Q1.
Where does a person find images that inspire the Photoshop user of things possible?
Q2.
Where does the Photoshop user get training (your personal experience)?
Q3.
What are your suggestions on books and reference material and why?
Your comments are welcome. Dexter
I just found out that if you want to view others comments you have to click on the time, then the comments open up.
Monday, April 9, 2007
Sunday, April 8, 2007
What do you Think?
As it stands right now this Blog is very limiting. It is good for information purposes, but not really interactive. A couple of weeks ago I thought it would be great and also being free you can’t go too far wrong. If we are going to be a users group where we actually have to do something for the group it is stifling. Presently, you have to send articles, questions, and pictures to me and I will copy and paste them on the Blog. Who wants to do that? I don’t want to be the controlling factor.
As a screen printer, I belong to a forum, http://www.screenprinters.net/, which is totally interactive for the user and hands off for the moderator. In the forums page, there are about 18 different forums (topics for discussion). Click on one that you are interested in and see all of the conversations that help screen printers. Registered users can post topics of discussion, comment, post pictures and answer question with other users.
I think this kind of set up would be great for the question and answer section. I don’t know the cost, who would be willing to put it together, or if it is worth doing.
What do you Think? Comments welcome.
As a screen printer, I belong to a forum, http://www.screenprinters.net/, which is totally interactive for the user and hands off for the moderator. In the forums page, there are about 18 different forums (topics for discussion). Click on one that you are interested in and see all of the conversations that help screen printers. Registered users can post topics of discussion, comment, post pictures and answer question with other users.
I think this kind of set up would be great for the question and answer section. I don’t know the cost, who would be willing to put it together, or if it is worth doing.
What do you Think? Comments welcome.
Thursday, April 5, 2007
Meetup’s first and last meeting was a Hit!
They came early and stayed late.
We were talking before the meeting that this is a start of something really big. There is not a Photoshop Meetup Group or a Photoshop Users Group in the Portland area. The need is great to provide service to the community. Ten members filled up Mono: Graphics Studio, Ltd last night, which had some sitting on the floor.
The need
To be connected with like-minded people and share learning experiences. An uplifting experience of learning and socializing that enhances people’s life.
Agenda?
I had one. After the introductions I was moving through the agenda as quickly as possible. About half was through the meeting took on a life of its own. Open discussions on printers, digital cameras, monitor calibration, Mac vs. PC, color management, recommened books, Photoshop CS3, film photography, and more filled up the evening. I expected this to happed, after all, these people have not ever had a meeting and the energy level was contagious. Sometimes two or three conversations going on at the same time one could participate or just sit back and enjoy the ride.
Meetup
I think all members agree that Meetup is not the way to go. First: They charge dues ($19.00 a month) for services that are free. It goes against my grain to spend anything that is not benefiting the community. People (I’m smirking) have tried to teach me the math; if 10 people show up I charge $1.90 per person. Do you have change for a five? All I have is a twenty; can I pay you next time? Second: Due to the “double page” of members, I don’t know how many members there actually are. I mail out notices to the members and not all of them get the email. That makes me mad that members aren’t getting the message. I could go on but long story short: this Blog is free and provides more services than Meetup.
What was accomplished?
1) Use this Blog as our information site.
2) Users group meeting the first Wednesday of the month from 7:00 to 9:00pm.
3) All levels of experience are welcome.
4) Main purpose is for learning and networking
5) Limit to Photoshop software and related topics.
6) To become a member you have to show up to meetings or ask to be put on the email list.
7) Members bring samples of their work at meetings.
8) Members can submit articles that they think will benefit other members.
9) Question and Answer section on Blog.
10) Provide links to member's web sites.
11) Provide links to Photoshop related topics.
12) Start small.
In closing
We want you to come and share your Photoshop experience, leave excited about your part of this users group, think of how you can make it better and look forward in coming to the next meeting.
You comments are welcome and send me an email to be put on our weekly newsletter. See you next month!
We were talking before the meeting that this is a start of something really big. There is not a Photoshop Meetup Group or a Photoshop Users Group in the Portland area. The need is great to provide service to the community. Ten members filled up Mono: Graphics Studio, Ltd last night, which had some sitting on the floor.
