dekeBlog

As of this moment, Adobe has released at least two sneak peeks on the topic of Photoshop CS6. The above is from Bryan O'Neil Hughes, who appeared on many of my audio podcasts, Martini Hours. Next, here's a link to a video from Zorana Gee, an undeniably sexier (but, you know, I'm a guy) product manager for Photoshop.

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So I came across this:

Made by someone, not sure who. This is my best attempt to link. (Perhaps I'm lame, but if you know or are who made it, clue the rest of us in.)

If the above image doesn't look totally amazing to you---admittedly, it's kinda small---click on it! But remember, after you're done, take a moment to come back here.

My questions to you (and I have a few): Read more » 

OK, it's 2012, and rather than weigh you down with tedious resolutions (no, we're not giving up martinis), I thought I'd make a list of a dozen useful things that Deke has shared over the past year. Some are about life, most are about Photoshop, and one just helps you to keep track of your damn phone. Links to relevant stuff accompany each entry:

Become the hair masking genius
http://www.lynda.com/home/Player.aspx?lpk4=95566&playChapter=False

Deke's most recent entry in the Photoshop Masking & Compositing series focuses on one critically important skill: masking hair. In particular, Chapter 2 presents you with the scenario you're most likely to encounter: masking Dark hair. Check out this movie to see how establishing a strong Calculation between channels gives you a head start (heh) on this masking challenge; it's free to all. Members of lynda.com should watch the whole chapter; it's a Photoshop mastery course in a nutshell. Want proof? Check out the before and after of this Chapter's project:

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My final video course of 2011 for the lynda.com Online Training Library is now live. Titled Photoshop Masking & Compositing: Hair, it lives up to its name, showing you how to mask and composite the most fragile of all photographic details, hair, in that most powerful of masking applications, Photoshop.

(Yes, I'm aware that the term "follicle" specifically refers to the root of the hair, not the part we see and therefore need to mask. It's all about the alliteration, dammit!)

My goal is to boost both your skills and your confidence. As well as pass along lots of useful, in-the-trenches techniques. All in just 3 hours and 6 minutes! Here's an illustrated outline of the four feature-rich chapters and the fun, challenging projects that accompany them: Read more » 

Ask anyone at Adobe what distinguishes Photoshop from every other image-editing program, app, or digital blip on the planet, and they'll tell you "masking and compositing." Apparently you agree, because my video course Photoshop Masking & Compositing: Fundamentals is tearing up the planet over at lynda.com. It's N-to-the-1-to-the-L-D-C, as the dope kids say. As if I'd know.

Naturally, I'm gratified. (Thanks very much, btw!) Plus, it emboldens me to report: Today I and my beloved video publisher release another installment in the series, Photoshop Masking & Compositing: Advanced Blending. The image below might make it look exacting and academic. Which it is. But it's also expansive and practical. Because it tells the ultimate post-processing story: How to paint without permanence, create without consequences, and, in the end, mask without masking. In short, how to assemble photorealistic artwork through the pure power of artistic thought. It really is that good.

This is a short course, just 4 hours, and yet it manages to comprise 9 chapters. Here they are: Read more »