Announcing RetouchPRO LIVE - 05/27/09

[Doug Nelson]

I'm pleased to announce our first ever live interactive retouching event: RetouchPRO LIVE

This is a 2+ hour live session taking place May 27, 2009 at 9pm Eastern time.

Watch live in your browser as Chris Tarantino does a beauty retouch while he and I discuss his technique. You'll also be able to ask questions.

Click here for details and ticket sales link

Hopefully this will be the first of many such events, covering lots of topics with different guest artists. Whether there will be more of these depends solely upon the attendance at this one, so tell everyone you know to buy a ticket and show up (it's only $10!).

[amica999]

Darn... too bad! Would have loved to attent but that's working time in Europe and to top that I am on a business trip, too....Will there be a relaunch on some weekend?

[cricket1961]

Ummm. Its all I can take to do it the first time listening to the crickets chirping.
Don't make me do it again!

Honestly, I really don't know what's in the back of Doug's mind about this.

Chris

[amica999]

Any chance of recording the event for those unfortunate who can't attent?

[fryday]

I'll definately be attending. Just need to work out what time this will be in Australia.

[learninlady]

Perfect time for me, but too much $$$. I'll wait for the free reruns.

[Doug Nelson]

Post the Australian time here once you figured it out.

There will probably be a DVD available some time after the live event, but with production costs and shipping, attending live will be the less expensive viewing option.

[Juergen D]

21:00:00 Wednesday May 27, 2009 in US/Eastern converts to
11:00:00 Thursday May 28, 2009 in Australia/Sydney
Daylight Saving Time is in effect on this date/time in US/Eastern
Daylight Saving Time is not in effect on this date/time in Australia/Sydney

Source: http://www.timezoneconverter.com/


Juergen

[DXM]

It sounds really fun and interesting... sadly I am counting on being slightly comatose at that time. Working with a festival and will be on my feet from 06.00 on the 25th 'til approximately 08.00 on the 26th. SO I'll be cutting some major Z's on the 27th

*chirrup, chirrup*

[Doug Nelson]

Assuming we get enough attendance to warrant further events, we'll introduce some scheduling options in the future.

I cannot stress enough how important it is for everybody to spread the word about this. Even if you're not interested in this particular session or just can't make it, post the details link on other sites you visit, email friends, etc.

If this works, I plan on offering similar sessions with a wide range of guest artists and topics. But none of that will happen if it just ends up being me, Chris, and a few forum regulars in this first session.

[domididom]

Could you guys post a Plan of this session?
I think it could help some people to decide if they are interested or not.

[Doug Nelson]

The "plan" is simply watching Chris turn the before image into the after image in real time (see link above). An over-the-shoulder view of a skilled professional retoucher at work. With the exception of that he'll be explaining what he's doing as he's going along, which I doubt he does when his desktop isn't being broadcast. And, time allowing, he'll answer questions at the end.

[Flashtones]

I will try to attend. Chris' work is great.

I'd just like to mention that for the future I'd like to see something on product retouching: jewelry, cosmetics, cars, etc. There's such a dearth of that kind of instruction to be found anywhere, be it in books, videos, forums, what have you.

[Doug Nelson]

I'm happy to take requests for future events. That particular one is already on my to-do list, along with several others. But it all hinges on the success of this first one, so don't wait to register. The sooner I can gauge the popularity of this, the sooner I can start lining up experts for future presentations.

[LloydM]

Okay I signed up...

Be sure to save it to DVD.. ..!!

[ashphotoart]

its good for me to register, but fee should be less. however I will register soon.

Ash

[Doug Nelson]

Registrations are starting to trickle in. Since this is the first event I'm having to handle registrations manually, so I thought I'd clarify what happens:

1. You click on the Paypal link and authorize the payment for $10
2. I email you a link to register for the event (this might take a few hours, I send each one manually)
3. After another few hours (again, manual) you'll receive an email with your personal link to join the event (don't delete this email)
4. 30 minutes before the event begins you'll get a reminder email (at least this part is automated).
5. You can join the event early if you want, but you'll just see a static info page until the event starts
6. You can also join the event in progress. It will start promptly, but the first couple of minutes will just be me introducing Chris and explaining how you can interact.

Don't share your link, or you won't be able to join if another person using your link has joined first.

