A Welcome Note To Newbies

[NiteOwl]

Thanks DJ, I will try to remember who everyone is as time goes by. I think you are all well worth knowing!

Great site.

NiteOwl

[DannyRaphael]

PJ:

Let me add my welcome to this forum, too!

DJ and Jak are two of my favorite people at this site -- among many others. I don't hold a candle to their knowledge and expertise in this dimension of image trickery, so be assured they'll take good care of you, especially as you graduate beyond PD2K.

I know at some point in time when you're ready to spread your wings further, you'll dive back into the Photo-art forum with GUSTO... and will be welcomed with open arms!

If you think your kids like standard photos, wait until they see themselves in "watercolor" -- or combination photos... part "standard" images and part "arty." Their friends (and hopefully their parents) will beat a path to your door... hopefull with checkbook in hand.

~Danny~

[NiteOwl]

The welcome is appreciated! I can see already there is tons to learn here and wonderful people to interact with.

Glad I decided to take your advice and check out the site!

As far as Photo Art, I'll be seeing ya soon,....I just opened a package and believe it or not a wonderful person decided to send me Photo Shop,...hmmm, imagine that!

Thanks for the help and the software, I am ready to rock and roll with digital manipulation!

Take care,
Nite Owl

[Jenny Wood]

Dear Jak,

Last night I posted a reply and submitted a photo to the Salon forum part of this site and wanted to definitely say a big THANK YOU to you Jak for your great tutorial on colourisation.

I have so much more I want learn and this site has been great
(even though I know this has been written by countless other newbies too)!

Thanks again for your help Jak!

Cheers,

Jenny

[suz4x4]

Hi All,

It seems I have finally found the right place for all the information I have been looking for. I look forward to comments on my work from people that actually do photo retouching and restoration. My Boyfriend has talked me into doing this on the side. He seems to think I am good! Now I will really find out if I have what it takes!
So where do I start? I have never joined anything like this and hope you even get this message!

thanks in advance!

[Len]

Well I just signed up this evening and got to say I'm already impressed by the site.
Ok about me. Well I'm a 53 year old guy living in dear old England. The North of England to be exact and I am a real and total newbie to photo restoration etc.

Ok so I know my way around a computer but when it comes to digital photography then I am bottom of the class.

So what made me start. Well two things. I have a lot of old photos of my parents taken during and before the war that I've always wanted to restore but because I've always been too busy with my job (Self employed) I've never had the time. My new years resolution this year was that I would make a start otherwise I knew I'd keep puting it off.

The other reason I want to get into digital retouching etc. is that come August I'm going to be a grandad for the first time and seeing as how my daughter lives in the South of England the only way I'm going to get those cute baby pics is over the computer so I've really got to know how to retouch them etc.

I've got to say that I am one happy guy that I found this site and I know I'm going to learn a lot from everyone so any help in any shape or form would be appreacited. As a matter of interest I'm going to be using photoshp 7 (which my wife bought me for my christmas and birthday present) so I guess that will help me a little. I hope

Cheers to everyone

Len

[d_kendal]

Hey Len,

Welcome to RetouchPro! you're not the only member here from across the pond, you'll notice quite a few other (see the Regards from the UK thread)
for learning about digital retouching, I'm sure you'll learn a lot very quickly around here, this is where I learned most of the stuff I know about photoshop.

- David

[Len]

Thanks Dave I appreciate that. I'm sure I'll pick things up soon enough. There's plenty of tips to go at that's for sure.

Many Thanks


Len

[ArtistColumbus]

I'd like to introduce myself as well. I found this site about a week ago and have been completely engrossed in everything there is here. I can't stop searching around and looking at what everyone has submitted. There are some phenominal artists out there!

To let everyone know about my history, I have been a graphic artist for screenprinting and transfer companies for the last 13 years. With the birth of my son approaching, I decided a year ago to work from my home (he's now 8 months old). It was great for a while, but I think I was just getting too burnt out from that industry all together. During that time, my Mom and I have been tracing our family history and had several old photos that were in desperate need of repair. I had a blast and have found my new calling!

I've just submitted one photo (Restoration Challenge #5) and am asking for any and all feedback I can get. This was a lot of fun and I'd like to start up a restoration business.

I hope I get to know everyone soon. Until then, stay warm!

[Dave St.]

This is a great site! So many things to learn and so little time in life!!!!

[MKStudio]

Hi Jak,
I am te newest of the new. For starters, I can't figure out how to download the color charts - would love to have them! I am finding that your text is behind the charts and I can't read it, the same is happening on other pages. I'm using a Mac with Netscape. Would appreciate your help. Thanks.
MKStudio

[Jakaleena]

Hi MKStudio! Welcome to RP!

