Every day, I create a post for this blog, every month I write for Photoshop User magazine and every year I write or update multiple books.
I’d love to get your input on what you’d like to see covered in my future writing projects. Keep in mind that my blog entries are typically very short, my magazine articles are a single page and my books are where I can cover things with as much depth as is necessary to do the subject justice.
What are some unanswered questions you have about Photoshop, or digital imaging in general?
What are you largest frustrations that I might be able to help you through?
What do you think is being ignored by most magazines and books?
I’d love to get your input so I can write about what’s important to you.
Please use the comments section of this post to express your ideas.
Ben,
Have been enjoying your blog (and your CS up to speed book) for some time now. Here are some thoughts:
1) Blog – what you are doing now is really good – lots of little things here and there that catch your eye and you pass on.. just the right level of content and timing.
2) Books. That is a tough one, so many things are covered; u hit a home run with the CS2 Up to Speed book for sure. I think writings/books that emphasize workflow with Bridge/CS2 would be useful.
3)What is being ignored? Good question. The area that seems to have the largest growth (and will continue to have) is the rise of the inexpensive DSLRs and people wanting to get the best pics they can in the least amount of time).
Hope this is useful.
paul
Love your Blog
I am interested in CS2 and raw.
I have not mastered raw, but am trying. All your arcitles on CS2, raw, Canon 20d, and camera equipiment are of interest to me.
I like you links to other sites, which open new doors for me like Blue Ridge Muse.
Keep it up I think you are doing are service with your blog.
Thank you
Loads of folk are making their first entry into digital, the hardest thing is getting the colour management sorted out and also coping with the more limited dynamic range of digital. To use digital just as one used film won’t get the best from the medium.
Lots of folk buy Photoshop but who never really master it. They go through the motions but their knowledge barely scratches the surface. Your Studio Techniques book helps a lot.
So – anything that helps those migrating from film to digital is great and might even decrease the number of badly taken, badly printed digital photos in circulation.
Ben, I really enjoy reading your blogs. I like the products shown but it seems like there are a lot of those lately. I would like to read more Photoshop tips/techniques. Your comments about todays digital cameras would be welcomed.
I’ve just been overly busy lately, so I’ve been relying more on products and other sites for info… I’ll start posting more original photoshop content once my schedule mellows out.
-Ben
Hi Ben. thanks so much for doing this…the blog, your books. you’re the first person i go to for info..it’s a great thing you do!
what i would like to read about…my main concern is workflow. i feel like i’m well informed in most areas of photoshop, i.e. the techniques, but would really love a list of steps to follow. i realize that corrections vary according to photos etc…but for some reason i feel like i get overly involved, specially now dealing with camera raw where some things can be done in that dialog box. i feel some sort of steps list would be great to follow.
thank again for your work!
Marlene,
The CS2 version of my Studio Techniques book has a whole chapter on workflow… it tells you the exact order I perform things in and why.
-Ben
Ben, I’m with everyone else in really liking this blog. You are eternally curious and it’s fun to see what catches your attention.
I would like more short articles on the topics of design, composition, etc. with links to artists you like. You did that not too long ago when you featured Before & After Magazine. That was great! Musings on the art of photography would be welcome to me.
I would like to take your course at Better Photo someday.
Thanks for the blog!
Linda J
I’m the first to admit that I have an insatiable curiousity with life, gadgets and people.
I’ll try to slip in a few more design related items as I run across them and I’ll also do more links to artists I enjoy… along with interviews so we can figure out what makes them tick.
I’ll be scaling back my class sizes on those betterphoto classes (from a max of 65 to somewhere closer to 20), since it’s difficult to keep up with the class while traveling.
Thanks for sharing your ideas… I really appreciate it.
-Ben
I enjoy following your journey. My PS journey is hindered on “task memory” of the combination of key strokes (for shortcuts). Is there any meaning behind the “option” key or the “command” key or the “control” key – OR do I simply “memorize” the combo and not try to read too much into their meaning ?
What works best to de-program my brain away from a mouse and toward a tablet ?