[vollick]

Doug,

I have "attended" these events with Nik software and Adobe, and they are great. My only request is the you ask Chris to "Slow Down" so many of these demonstrators have done this many times, and after a while it gets really rehearsed and too rote.

Hopefully it will recorded as I will be no where near a computer at that time on that date.

Thanks,

vollick

[suchyy]

Originally Posted by amica999

Darn... too bad! Would have loved to attent but that's working time in Europe and to top that I am on a business trip, too....Will there be a relaunch on some weekend?

It's 3am in Europe, isn't it ? More like sleeping time

[Doug Nelson]

If we do more of these (still a big if at this point) I'll work something out for our eastern-hemisphere friends.

[cricket1961]

I don't think that there will be any worry about me going to fast. My style is extremely repetitious. If anything t'll be more like "Is he still doing the same thing??? What gives".

Seriously though. I don't go fast, to anal about it to go faster.
But the nice thing about this format is there is the opportunity to let me know and therefore adjust one way or another.

The bigger problem is to get me to keep talking...

Chris

[suchyy]

Originally Posted by Doug Nelson

If we do more of these (still a big if at this point) I'll work something out for our eastern-hemisphere friends.

Thank you I will do my best to give it a try this time. Chris, you need to be entertaining too keep me awake. Or shout something once in a while all of the sudden

[Doug Nelson]

Originally Posted by cricket1961

The bigger problem is to get me to keep talking...

That's my job.

[dweekley]

Sounds like fun. I've signed up. Have visiting guest leaving that evening so I hope I'm not too warn out to absorb what I'm sure will be great info LOL.

[ashphotoart]

I signed Up, Chris, please look my port and tell me how I'm really doing presently, looking for your valuable quotes.

Ash

[Doug Nelson]

Thanks to those that have joined so far, but for this thing to succeed at this ridiculously low price-point it needs to be less like a kaffee klatch and more like an auditorium. Don't wait till the last minute to sign up, and encourage other sites to join in.

I've already gotten inquiries from other pros about presenting at future events, but this is still too on-the-bubble for me to tell them anything other than "let's wait and see how it goes".

This is less than the cost of some single magazines, 1/2 the cost of the most deeply discounted books, and 1/10th the cost of a typical DVD (and a DVD won't let you talk to the presenter).

So even if you're undecided about this particular presentation, buy a ticket anyway, as a vote for continuing this. And if you think you have a way to get the word out to other people that might be interested in this, do it.

This could be an interesting and educational couple of hours, or it could be the beginning of an entirely new medium for continuing education about retouching and photography. The difference between the two relies not on me and my industry connections, but on you building grassroots support.

[domididom]

I have one more question.
How is it going to be transmitted?... I'm asking because I'm a MAC user and sometimes I have problems with watching movies on some portals.

[Doug Nelson]

It uses Flash. Chris is a Mac user and had no problems.

Here are the official requirements:

System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, 2003 Server, Vista

Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.4 (Tiger®) or newer

[cricket1961]

I will do my best to keep taking. Honestly, it's Photoshop so it'll be a snap.

As Doug has stated already, this is somewhat of a unique event for this industry. There
are a lot of much more talented and knowledgable about different kinds of retouching/restoration than I might be. There are people very interested in participating in
this event in the future and are very curious about how this will end up doing. It's
not often that one is around for what could push forward a new way to present knowledge en mass for people who would normally never dream of being on the Presenter side.

And yes, there are other people who have tried to present or teach in this manner but very few have been succesful enough. Not because of the knowledge being given, but because of clunky interface or just being to slow on delivery.

And how often does one get the chance to get nearly one-on-one with one of the're
peers? And without the noisy person sitting next to unwrapping a candy bar or asking you
"what did he do? What did he say?".

And I have to admit the test run ran surprisingly smooth on my mac. Quite unlike when I have tried to follow others on different software.

And most people have "known" me for enough time that I try not to dissapoint when parting knowledge about using Photoshop.

I hope to be answering your questions next wednesday!

Chris

[stopa]

Few technical questions:
- Is the transmission far enough to notice color corrections? (I am wary about image compression)
- what we will see? Full desktop, or what?
- who host this transmission?
- can we take a look on a hi-res? Will it be available for download bef/aft after the show?