDesign:
Most of the websites are now designed using Photoshop because there you have unlimited ways to customize your website and make it how you want it to be.
http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2010/013/a/e/Web_design__Amazium_by_sergitosuanez.jpg
http://slodive.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/single/ormanclark.jpg
http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/30675916/FreshFolio.jpg
http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/30675916/FreshBlue.png
Now because I got your atention and I know that you want to learn how to do that, I'll start with the guide.
The first step is to learn the basics of Photoshop, and that means we must learn how to use the tools, filters and the other many options of PS.
To learn that, I'll add the links for some tutorials from YouTube.
Remember! This is a verry important step, so don't jump over this. You can't do much if you don't know how to use Photoshop... So.
1. Tool Uses & Basics - Good tutorial for learning how to use the tools and some other basics.
CLICK HERE TO GET TO THE TUTORIAL.
2. Opening and Saving Files - Yes, the most important part is to know how to save your hard work and open it later for re-editing or to send it to someone.
CLICK HERE TO GET TO THE TUTORIAL.
3. Resizing Images - 6 Minutes tutorial. You have nothing to lose by learning how to resize a image without losing the quality.
CLICK HERE TO GET TO THE TUTORIAL.
4. Beginner Masking Technique - In this tutorial you'll actually learn how to cut someone or even an object from a picture and place it over another picture/background (Exemple. You cut the bird shape from a picture and put it on a background with the sky.)
CLICK HERE TO GET TO THE TUTORIAL.
5. Using the pen tool - How to use the pen tool in photoshop. Skills covered in this tutorial include curving, defining anchor points, and making custom shapes using the pen tool.
CLICK HERE TO GET TO THE TUTORIAL.(For creating shapes.)
CLICK HERE TO GET TO THE TUTORIAL.For text paths.)
6. Quick Photofilter Effect - This will help you in changing the colors of the picture to something darker/lighter than the original.
CLICK HERE TO GET TO THE TUTORIAL.
7. Changing Hair/Eye Color - Get more skills in colors editing by following this guide to learn how to change hair and eyes color but you can do the same for other things.
CLICK HERE TO GET TO THE TUTORIAL.
8. How To Smudge - Smudging is a verry used method in signatures and wallpapers. I suggest you to take a look.
CLICK HERE TO GET TO THE TUTORIAL.
9. Adjustment Layers - Use the adjustment layers, give your photos and wallpapers nice effects. This is based on colors changing but verry usefull.
CLICK HERE TO GET TO THE TUTORIAL.
10. Downloading, Installing, and Using Brushes - Brushes are used most of the time in wallpapers and signatures and in this guide you'll learn how to download, install and how to use them.
CLICK HERE TO GET TO THE TUTORIAL.
Awesome! You're on the right way to a professional designer.
And now because we know the basics of Photoshop we can go at the next level of tutorials.
Don't worry, advanced doesn't means it's for the pro designers, it means that we'll focus on creating designs with more work, like wallpapers, signatures, web designs, etc.
You don't need to follow all of the guides I'll post, but at least try to follow some of them or maybe you want to focus on only one of the designs types.
So, lets start with some video tutorials because there you can see exactly how it's made, not like pictures tutorials.
1. Signatures - The signatures are mostly used for forums as something that will represent yourself and are not larger than 500x250(Horizontal) / 250x500(Vertical), not because I say but if it's larger it can be considered wallpaper. I normaly use a size around 400x160 but it's up to you.
CLICK HERE TO GET TO THE TUTORIAL.
CLICK HERE TO GET TO THE TUTORIAL (2nd Link).
CLICK HERE TO GET TO THE TUTORIAL (3rd Link).
2. Text Effects - Learn how to create different kind of text styles.
CLICK HERE TO GET TO THE TUTORIAL. (WALLPAPER)
CLICK HERE TO GET TO THE TUTORIAL. (NEON TEXT)
CLICK HERE TO GET TO THE TUTORIAL. (GLASS TEXT)
CLICK HERE TO GET TO THE TUTORIAL. (FIRE TEXT)
CLICK HERE TO GET TO THE TUTORIAL. (ADD VISUAL TEXTURE)
3. Photo Manipulation & Editing - Photo manipulation tutorials. Create designs by combining more pictures in one. Learn how to Add nice effects to pictures.
