New board, new site design, new features popping up as fast as I can edit them...

Here's a way to track all the new-ness:

Subscribe to this thread (click on "Subscribe to this thread" located under Thread Tools) and you'll get an e-mail whenever I add an update (I promise I won't go nuts). It will basically mirror the What's New stuff I put on the home page with a few extras to make it all worthwhile.

Here's our first list:

We're on our new webserver now, with new Forum software, and a prototype of the Archives, plus a new Challenge and a new Tutorial

Thanks to our new Moderators Ed and DJ. You wouldn't believe all the work they're putting in to make the transition from the old board to this one as smooth as possible :thumbsup:

A new Restoration Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/restoration/challenge10/index.html), a new Manipulation Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/manipulation/challenge3/index.html), a new Tutorial (http://www.retouchpro.com/tutorials/squint.html), new Gallery exhibits (http://www.retouchpro.com/gallery/index.html), and lots of new Archive (http://www.retouchpro.com/archives/index.htm) material

Plus, lots of new friends :)

It looks like we're averaging a new friend a day, and about 30 posts a day.

Donations (http://www.amazon.com/paypage/P2UH9O6YRHRMLU) have flattened out since the move, maybe people feel we're done growing (hint: we're not :) )

New Restoration Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/restoration/challenge11/index.html), new Manipulation Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/manipulation/challenge4/index.html), and a new Review (http://www.retouchpro.com/reviews/pwpro.html).

We're still only averaging a little better than one new member a day, but the posts have gone through the roof! Over 100 a day!

So keep up the great posts, and start recruiting new members!

No two ways about it, this has been a hard week for everyone, everywhere. But, I'm very proud of the responses to our latest Gallery Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=55) during this very trying week. And the entries aren't showing any sign of stopping (and I hope they never do).

There's also been a lot of support here for users seeking comfort or even answers, which makes me even prouder. Yes, it's been a bad week. Maybe the worst week. But here, in our little world, I've seen a lot of good this past week.

To try to restore some sense of "things as usual" I've posted a new Restoration Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/restoration/challenge12/index.html).

We passed the 100 user mark, and have over 4000 posts now! Would I be stretching things to call this the "#1 online community for retouchers and restorers"?

We have two new Challenges this week. After a long delay there's finally a new Retouching Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/retouching/challenge3/index.html). And we have a fun new Manipulation Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/manipulation/challenge5/index.html) for Halloween.

Its been pretty busy here, and I couldn't be prouder of everyone! :)

We've had a LOT of Challenge entries, with newfound interest in some of the older ones, so make sure you've checked them out recently and give your feedback.

For understandable reasons our donations (http://s1.amazon.com/paypage/P2UH9O6YRHRMLU/107-6251732-4085324) program is pretty much at a standstill. But the Holidays are soon upon us, so if you're planning on doing any of your Xmas shopping at Amazon anyway perhaps you could visit via one of our links (like this one (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0789723182/retouchpro-20/107-6251732-4085324)) so we can apply a tiny percentage of your purchase towards improving the site. Anything you buy during a visit via any of our links will help us out (but if you revisit without a link they won't remember us).

This week we have a new Tutorial (http://www.retouchpro.com/tutorials/sanscloning/index.html), a new Book Review (http://www.retouchpro.com/reviews/caponigro.html), and another fun Halloween Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/restoration/challenge13/index.html).

Plus lots of new friends, and tons of new stuff to read in the Forums.

A triple-threat this week! :)

A new Restoration Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/restoration/challenge14/index.html), an interesting new Retouching Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/retouching/challenge4/index.html) with a twist, and a seasonal Manipulation Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/manipulation/challenge6/index.html) that I think will be a lot of fun to do and view.

I'd like to be able to post 3 new Challenges a week, every week, but I just don't have enough. Feel free to suggest Challenges and submit photos, however confident you are of their value. Suggest in the main Challenge Forum, or email me, or PM me. For photos, email them to me (TIF, RGB, under 5 meg, zipped if possible).

Speaking of emailing photos, I've not gotten any Archive (http://www.retouchpro.com/archives/index.htm) submissions in quite a while. Dig through your old photo stack and start emailing them in. Great condition, horrible condition, we can use both.

But, we're still getting a lot of new members, and even more great posts. Keep them coming!

Another triple-threat this week! How long I can keep this up, I have no idea :)

Two Restoration Challenges (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/restoration/index.html), yet another holiday-themed Manipulation Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/manipulation/challenge7/index.html), and three software reviews (http://www.retouchpro.com/reviews/media_managers/index.html)

We've had some excellent activity in the Forums recently. Keep it up, guys! :)

Two generous donations (http://s1.amazon.com/paypage/P2UH9O6YRHRMLU/107-6251732-4085324) paid for some new website database software, but its not working and the author isn't helping much. So I'll probably be getting a refund on that and waiting for some additional donations to do it the right way (which I probably should have done to begin with).

