Technology Learning » Free Time

Learning Photoshop through Video Tutorials

admin — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 12:05:41 +0000

If the thought of learning Photoshop through textual tutorials make you snore, you might find tutorial videos more interesting. There are lots of tutorials available on CD-ROM and DVD formats and thousands of single-lesson video clips you can view online or download to watch later. Many of these videos are taught by a human trainer and while the videos are designed to guide you step-by-step, you can always skip lessons and jump from one clip to the next.

Here are a few you might want to take home:

PhotoshopSecrets for Wacom Tablets & Photoshop

This is a great Photoshop video tutorial if you are a tablet user. Currently, this is probably the most comprehensive, allowing you to learn how to use all the tools and features available with Adobe Photoshop. This tutorial video is authored and taught by Colin Smith and Weston Maggio of Photoshopcafe and Wacom Technology, respectively. Both are experienced trainers so you’ll find the lessons well-paced and relevant.

This DVD ROM tutorial has more than 120 minutes of 800×600 video. It’s easy to navigate and you can click on any lesson you like without any trouble while still controlling the playback. If you prefer to learn on your own, just click on the lesson files and play the video clip of your choice on your own free time.

PhotoshopSecrets Special FX

This tutorial video contains 19 lessons packed in approximately 2 hours of fast-loading CD-ROM. If ‘cool!’ is the one word that you want to hear to feel validated for your Photoshop efforts, this video tutorial will teach you exactly how to use special effects like the pros. Learn about 3D lathing, liquid splashes, CS branding, pixel stretching, thermal vision, toxic waste and lots more. These are cutting-edge effects, the kind you find in more advanced Photoshop users’ works so you might want to try it out for yourself.

Photoshopsupport.com

This site features some of the best and latest Photoshop tutorials, including those in video. Use Photoshop confidently in no time with the free video tutorials. You can even click on the links provided to find out about Photoshop products for more detailed tutorials. If you’re using Photoshop to come up with a cooler, meaner website, you’ll like the short tutorials on SiteGrinder 2, an Adobe Photoshop Plugin.

Graphicsoft.about.com

If you like free online tutorials, check out this site. All tutorial video clips are taught by Deke McClelland, who is also the trainer for several Adobe Photoshop CS2 training CDs. He’s offering a free sample of his lessons on this site – you won’t have everything you need, but the tutorials are enough to teach you some very important things and get you started.

Included in the tutorial video clips are: learning about Vanishing Point, Camera Raw, Image Warp, Smart Sharpen Filter, Smart Objects, Adobe Bridge, Match Color and Shadow Highlight Filter. If you want to buy his tutorial videos, you’ll get an exclusive 20% discount if you use the promotion code.

PhotoshopSecrets – CS2 for Digital Photographers

If you want to learn how to maximize your digital photos with the use of CS2, this video tutorial is for you. Learn how professional photographers produce better-looking photographs and use their tricks to turn your photos from blah to blast. This tutorial video is a CD-ROM format, has 43 lessons and runs approximately 3.5 hours.

Lessons include: using Camera Raw, image adjustment, red eye removal, grain and color noise reduction, changing perspective, using image sharpening techniques, using vanishing point, image extraction and many more. If those lessons aren’t enough to get you interested, here are two of the most popular tools you absolutely must learn: face swapping and image retouching.

By: Mario SG Churchill

Four Best Spanish Learning Methods That You Can Employ

admin — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 07:54:32 +0000

You can learn Spanish by using many methods. Some may be difficult, while some may be pretty easy. What really matters is that you meet your ultimate objective. That normally is to be able to master Spanish at a certain level. This article gives you five best Spanish learning methods. The methods are proven to be effective for learning this popular language.

1 Learning Spanish from the people If you know somebody who can speak Spanish, you can approach him and ask him to speak to you in Spanish. Most people will be willing to do you a favor. It is human nature to help others. If you can do that, you can get an excellent method that you can start learning Spanish. Besides, it is free.

2 Learning Spanish from the text books You can go to the library to borrow some text books for self-learning of Spanish language. If you want to invest in buying some books, go to the bookstore and select the one you like. It should not be so expensive to learn from books. In addition, you can learn it easily at your free time anywhere. Learning from books is classic. It can also be effective if you really put your heart into the studying.

3 Learning from movies, TV or CD programs You can use a little more modern technology by learning from the media. TV can be another good method to learn Spanish. It is also free but it may not be available in your area. In that case, you may be able to select to go to theater or to rent some Spanish movies. Learning from the movies can be another way. Although, the effectiveness of the learning depends on the type of the movies you are watching. Or you can learn it from the CD program. You can buy that from the bookstores and learn from it.

4 Learning from internet With nowadays technology, you can use internet as your method of learning. There are many online programs that effectively teach you Spanish. Some of them consist of all necessary ingredients for learning. In addition, the cost is not expensive. You can also enjoy the benefits of doing it at home.

If you want to learn Spanish, you may want to know what choices you have. This article suggests four best Spanish learning methods for being your choices.

By: Jim Somchai

Learning To Type With Typing Games Is Child’s Play!

admin — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 05:54:36 +0000

Anyone who doesn’t know how to type in this day and age is at a distinct disadvantage. Kids and adults must learn to type to stay competitive at work and at school. Typing games are personalized software that teaches typing at the learner’s own pace to decrease frustration and boredom. No more tedious drills as typing games help everyone learn to type at home or at school.

It is important to consider your students’ age and interests when shopping for typing games. You can find typing games that utilize the popular cartoon character of the day for younger children, or you can find more sophisticated games that are perfect for older students. By having something age appropriate, you are more likely to find the children actually playing the games.

Next, see if you can find something the students can play with little teacher direction. This is particularly helpful if you are going to use the typing games as rewards during free time. You may be busy helping other students or grading papers when the students are on the computer. Of course, if you are going to use the games in a traditional typing class, you may not need them to be quite so self-sufficient.

When your students are playing the typing game you have chosen, do spend some time monitoring them to make sure they are using correct typing techniques. Some of the typing games that are aimed at younger kids can be done with one or two fingers, without using the keyboard correctly. If the students are using the games this way, they might as well not be using them at all, because they are learning improper techniques while using the educational software.

Another type of software to look for is a typing education program that combines games with traditional typing drills. With these programs, students are rewarded with typing games after learning a new typing skill. This combines the fun of the game with the educational component of the typing drill. Typing software can help students learn to type on their own. Many programs will adjust to the students’ learning level, challenge to the next skill level and track progress. Adults can even use these programs to improve their typing speeds on their own.

Typing games are a great way to introduce typing in a home school setting as well. The goal of teaching typing is not necessarily to go through a traditional curriculum, but rather to make sure your children are able to type correctly and quickly. If your state requires a grade for typing, many of the typing games on the market that are designed for older children do evaluate their progress as they type their way through the game. This evaluation can easily be translated into a grade if needed.

Are there any cons to using typing games in your classroom or home school setting? If they are used correctly, there really are no negatives to this type of educational software. Typing is a skill that is only learned through repeated practice. There is no amount of study that your students can do to improve their typing speed. It’s easy to acquire typing skills by practicing the exercises in typing game software. Typing games provide a fun, stimulating way to practice. Not only that, but typing is an absolutely necessary skill in today’s job market. No matter what career path your students choose to follow, being able to type well and quickly will be considered an asset.

By: Sheryl Wood