Project Life | Week 6: February 4-10, 2013
Click on the images for larger views in Flickr.
I did something fun and challenging this week, but I’m wondering why change is so difficult, and learning new things can sometimes make your head hurt.
The fun part: I took an online photography class -- the 102 class at Shoot Fly Shoot! I learned several things I did not know. I switched my Nikon D40 over to RAW, downloaded a free trial of Photoshop CS6, and started editing my photos in Adobe Camera RAW (ACR). I highly recommend Josh and Kevin's classes. They are GREAT teachers, and explain (and show) things in ways that just make sense.
Shooting in RAW and editing in ACR is so easy. I love it! Right about now, you might be thinking, “So where does the head hurting part come in?”
Photoshop CS6.
In the words of Dewey Finn,
"It will test your head... and your mind... and your brain, too."
I thought, "I'm very comfortable with Photoshop Elements, so switching over to full Photoshop should be no big deal. I'll just be able to do all the cool stuff I can't do in Elements." HAHAHA. NOT. Oh my. Full Photoshop is WAY different than Photoshop Elements. The good part is, it comes with the full version of ACR, which is awesome. Elements has ACR too, but it’s just not the same -- it’s like a mini-version (not unlike the differences between PS and PSE).
So... I *tried* to use PS-CS6 to create this week's Project Life layout, but it literally made my head hurt (and I’m not just saying that as a figure of speech. I actually got headaches). I figured out how to use the text path tool to wrap words around a shape (see the turquoise journal card with the white half-circle on it), but that’s pretty much it. For the most part, I found myself not being able to do in PS-CS6 basic stuff I do all the time in Elements. Can they be done? I'm sure they can. I just don't know how. Even my favorite thing about digital scrapbooking, the Undo button, is not there! Oh, I know about the History panel and all that, but I do miss the Undo button. Anyway, if you’re a PSE user who has ever thought about making the switch, be warned. There is a big learning curve (at least there was/is for me).
Just to be nice and end on a happy note (especially if you’re a PSE user), I’ll share a couple of “secrets” with you that I use in PSE all the time. These are two things that are pretty important to me that you aren’t supposed to be able to do in Elements.
1. Justify Text: Ctrl+Shift+J
This makes the text appear in a block, aligned on both sides. There is no option to do this in Elements, but the keyboard shortcut from PS works.
2. Adjust Text Spacing:
This one is a bit more complicated, but it works. I used it a LOT on last week’s layout for the titles on the journal cards. OK, get prepared to take notes (or copy/paste). Now, go to this link, and do what Ken says (here's the URL in case the link doesn't work for you: http://forums.adobe.com/thread/913851 ).
So, there you go. That's all I've got for now. :) Have a great week!
Products used for Week 6:
I'm linking up with The Mom Creative! :)
I really like how you add the day coding to the corner of your photos! And good luck in learning full PS - It can be overwhelming, I know. But you'll get it - just hang in there and play with it :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Emily! I really like working with Bridge and ACR, so I've decided (I think) to go ahead and sign up for the monthly PS subscription, and just keep using Elements until I can get more comfortable with PS. The hardest thing for me right now is not having the project bin. I'm so used to dragging papers and elements up into my layout. I need to figure out the easiest way to do this in PS. :)
DeleteYour pages are so bright and cheery. When I look at them I feel happy. I also have a Nikon D40 and haven't learned to shoot in manual yet. I have messed with it a little but not enough to feel comfortable with it. I am familiar with Photoshop CS3 not sure how different it is than CS6 but on mine command+z will do undo the last step and command+option+z will do undo further steps back. Hope that makes sense, and that is Mac keys not sure what the equal windows keys would be but it is possible. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Suzanne! :) I will have to try the undo shortcut. I'm guessing for a PC it would be ctrl+z and then ctrl+alt+z. I highly recommend taking a photography class to learn how to use manual. I went to one with a local photographer a couple of years ago. She uses a Nikon also, so she could show me exactly what to do on my camera. That was super helpful. :)
DeleteYour photos do look great! That is one thing I am not good at yet and that is getting my pictures to look bright all the time. Or at least brighten them up after the fact. I do shoot in raw. I've improved over the years but I am not there yet. I love all the colors in your layout! Well done.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Margie! I am not there yet either. :) The "before" versions of most of my photos are darker and yellow. That's what I'm loving about editing in ACR -- much more control over white balance and exposure. :)
DeleteSuch beautiful colors on your pages. I am just now going to the digital layouts and have a lot to learn but am excited. Love that shot of your husband with the pie--he's got great will power!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Andrea! Have fun with digital! I love it! :)
DeleteYour pages are so bright & colorful!! I enjoyed looking at them! I also use a lot of elements from Misstiina! Love all her free downloads, her designing is just my style! Look forward to seeing future layouts of yours.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Danielle! :)
DeleteLove the brights colors! ♥ So pretty!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Michelle! They make me happy! :)
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