Why do I mention donations twice (ok, three times) in the same update? Because, with the right software, our entire site could be as interactive as our forums (read: no more emailing stuff to me, then waiting for me to get around to posting it, thus freeing me up to invent even more features). This is very exciting to me, but perhaps a tad too ambitious (read: several hundred dollars).

Oh well, I guess I've got Santa on the brain...which goes well with our new Manipulation Challenge :)

It's been a busy week, but productive! Lots of submissions, both Challenge-wise and other-wise.

So lots of new stuff.

Our Links database (http://www.retouchpro.com/links/index.php) is now online! I'd talk all about it here, but I already posted the details here (http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1036). But I must add it was solely due to donations that it was possible. Thanks!

Plus a new Tutorial (http://www.retouchpro.com/tutorials/grain/index.html), two new Reviews (http://www.retouchpro.com/reviews/index.html), and yet another Manipulation Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/manipulation/challenge8/index.html) that I'm particularly enthused about.

It's been an interesting week. Lots of new members, engaging discussions, and some fine Challenge entries.

There's a new Restoration Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/restoration/challenge17/index.html), a silly new Gallery Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1080), and a new Tutorial (http://www.retouchpro.com/tutorials/no_aura/index.html).

Oh yes...
I combined the non-digital and digital Restoration Forums into one all-encompassing forum and started a new forum I think is very necessary and valuable. So take note of our newest forum, Conservation and Repair (http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=4).

It seems like these updates are getting closer together, but that's just a sign that stuff is actually happening :)

I'm sure you've all seen our new Community Bulletin in your email. It's so new I haven't totally made up my mind about the details (ie: how often, how detailed, etc.). Right now I'm planning on monthly, with this update you're reading now serving as a more frequent news source. There's a thread for feedback on the new Bulletin here (http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1125).

I was very disappointed in the links database software I just told you about recently, so I returned it and purchased a much better one. Details are here (http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1036), but the main thing to remember is we need you to add links.

On to the regular stuff...

There's a new Restoration Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/restoration/challenge18/index.html), and finally a new Retouching Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/retouching/challenge5/index.html). Plus I wrote a new Review (http://www.retouchpro.com/reviews/powerretouche.html) of an interesting new filter you probably haven't heard of. Plus there's been a lot of great activity in the forums this past.

Whew! :)
More very soon.

It's been a very hectic week. I can't remember a week with more Challenge submissions. Which is very fine by me :)

To help keep the momentum, there's a new Restoration Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/restoration/challenge19/index.html) this week. Also an already much-discussed Tutorial (http://www.retouchpro.com/tutorials/decrack/index.html). And, finally, a new Review (http://www.retouchpro.com/reviews/dreamsuite/index.html).

I know we're in a recession, and Xmas is right around the corner, so I won't harp about donations (http://www.amazon.com/paypage/P2UH9O6YRHRMLU), but I will remind all Amazon shoppers that they can help us grow by using any of our Amazon.com links (like this one (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0789723182/retouchpro-20)) if you're going to shop there anyway. If you use any one of our links to access Amazon, we'll get a small commission (like 3-5%) on everything you buy in that one session. If you leave Amazon and come back, we won't get diddly. You have to use one of our links for us to get any credit.

Last thing:
There are so many new photos in the Archive (http://www.retouchpro.com/archives/index.htm). Be sure to check them out, and keep those submissions coming!

Lots of activity this week. We crossed the 200 member milestone!

There's lots of new stuff as well. A new Restoration Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/restoration/challenge20/index.html), a new Manipulation Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/manipulation/challenge9/index.html) that I think will be a lot of fun, and a pretty tough new Retouching Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/retouching/challenge6/index.html) (with extra brownie points going to those that can make out the superimposed printing, a little inside bonus just for those that read these updates).

Plus we have a new Tutorial (http://www.retouchpro.com/tutorials/maskplus/index.html), lots of new Archive (http://www.retouchpro.com/archives/index.htm) images, and over 100 new links now in our new Links database (http://www.retouchpro.com/links/index.php) (and I encourage everyone to add their own favorites).

I'll keep it short this week, since everyone is probably out shopping:

New Manipulation Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/manipulation/challenge10/index.html)
New Gallery Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=76)
New plugin Review (http://www.retouchpro.com/reviews/grainsurgery/index.html)

There, that didn't take all that long, did it :)

The last update of the year! And Happy Holidays to all!

