Software Cinema DVD-Rom: Training: How to Wow - Workflow & Optimizing CS3 by Jack Davies

Section 1 - Camera and Computer Workflow

Session 01 : Camera Workflow

Leaving your camera's settings on their Default is the easiest way to create more work for yourself - AND lower the potential quality of your images. File Format, Color Space, ISO, Contrast, Exposure... even on a "Point-n-Shoot" camera, understanding these variables is essential to getting the best possible "Story" to work with in Photoshop. Also understanding the basic steps of Downloading and Tagging, Organizing, Processing and Archiving your files is covered here.

Session 02 : Computer and Color Workflow

The issue of Color and Computers is largely the story of PROFILES: Calibrating your monitor creates a Profile, your printers comes with custom Profiles for different printer, paper and ink settings, when you want to Preview how you image will look on paper BEFORE you ever hit "print," you will "Soft Proof" to a specific Profile right within Photoshop. After this session you will be able to Assign Profiles, Convert to Profiles and even Synchronize ALL your Creative Suite color setting and Profiles in simple one step.

Section 2 - Bridge and Camera Raw Workflow

Session 03 : Essentials of the New Bridge

An overview of the CS3 new Bridge, including the workflow time-saver Photo Downloader, the indispensable Filter Panel, the new Loupe, Compare and Stacks Views, Customized Workspace options, and even some essential lifesavers hidden away in Preferences.

Session 04 : Essentials of the New Camera Raw 4.1

This session showcases the incredible breakthroughs pertaining to a streamlined, nondestructive workflow that have come to us in the new Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) 4.1, including the indispensable new Healing Brush, Highlight and Shadow Recovery sliders, Vibrance and targeted HSL controls, and the best Black & White and Split Tone features to be found anywhere. Plus more essentials hidden away in Preferences.

Session 05 : Accelerated ACR 4.1 Workflow

KISS: Keep It Simple Student (or in this case, Teacher). Now that you have had the tour of ACR, can we cut to the chase and narrow down a typical workflow to the LEAST that we'll need to do for MOST of our images? One, Two, Three and be done? Yup. Save the settings we like so we can apply them to a thousand more shots? Instantly? Yup. That's what we'll do in this session.

Session 06 : Automated ACR Workflow with Wow Presets

The idea of working with Presets is the idea of saving the Steps of the Process you (or someone like Jack) used to get a desired result in ACR - WITHOUT having to do any actually Pixel editing! Record (and Reapply) the Process, Don't Push the Pixels. This is not only infinitely faster that editing traditional multi-layered files in Photoshop, it is also completely NONDESTRUCTIVE! In this session Jack will show you how to get started with the 100 ACR Wow Presets (and how to apply them without even opening up ACR!) that are included with this title.

Session 07 : Accelerated Adobe Bridge Workflow

The New Adobe Bridge (call it THE Bridge if you like ;) is an incredible workhorse for not only organizing your work, but also for getting work done. In this session Jack will demonstrate some indispensable Tools built into the Bridge (and ones that you can download for free) that will Rename your files, Scale and convert Formats to hundreds of files at a time, and even Watermark your images (custom type, ghosted back, rotated 90 degrees, in the upper right? Yup.). This, with a few hidden interface gems thrown in for good measure.

Session 08 : Maximizing the Photoshop CS3 New Interface

Like a new pair of shoes, some things just need to be to be stretched a bit to fit right and feel comfortable - and how to "stretch" Photoshop the CS3 new interface (and some new features found in it's Preferences) for a speedier and more personalized workflow.

Section 3 - Smart Non-destructive Workflow

Session 09 : Smart Workflow - Preferences

Just how far can you take this "Quality, Flexibility and Speed" mantra of Jack's? Can you really do your Global Optimizing (in ACR), AND Targeted Enhancing (in Photoshop CS3) and not harm a single pixel? To JPEGs as well as Raw files? And share all your manipulations between multiple files instantly? AND have brighter teeth and fresher breath at the same time? IF you start with the right Bridge, ACR and Photoshop Preference settings, you can.

Session 10 : Smart Workflow - ACR

Cropping, Retouching and all your Global Optimizing (including Black & White conversion) will be done in ACR... for the rest of your life... Amen. Here's how.

Session 11 : Smart Workflow - Filters

You will never harm another pixel with a filter (or Shadow/Highlight or Variations) again - and here's Why that is so incredibly cool - and practical.

Session 12 : Smart Workflow - Styles

Though often overlooked in Photography, Layer Styles (which have been around in Photoshop for ages) are ALSO Procedure-based features, and thus are ALSO fast, free and non-fattening ways of non-destructively enhancing your photography instantly.

Session 13 : Smart Workflow - Sharing

Since everything done using "Procedural" or "Smart" features in Photoshop is accomplished with little saved instruction sets (that's the bases of all ACR adjustments, Presets, Styles, Smart Objects and Smart Filters), the instant sharing of these instruction sets can greatly speed up your workflow - and thus actually let you go home tonight!

Section 4 - Selecting Tips and Techniques

Session 14 : Quick Select, Refine Edge and Masking Secrets

The CS3 great new Quick Select tool, and it's partner, the Refine Edge dialog, are going to be your new best friends when it comes to selecting - IF you know how to navigate the options, and use the resulting "marching ants" as a basis for your nondestructive Layer Masking. And if you know a little trick to help with those pesky little edge details (like flyaway hair) then your life will be complete!

Session 15 : Selecting by Color

Sometimes what you are trying to select is a very specific color (like a skin tone), and the easiest way to isolate it (like skin, that you may want to soften, while keeping everything else sharp) starts with Color Range, which you will learn about here.

Section 5 - Color and Tone Optimizing

Session 16 : Curves for Tonal and Color Correction

The new enhanced Curves Adjustment in CS3 is a one-stop powerhouse of color and tone correction (especially if you understand it's Auto Color Correction Options) - for both global AND targeted optimization. Jack demystifies the new Curves dialog in this session.

Session 17 : Smart Dodging and Burning

There are a thousand ways to do targeted tonal adjustments in Photoshop - but which are the best in terms of image Quality, non-destructive Flexibility and "I need it done NOW" Speed? In this session Jack will show you some of his favorite ways of Wow-afying a photograph's tone to perfection.

Session 18 : Combining Multiple Exposures

But what about when the Dynamic Range of your subject is just too much to be captured in a single shot (even WITH the magic that can be done with Dodging & Burning techniques)? Can multiple photographs, with different exposures, be EASILY combined to create the penultimate print? Yup... a few tips and techniques with Jack and you will be off and running.

Section 6 - Getting Ready for Output

Session 19 : Smart Sharpening and Scaling

This session really covers five different areas that are often interrelated (and that are thus best viewed and worked on that way): 1. General Globally Sharpening of your photograph, 2. Targeted Sharpening of your photograph to emphasize your subject, 3. Noise and Chromatic Aberration Removal, 4. Defringing of Edge Artifacts, and finally 5. Scaling of your image, if needed, for output. Grab some coffee and a donut for this session!

Session 20 : Soft Proofing and Print Previewing in CS3

CS3 has enhanced it's Print options, including the ability to get a color managed Preview of what an image will look like BEFORE committing the print to paper. But what if you don't like what you see? This session covers the essentials of on-screen Soft Proofing within Photoshop (including the whole concept of the different RGB Color Spaces and using custom Color Profiles) where you'll be able to not only SEE what happens when you choose a specific output option (whether for your own desktop printer, or some other photographic or commercial printer), but more importantly, ADJUST your work non-destructively to bring it back to your vision.