mastery

Photoshop Channels & Masks has traditionally been one of my most popular video series in the lynda.com Online Training Library. Which is why I decided to update the course and rename it Photoshop Masking & Compositing. After all, if it ain't broke, fix it.

It starts today with the release of my entirely reinvigorated primer course, Photoshop Masking & Compositing: Fundamentals, in which you'll learn everything there is to know about selections, alpha channels, layers, compositing, clipping masks, Color Range, the Quick Mask mode, Refine Edges, everyday channel masking, Calculations, layer masks, vector path outlines, and knockout layers. Give me your time, and I'll make sure your compositions look their absolute best.

And this is just the beginning. There will be many satellite courses, including (but not limited to) Advanced Blending, The Pen Tool, and my personal favorite, Hair. (I'm working on Photoshop Masking & Compositing: Advanced Blending, complete with mathematical formulas for each and every one of the blend modes, as you read this.)

Here's my chosen splash screen, complete with a toucan. Because let's face it, toucan's are about as cool as masked birds get:

For a chapter-by-chapter analysis (there are nine chapters in all), read on: Read more » 

Xmas Xis Xupon Xus. Which is awesome, because it means every Who down in Who-ville has begun putting up its lights. (Even Coldplay has noticed!) And the lights are so pretty. It makes me wish the Whos did this all year long. Although, for all I know, they do. I rarely get down to Whoville anymore.

Anyway, tonight, I thought I'd act on my fleeting sense of Xmas Xspirit:

I stared off from the deck of the Holiday Inn,
looking down at the harbor, I held tight to my gin.
And what do you suppose captured my fascination?
Than a boat full of lights changed with Hue/Saturation.

Oh shucks. The mood is over. That holiday tickle is so fickle. Meanwhile, I'm nearly done with my Illustrator CS5 One-on-One: Mastery course for lynda.com. I just knew you'd want to know.

Greetings, fellow Deke-o-philes!

This issue of dekeSpeak comes from a cool place. As the thermometer dips and layered apparel becomes increasingly conspicuous, I'm enjoying the warm fuzzy feeling I get from sharing the treasure trove of insights available on deke.com. Deke hooked up with Bert Monroy, and got a close look at Bert's most recent masterwork. Read on to get a glimpse of it yourself. Our tip for this installment comes from Deke's Photoshop CS5 One-on-One: Mastery course for lynda.com. And, I bring you good news: we've been able to extend the special (and very popular) Fotolia offer from the previous newsletter.

That's the news for now. As I'm sure you know, Deke sends all his virtual love.

Best regards, and I hope you're having a creative day,
Lou B, Speaker of the Deke, dekeOnline Read more » 

Hey there, everyone. I know a few (thousand) of you have lost complete and utter faith in me for my lack of regular blogging habits as of late. But it's only because I've had my nose to the grindstone on the projects that provide me with a living (excuse me for that) and you with the most benefit: My ongoing and extensive line of videos. Perhaps a pirate flag isn't the wisest graphic to associate with my commercial products, but it fits the mood, as you'll learn shortly.

In the interest of answering a few questions and providing one-and-all with a much-needed update of my activities, here's the latest: Read more »