To liven things up, I'm trying something a little different:
This week there's a new Retouching Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/retouching/challenge7/index.html), a new Manipulation Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/manipulation/challenge11/index.html), and another new Manipulation Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/manipulation/challenge12/index.html). This last one is kind of a departure, so I'm interested in how it goes over.

Archive (http://www.retouchpro.com/archives) submissions have dropped to almost zero, although we did get a couple of interesting backgrounds. My next project (I think) for donations (http://s1.amazon.com/paypage/P2UH9O6YRHRMLU/107-6251732-4085324) will be a manager for the Archives that will allow direct uploading, comments, keyword searches, and sorting by categories (so we can separate old from new, people from backgrounds, color from b/w, etc.). But this is a big task, and definitely not cheap, so it might go on the back burner (again) if we can't afford it, or if something more pressing comes along.

Technical problems at the webserver have our Links database (http://www.retouchpro.com/links/index.php) temporarily down. It should be back up later today or tomorrow, and we still need your links. Any links at all you think would be useful or interesting to our community. Watch for it to come back online, then start pasting your links! :)

We're also running low on Challenge images, in all categories. So put on your thinking cap, rummage through your albums and shoeboxes, and email them in.

It's been a good week. We passed the 250 member mark, and our post count is now into 5 digits.

After a period with no Restoration Challenge submissions, two got sent in...so I put them both up: one here (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/restoration/challenge21/index.html) and an especially challenging one here (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/restoration/challenge22/index.html).

Our new, improved Gallery (http://www.retouchpro.com/cgi-bin/gallery/index.pl) is online and proving to be very popular. It's made possible by your donations (http://www.amazon.com/paypage/P2UH9O6YRHRMLU), so thanks to you all.

We're getting very close to the 300 member mark, and we've had a lot of good discussion this past week.

I want to encourage everyone to do 3 things: Rate threads
Read through older threads and revive them if you think they're worthwhile
Add terms or definitions to our new Glossary (http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=83)
I'm always looking for good Challenge suggestions, but we really need good Retouching Challenge material. PM or email me if you think you have something.

And, of course, have a new Restoration Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/restoration/challenge23/index.html) and a new Manipulation Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/manipulation/challenge13/index.html)

We blew past the 300 member mark the same day I posted that last Update. Lots of good conversation this past week.

Here are some tips for your User CP Check to make sure you have it set to show all threads, not just the newest ones
Check to see if you have any unanswered Private Messages
Turn on the Private Message "Popup Alert" so you don't ever miss one
3 new Challenges this week:
A rather nifty Restoration Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/restoration/challenge24/index.html), a rather odd Manipulation Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/manipulation/challenge14/index.html), and a rather belated Gallery Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=88)

I've been a good boy and haven't mentioned it in awhile, but donations (http://www.amazon.com/paypage/P2UH9O6YRHRMLU) have completely dried up, with nothing at all in over a month. And me sitting here with all these plans... :)

I think the Olympics might be stealing some of our member's attentions. It's been a little quiet this past week.

But, we have two new Challenges, both appropriate for Valentine's Day:

A romantic Restoration Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/restoration/challenge25/index.html), and a particularly heartwarming Manipulation Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/manipulation/challenge15/index.html).

We had a lot of great activity this past week, more than making up for the lower activity I was whining about last time.

Evidently our last (http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=89) Restoration Challenge was just too darned hard, so there's a more typical Restoration Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/restoration/challenge26/index.html) this week. Plus it's really cute :)

I'm very excited about this week's Retouching Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/retouching/challenge8/index.html). This is probably our closest Challenge yet to what a real, commercial retouching job would be like. Material for good Retouching Challenges is rare, so I hope everyone gives this one a try.

I particularly enjoyed writing my last Review (http://www.retouchpro.com/reviews/eismannvid1.html). This time it's a video on restoration by Katrin Eismann. She was different than I expected. Plus it was a great way for my MTV-generation brain to absorb information.

Well, I don't know how your week has gone, but I've been busy as all getout with a new site design. I'm only halfway done, so let me know if you see anything "unusual".

Two new Challenges this week: Retouching (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/retouching/challenge9/index.html) and Restoration (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/restoration/challenge27/index.html).

Everyone is excited about the recent Photoshop 7 announcement. If you're planning on buying or upgrading Photoshop, you can help RetouchPRO at the same time. Just use these links:

Windows upgrade (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000063EMX/retouchpro-20)
Mac upgrade (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000063EN1/retouchpro-20)
Windows full version (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000063EMG/retouchpro-20)
Mac full version (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000063EMZ/retouchpro-20)

RetouchPRO will get a small commission for each purchase.

