Photoshop tutorials and learning resources for Photographers, Designers & Digital Artists.

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Adobe CC Announced

Photoshop CS7 is now Photoshop CC.

See new feature video by Colin Smith. Check out our CC launch site. Over time, we will be adding more articles and content to this section of the site. Be sure to keep up with all the latest Adobe innovations.

Creative Cloud Learning Site

Lightroom 5 Beta training

Adobe, has just announced the public beta for Lightroom 5. We have you totally covered with our Lightroom 5 Launch site that includes 5 free videos by Colin Smith, walking you through the important new features. Read about what's new and exciting. We also have links to download Lightroom 5 beta and lots more.

Lightroom 5 Training Site

NewestTutorials

Payphone Illustration in Photoshop

2nd place winner from Design Challange 13, Dave Ellsworth, walks us through the proccess of creating his entry. See the steps used to go from concept to final illustration. This payphone was all illustrated 100% in Photoshop.

Drawing a payphone

Bio-mechanical iPhone case Illustration in Photoshop

The 1st place winner from Design Challange 13, David Sorbio, walks us through the process of creating his entry. See the steps used to create this highly detailed and slightly bizzare peice of art. This iPhone case design is illustrated 100% in Photoshop.

Drawing a flesh, bio-mechanical style iPhone case

iPhone accessories Illustration in Photoshop

One of the finalists from Design Challange 13, Mark Persuad, walks us through the proccess of creating his entry. See the steps used to go from concept to final illustration. This iPhone accessories were all illustrated 100% in Photoshop.

Drawing an iPhone accessory iPhone case

Learn Smart Objects and Smart Filters in Photoshop

Smart Objects are completely non destructive and allow you to change your mind by using Smart Filters. Smart Objects are containers that work with Images, RAW files, vectors, Illustrator files, PDFs and more. In this video tutorial Colin walks you through a number of features of Smart Objects in Photoshop. He also explains what they are and how they can help you have flexibility and higher quality images.

Working with Smart Objects

Creating HDR Photos in Photoshop CS6

HDR photography is more than an effect, more than a buzzword. This tutorial will show you what you need to get started creating stunning High Dynamic range images. Colin Smith shows you how to shoot, merge, and tonemap your way to stunning High Dynamic Range photos. Fully updated and now includes Lightroom 4 and Photoshop CS6.

Shooting and combining HDR photos.

Removing a Photograph from it's background

It used to be that the extract tool was the way to go in Photoshop for masking photographs. In CS4 it started dissapearing. Now the extract tool is gone in Photoshop CS5.Fear not! Refine Edge and Quick select are the fastest way to remove an object from it's background in Photoshop. Not only fast, but the results are great. This Refine Edge tutorial will show you how its done.

Extracting photos with Refine Edge and Quick Select

Articles

Overcoming Creative Block

Sometimes the work that we are doing isn't that inspired or creative. There are many things that cause Creative Block. One of them is just too much distraction. Colin Smith, shares his thoughts on getting creative again with these simple and practical tips.

Overcoming block

Colin's 10 Principles for Better Type Design

One of the biggest things I have seen destroy a nice design is bad use of typography. A block of text should be inviting to read and not look like a chore. I'm going to provide a few principles and tips to help you avoid a lot of common typography mistakes. Remember these aren't set in stone, they are suggestions, but as they say, "You first have to know the rules before you can break them"

10 Principles for better type design

More resources

CS6 learning site is live!

Learn about the new features of Creative Suite CS6. Check out our coverage of Photoshop CS6, Illustrator CS6, Dreamweaver CS6, InDesign, Premiere, Speed Grade and more! Check out the software reviews, run through of all the new features and a bunch of free videos showing you how to use the most significant new features..

Learn all about CS6

Lightroom 4 learning site

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4 tutorials, free presets and feature walk throughs. We have you covered. Head over to the PhotoshopCAFE Lightroom 4 learning site, where we have the Lightroom 4 tutorials, resources and free videos on the most important new features. Get some free presets and try them out as you discover the new features in Adobe Lightroom 4.

Learn all about Lightroom 4

Design Challenge 13
Winners announced

We just selected theWinners for Design Challenge #13

News! Bert Monroy is the guest Judge.

I love some of the clever ideas and excellent Photoshop skills demonstrated in these Photoshop Smartphone case designs. It's worth looking at the finalists work.As always, it was free to enter and 3 lucky winners will nab some awesome prizes from Adobe, Wacom PhotoshopCAFE and more.

Congrats to dasabio for this highly detailed, 100% Photoshop piece

We are adding tutorials on the creation of some of the entries!

Route CS6, The Home Study Course!

You missed the PhotoshopCAFE USA tour? No problem! We recorded the live event at a packed-house at the Los Angeles Convention Center. From Colin's screen to your screen at home, the CS6 event of the year is coming to you. This exciting release includes all the 5 sessions of video, a 150 page digital workbook AND the instructor's files for you to follow along at home. There has never been a learning resource like this before. See more about the event and study guide

New Book by Colin Smith

Video in Photoshop for Photographers and Designers.

This is a straight-to-the-point book for people who know nothing about video. It meets photographers and designers exactly where they are at today. Then using plain English and building on the knowledge they already acquired, shows them exactly what to do, to edit and deliver pro quality video using nothing but Adobe Photoshop, a program that is already used by everyone.

Get a free chapter and see a sample here

Say hello to PhotoshopCAFE TV!

As well as all our original written tutorials, we also have video tutorials on Photoshop, Lightroom, Flash and more. Learn Photoshop, photography, web design and more. Get a taste of what's on our DVDs for free. Check out the special series, New Features of Photoshop CS5 and more.

Watch 30 video tutorials now

Interviews

Goro Fujita, Visual Development Artist (Dreamworks)

After graduating High School he went to an animation school called "The German Film School for digital production" near Berlin. He graduated in 2005 and started working as a freelance character animator and visual development artist for TV commercials and Feature Films in Germany.In August 2008 he was hired by PDI/DreamWorks as a visual development artist. Recent Projects are "Merry Madagascar" (2009 TV Special) and "Megamind". more

All Interviews

Photoshop Photorealistic Illustrations

I won the GURU Award for Illustration again at Photoshop World and I was a finalist in the MacWorld Design contest. I also was a finalist in the Web Design Category. It seems that these images have been taking the world by storm. They have been featured in various magazines and I'm featured in the New Masters Of Photoshop book. Check out my Guitar and other images in the Gallery.

Colin Smith Interview on NIK Radio

Scott Sheppard interviews me about everything from photography, technology, roots, HDR, the Route CS6 tour, PhotoshopCAFE beginnings and so much more. I talk about the things I’m passionate about, such as how to develop your own personal style and how to succeed in the industry.

Check it out, it’s worth a listen

News

Colin featured in After Capture Magazine
You can download the pdf of the interview.

Colin featured as spotlight interview on Renderosity home page.
Read the interview here

The Story Behind Colin Smith
Interview in Photoshop Creative Magazine
Read it here

Colin featured in Advanced Photoshop Magazine.
See the Spreads here

PhotoshopCAFE founder, Colin Smith Nominated for the Photoshop Hall of Fame at Photoshop World 2005 & 2006, Las Vegas

More news

17-Inch Epson Stylus Pro 3880

Epson Expands Its Award-Winning Large Format Printer Lineup with New 17-Inch Epson Stylus Pro 3880

Read more about it here

PHOTOSHOPCAFE LIST

Colin Smith's Speaking Schedule

PhotoshopCAFE Flickr Group

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