Skill Level??

[Ed_L]

Just wondering where you would consider yourself in the area of skill level? Don't be bashful -- take the poll!

Ed

[jeaniesa]

I guess I'd have to say I'm "intermediate". My friends and family who have seen my work tell me I'm not a beginner, but I know that I still have way too much to learn to even think that I'm near advanced. Thus, I'll stick myself in the middle.
Jeanie

[Chris W.]

I'm going to go with intermediate as well. I know I've seen a lot better work than mine and that's what keeps me learning.

[Vikki]

I'm going to go with "intermediate advanced".

What do you all think defines "advanced"?
I guess for me, it's someone who can tackle any problem, and not leave any visible signs of work done.

I'm also curious, who, and where are the advanced artists?

[thomasgeorge]

I have to class myself in the beginner-intermediate class as I daily discover that the more I learn, the more there is to find out. Tom

[chris h]

K Eismann says to the adept Photoshop is a transparant layer between user and image. That puts me in the mist and fog just south of Draculas castle. I'll go for intermediate because there's still major chunks of the program still unexplored.

[Sanda]

I'll have to agree I'd class my self as intermediate as I still have much to learn about photoshop. I don't dare upgrade to photoshop 6 for frear of having to start again. but ine day $ permitting I will. lol

[Sam]

Depends on what you're talking about ... my skill level for the intricate and exhilarating game of tiddlywinks is definitely close to the advanced category, while those for mud-wrestling are pretty much beginner. Although I would prefer it to be the other way round.

[Lorraine]

I'm a total novice. I don't even have Photoshop yet.

[Vikki]

Lorraine, if you're not in the position to purchase Photoshop right now, you can get an almost exact replica of the program for $29.00. It's put out by a company that makes software that is very much like popular software packages. It's legit.
I've posted the link below. If you go to the site, scroll down to where the individual programs are (as opposed to downloading the entire package). You are looking to download this file: abpaint.exe http://www.ability.com/download/ab2000.php

[sjm]

I feel like I am a beginner, but friends and family who have seen my work are impressed. Maybe that puts me some where between beginner and intermediate.

I'm working on my first paying job right now, so maybe I'm a little beyond the beginner stage.

At my age, i don't think I'll live long enough to become an expert!

[Lorraine]

Thanks so much, Vikki!!!!

I can't believe they're copying that software for such a low price. I'm using Paint Shop Pro right now, but I intend to get Photoshop eventually. My husband is pushing me to get it, since he's seen the work I've done here. He's wants to buy PS for me for Christmas. I'm the one putting it off, since I've yet to learn all the aspects of PSP.

So far, since I've been on this site, I've been happy with PSP, except for the Retouch Challenges. I've tried three, and haven't been successful in completing any of them. I believe that you really need Photoshop for that.

I'm going to retire from my full-time job in December, and hopefully then I'll be able to learn Photoshop and do a lot more of the Challenges on this site.

[Matt Elder]

G'day everyone. Sorry I haven't been around of late but flat out with a flash project amougst other things. An interesting question. I'm not sure if you are asking what is your skill level with your program of choice or skill level doing retouching.

When it comes to usage and knowledge of PhotoShop, I would have to say that I am 'advanced' but there is still huge sections of the program I'm still discovering and coming to gribs with. I've lived and breathed PhotoShop for almost 2 years now and used it for everything from designing websites, colouring images, manipulating photographs through to it as a pure canvas for digital art. I've given some lecturers on the program at the university here which would be Australia's equivalent of Harvard / Yale.

Everything I've learnt has come from experimenting, experimenting, experimenting and reading the occasional good book. I can't stress enough that to learn a program is to play with it and while reading about it helps for ideas, experimenting / doing is the only way. Ok, enough ramble.

When it comes to retouching and restoring photgraphs, beginner as I've only done the one to date.

[NJPatRN]

Count me as beginner>intermediate.
I generally use PSP (7.04 now, started with 4.0) so with that I'm further along, but though I've ventured into the Photoshop realm with PhotoDeluxe, PS LE and Adobe Elements---I even downloaded PS 6.0 tryout so I can dream and drool.
Practice, read, experiment, and practice some more.
I do believe that the day you stop learning ought be the day you die---
so even if it's something small, I try to learn at least one thing each day.

[shan]

I'd rate myself as an advanced user. I'm an Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) in Photoshop Versions 5 and 6. I also teach beginning and Advanced classes at my local Community College.
If I broke the program down into education levels from K through College...I'd be a graduating High School Senior about now! I still have higher ground to cover!
Ms.Shan

[PHI]

Advanced. I take photos well enough that people will pay me quite a bit for them, I own and know a fair bit about a whole bunch of graphics software, I retouch, manipulate and write algorithms for images on a daily basis and have for many years - since the dawn of digital imaging, in fact, in the late 1970's, and I write image processing and manipulation software professionally nowadays.

I think there's another couple of levels, though... expert and godlike.

[BarryB]

Hi all! New member here!