I'm just a glutton for punishment. I'm still working on the redesign, we're getting more Challenge attempts than ever (YAY!), yet I still deside to put up not one but two new Restoration Challenges (here (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/restoration/challenge28/index.html) and here (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/restoration/challenge29/index.html)).

Challenge attempts are up, but everything else is down: Archive (http://www.retouchpro.com/archives/index.htm) contributions, favorite bookmark (http://www.retouchpro.com/links/index.php) entries, donations (http://www.amazon.com/paypage/P2UH9O6YRHRMLU), tutorial (http://www.retouchpro.com/tutorials/index.html) submissions...just about everything on the menu (or "that darned floating menubar" as we now call it).

I'm particularly looking for material for either a masking Challenge or a masking tutorial (I haven't made up my mind yet). Send me thumbnails, and I'll let you know if it's what I have in mind. For this I'm really looking for perfectly good pictures, no restoration needed, but would be hell to mask. (Don't forget you need a release or at least explicit permission if it's a picture of someone living)

Oh yeah, our Gallery (http://www.retouchpro.com/cgi-bin/gallery/index.pl) is doing really well. Don't forget to check it out, leave comments, and post something of your own for us to gawk at!

A new record, four new Challenges, in just as many categories:

Restoration (http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=99), Manipulation (http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=100), Retouching (http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=101), and Gallery (http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=98)

Either do them real fast, or take your sweet time, because I'm going on vacation for 2 weeks starting the end of this week. I'll check in on the forums every once in awhile, but there will be no site updates and I won't be reading my email. If you have something urgent to tell me during that period, leave a PM.

Ok, I'm back from vacation, and caught up with Challenge postings, so if you've sent in a Challenge entry by the time of this posting and it's not up yet, email or PM me.

It's been awhile since we had some new Challenges, so here are three to make up for it: Retouching (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/retouching/challenge11/index.html), Restoration (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/restoration/challenge31/index.html), and Manipulation (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/manipulation/challenge17/index.html).

I almost had a truly stupid naming theme going, but I couldn't think of a fittingly-themed name for the Manipulation Challenge. So I reserve the right to rename that one once inspiration hits (that could be awhile).

In order to clean up page design, clarify things, and most importantly save me time, I've put up some new entry guidelines (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/guidelines.html)

Lots of new friends. We'll possibly have over 500 members by the time you read this.

Two new Challenges this week: Restoration (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/restoration/challenge32/index.html) and Retouching (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/retouching/challenge12/index.html). They have a common theme of "naturalness".

The new Challenge entry guidelines (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/guidelines.html) are helping me out enormously, though it's clear not everyone noticed them.

Ed's donation drive (http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2148) makes me feel like a public television station, but I guess we do have a lot in common with PBS. Our operators are waiting :)

The cooking chat (http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=93) and movie chat (http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=105) are getting a following, and are really pretty fun.

Two new challenges: Restoration (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/restoration/challenge33/index.html) and Retouching (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/retouching/challenge13/index.html).

Ed's Donation Drive (http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2148) is almost over. I'm really pleased with the number of participants so far.

Plus, we've added another way for you to show your support in more than one way: a t-shirt (http://www.cafepress.com/retouchpro) that you can wear to announce your support, plus buying them provides needed fundage for improvements. And you can give them as gifts so people will understand why you've been so busy lately :)

Ok, my cold is over, I've had wayyy too much caffiene, and the donation drive (http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2148) success convinced me to lighten up a tiny bit on the server space and bandwidth reigns.

So, here we go <inhale>:

We have a new Restoration Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/restoration/challenge34/index.html), a new Retouching Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/retouching/challenge14/index.html), a new Manipulation Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/manipulation/challenge18/index.html) that I think sounds particularly fun and maybe even useful if you have children, and for the first time in I don't know how long we have a new Challenge category: Photo Art (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/art/index.html).

In support of our new Challenge category, we have our first new forum (http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=110) in awhile, this one devoted to Photo-Based Art techniques.

We also have four new Reviews (http://www.retouchpro.com/reviews/index.html), including the first winner from our new Review Contest (http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2650), T Paul (congrats, T).

If this contest works out (ie: brings in a lot of new reviews) we might try repeating it in other areas (yes, that is a hint).

<exhale>

So, is that enough new-ness for you? I suspect I forgot something, and I'm positive I've crossed up some new links somewhere, so let me know via PM if you find any.

Lighter week, but no less impressive.

Two new Challenges this week: Photo Art (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/art/challenge2/index.html) and Retouching (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/retouching/challenge15/index.html).

But the real news is we have 9 new tutorials (http://www.retouchpro.com/tutorials/index.html) this week! Thanks to Jak for her efforts. Keep'em coming, and let's hope others follow your example (follow your example as in submitting tutorials of their own, although let's also hope they follow your examples in the new tutorials because...oh, nevermind).

