Photoshop – Adobe Style

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20 October 2008

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There has never been a time in history, as there is today, where we are achieving so many outstanding results in digital photography. While there are a myriad of tools that the computer and internet have made available, that enhance and change the images that come from a photo shoot, none can top the popularity and power of Adobe Photoshop. Adobe Photoshop, has become equal in thought to editing and creating new effects and people use the term; “to Photoshop” to describe editing or enhancing a picture image.

There is also the option to, “Photoshop in”, where you can add new items; accessories or even people to a picture and that was something we could not do before.

Let’s say you want a picture of you shaking hands with the president, well you don’t have to go to Washington anymore to get it, you can just “Photoshop” it in, so it will look as if you were really there.

Similarly, we can Photoshop out things from a picture we don’t want to see there anymore.

If you want to change a physical feature or flaw you can just remove it. Or, if there is something or someone in the background you don’t want in the picture, then you can remove that too. The program is so sophisticated that these images are possible and you really cannot tell the alteration has been made.

Photoshop has become such a de facto standard for photo processing used, that if you are setting up a photography studio or business; a copy of the software is as necessary as Microsoft word or PowerPoint. The good thing about this software is that it is readily accessible and a lot of people know how to use it. If you feel insecure about learning yet another computer application, you can probably find someone that knows about Photoshop, who can help you jump start learning how to use the software as well.

But Photoshop has not always dominated this genre. The program was created in 1989 by two brothers, John Knoll and Thomas Knoll. While the brothers developed Photoshop for custom uses they had at the time, it wasn’t long before the market potential of this software became evident. So, being smart entrepreneurs, John and Thomas founded a little company called Adobe and began operations in 1990.

Their success was a brilliant example of how people can achieve success in this day and age of computer technology. It’s popularity has grown rapidly and internet users are very familiar with Adobe. Nearly everyone who uses a computer is more than likely they are award of using the free copy of Adobe reader that they can use to make PDF files.

To really become skilled at using Photoshop, the first thing to do is probably find a copy to experience with. Like most computer applications, you can probably find a copy on a friend’s computer just to tinker with it and get a feel for the controls. Then if your friend is a wizard at Photoshop, let him or her show you some of the real “wiz-bang” things they can do with Photoshop, by using the same menus you were just tinkering with.

This little Saturday afternoon experiment could turn you into a Photoshop addict forever.

After you become familiar with it more, then you should purchase your own copy. If you want an evaluation version, you will get many of the basic features. But you really only need that if you are not sure if you are going to buy a copy. Since Photoshop dominates this market, you most certainly should buy a copy, this will help save some frustration, so it’s a good idea to purchase a licensed copy right away. It can be a fun way to create great projects or gifts for your self or others and you can easily find yourself spending hours enjoying it. If you want to increase your skills, they you can sign-up for some Adobe Photoshop classes that are available in your local area. Often, these classes will help you learn different techniques and shortcuts in using the software.

From there on out, your imagination is the only limit to how you will use this tool to make your photographs better for your customers. So, the next time someone asks if you can help them and ’Photoshop it and fix it’, you can say with confidence, “Absolutely”.