I suddenly found myself curious last night about how all of you came to be here.

I accidentally happened across a fellow retoucher online, and she was the one who mentioned it to me. Boy, was that a lucky encounter!

Definitely the indirect route...

I was searching the net for something like "photo art," and stumbled on a conversation (not at RetouchPRO) where a couple folks were discussing the "Grain Surgery" plugin.

Hadn't yet heard of GS and it sounded interesting, so I started another search for info on GS, during which Google.com listed the link to the RetouchPRO Review Doug Nelson wrote. When I read his reaction to the first time he saw the results of the GS degrain feature (something like "Holy [xxx]"), I was motivated to read the rest of what turned out to be an excellent review. (BTW: I eventually bought GS.)

Thoroughly impressed, I started poking around the rest of the RetouchPRO site... and about 4 a.m. concluded this is a very special place.

So, here I are...still. :)

~Danny~

My memory isn't good enough to remember the details, but I first found the forum months before I joined last year. I was probably searching for something related to photo restoration. I looked around and found it interesting, but wasn't ready to commit to registration, so I just bookmarked it. When I revisited later last year, it seemed to still be a friendly place as well as "chock full" of information. The "Challenges" section intrigued me enough that I had to join just to take part.

I was working on my first restoration for a client and didn't know where to start, so I posted a question to one of the News groups (can't remember which one). Doug responded with an e-mail inviting me to post my request for help here (and said if it wasn't time critical, I could submit it as a challenge, but alas, that wasn't possible.) Regardless, I got such a great response and when I posted my results - got even more feedback to make the final result even better... Well, you get the picture.

Everyone's feedback was helpful and encouraging and made me want to learn even more - and I decided that THIS was a place I could learn and not be afraid of mistakes. I haven't looked back since. :D

Jeanie

We had another thread on this one time before, but I can't locate it. It could have been on the other site, and didn't get passed on to this one? I did find another thread (kind of unrelated) where I posted on May 26, 2001. This must have been shortly after I became a member on the old site.

Anyhow...I remember saying at that time that I didn't remember how I got here, but I did know how to get back!! That's the important part.

Ed

I was reading the posts in the retouching forum of another favorite site, dpreview.com, and came across one that posted a link to RetouchPro. The poster mentioned how much they had learned at the site. I clicked on the link and have been hooked ever since.

I'm not sure where, but I saw the little yellow ducky somewhere about a year ago (from manipulation challenges) out on the web, and it had a link to here. I came here, made an entry, posted it, read the feedback, and went on my way. Recently I found the old submission and came back to see the place again and can't seem to leave.

Not that I'm trying too hard to do so... ;)
:wavey:

I was researching Katrin Eismans book online and wound up on her site where I discovered Retouch Pro in the links page. Thought it was one of the most unique concepts of member interaction and information sources.
DJ

Hey! Everyone's getting new Avatars!
:wavey:

I voted "accident" but only because there was no buttton for "serendipity".

Originally posted by Blacknight
Hey! Everyone's getting new Avatars!
:wavey:

Yeah, looks like Marie is on the Spyder ride at the fair, and I saw David Kendall whizzing along in outerspace in another thread... I'm gonna need seasick pills before long... :o

I voted "A friend told me", but it was partly by accident too. I had a zip disk with a couple photoshop tuts on it, when I was learning the GIMP, and there was also a couple retouchPRO challenges on it. when my dad gave me the disk he mentioned retouchPro, but I didn't really give it a second thought until I'd finished a challenge and decided to check out the site to see if the challenge was still on so I could post it.
Yeah, looks like Marie is on the Spyder ride at the fair, and I saw David Kendall whizzing along in outerspace in another thread... I'm gonna need seasick pills before long... :o
:D


- David :)

Hi everybody!

The "search engine" Altavista was my road to "il Paradiso"

After passing to Photoshop, and not getting anywhere, I decided to search the "wide world" for help. Hopping from one "link" to the next, reading anything I could get my eyes on, and, of course, getting more and more confused, I landed here .... looked around and bookmarked it about 3 times just to make sure I'd find it again....:D

I "lurked" for a while, but, at the end, the kindness, warmth and generosity of everybody here, made me decide to stay.

I came across this site via a link from another - for some unknown reason the web master of that site has now removed that initial link! Still, I too am so very glad to part of such a friendly and talented community.