To answer your question, I don't have the color charts "downloaded". I just have them saved to my hard drive. I open them in Photoshop whenever I need them and use the eyedropper tool to choose the colors I want.

As far as text being behind the charts, you might want to change your screen resolution. I have mine set at 1024x768 and that seems to work fine.

And don't forget suggestion #6 at the beginning of this thread. You might want to post your questions in a new thread if my advice doesn't work so you'll have a better chance of getting a good solution from someone.

I'll look forward to hearing more from you! Have fun...

[hidesy]

Good Morning all! Wll, I seem to have stumbled upon a lovely place. I've been pretty involved in photo manipulation and enhancement for a while now and have just taken the big plunge of quitting my job and starting up a business. I am after all the help I can get on topics including photoshop, particularly restoration (which I'm fairly new to) and possibly some marketing ideas for my business... as well as lots of tips and tricks I haven't found on my own

If you want to check out my new website go to http://www.designtangents.com.au...

Once again, thanks guys

Hidesy

[K. Johnstone]

I've found THE site, can't really tell you how excited I am by this place, it's exactly what I was looking for. Member supported site, retoucher community. And you are all quite competent!

I've been a retoucher for the past ten years or so, traditional print retouching with dyes on prints and negs as well as Photoshop, working for everybody from Olan Mills to Playboy. Right now I'm a contractor for a pro lab, and it's very frustrating. I think you people would be shocked if you see what I see. Nobody was trained, the lab sends their fleet of artists on Photoshop and just assumes they'll figure it out by trial and error. The other day, my supervisor was upset because she was looking at a restoration/color correction I had done, and she was angry because she saw some funny "things" I put on the picture. I was color correcting, using the eyedropper to find the white/black/grey spots. I mean, this is fairly basic to the workings of Photoshop, right? But she's upset about this, thinking those strange markers are going to print! I assured her they wouldn't, but I just don't think she believed me. Finally I tricked her by hiding the extras. This is the woman in charge of retouching for the lab, one of the largest pro labs in the United States. How would they have sent out the order if I hadn't brought the actual colors back? Colorized, sad. I'm not sure how they keep their customers, honestly.

And they all think they're experts! The egos I'm dealing with, the ignorance, surrounded by it day in and day out. Hacks. I suppose I've strated ranting (but gee it feels good) and it may sound harsh... but trust me on this. Nobody even works in layers, all artwork is done directly on the background layer. I've tried helping (even though this really is not the place for a contractor), but it's hard to help someone learn the basics when they are certain they are an expert already. There's just something about retouching in general, I think, it can be very empowering, almost give one a God Complex. But with Photoshop, it's almost the more you learn--you eventually reach a point when you realize you are no expert, and not only that---probably never will be. And what do I find here, lurking in another thread? Folks here saying we aren't experts, you're still learning. Yes!

Must say, those of you who don't do this professionally and those who may feel new and intimidated by others around here, remember this: You know more than people being paid to do it, professionals, just by being here you know so much more. I've often felt alone, the only guy bothering to learn the basics, no one to turn to when I needed help. You just can't know how happy I am to find this site!

[ArtistColumbus]

Welcome K!

I, as I'm sure everyone else here on this forum, agree with you. The true "experts" are the ones who have learned so much about Photoshop that they realize there is so much more to learn. It's an endless, wonderful, exciting cycle!

I hope you love this group as much as I do.

[jeaniesa]

Hi K! Welcome to RetouchPro! I'm really glad that you found us. A lot of us feel "alone" in our work situations and this forum is a great place for support and comradery. We're spread all over the world (including South Africa, Zimbabwe, Australia, India, Philippines, Italy, Great Britain, Netherlands, US, Canada and more), but our love of photo restoration/retouching (and photo-art) is what brings us together. Don't feel shy about asking questions or sharing tips. I think you'll find us a friendly group, ready to lend a helping hand when asked and always ready to learn new info and techniques!

Welcome!

Jeanie

[philkf]

just joined this morning.i would like to say hi to all nice site and there is a lot of talented people using this site.
i must admit i found your site only by luck when looking on the internet, but i am very glad i did.
keep up the good work

[ArtistColumbus]

Welcome philkf! Glad you found us!

Hopefully, we'll get to see some of your work here too! Don't be afraid to jump in and join us. We're all learning -- all the time! Just have fun and enjoy! :LOL:

[Jeff L]

I too, would like to echo Phils comments. I joined recently and the more I browse this site the more interesting and educational I find it. There are some pretty darn talented folks around here that impart some great advice and support. I am pretty much a digital hack but with the resources here I could develop into a pretty good hack

It is nice to stumble upon a real gem once in awhile...

[CJ Swartz]

Welcome, K, Philkf, Jeff L -- I'm glad you found this spot, and hope you'll jump right in and start working on a Challenge (Restoration, Retouching, Photo Art, Manipulation) or a Photo Art mini-challenge, or reading the Tips and Tutorials, or posting something interesting in the Salon, or...
-- whatever strikes your particular interest.

