Photoshop Tricks for Beginners

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One of the things that make German photographer/digital artist Calvin Hollywood so unique is his approach to Photoshop – one that comes from hours upon hours spent exploring every facet of the program in order to develop a style that is instantly recognizable and completely his own. In Photoshop Tricks for Beginners, Calvin gives you a string of quick Photoshop tips that will instantly improve your own techniques in Photoshop CS5 and earlier versions. NOTE: Giving a class a skill level is always subjective. To some, this class may seem more advanced. We categorized this class for “beginners” because Calvin takes the time to explain the choices he makes, what tools he uses, and/or the functionality of certain features in order to give you a better understanding of how his effects are achieved and how you can utilize these tips in other situations. In addition, you’ll find some more advanced tricks and tips for achieving his effects. The result: a thorough arsenal of Photoshop tricks that has something for everyone! PC USERS: Calvin uses a Mac in this class, but you can easily integrate every shortcut he shows by substituting the “Ctrl” button for the “Command” button.

Introduction (01:23) Calvin introduces himself and talks about what he will cover during the course
Brightening Eyes (06:15) Calvin makes the iris pop with the exposure adjustment layer.
Add a Glow to an Image (06:26) Add an ethereal glow to a portrait. Great for wedding photos or anytime you want to convey a soft, beautiful light.
Change the Light with a Vignette (04:11) Calvin shows you two different ways he uses a vignette to change light - something he uses in 99% of his signature work.
Learn Quick Mask and Brighten Teeth (04:28) The purpose of this class is to learn quick masks but Calvin gives it a practical spin by showing you how to make teeth whiter too.
Create a Color Cast (05:11) By using a selective color adjustment layer, you can add to or change the "mood" of a photo.
Luminosity Mask (03:39) A basic technique that Calvin has discovered that most retouchers don't know or remember to use.
Painting with Color and Brightness (03:52) Use the blend mode to add color and brightness to hair.
Highlight Commands (04:29) Calvin shows you how to make certain commands easier to find in the command menus.
Changing Color and Brightness (03:15) Use adjustment layers, blend modes, and the color sliders to change color and brightness without making difficult selections.
Add Dimension Without Liquify (03:53) This trick is a great non-destructive alternative to using the Liquify tool to add dimension and keep the subject original.
Contrast and Saturation (04:22) Calvin shows you a few different tricks to make a photo pop more. Choose the one you like best.
Painting with Color and Contrast (05:16) Use a soft light blend mode to add contrast.
Double RAW Conversion (04:31) Calvin shows you a way to do more RAW conversions with one shot, along with a slightly more advanced technique.
Light Background, Dark Hair (02:44) Learn a neat trick to change a background and not have to deal with selecting around flyaway hair.
Dark Background, Light Hair (02:08) Same conceptâ€¦ slightly different approach.
Dark Background, Dark Hair (03:04) Another great compositing tip that works with a textured background.
Body Shaping (03:36) Body contouring using the Pinch tool.
Contrast and Colorize (02:52) Colorize an adjustment layer for saturated and desaturated contrast
Fashion Look (03:16) A "pastel" technique Calvin uses often in his fashion photos, hence the name
Elongating Legs (02:29) Using Free Transform, Calvin slightly changes the model's leg length. Use sparingly!
Conclusion (00:54) Some final bits of advice from Calvin. Thanks for watching!

Course Time: 01 Hours 22 Minutes

J. Roskowske

Feb 21 2012

Great course! I learned a lot tonight and I can't wait to go through this again as I try it for myself. Your English is fine as well!
W. Hunter

Feb 23 2012

Without a doubt some of the best training I have seen. Thank you... PLEASE HAVE HIM DO MORE AND MORE TRAINING...
M. Treen

Feb 25 2012

Excellent - lots of great tips. Enjoyable
J. Taylor

Mar 12 2012

A wonderful introduction to some basic Photoshop techniques. Each lesson was short, to the point, and very easy to follow. I was able to use the lessons right away, and my images look so much better! Thank you!
D. Cass

Mar 17 2012

Thank you so much for this course! Calvin's explanations are thorough and easy to understand. His demonstrations show not only how to perform the techniques, but also lead to an understanding of why they work. I really liked the way the course was organized -- simply jumping from one tip to the next without feeling the need to segue between them or stick to any particular theme. This led to a variety of topics that point the beginner to many new places to explore in the software. I would love to see additional beginner courses that follow this same format. Calvin mentions in his introduction to this course that he hopes his English isn't a problem. It is not. He has an excellent command of the English language, and communicates very effectively.
M. Ash

Apr 7 2012

Thanks Calvin. I learned a lot. Your English is very good (I'm 1/2 German myself). Your course is very informative and I added several of the segments to my "favorite" list.
K. Skeeters

Apr 7 2012

I was hesitant to view this course at first because of the title "Photoshop Tricks for Beginners". I considered myself to be more than a beginner. However, I found the information to be extremely helpful to me with the type of post processing I do. I thought the material was presented in a very user friendly and professional way. I would certainly welcome (and view) more courses from Calvin.
J. Parcerisa Vilatarsana

Apr 11 2012

Calvin I have studied all your courses and I can say extraordinary, very dynamic very well explained and practical. Thank you very much to help me to improve my skills. Your friend José Parcerisa V.
D. Peresie

Apr 12 2012

So many good tips! Not just for beginners but also as a reminder to those of us who think we know it all.
C. Mallari

Apr 22 2012

Thank you so much for this tutorial. I REALLY, REALLY learned a lot from this one. I am just trying out kelbytraining and a newbie at PS5 but after seeing this tutorial, you have convinced me that paying for every single cent is going to be worth it because they have instructors like you who are doing a great job at teaching people learn these techniques in a simple and straight forward manner. I am a bird photographer and hope that one day you will come up with a tutorial on how to make those feather details pop out more (provided of course that the photo is already sharp when it was taken). I have watched quite a few tutorials already and it is your way of teaching that has made this process a fun one. Thank you again so much and more power :-) ---- No, I'd keep it between us
B. Hadwick

Apr 23 2012

Excellent course, I learnt alot in a short time and the techniques used are so simple but so effective Many thanks
P. Radigan

May 9 2012

I enjoyed Calvin's techniques very much. I learned alot from him. Thanks Calvin. Pat1151

Your Instructor

Calvin Hollywood

Digital Artist & Photographer

Calvin Hollywood is a digital artist, photographer, Photoshop trainer and author from Germany. He's a photography based artist who focuses on getting the perfect shot with Photoshop. In addition, he...VIEW FULL BIO»

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