Cheers,
Barry:D

I guess I'll select "other" :)

I voted other, because..I haven't got a clue..
I'm sure I must have ended up here on purpose, maybe by accident, but I just don't remember..

If anyone remembers what I was wearing the first time I got here and which car I arrived in (about 3 weeks ago) please let me know, it might be a vital clue :tongue:

Also, my girlfriend demands to know how I got here... and why I spend so much time here...:D

If anyone remembers what I was wearing the first time I got here and which car I arrived in

You were driving the Honda and wearing jeans -- isn't everyone?

Ah..must have been monday then, my own car was in the garage for service :tongue:

I was doing a search for Photoshop tutorials, and found a link to here from another site (can't remember which).

I voted other because I found a link to RetouchPRO on Katrin Eismann's web site.

Alan

I made a left at the overpass... I probably should have turned right but...;)

I actually found this place due to our friend Bud while looking for one of his great actions.

Someone on the NAPP forum refered to this site. Later I saw it in some search so I came here and joined. Good move on my part.

Robert

I was actually searching for a different site which I couldn't remember the address to when I found this one. I'm glad I stumbled in here. :bigthmb:

Oh, and I'm new. Hi everyone. :blush:

Welcome Skarsnik :)

I am here completely by accident. I don't even remember how I stumbled in, but as soon as I found this place, I started digging through old photos so I could get some help retouching them. :)

Someone posted the link on dpreview's Retouching forum.

...is how I found RetouchPro. I just recently got heavily involved with photo retouching (by heavily involved, I mean OBSESSED). So, when these obsessions come over me, I do hour upon hour of research, note-taking and lots and lots of practice. My progress since just the middle of December is utterly amazing (well, considering my starting point, that is!). I read about a certain technique or I encounter a certain challenge and I simply cannot rest until I've mastered it. Now that I've found the "challenges" here on this site, I'll have new goals to work towards! Having been on countless message boards over the years, regarding countless topics, I must say that the people here are exceedingly friendly and helpful...thanks for that!

Andrea

I selected search engine, but was not really looking for anything special. Since I am a mod at a design forum and was incharge -still am- of the resources thread I used to use "Stumble upon" a fantastic search engine or portal. I had it set for Art and Graphics Art and on one of the searches appeared RetouchPRO. Started to browse around ... and boom !! love at first sight :tongue: :nod:

Regards - Martha :wavey:

I arrived here via photoshopuser.com I think. I work at a small photo lab and find that my desire to work on images isn't really satisfied with just the stuff I get to do at work. I've been dabbling with photoshop for nearly 6 years now and enjoy figuring out new techniques and whatnot and like being able to see what other people do. I like working on pictures - not so much a graphic designer or a filter nut. I'm also not so much a photographer but I did buy a small Sony digital camera about 2 years ago and carry it with me everywhere. I use it a million times more than I ever used the pentax k-1000 that was given to me as a gift many years ago and I think it's mainly because of the instant feedback and near complete control digital gives me compared to film. I didn't take bad pictures with 35mm at all, I just didn't take very many.

Searched for freelance retouching on Goggle - guess that day I was feeling like a starving artist! :happy:

I was looking for a something like a retouchers community, and retouchpro was almost on top, as I remember. Thanks Google, I like this place.

After several comtimplative glasses of wine, I don't remember.

Although, I think it was a link from another site.

Haven't even had a chance to search this site but I already can tell I will like this place.
A friend on the Pro4um told me about this resource. Thanks!

I was on the forum in PlanetPhotoshop, asking question about retouching, when someone directed me to this site.

Google :masked:

Katrin Eistmans first book was "payment" for the first retouch I did for some one else( a very good freind) > took me to her web site> then to here. the best form of payment I could have gotten.

Under the influence of Nitrous Oxide and some sulphur fumes she said to me:

"...YOU WILL GO.... TO RETOUCH PRO" ---- and by golly I showed up here.

I bought Katrin's book and there was a link to this forum.

I LOVE THIS PLACE!

Katrin Eismann's book brought me here. But it was the kindness of the people that made me stay. Very helpful site!

I think I found this site from Katrin Eismans original retouch book
Zganie

One day I was doing my thing just babbling about about data manipulation. Upon hearing that particular ramble, someone refered me.