CLICK HERE TO GET TO THE LINK. (THE APPLE WITH THE LION FACE)
CLICK HERE TO GET TO THE TUTORIAL. (RAINBOW EYES)
CLICK HERE TO GET TO THE TUTORIAL. (DANCE PHOTO MANIPULATION)
CLICK HERE TO GET TO THE TUTORIAL. (NEUANCE EFFECT)
CLICK HERE TO GET TO THE TUTORIAL. (VINTAGE & RETRO)
CLICK HERE TO GET TO THE TUTORIAL. (DEPTH & DRAMA)
4. Typography - Learn how to make some cool typographic designs using the next tutorials.
CLICK HERE TO GET TO THE TUTORIAL. (TYPOGRAPHIC DESIGN)
CLICK HERE TO GET TO THE TUTORIAL. (RETRO TYPOGRAPHIC WALLPAPER)
CLICK HERE TO GET TO THE TUTORIAL. (SIMPLE TYPOGRAPHIC TUTORIAL)
5. Web Design - Some medium difficulty and well explained tutorials that will help you to start your career in web designing...
http://www.ultimatedesignertoolkit.com/tutorials/create-light-grunge-website-layout/
http://www.psdcore.com/tutorials/web-layouts/modern-web-20-web-layout/
http://www.hv-designs.co.uk/2009/11/30/cloud9-web-design-layout/
http://artbox7.com/blog/tutorials/create-a-baby-template-in-photoshop-using-complete-designer-set.html
http://psd.fanextra.com/tutorials/how-to-create-an-effective-coming-soon-page/
Now that's what I found on YouTube to be for easy to medium difficulty.
So, I'll go to part 4 where I'll tell you where you can find more tutorials and resources for Photoshop.
1. Tutorials Websites - There's a list with websites where you can find thousands of tutorials and new ones coming everyday.
http://psd.tutsplus.com/
http://www.tutorial9.net/
http://photoshoptutorials.ws/
http://www.photoshoplady.com/
http://www.photoshopstar.com/
http://bestphotoshoptutorials.net/
http://www.adobetutorialz.com/categories/Adobe-Photoshop
http://www.psdvault.com/
http://psdvibe.com/category/photoshop/
http://www.tutorialized.com/
2. Brushes Websites - Download brushes for your upcoming designs. Check the tutorial in Photoshop basics to learn how to install them.
http://www.brusheezy.com/
http://myphotoshopbrushes.com/
http://www.psbrushes.net/
http://www.brushking.eu/
http://qbrushes.net/
http://www.brushlovers.com/
http://www.deviantart.com/ (use the search.)
3. Textures Websites - Download textures for your upcoming designs. Check the tutorial in Part 2 to learn how to use them.
http://www.textureking.com/
http://lostandtaken.com/
http://www.texturise.com/
http://www.grungetextures.com/
http://designm.ag/resources/2000-absolutely-free-textures/
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/02/06/100-beautiful-free-textures/
http://www.deviantart.com/ (use the search.)
4. Stock Photo Sites - Download free stock for your upcoming designs.
http://www.stockvault.net/
http://www.everystockphoto.com/
http://www.deviantart.com/
http://www.shutterstock.com/ (It's not Free!)
http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/
5. Fonts Websites - Download text fonts for your upcoming designs.
http://www.urbanfonts.com/
http://www.dafont.com/
http://www.ffonts.net/
http://www.fontspace.com/
6. Renders - Download free renders for your upcoming designs.
http://planetrenders.net/
http://www.premiumrenders.net/gallery/
http://pandorascanvas.com/gallery/album/2.html
http://22pixels.com/browse/renders/
7. PSD Files - Download free Photoshop files.
http://365psd.com/
http://freepsdfiles.net/
http://www.freebiepixels.com/
http://psdho.me/
http://www.hotpsd.com/
8. Online Tools & Images Hosting - Some more websites that will help you to upload your images, find fonts & pictures.
http://new.myfonts.com/WhatTheFont/ - Find fonts used in logos or other designs.
http://www.tineye.com/ - Reverse image search. Start by an edited picture to see the original one.
http://dropbox.com/ - One of the best images hosting website. I recommend it.
http://photobucket.com/ - The second images hosting website in my top.
http://www.toggl.com/ - Time tracking tool for freelance web developers and designers who tend to get paid by the hour.
Thankyou for reading the guide and I hope this helped you to become a future professional Graphic Designer.
