[pushkarS]

I recently installed Photoshop CS3 on my PC. Now I need to learn it to produce graphics. Which is the best way to learn it?

* Discovering on my own the various features, tools and options
* Reading tutorials on the net
* Reading books

Could you also tell me the best photoshop tutorial site? I have searched google and there are lots of them. Not sure which one to choose.

[ghosthacker]

Joining NAPP would be my first suggestion.

http://www.photoshopuser.com/

In my opinion there is no best tutorial site for photoshop, search for something specific you want to learn, like layers or masks and expand from there.

[RootbeaR]

Originally Posted by pushkarS

I recently installed Photoshop CS3 on my PC. Now I need to learn it to produce graphics. Which is the best way to learn it?

* Discovering on my own the various features, tools and options
* Reading tutorials on the net
* Reading books

Could you also tell me the best photoshop tutorial site? I have searched google and there are lots of them. Not sure which one to choose.

http://www.photoshopsupport.com/tuto...toshop-10.html

[iltos]

Originally Posted by pushkarS

I recently installed Photoshop CS3 on my PC. Now I need to learn it to produce graphics. Which is the best way to learn it?

i'd suggest it depends on what you mean by "learn it to produce graphics"....it you're hoping to make some sort of career out of graphic design, then the more you get to know people who are learning photoshop, the better, imo....and a membership in NAPP might well be a good investment....you also might find a good class in your area, to jump start your skills and begin networking with like minded folks.

i've used (and am still learning) photoshop for several years (and now am taking a crack at illustrator, as well).....i don't do a lot of graphic design, by any means -i guess you'd call it a hobby, tho it's one that has deadlines and stuff.

anyway, imo, books are next to useless....most of what i learned i learned by tinkering....and when i get stumped, i search out a tutorial, first, and then go bug a few people i know who actually KNOW these programs.

Could you also tell me the best photoshop tutorial site? I have searched google and there are lots of them. Not sure which one to choose.

there isn't one, imo....as someone else said, there are good tutorials and tips for specific tasks scattered all over the place.

[Hughv]

Start with the PS Help files, which are pretty good.
This site is good:
http://psdtuts.com/
And there are a zillion more.

[fairnooks]

If you want some good video demonstration as various techniques are explained, check out Bert Monroy at http://revision3.com/pixelperfect/. He builds a usable base into more extensive artwork as the series progresses and almost always finishes by saying the best way is take the time and "play" around with the tools once you have a basic understanding.

[Glausy]

What do you mean by "produce graphics"? A good way to learn is to try and replicate the graphic you have in mind after you pick up the different skillsets through tutorials.

[ferrija1]

Most tutorial sites are just tutorial aggregators and the quality of their tutorials ranges greatly. The following two sites write their own tutorials.

http://psdtuts.com/
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/category/tutorials/

Also, keep the help file open and keep practicing what you learn. You do not need a NAPP membership.

[Psychotropic]

http://www.good-tutorials.com/tutorials/photoshop is a great site that has tutorials from all sorts of websites(psdtuts included).

[pushkarS]

Why can't I mark this solved?

http://forums.techguy.org/profile.php?do=dismissnotice

The above page doesn't open for me.

[jbm1991]

If you have the money and the time an apparently excellent set of tutorial videos can be purchased here: http://www.photoshoptopsecret.com/

Edit: If your looking for free tutorial sites then rather than sticking with one site, i prefer to come up with an idea, and then google it as no one site has everything you'll ever need and i rarely use the same tutorial site more than once, unless im doing the same thing for another image

One thing you might want/need are some good "stock" images, I use the following site to get mine, as they are generally of good quality, theyre free, and the selection is massive:
http://www.sxc.hu/

Also, if i am looking for textures, whether that be to create my own brushes or just if im doing a bit of editing, i am a fan of this site:
http://www.cgtextures.com/

and last but certainly not least is DeviantArt, http://www.deviantart.com/ , where many a good tutorial, basis of an idea, or texture can be found

[MDenver]

Stick to video courses (VTC, Lynda, Totaltraining), books (Amazon) or regular courses to have a good basic foundation to take it to another level.

Don't learn Photoshop by doing internet tutorials (tons of reasons, but I don't wanna go into now) and I'm saying this as someone who has written many large Photoshop tutorials

[Hughv]

"Learn the basics" is certainly good advice, but people learn in many different ways, and one size is unlikely to fit all.
Try the videos, try the tutorials and books, but mostly use the program and go where your interests take you.

[ghosthacker]

Originally Posted by MDenver

and I'm saying this as someone who has written many large Photoshop tutorials

Can you provide us a link to look at some of them?

[MDenver]

Originally Posted by Hughv

"Learn the basics" is certainly good advice, but people learn in many different ways, and one size is unlikely to fit all.

I disagree, one size (read "basics") does fit all, that's if you're serious about learning how Photoshop works. Without proper basic knowledge you will have a much harder time to understand Photoshop related articles, forum posts, tutorials, etc or how to develop your own techniques.