RetouchPro isn't just a site, it is a community -- welcome, neighbor!

[CJ Swartz]

Jeff L. -- I visited your website and looked in some of your Galleries -- you do some very good work. You have a great eye for composition, color, patterns, line, and you handle macros, portraits, landscapes with equal aplomb. Looking forward to seeing more of your photography.

[Jeff L]

Why ... Thank You! I have posted a couple of photos here in the challenges. That was quite fun! Basically I have been lurking around here getting my bearings. There sure are alot of things to learn here and I will chime in if I think I can be of any use

[Dave the Bat]

Hello People. I joined yesterday and seeing as my fellow Brits have announced themselves I feel its time to say hello.
I'm 25 and from London and currently working in a print reprographics house which tries to steer me away from retouching (my favourite bit) and on to more mundane things like Quark and Illustrator.
I have been playing with photoshop for quite a while now but am by no means an expert. I am VERY keen on learning more and this seems the best place to do it.
If anyone has any questions regarding reproducing images to print CMYK I'd like to think that I'll be able to help

[fotofreak]

I just wanted to say HI. I joined yesterday and just dove right in. Everyone has been so nice here. I needed to get something done for a client of mine and you all helped me out, especially Jeanie. She is a true asset to RetouchPRO. I can't believe how nice everyone here is. I absolutely love this place and have been looking for a place like this for along time. I am glad I found it, but only wish I had sooner. Thank you all. I just hope that I can help you all out sometime too.... cyal8tr

[vixnfox]

HI everyone.

Fox and I have just registered with the forum. We're Antique Photo restorers in Adelaide, Australia. Just starting a new business. Looking forward to learning new tips and tricks to help us on our way to becoming xpurts.

We're also training with the Australian College of Journalism doing freelance photography so we'll be kept pretty busy in the next few weeks. We will be dropping by from time to time to check messages and things.

Regards

Vixen and Fox
Vix-N-Fox

[hizaam]

WOW! This is the most incredible photoshop resource I have ever found. I'm in that middle ground between photoshop noob and intermediate user. I am by no means a graphics tradesman, let alone an artist. I muck with photoshop and toy with plugins. With brute force I sometimes achieve some of the results I desire.

I'll be lurking here for a LONG LONG time.

[Lex]

Hi I have just joined.

I work in a Large Retoching House in London England and have been retoching for almost 20 years the first 9 where with brushes dyes and bleaches untile I got myself on a computor 11 years ago. Anyone need any tips I will be happy to help. 20 years and I still love my job cant think of anything I would rather do. Anyway Great site I will be visiting when I get a chance and work is slow.

Laters Lex

[ACTUAL iMAGE]

Hello Jak, et al.!

I may not be a newbie in terms or length of membership...but...
I sure am in experience with the site.

I'm so glad to be here. You are right, Jak, people are nice here! It almost makes me want to say something rude--just to break it up. So here goes:

Snot!

Ok then. Hehe. So I'd like to thank all of you moderators for you efforts. This is a wonderful site. I've learned SO MUCH. In fact, the thing I've learned the most here is how much I have yet to learn!

There are some unbelievably talented artists here. It's humbling...and yet extremely exciting to me.

Thanks again,

Scott A. Stewart
Gurnee, IL

[Flora]

Hello Scott!

Welcome to RP!

Originally Posted by ACTUAL iMAGE

.....It almost makes me want to say something rude--just to break it up. So here goes:

Snot!

.... Pheeeewwww .... and I was fearing a bout of "Tourette's Disorder" ....

Glad to have you onboard!

[Jiger]

Hi all !

Had my account approval in the mail some ten minutes ago.
Done a bit of scouting on this site and ... wow..!!
This is going to be fun IMO.

And how did I end up here .. ?

Well, you know, been beating some versions of Photoshop without really knowing what I was doing. Done photography off and on since 1976 ( still on chemical version ) and actaully understood the power of Photoshop even though I've not really got the proper grips of it.
... and I'm now on ver 7

Bought Kateryn Eismann's "R&R 2nd ed" from Amazon and is now beyond all salvation...
Probably doing the book to fast - kind of "turn-page-and-do-turn-page-and-do-turn-page..." and can't stop !!!

But hey, am I learing stuff or what ?!
I'm now half ways through the book and have learned more in 150 pages than all my collected "hacking" since ver 4.
Perhaps I've soon learned enough to change my avatar

My location will in the next few weeks be back in the old country - which is Sweden.
Not a needed info, I know, but could perhaps be nice to know ... ?

K' - so, now you'll be stuck with me for ever and ever and ever and ever....

-- Jiger --