No review contest winner this week due to no entries.

Ok, lots of new stuff this week:

We have an excellent new Photo-Art tutorial (http://www.retouchpro.com/tutorials/photo-art1/index.html) by Jim Caffrey. We also have two new reviews (http://www.retouchpro.com/reviews/index.html), one of which is from this week's 'contest' winner (http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2650), Barry Fairclough.

We have a new Restoration Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/restoration/challenge35/index.html), a new Retouching Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/retouching/challenge16/index.html), and a new Photo-Art Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/art/challenge3/index.html). I'm still waiting for more entries on our last Manipulation Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/manipulation/challenge18/index.html), so I thought I'd give it some more time.

And we have a cool new feature. Thanks to an amazingly effective collaboration from our moderators, we now have a very helpful site-map (http://www.retouchpro.com/rpsite/index.htm) to help everyone understand the scope of the site and each section's relationship with other sections.

I've narrowed down the list of new webservers for our site. We'll be moving in a month or two, but here's a gentle reminder about making donations (http://www.amazon.com/paypage/P2UH9O6YRHRMLU) and buying a t-shirt or coffee cup (http://www.cafepress.com/retouchpro) to help us get to the biggest, bestest webserver available.

This week we have a much needed new Pen Tool tutorial (http://www.retouchpro.com/tutorials/pentool/index.html) by Ron Lemire. We also have a new review (http://www.retouchpro.com/reviews/index.html) from this week's 'contest' winner (http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2650), Greg Couch. And finally, we have a new Restoration Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/restoration/challenge36/index.html), a new Manipulation Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/manipulation/challenge19/index.html), a new Photo-Art Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/art/challenge4/index.html), and a new Gallery Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=125)

There's never been a week where my avatar wasn't more literal.

We're on our new, better server now.

There's a new Review (http://www.retouchpro.com/reviews/index.html) and an excellent tutorial from Jakaleena covering Basic Layer Usage (http://www.retouchpro.com/tutorials/layers/index.html).

But the biggest news is a major change in the way new Challenges and entries are posted. New Challenges from today on will be posted in a new section of our Gallery (http://www.retouchpro.com/gallery/index.php?cat=505). Each Challenge will have its own category, so everyone can directly upload their work and descriptions from now on, without having to email me. Previous Challenges will continue to be handled as they always have.

So, here's our new Challenges for this week, in their new home:
Restoration Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=346)
Retouching Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=347)
Photo-Art Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=348)

I'm sure there will be some bumps along the way, so I've set up a discussion thread here (http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3393).

In case anyone still had any lingering questions about why I was so hepped on an automated Challenge entry system, here are 4 more reasons:

A new Restoration Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=513&thumb=1), a new Retouching Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=514&thumb=1), a new Manipulation Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=515&thumb=1), and a new Photo-Art Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=516&thumb=1).

I'd never have been willing to post these so soon if it wasn't for the new system. There's still a bug or two to work out, but so far the hardest thing has been getting people over there to critique the great entries (go, now).

Notice also that they're bigger and much better in quality than usual. That's thanks to our new server's more generous specifications.

If you have questions or comments about the new system, see the thread link posted in last week's update.

Also, we have another great new tutorial (http://www.retouchpro.com/tutorials/index.html) from our own Queen of Tuts, Jakaleena (all hail Queen Tut!). This one is on colorization.

Ok, I'll keep this short this time:

Four new Challenges (http://www.retouchpro.com/gallery/index.php?cat=505) (one of each), and two new tutorials (http://www.retouchpro.com/tutorials/index.html) by Jakaleena, including "How to navigate the new Challenge section" for those having difficulty.

I'm really pleased with how everyone is taking to the new Challenge area.

It's "Macho Week" here on RetouchPRO.

Four new Challenges (http://www.retouchpro.com/gallery/index.php?cat=505), one of each, all rugged and sweaty and rarin' to go.

Plus there's a distinctly non-macho tutorial (http://www.retouchpro.com/tutorials/satin/index.html) by our very own rugged, macho Fugitive.

By the way, I'm extremely low on Challenge materials in all categories. PM or email me if you have something to contribute.

It's been a trying week here on planet Earth. In the world at large, here in the forums, and for many of us personally.

But adversity does not form character, it reveals it. And we will press on, as better people.

Four new Challenges (http://www.retouchpro.com/gallery/index.php?cat=505) this week, with no unifying theme.

But, start submitting your ideas for upcoming Autumn, Halloween, and holiday Challenges as soon as possible. Email me low-rez versions with your ideas.

