Thinking in Photoshop

I just turned in my final assignment for the Photoshop class.  I certainly have learned a lot, but I know I've just scratched the surface.  Summer classes are great, but boy you need to have some familiarity with the topic (or in this case software) before taking it on as summer class.  I can recall telling students that in the old days, but somehow I didn't think it applied to me.

There are some things that I feel I'm missing.  I've not gotten to the stage when I can think in Photoshop.  By that I mean when I have a project to do, I'm not sure where to start or what assets I need.  I also know that I need to learn more about Photoshop layers.  I think there are a number of "tricks" to using them.  I found a great book  on Layers that is a lot of text with models that I plan to go through.

This summer I'd really thought I would have plenty of time to devote to my garden and yard and work on the website.  I haven't had time to provide any new content.  I really need to tend to that. 

This has been a good learning experience, now I need to apply it.

Magazine Cover - Final Project

I have a website www.urbansaratogagardening.com that I built earlier this  year.  I've not had much time this summer to update content, but that is my next project.  However, I took this class to learn how to improve the images I wanted to use on my website, so it seemed fitting to make a magazine cover for it. I really like the upscale magazines from Taunton Press in the Fine series.  They have Fine Gardening, Fine Cooking, etc.    I didn't want a lot of text or many images on the cover.  I wanted it to be understated and appeal to the "country gardener".  I couldn't use that term since it was taken.  I found this image of a "great house" with a very nice lawn area, something that seems like Saratoga.  Since my focus is Roses, I added the article Rose Care and captured the three yellow roses from a photo of my own roses.  I originally had white text in keeping with the website's color scheme, but with the yellow roses, the yellow text looked more appropriate.  I added the url of the website at the top of the cover and included a secondary topic under the title.  Overall, I'm pleased with the results. 

Final Magazine Cover for Urban Saratoga Gardening

This has been a tough class for someone who knew very little about Photoshop at the beginning. At one point I was about to throw in the towel.  But I knew that my fall semester will also be very busy and decided to finish.  I know I have a lot more to learn, but I can continue on my own.  I've learned a lot. I'm glad I hung in there.