Your "a-HA!" moments

[Doug Nelson]

We've all had them at one time or another. Those moments when a task that seems impossible for you suddenly snaps into clarity, and things are never the same afterwards.

What were some of your a-ha moments when learning how to image edit?

[Ken Fournelle]

I had and ah-ha moment when I learned how to use the pen tool. From time to time would take up the pen tool and try to learn it. I would read and view video tutorials on the pen tool to no avail. Then I found one tutorial that explained the pen tool and how to use it in conjunction with the alt/option and Cmd/control keys. click and drag etc. Learning the pen tool has immeasurably improved my selection skills.

k

[Peter S]

I had one of them when I found this site.
Now I get them nearly every time I visit.
Sort of "Oh thats the way to do it"
Peter

[Marthig]

My first "a-HA!" moment was when found out in a tutorial here at RP of course, what was the use of those eyedroppers in the levels, curves and other dropdown tabs
Practically everytime I read a tut here have one of those a-ha moments.
Congrats Doug for having created this forum and to all the extraordinary Mods and members that keep posting those tutorials.
Well I am going to cry somewhere else

Regards - Martha

[Frank Lopes]

I also had one of those moments with the Pen tool.

It was when I stopped using the lasso and started using the pen to create selections/masks.

Originally Posted by Doug Nelson

We've all had them at one time or another. Those moments when a task that seems impossible for you suddenly snaps into clarity, and things are never the same afterwards.

What were some of your a-ha moments when learning how to image edit?

[Janet Petty]

Best A-Hah moment was when I actually got the AHB to work the way I wanted it to.

I wish there was an emoticon (forget the spelling) to portray tongue-in-cheek for this "tongue-in-cheek" post because I wish that Photoshop's learning curve wasn't so steep. Not that the powers that be could or should change Photoshop in that manner...but one can always wish.

That said, I teach a very beginner's class. I see way too many students intimidated by just the basic screen let alone what each of the icons/buttons on those toolbars in that screen do. Classes tend to run too fast and on a time schedule to accomplish a certain amount within a time limit. Many student "light bulbs" don't click on in time; and the class is discouraging and frustrating.

Janet

[DannyRaphael]

The big ones for me...

* "Finally getting" the relationship between selections, alpha channels, layer masks and the Quick Mask tool -- and realizing that layer mask techniques/concepts work on adjustment layers, too, e.g., black conceals and white reveals.

* Getting "batch processing" to work for the first time.

* Making the connection between History States and the History and Art History Brush tools.

[chrishoggy]

Mine was upgrading my system memory, so I could use BIG (100MB+) image files and not have to sit for ages waiting for filters to finish . Also discovering PhotoPlus! from Serif, as that started me off with image editing

[pellepiano]

I would have to say Layer masks, which still gives me new aha's when I find new uses for them.

[Gary Richardson]

I used to copy and paste items, and always spent ages erasing edges to blend and fit them, having to take particular care, as correcting errors was time consuming (if possible at all).

The big A-Ha was when I started applying layer masks to my pasted items, which made blending so much easier.

I could re-work things later when (as is usual for me) I spot something I'd overlooked, or that didn't quite look right.

[Cassidy]

Yep have to agree with Gary on that one, the masks seemed so cumbersome especially when you had an eraser and then the penny drops as to how much more flexible they are

[snook305]

Ditto the "PEN" tool... I could never figure it out and always gave up.. once I got it I was amazed with my self...:+}
People should be posting links maybe to the things that made them go a-HA..
that would be great for all of us.
I do not have the pen tool video but if I find it I'll post it. Probably the same as the last person who mentioned the video also above me..
Snook

[MargaretM]

My A-ha moment was when I realized the power of adjustment layers as opposed to degrading the image and having to start all over again. Seems a long time ago, but was definitely A-HA!
MargaretM

[i.ilievski]

My "A-ha" moment was when I discowered the "eliminate white" transparency plugin.... before that i tried lot's of different techniques to achive desired rults, but never done it 100% right... Till the A-ha moment

regards

[raniday]

My favorite Ah-Ha! moment was regarding Art History. I even posted here a couple of times for help from Danny. I just couldn't seem to "get it", and then one night, it began doing its magic, and it's been my favorite PS tool ever since.

[patriciakay]

Hi Cat and welcome back....

Mine is also to do with the AHB...discovering I could use any of the brushes, for art history,not only AHB was a big AH HA for me...now when i think about it, most days I have an AH HA moment...think you do when you are still in the learning process!!!

Patricia...

[raniday]

Thanks, Pat, for the welcome back. It's those a-HA moments that make it all worth while. (Also, with my memory, I have some them more than once!)

[Gary Richardson]

Also, with my memory, I have some them more than once!

You're not alone there, I've lost count of the number of things I've "re-discovered" just lately.

[Stroker]

Layers. My very first epiphany was layers. I've been digital imaging since before layers existed. It was such a foreign idea. As a matter of fact, there was no Undo back then, either.