Four new Challenges (http://www.retouchpro.com/gallery/index.php?cat=505), one of each, two of which have spooky, Halloween themes (one nice and cute, one not).

Plus there's a new Gallery Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=136) and a new game of Art Tag (http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4000) started, both thanks to T Paul.

I think this is a record, we have 6 new tutorials (http://www.retouchpro.com/tutorials/index.html), 5 by Jakaleena and one by Antonio Guevara.

Speaking of records, we're closing in on 1000 registered members!

Four new Challenges (http://www.retouchpro.com/gallery/index.php?cat=505), one of each. One is our last Halloween Challenge this year (and a very cute one at that). Plus there's a new Gallery Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=137)

Plus 2 new software reviews (http://www.retouchpro.com/reviews/index.html).

And we're way past 1000 registered members now!

By the way: we're almost out of new Challenge material, so dig out your old photos and studio portraits, scan them, and email me thumbnails.

Four new Challenges (http://www.retouchpro.com/gallery/index.php?cat=505), including a Thanksgiving-themed rescue.

Also, Danny Raphael reviews HyperTyle (http://www.retouchpro.com/reviews/index.html).

I've also expanded our RetouchPRO Store (http://www.cafepress.com/retouchpro) offerings (which are all still selling at cost).

Three new Challenges (http://www.retouchpro.com/gallery/index.php?cat=505), two of which are seasonally-themed. No Retouching Challenge this time because I ran out of material (please send retouching material).

Our new Review Database (http://www.retouchpro.com/reviews/index.php) is off to a poor start. Maybe it's too complicated, or maybe the word "Review" is scaring people away from submitting their own opinions. That's really what it should be called, "Opinions Database". Click on "Reviews" ("Opinions") over on the navbar to check it out. Don't be too shy to post your own opinions or suggest items you'd like to see opinions on.

Jak's donation drive (http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3835) is well underway. Thanks to those who have sent in donations so far.

It's been awhile since my last update, and I apologize to all. I've been very busy in real life.

I'm 100% caught up with Challenge posting, so if you sent in work you did on a Challenge and it's not up by the date of this update, something's wrong. You should contact me.

I'm completely out of good retouching Challenge material, so to make up for it I'm posting one of the hardest Restoration Challenges ever. (http://www.retouchpro.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=1746) And no, it's not punishment for people not submitting Challenge material :)

By the way, when making an image to upload or attach here in Photoshop, make sure you use "Save for web".

We have two excellent new tutorials (http://www.retouchpro.com/tutorials/index.html), both submitted by members. Look, learn, and send in your own tutorial ideas!

I'm guess I'm going to have to beg for people to post product opinions in our new Reviews area. Consider this begging.

Hopefully it won't take so long for my next update.

Five new Challenges, including four of the usual (http://www.retouchpro.com/gallery/index.php?cat=505) plus a Gallery Challenge (http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=141).

Three new tutorials (http://www.retouchpro.com/tutorials/index.html), including two for non-Photoshop users.

We obviously got some great Challenge materials submissions since my last update, but I'm still virtually out of all non-Restoration Challenge possibles. Send in your Retouching, Manipulation, and Photo-Art possible Challenges today!

Four new Challenges (http://www.retouchpro.com/gallery/index.php?cat=505). We got one really good Retouching Challenge original since last time, but now I'm out of Retouching Challenge material again.

Check out the new items in the Reviews section. Almost 300 items for you to have opinions on, and of course you can submit any other items you'd like. I put in every new Photoshop book I could find, and a bunch of other stuff.

Four new Challenges (http://www.retouchpro.com/gallery/index.php?cat=505) that I especially like (since I've had some time to think about them). None of these use submitted materials, but we have gotten some in (though not nearly enough, keep 'em coming).

Well, it finally happened. We ran out of server space. Don't go fretting, though. This was seen coming a long time ago, and the last donation drive covered it. I temporarily deleted the Archives to keep us going for the upcoming couple of weeks, and I'm negotiating for more space right now.

This won't, however, give us unlimited space. In web terms, there's no such thing. Most likely it will tide us over until our current server contract expires this summer. It is, however, an excellent example of your donations at work keeping this site alive and growing.

Four new Challenges (http://www.retouchpro.com/gallery/index.php?cat=505) all with a flower theme (I'm got a bit of Spring fever).

The server space problem will take longer than I thought to fix, but only because we have to wait a couple of months for a new class of service to be offered by our webserver company. Once they have the new service rolled out, we'll have oodles of space and bandwidth to play with.

I was hoping to announce a major new feature addition to our site, but some technical problems have to be worked out first. In the meantime, I'll just shamelessly tease you.