The need
To be connected with like-minded people and share learning experiences. An uplifting experience of learning and socializing that enhances people’s life.
Agenda?
I had one. After the introductions I was moving through the agenda as quickly as possible. About half was through the meeting took on a life of its own. Open discussions on printers, digital cameras, monitor calibration, Mac vs. PC, color management, recommened books, Photoshop CS3, film photography, and more filled up the evening. I expected this to happed, after all, these people have not ever had a meeting and the energy level was contagious. Sometimes two or three conversations going on at the same time one could participate or just sit back and enjoy the ride.
Meetup
I think all members agree that Meetup is not the way to go. First: They charge dues ($19.00 a month) for services that are free. It goes against my grain to spend anything that is not benefiting the community. People (I’m smirking) have tried to teach me the math; if 10 people show up I charge $1.90 per person. Do you have change for a five? All I have is a twenty; can I pay you next time? Second: Due to the “double page” of members, I don’t know how many members there actually are. I mail out notices to the members and not all of them get the email. That makes me mad that members aren’t getting the message. I could go on but long story short: this Blog is free and provides more services than Meetup.
What was accomplished?
1) Use this Blog as our information site.
2) Users group meeting the first Wednesday of the month from 7:00 to 9:00pm.
3) All levels of experience are welcome.
4) Main purpose is for learning and networking
5) Limit to Photoshop software and related topics.
6) To become a member you have to show up to meetings or ask to be put on the email list.
7) Members bring samples of their work at meetings.
8) Members can submit articles that they think will benefit other members.
9) Question and Answer section on Blog.
10) Provide links to member's web sites.
11) Provide links to Photoshop related topics.
12) Start small.
In closing
We want you to come and share your Photoshop experience, leave excited about your part of this users group, think of how you can make it better and look forward in coming to the next meeting.
You comments are welcome and send me an email to be put on our weekly newsletter. See you next month!
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Jim Dittmer Article 4-4-07
Hi guys!
There is a HUGE pent-up desire for a Photoshop users group in Portland. It wouldn't surprise me if we quickly went to 1000 members with hundreds of attendees at each meeting. The logistics of this may be quite daunting. And, by the way, we can't expect the kind of assistance from Adobe that they give their InDesign group. In case you are skeptical about the size of the group growing that quickly, consider the following:
I've been a working printing prepress professional in Portland for 24 years, my first exposure to Photoshop was version 1, and I've been using PS for color correction etc. exclusively for about 13 years or so. I'm pretty well known in the design and printing community and am called upon by literally hundreds of people for PS help or advice. I'm not trying to brag here, just trying to establish my bona fides. That said…
- Of the 50+ names on the MeetUp list, I only knew 1, and I know a LOT of people!
- Local design schools (The Art Institute, Chemeketa, PSU, Mt Hood, PCC, as well as our 2 state universities and others) graduate over a hundred designers a year, with at least 5 times that number taking classes and interested in learning more.
- There are over 300 independent designers and agencies in Portland alone.
- There are hundreds of pro photographers moving to digital and learning PS. And perhaps a thousand amateurs and semi pro's doing the same.
- The art community is adopting digital quickly, especially for their publicity campaigns and ads.
- Their are dozens of PS pro's who are aching for a venue to network, show off, and pass along their skills.
Our challenge is not getting attendee's but rather, coping with the numbers that do come. We may actually have to limit the numbers at events! There are lots of ways to do this and we can discuss them at length later.
As for charging dues…
- As much as we might not want to, finances will be an issue. Halls capable of holding a hundred plus people are hard to find and expensive (Our group has paid as much as $300 for a place)
- Having some group funds allows us to bring in speakers from other places. Many will come and speak for free if you pay the transportation, hotel and food expenses, but that can add up fast. Speakers of the caliber of the late Bruce Fraiser charge $1500 + expenses and up.
- Even if it's just informal meetings, it's nice to have coffee and cookies, or pizza occasionally!
- If a formal dues structure is not wanted, how about an admission fee? Or perhaps a donation can at the door?
- Charging a fee will help to eliminate folks who aren't really serious about the topic.
I must confess to not being to familiar with the inner workings of MeetUp. Do they charge dues? Is it a group fee? How much are we talking about? Our experience at the Pacific NW Color Management Users Group (CMUG) has been as follows:
1) Having a central clearing spot for info is important. Whether it's the MeetUp site or our own (or both) is not of great importance.
