Photoshop Resources

Check back often, this page is updated regularly!

 

 

The links were getting out-of-hand, so there has been a little housekeeping. 

Please email me if you have found a good resources site that should be included here

or if any of the below links are broken.  Thanks!

 

 CS5 Links - Legacy Photoshop Plugins - Learning Websites - Stock Photos/Illustrations

Freebie Sites - Recommended Books - Class/Tutorial Downloads 

Special Offers and Discounts for Focal Point People!

 

 

CS5 News & Videos:

 

More than 250 new features packed into CS5 Adobe.

 

Unofficial CS5 blog.

 

PhotoshopCafe weighs in on PSCS5 and the rest of the Suite.

 

Top 5 new painting features in this video by John Derry.

 

Russel Brown's favorite 5 new features.

 

Photoshop Legacy Plugins from Adobe

MAC

PC

 

Useful Learning Websites:

The National Association of Photoshop Professionals

By far THE BEST resource out there. 

If you can only have one resource, THIS IS IT!

This is a members' site only.

Click here for membership perks and details. 

 

Julienne Kost's Adobe Blog

 Daily tips.  You can have them sent directly to Photoshop! 

(Check out her page to see how)

 

Adobe TV

Timesavers for photography, free videos & archives

 

"How to..." Channel

AdobeTV's "How To" channel - all Suite programs included!

 

Photoshop User TV

Weekly video tutorials by "The Photoshop Guys"

 

Deke Online

Imaging & Design guru Deke McClelland's tips, tutorials,

rants & everything in-between

 

The Russell Brown Show

Dr. Brown's tips, techniques, scripts, time-savers, tutorials, and ... well,

you just have to see it to believe it

 

John Paul Caponigro

Amazing artist, great blog, tips and cutting-edge Photoshop techniques

 

The Digital Dog

All sorts of useful tips, tricks & invaluable color management info

Digital Dog's Printer Test

 

Adobe Exchange : Photoshop

All kinds of actions, plug-ins, brushes, etc.  GREAT place to find quality stuff!

 

Photoshop News up to date Photoshop info

 

Planet Photoshop tutorials & info

 

Photoshop Support articles, newsletter and useful links

 

RetouchPro resources & forums about retouching and restoration

 

Photoshop SPEED test See if your computer is optimized for Photoshop!

 

Photoshop Forums Adobe moderated Photoshop forums

 

Photoshop User TV free tips and tutorials from the Photoshop Guys

 

Photoshop Competition worldwide Photoshop competition rules & regulations

 

Photoshop Cafe free tutorials and resources

 

 

 

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Stock Photos & Illustrations:

 

 

istockphoto  High quality images, vectors, movies, sounds and more!

Special Offer for Focal Point People!

 

DepositPhotos  High quality images and vectors.  Free seven day subscription.

 

Cutcaster  High quality images and vectors.

 

 

 

 

Good Freebie Websites:

 

DeviantArt  Free actions, brushes, patterns, shapes, images, etc (lots of Illustrator & Corel Painter stuff too!)

 

Photobacks Photoshop template creations. If you "like" them on Facebook, you can download templates for free!  Templates change often!

 

Bad Neighborhood Search multiple stock sites at once from one place

 

Digital Image Magazine Top 25 FREE stock photo sites

 

 

Free Actions

 

Action Central Free actions - be careful here, there are some real gems and some written by people who don't know how to write actions.  The gems are worth combing through the site.

 

Free Brush Directory Directory of good, free Photoshop brushes.

 

Another Brush Directory GREAT directory of brushes available on the Web - updated regularly

 

Annika von Holdt unusual brush sets - look here first if you're looking for something different

 

 

 

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FP Highly Recommended Books:

Click this link to DealOz and compare prices across the Web (and earn a $5 credit)!

 

 

Adobe Photoshop Restoration & Retouching, Third Edition by Katrin Eismann

 

Layers: The Complete Guide to Photoshop's Most Powerful Feature by Matt Kloskowski

 

Photoshop LAB Color: The Canyon Conundrum and Other Adventures in the Most Powerful Color Space by Dan Margulis

 

The Photoshop Channels Book by Scott Kelby

 

Photoshop CS4 Channels & Masks One-on-One by Deke McClelland

Written in CS4, but applicable to all versions

 

Adobe Photoshop CS4 HOW-TOs (100 essential techniques) by Chris Orwig

(available for earlier versions)

 

Photoshop Masking & Compositing by Katrin Eismann

 

The Photoshop CS5 Book For Digital Photographers by Scott Kelby

(available for earlier versions)

 

Teach Yourself Visually Photoshop CS5 By Mike Wooldridge

(available for earlier version - one of the best beginner books out there)

 

The Photoshop CS2 Help Desk Book By Dave Cross

(STILL a valuable resource even though it was written for an earlier version)

 

 

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Class Downloads:  (actions coming soon)

 

The Pen Tool Cheat Sheet

 

PC CS3 Keyboard Shortcuts

 

MAC CS3 Keyboard Shortcuts

 

PC CS4 Keyboard Shortcuts

 

MAC CS4 Keyboard Shortcuts

 

Adobe Gamma File for PCs

 

Channel Masking Tutorial PDF

 

Lesson Plans for Teachers

 

 

 

    Special offers: 

Topaz Labs: Adjust 

The ability to go beyond "just fixing photos" and deliver stunning and unique results (from even the most bland images) makes Adjust a must-have in every Photoshopper's toolbox!

 

What's included (all for under $50!):

Intuitive and powerful adjustments for control over image Exposure, Detail, Color and Noise.
Quickly create single-image HDR effects.
Easily correct and balance image color and exposure.
Apply dynamic, vibrant color and detail enhancements.
Creative exposure effects to enhance dynamic range.
Create a variety of enhancements from artistic to realistic.

 

For 15% off ALL their plugins (INCLUDING the massive

10-program bundle), use promo code "topazuser."

 

 

 

National Association of Photoshop Professionals: 

Join NAPP for $99 a year WITH all the standard member perks listed below AND receive

a training DVD FREE as a thank you gift for joining! 

If you can only get one resource, THIS IS IT!  

8 issues of Photoshop User magazine written by the best Photoshop® gurus on the planet.

 Professional development resources like video tutorials, a portfolio gallery, a user forum, a job board, and more. 

Weekly tips, tricks and techniques via the PhotoshopUser TV podcast featuring "The Photoshop Guys" Scott Kelby, Dave Cross, and Matt Kloskowski. 

Tech Support to answer your Photoshop questions, provide solutions, and give advice on systems and camera gear. 

Special discounts on instructional books, DVDs, online training, and seminars from Kelby Training. Plus, exclusive offers from Apple, Adobe, B&H, Dell, Wacom, Epson, and more!

You MUST use this link to get the free NAPP stuff!

 

 

iStockphoto: Free Images! 

 

Photoshop is a registered trademark of Adobe Systems Incorporated.