I agree with a lot of what's already been said. I will add that I think that everyone exhibits their own strengths depending on their own background/talents with the work.

For myself... I came into this field with a strong background in Fine Arts & Graphic design. So I guess one would say I often approach the photo with an artistic mindset - even at times using old 'portrait painting' skills on photos where needed. So as far as the actual 'craft' of realistically manipulating and restoring photos.. I feel I'd receive high marks.

On the other hand... my technical knowledge of the program as far as knowing all the ins and outs of color correction, calibration, output... best materials to use and even things as simple as good business horse sense are fields where I'm constanly seeking to improve. It's a constant process.

If expertise in this field were a book I guess I'd say I'm well over half done. (Though truth be told I've skipped around to the more interesting parts) Unfortunately they keep adding new chapters all the time.

[GOLDCOIN]

Howdy Everyone..

I'm searching for the other person that admitted to being an absolute beginner....., there were two votes, mine & ???

What a wonderful site, have so enjoyed the many "pearls" shared....

I installed PS6 almost 8 weeks ago, and still am unable to do much of anything. Today, I learned about the Magnetic Lasso, sounds like my kind of tool....Now if I could only find it!!!

[shan]

The magnetic lasso is located under the regular lasso (2nd row, 1st column of toolbar). Any tool that has a tiny tic mark (little black triangle) on it, indicates "hidden" tools. Press and hold on the tool icon and a popout menu appears with the hidden tools. What's even better than the magnetic lasso, is the magnetic pen. Located under the pen tool choose the freeform pen. Then in the top Options bar checkmark the "magnetic" box.
have fun
Shan

[greg]

beginner definetly

[JustChecking]

lame ... oh, it's not there... so, beginner

[byRo]

Originally Posted by Matt Elder

When it comes to usage and knowledge of PhotoShop, I would have to say that I am 'advanced' ............
When it comes to retouching and restoring photgraphs, beginner...

Same here, mate.
I've got a pretty firm grip on all of the how's and why's of PS. But as it is not my line of business : hardly any practice.
On average - intermediate?

[Janet Petty]

I'm probably on the low end of intermediate. Some things I have a firm grasp of but anything artfully deranged is a challenge. However, since that is where my interest leans, I'm trying hard to catch up.

Restoring photos is more what I'm better at...but enjoy less.

If that confused mess makes any sense at all, you are doing well.

Janet

[denschneider]

I'll have to put myself in the beginner-intermediate spot. When people I know see what I do they are fairly impressed, but when i see what some people on this site do I'm in awe. Dennis

[Robt]

Using the words to discribe my High School Band days,"I was the best last chair third trumpet in the band." As I am in PS.

Therefore, I am an almost fourth year beginner. I must admit though, as I become an old goat it gives me great pleasure to watch and learn from all the "kids" on this sight who help and teach me. For me, a non-artist or even good photog, this Photopshop may be what keeps my mind from lapsing into senility with old age, that is unless it drives me nuts first.

[anders]

I have registered ad "intermediate advanced" not because I can use all corners of Photoshop but because I believe slowly to have learned how to use my hardware (D20, 17-4 and 24-105, 50) supported by some photoshop. Neat image, DXO - competences to express what I want to express in photos. In fact I think I only use some 10-20 % of photoshop functions but its seems in most cases to provide what I'm looking for.
On the other hand I'm maybe simply not critical enough ! However, also that can be learned. Maybe in some weeks I'm a "beginner" again...
Anders

[Walt_]

didn't know if I was even going to post... then I saw Ms.Shan's mention of teaching beginning and Advanced classes at her local Community College.

what a terrific opportunity eh? I had the chance to do the same out here in California... it was a wonderful experience.

Funny, after years of "living and breathing" Photoshop... getting into the program at home before work, then most of each 10+ hour day at the office and back to it when I get home... continually collaborating online or exercising my creativity in some way, even had the opportunity to work on a couple of Photoshop books...


however, had the chance to take the Ultimate Photoshop Quiz at the PhotoshopUser site the other week... even cheating I only come up ass Intermediate...

in the end, maybe its not what you remember, but what you do
with each release, there's more to learn... but there's also much more to learn about the industries in which our skills are used.

we can only get better

[pure]

i cant say which level i am. i am simply happy with my experience.

self-taught and learned from collegues, so i have my own way of finishing a job. this may be awkward, sometimes i think there must be a faster method, although i always make it in the end...thats why i found this forum, i already learned a lot, reading some topics...and still improving

[Funkliquid]

i think im in the upper intermediate bracket there is still allot more to learn and experiment with, some project push u more than others,


www.funkliquid.co.uk check out my stuff here

Originally Posted by Ed_L

Just wondering where you would consider yourself in the area of skill level? Don't be bashful -- take the poll!

Ed

[pxldoc]

I'd have to say I'm advanced but since I started with photoshop (when it was 2.5) I knew then that photoshop would be a life long learning experience and I feel I need someone who can take me to a higher level than I am at right now.