2) MeetUp appears to be a great recruiting organization
3) It would be easy to steer folks to the organization website by including a URL "for more information" that lead to the website and/or blog
4) As I mentioned, I really don't think we have to worry about the BIC factor (Butts In Chairs), I think it will be more of a challenge to keep the meetings effective with a large group.
There's a lot more to discuss, but there's time to do it. Do you want to have lunch some time prior to the meeting for planning purposes? Also how large do you want the first event to be? Shall we try to grow this gradually to start?
Well, I must get to work. Talk soon!
Jim
..................................
Jim Dittmer
JDA Creative Color
239 SE 6th Avenue
Portland, OR 97214
503-525-0846 V 503-525-0943 F
jim@jdapdx.com http://www.jdapdx.com/
iChat http://us.f631.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=jdapdx@mac.com
There is a HUGE pent-up desire for a Photoshop users group in Portland. It wouldn't surprise me if we quickly went to 1000 members with hundreds of attendees at each meeting. The logistics of this may be quite daunting. And, by the way, we can't expect the kind of assistance from Adobe that they give their InDesign group. In case you are skeptical about the size of the group growing that quickly, consider the following:
I've been a working printing prepress professional in Portland for 24 years, my first exposure to Photoshop was version 1, and I've been using PS for color correction etc. exclusively for about 13 years or so. I'm pretty well known in the design and printing community and am called upon by literally hundreds of people for PS help or advice. I'm not trying to brag here, just trying to establish my bona fides. That said…
- Of the 50+ names on the MeetUp list, I only knew 1, and I know a LOT of people!
- Local design schools (The Art Institute, Chemeketa, PSU, Mt Hood, PCC, as well as our 2 state universities and others) graduate over a hundred designers a year, with at least 5 times that number taking classes and interested in learning more.
- There are over 300 independent designers and agencies in Portland alone.
- There are hundreds of pro photographers moving to digital and learning PS. And perhaps a thousand amateurs and semi pro's doing the same.
- The art community is adopting digital quickly, especially for their publicity campaigns and ads.
- Their are dozens of PS pro's who are aching for a venue to network, show off, and pass along their skills.
Our challenge is not getting attendee's but rather, coping with the numbers that do come. We may actually have to limit the numbers at events! There are lots of ways to do this and we can discuss them at length later.
As for charging dues…
- As much as we might not want to, finances will be an issue. Halls capable of holding a hundred plus people are hard to find and expensive (Our group has paid as much as $300 for a place)
- Having some group funds allows us to bring in speakers from other places. Many will come and speak for free if you pay the transportation, hotel and food expenses, but that can add up fast. Speakers of the caliber of the late Bruce Fraiser charge $1500 + expenses and up.
- Even if it's just informal meetings, it's nice to have coffee and cookies, or pizza occasionally!
- If a formal dues structure is not wanted, how about an admission fee? Or perhaps a donation can at the door?
- Charging a fee will help to eliminate folks who aren't really serious about the topic.
I must confess to not being to familiar with the inner workings of MeetUp. Do they charge dues? Is it a group fee? How much are we talking about? Our experience at the Pacific NW Color Management Users Group (CMUG) has been as follows:
1) Having a central clearing spot for info is important. Whether it's the MeetUp site or our own (or both) is not of great importance.
2) MeetUp appears to be a great recruiting organization
3) It would be easy to steer folks to the organization website by including a URL "for more information" that lead to the website and/or blog
4) As I mentioned, I really don't think we have to worry about the BIC factor (Butts In Chairs), I think it will be more of a challenge to keep the meetings effective with a large group.
There's a lot more to discuss, but there's time to do it. Do you want to have lunch some time prior to the meeting for planning purposes? Also how large do you want the first event to be? Shall we try to grow this gradually to start?
Well, I must get to work. Talk soon!
Jim
..................................
Jim Dittmer
JDA Creative Color
239 SE 6th Avenue
Portland, OR 97214
503-525-0846 V 503-525-0943 F
jim@jdapdx.com http://www.jdapdx.com/
iChat http://us.f631.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=jdapdx@mac.com
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