For the tablet… unplug your mouse for one full week and force yourself to use the tablet. After the week, you’re welcome to plug the mouse back in… but as long as you keep going back to the mouse it will be difficult to get used to the tablet.
There is a logic behind the keyboard commands… to learn about them, check out the magazine article I wrote a while back on that topic at http://www.digitalmastery.com/companionsite/magazine/psuser12.pdf
Ben, I’ve working my way through a few of your books, read your blog here and had a few tapes of yours. And I’m still digesting, with too many courses to go still. So, I wouldn’t be surprised if you have already said many things I want to know that I haven’t gotten to yet.
BUT, I am reading your CS2 thriller right now, and today I was hitting the chapter on Smart stuff. Well, lately it’s all hit us at once, Smart this and Smart that, all these applications, OSX, Pshop CS2, and on. So here’s my conundrum: there is this new “thing” and you set it up like this and that, and it works like other things in other apps you may or not have used…….but…… what the heck is the underlying all consuming concept about Smarts, I just don’t get. As far as Pshop goes, Smart Objects, what is it going to do for me, it’s a virtual something? A side car to real layers, or… why are we needing them actually? What do they want to do for us, what’s the object?
I have some old age block here, and just can’t figure out the need and/or the premise for which it’s been offered. I hope I haven’t been too cute and not asked my question thoughtfully, but I’m baffled about all things Smart right now.
So anyway, I’d love to see someone discourse the origin of need for the Smarts and give a clue about the angle they’re coming from and what it’s intent for integration is all really about.
…And I am really, really impressed at the energy that you put out, in every expression of help, advice and sharing that you’ve manifested in the years that I’ve received you Ben, thanks
Ben – I have all your books, have taken you internet class and been to your live seminars. Thanks for all the help you have given me. But I am sure that I am like other serious amateurs when I run into a retouch problem and have not done that particular procedure for awhile I forget some of the steps. A small book that could fit into a shirt pocket with a page dedicated to each problem that comes up using photo shop with step by step instructions. For instance – whiten teeth – photo too dark – photo too light – remove color cast – ectraction – use of quick mask. The list could go on and on and I am sure you have seen all the things that people do wrong with photoshop. I seem to get to where I should go but always seem to get there in a round about fashion. I think a book that would list procedures for correction in a simple 1 2 3 method would be most helpful and probably sell well. You are the man to do it. I also enjoy the blog very much. Keep the stories coming. Thanks DEL
Thanks DEL…
My brother has also suggested such a book… one that is a single page on each common problem. I was going to start by adding a two page spread to the end of each chapter in my Studio Techniques book that had a very visual and simple 1, 2,3… that gives you the gist of the chapter. (like for color correction), but an entire book would be good.
I’ll keep that in mind… also, maybe I can start that on this blog by having short, to the point, 1, 2, 3, here’s how you do it kind of entries.
Thanks again.
-Ben
Hi Ben, I appreciate your knowledge and you have a gift to teach. I have a suggestion for your book.
The Photoshop package is intimidating, no wonder there are so many books on it. But, if there were a book that was divided into three sections: beginners, intermediate, and advance. Or if a chapter were divided into these three sections; then, depending on one’s experience with Photoshop, a novice could read just the beginners sections in the whole book. For example, if one does not know what layers do, what is the use to tell him about adjustment layers.
I learned HyperTalk from Danny Goodman’s book. In that book the commands were designated by bullets. One bullet commands for those who were just starting to learn HyperTalk. Once you could make simple HyperCard stacks you then studied and started using the two bullets commands, and so on.
HyperTalk had commands, properties, functions, operators, constants, messages, etc., amounting to about 448 in all. I did not have any knowledge of programming when I started. But with a well-organized book I could write a program that took care of my business.
Photoshop now has about 420 menu items, and that are not counting choices in the tool bar, blending modes, palette choices, etc. Then there are techniques on how to use these. Your book is great, any time someone wants to know about the best book in Photoshop I recommend your book.
Hi Ben…love your blog…I’d like to generally know what cameras you use and other photoshop pros…also how to put cool frames and borders around images and print them like that…also more papers like the one for blending modes…that was so helpful,best,Rory