I posted a new Retouching Challenge, and made the decision that I'll post new Challenges as I find good subjects, rather than waiting until I have something to post in all 4 categories. This will probably lead to more Challenges overall, but will also require a bit more vigilance on your part to watch for them. I'll mention them in future updates, but by that time they may have been up for a couple of weeks.

The biggest news is our new Critique forum. Previously we had it lumped together with "Help Requested" which probably diluted them both. Now they each have their own discrete area. Greg Couch is spearheading the critique effort, so make sure you read his introductory posts before jumping in. This is a serious effort at cultivating genuine and useful critiques, so everyone's cooperation with the guidelines is necessary to keep it as such.

As for my big tease, while my internet connection was down for two weeks a new version of the software was released. Once I got back online I got all excited and updated my prototype. And it bombed. So now we're waiting on a bugfix that the authors have been promising "any day now" for two weeks.

Some of you may be noticing more total posts as you browse the forums. This is because I changed the default view from "last 30 days" to "show all". It struck me that a lot of reinventing the wheel was going on, particularly with new users, so this is a gentle nudge of encouragement to read older posts. If you want it to go back to the way it was before, you can customize your view via your control panel.

As promised, several Challenges have been posted since the last update.

Check out the new Art Tag game over in the Gallery forum.

Sometime in the upcoming week or so we'll be moving to a new server, so don't be surprised if you can't access the forums for a couple of days.

Either during the move, or shortly thereafter, I'll be upgrading almost all of the software we use so there will be a lot of new features to play with.

Ok, new Challenges, new Gallery software version, yadda yadda...

But none of that matters this week because:

The big tease is over! The "secret project" I've been promising and stalling about is now here!

What is it, you ask? Just this: our new Tutorial Publishing System.

What is it, you ask? From now on, any registered member can publish and maintain their own tutorials, instantly, with a WYSIWYG editor. No more waiting for me. No more wondering how it will turn out.

"Yawn", you say? This is huge! It means you can now be a published author, here on RetouchPRO, in just a few minutes. And it means that, with your cooperation, we will soon have the largest, most comprehensive set of retouching and restoration tutorials anywhere!

Go check it out and see. Just click on Tutorials on the navbar and you're there.

Was it worth the wait? You betcha! :)

Well, the "big secret project" was a bomb (and not in the good way). We have a grand total of one new tutorial submitted (not counting mine, since they essentially defeat the purpose). The last big project, the Reviews Database, isn't doing much better, with only a handful of reviews added since my last update.

It seems that everyone is enthused about new site features as long as someone else does the work.

Have I guilt-tripped you into submitting, yet? Good :)
We need your tutorials, however modest, and product reviews. Soon. Please.

On the plus side, we have several new Challenges of all types. They're still up and waiting for you. We've also had 3 games of Art Tag. Plus about 1000 new registered members.

Oh, and I'm almost out of Challenge material, especially Retouching Challenges, so send me thumbnails of stuff you think might make good Challenges.

Consider this fair warning:

Things are going to break around here. I'm going to upgrade almost all the software, and there are bound to be a zillion problems. But we'll also get a zillion new features.

I'm actually stalling, since it's going to be very labor intensive, and I haven't decided whether to start right away or wait a week or so. But, if you show up one day and it looks like we've been invaded by Martians or something, you'll know it's actually progress.

The primary upgrade will be to the forums, and it will be mind-blowing. Nothing will be the same as it is now. And, due to everything else on the site working off the forums, I'll have to upgrade them as well. In the transition period, some stuff will not work, other stuff will appear generic (with software author's logo instead of ours), and some stuff will have to be temporarily deleted (just temporary, I promise).

And, of course, some stuff just will refuse to work. So be patient, it will all be worth it.

I guess there's enough new stuff to warrant an update.


New version of forum software
Challenges and Gallery now separated
Archives now use same software as Challenges and Gallery, allowing direct uploads
Challenge submissions now have their own upload area (oddly, it's in the Archives area)
Forums navbar will slowly (very slowly) be replacing the flyout navbar throughout the site


The forums have a ton of new features, many of which I haven't even turned on yet. I figured I'd dole them out slowly, rather than overwhelm everyone at once.

I predicted (promised?) some stuff would break:


Tutorial publishing and editing is temporarily disabled
Review posting is temporarily disabled

It's been awhile, and I have a little news, so here goes:

The Reviews section is all repaired, and you can post reviews to your hearts content now (and suggest items for others to review).

The tutorials section is as fixed as its gonna get (the publishing software requires you to be using Internet Explorer or any Gecko-based brower such as Firefox, Safari will not work).

Lots of new Challenges posted since last time, and a lot of new friends joining to participate, so go over and give them your opinions.

