REVIEW: ABC-Impact.com - Tutorials by Sylvia

[DannyRaphael]

Site: http://abc-impact.com/photo_art/tutorials.htm
Tutorials written by: Sylvia DiGeorgio

Those who like step-by-step instructions with nothing left out will appreciate this collection of tutorials developed by talented digital artist, Sylvia DiGeorgio (aka RetouchPRO member sylvia1065). “A wealth of detail” are the words that came to mind after reading through them. Delivered in .pdf format they are easy to print, transport and take notes on like I did for this review.

Supplementing the how-to instructions are valuable “learn from my experiences and mistakes” tips and an abundance of easy to read dialog box close-ups, some annotated, that clearly show the options used and setting values for each step. (See the attached image below for a screenshot of a typical page.) For each Photoshop command specified, Sylvia thoughtfully included its keyboard shortcut. I wish there had been comprehensive tutorials like these when I started with this hobby (obsession?) several years ago.

The tutorials are based on Photoshop. Some are Mac compatible and a few have been translated to get equivalent results using Paint Shop Pro. Hurrah for that!

What about artistic styles? There’s something for everyone. As of this writing there are over a dozen tutorials from which to choose (with more to come) including a sketch look and several painting styles – some subtle, some more bold. There’s even a tutorial that utilizes the LucisArt plugin. Many of the offerings include layers rendered by the popular (and free) Impressionist plugin, which can be downloaded from Sylvia’s site. I particularly liked the tutorials named Cartoony and Oil Portrait because their unique recipes.

Each tutorial is self-contained. All custom Impressionist plugin setting files, Photoshop tool presets and brushes, etc. referenced in a given lesson are included. Where needed links to additional plugins and other resources are provided in the text.

While all tutorials contain boatloads of detail, none are difficult to follow or learn. In fact most of the steps are relatively basic. Someone with a moderate amount of Photoshop experience will be able to apply the steps with little pause, while those who are fairly new to Photoshop will learn, depending on the tutorial, things like how to use layer masks and adjustment layers, load custom brushes and tool presets, define and apply textures, merge layers, apply the Fade command, use the Impressionist plugin, the basics of “smudge painting” and more.

It’s important to note that settings and options specified in tutorials of this nature are optimized for the example image. What does that mean? It means if one applies the exact same settings to a different image, the results will not necessarily be favorable. One must think of a setting value for a given step as a “guideline” or “recommendation,” not “the one and only setting” for all cases. Experimentation with settings is almost a necessity. Once one has a grip on a particular method, there’s practically no limit to the artistic possibilities.

What about cost? Compared to many video tutorials which can be expensive, Sylvia’s tutorials are very affordable starting at only $6 US.

This collection should appeal to those fairly new to photo art, who are looking for reasonably priced and easy to use methods that will enable one to grow technically and go beyond the ordinary artistically.

All uploaded images below were created by Sylvia. Each file name coincides with the corresponding tutorial.

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LOOK: Besides offering numerous services and tutorials

Check out her site for some cool free stuff!

1. Go to: http://abc-impact.com/photo_art/tutorials.htm
2. Scroll to bottom of the page

· Backgrounds
· Brush tutorial
· canvas - bristle
· canvas - bristle portrait
· How to create an action
· Create Edges
· Impressionist plugin
· Brushes
· Borders
· Textures

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Congrats, Sylvia, on your endeavor.

[sylvia1065]

Thank you very much for your kind words, Danny!
I just added a "cartoony tutorial", for those interested in it.

You can also view my Galleries at:
http://photoart-tutorials.com/photo_art/Galleries/Sylvia's_Gallery/index.htm

Sylvia

[plugsnpixels]

Sylvia's work is featured here and in issue 9 of the companion ezine. She does really nice work and I'm glad I was introduced to it recently!

[DannyRaphael]

Nice writeup. It would be helpful to know "which" method/tutorial was used to create each example in the e-zine.

[sylvia1065]

Thanks for your nice comments, Mike!
Danny, the top picture showing in Mike's ezine was done with my Tutorial 5A exclusively; the second and the third were adaptations of my Tutorial 2 (Pattern stamp tool) but involved other things (smudging, watercolor, and other touch-ups).
If people are interested in seeing which tutorial does what, I would recommend they have a look at this gallery :
http://photoart-tutorials.com/photo_...ery/Album1.htm
I specified which tutorial I used for each picture.
Thanks again,
Sylvia

[plugsnpixels]

Good point, Danny, and I see Sylvia has cleared it up!

[thesnapper]

I have Sylvia's 5a Lucis tut, and i cannot recommend it highly enough, anyone i show pics too of workings using her tutorial are amazed. Thanks Sylvia especially for your aftersales support.

Neal

[sylvia1065]

You're welcome, Neal! I'm very glad you like this tutorial.
I put some samples of your artwork on the Users' gallery on my website.
http://photoart-tutorials/photo_art/...ery/Album1.htm
I very much like what you did with my tutorial!

Sylvia

[oltenius]

Sylvia, I saw your website, very nice, lots of great tutorials!
Congratulations! I submited a message in your guestbook
Regards,
Dan

[sylvia1065]

Thanks, Dan! I hope we'll see some of your artwork soon!
Sylva

[sylvia1065]

Hi all,
Just wanted to let you know that I've recently posted a bunch of free tutorials and a bunch of freebies on my website.
Sylvia

[DannyRaphael]

Sylvia recently sent me samples of her tutorials for review, a project I look forward to getting started on once school starts next week!

Thanks for your patience, Sylvia.

[sylvia1065]

You're welcome, Danny!

[DannyRaphael]

Review posted (see 1st post).

[sylvia1065]

Hello,

Just a little note to let you know that I've uploaded new tutorials on my website.

You can also get my charcoal tutorial for free here:
http://photoart-tutorials.com/Goodie...tut_sample.zip

Sylvia

[Janet Petty]

Great tutorial Sylvia. I'm going to take time out to play with it. I know just the picture. Thank you.

Janet

[sylvia1065]

You're welcome, Janet!!
Make sure you show me what you came up with!
Sylvia

[GOLDCOIN]

Hi Sylvia...

Thank you so much for the opportunity to see one of your tutorials ....Charcoal. Am off to give it a try..Carole

[sylvia1065]

Just a short message to let you know that my book - Photoshop Photos to Art - is finally finished.

I've decided to sell it as a pdf eBook and it's available for only $US 50.00 on my new website:
http://www.photoart-tutorials.com

It contains ALL my tutorials [over 40 in all]. You can check the table of contents on the website.
I've also added the Impressionist plug-in and sets, brushes, presets, patterns, painted backgrounds, and textures as a bonus.

I hope you'll like the new book as much as I do.

Sylvia