Photoshop Elements 8 Tuition/Help
 

Hello!

I am relatively new to digital photography, and have never seriously used editing software before.

I have been lucky enough (I think!) to have had Elements 8 bought for me this Christmas, but I am not finding it particularly intuitive to use. Has anyone had any experience of reasonably priced day/weekend courses introducing Elements in the London/South East area? Or can anyone recommend a good book that may help me? - I have recently ordered Photoshop Elements 8 for Windows: The Missing Manual by Barbara Brundage.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts/suggestions.

Have you tried looking at a few of the tutorial videos that are around on the internet. Adobe have some on their own website, plus you'll find many more on this site too which will help to give you a few of the basics.

After that, then attending a day/two day long course on editing would be really useful. Sadly, I'm not from the south-east so I cannot personally recommend anyone in your area, but another consideration is possibly combining it with a photography holiday over 4 to 6 days. Firstly you'd get some tutition on how to best use your camera and learn many of the useful editing skills and techniques too whilst enjoying yourself too.

Thanks for your speedy response to my question. I will certainly look at the video tutorials you have suggested. The holiday idea sounds good too. Thanks again.

[quote=NCSale;10061]Hello!

I am relatively new to digital photography, and have never seriously used editing software before. I have been lucky enough (I think!) to have had Elements 8 bought for me this Christmas, but I am not finding it particularly intuitive to use.[/quote]

As an absolute beginner you can't go far wrong with any of the books by Scott Kelby and his book for Elements 8 can be found here [URL]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Photoshop-Elements-Digital-Photographers-Voices/dp/0321660331/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262728070&sr=8-7[/URL]

Now it has to be said right up front that if you are looking for a book with all manner of technical ins and outs then this isn't the book for you. However, if you are looking for a book that is essentailly written in the style of what I like to call a 'cooking book' then this is probably one of the best around. Basically, you follow word for word everything that Scott says and in the end you end up with pretty much the same quality of cake. For a beginner Scotts books are an excellent read and also very well illustrated.

Thanks, I will see how I get on with the book I've ordered (wish I'd known about Scott Kelby's book, I already have one of his others - very good!) and possibly order his.