We've added two moderators, Leah and Flora. Offer them your sympathies, and maybe a hug.

OK, here's the real news (ok, that was all news, but here's what got me motivated enough to post this): in about 45 minutes the site should go down for anywhere from 5 minutes to several hours as they move us over to a new semi-dedicated server. This means we won't be sharing the server with quite as many neighbors, but nothing should change as far as day to day operations go (so they say).

So, if you're reading this, it's probably either underway or has already happened :)

I'm considering a new feature aimed at those who make (or hope to make) money via retouching and restoring. Please read this description and leave your feedback (http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8358).

Critiques have been dropping off over in the Challenges area (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenges), even though actual participation is way up. Please visit there regularly and show your support by telling them what you think of their efforts.

A resounding yawn for my new revenue-generation idea means we'll need some donations in the next month to pay the server and licensing bills. A little over $200 has already been donated (thanks for that!), which means we'll need at least another $300. Click here (http://www.amazon.com/paypage/P2UH9O6YRHRMLU) to help.

Lots of new Challenges, and lots of new Challenge submissions to enjoy and give feedback on (so please go tell them what you think of their work).

I'm completely out of Retouching Challenge material, so email me a thumbnail if you have potential submissions (interesting images that need color correction or studio portraits that could use a little retouching help).

A new round of Art Tag (http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=119) is starting up, but I honestly don't think very many people know it exists. Please go check it out, T Paul puts a lot of work into it and it's a great project. Maybe play one round to see what it's like!

Plenty of new Challenges, and a LOT of new Challengers. Make sure you give them your feedback (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenges).

We've gotten a few donations since my last update, but we're still considerably short of the necessary fundage. And that's just to keep the lights on, and doesn't include improvements.

A new round of Art Tag starts Friday, so don't miss that.

I started a new forum for Official Vendor Support (http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=162). If you work for a manufacturer, publisher, developer, or if you're an author or developer yourself, please check it out. Or if you know of a company that could use a support forum, let them know.

Please check if your email address here is current, you have no idea how many bounces I get in my mailbox every day. Every thread subscription with a bad email address sends me an email everytime someone posts to that thread.

I am completely out of challenge material. I have one Restoration challenge lined up, but after that I'm dry. Please email thumbnails to me.

The 4 most common reasons I don't use most photos that are submitted:

I try to encourage a wide range of techniques to be used, so even if it's a marvelous photo I won't use it if we've already beaten a particular technique to death in other Challenges

or

It's definitely a challenging photo, but even if perfectly restored/retouched/manipulated it's not particularly interesting

or

The image is so far gone the only solution is to paint in a new image (or conversely, it barely needs any work at all)

or

There are obvious copyright/permission issues

I still need retouching challenge images (color shifts, unflattering color studio portraits, etc.). I'm fine on old/damaged photos, but desperate for the preceding.

New RetouchPRO feature:
RetouchPRO Resources (http://www.retouchpro.com/resources)
Where you can upload and download actions, brush sets, etc. for all the various programs. It's still in beta, but works if you're patient. Feel free to suggest categories.

Several new tutorials. I need studio portraits for Challenges. The usual.

What is unusual is that we now have a RetouchPRO Contest (http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=170). That's right, a real contest, with real rules, a real winner, and a real prize. And while we'll have more contests in the future, the only way we'll have more prizes is if lots of people enter this time, so tell everyone you know to enter. And be sure to click on the sponsor link lots of times :)

The March contest is a great success! Voting is going on right now (you can't vote if you didn't enter, but you can do like I did and write your votes down on a post-it and compare to the official winner).

Another contest will start on April 1, with another great prize for the winner. Don't be shy about inviting other forums and email lists to join in!

Perhaps you've noticed a lack of new Challenges. I plead poverty (of good source material). Email me thumbnails, particularly of bad color problems and particularly particularly of color studio portraits.

Speaking of poverty, donations have virtually disappeared, running at about 10% of overhead.

It's been awhile since I posted anything here, though plenty of stuff has been happening all along (just nothing totally "new").

We do have a new Contest starting up in a few days. These have gotten some terrific entries, and you should really check them out over in the Studio forum. They're all winners! And a special thanks to T Paul for all her effort at running the contests.

Plus I just posted 2 new Challenges. And, of course, I'm still looking for good retouching material for future contests. (Don't forget you can still work on even the oldest Challenges)

A distant warning: some time in the next month or so I'll be upgrading to the new version of this forum software. It offers a lot of great new features, but of course it also means stuff will break, the site might go down awhile during the transition, etc. So don't panic when it happens.

I've changed the method of posting site updates, so nav up one level to see the current update.