TUTORIAL CATEGORIES

Special Effects | Text Effects | Photo Tutorials | Textures| Web Design | Misc

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

Low Contrast Fashion Coloring Effect in Photoshop

Here is a trendy effect that has been getting popular lately. I've been using a similar effect on web graphics for a while, but I've started seeing it on magazines and movie posters. Enjoy this simple tutorial on greating the low contrast colorizing effect. It works on any photo, but looks great on portrait photos, especially fashion.

How to create fashion color in Photoshop

Dodge and Burn in Photoshop and Camera Raw

Dodge and burn are techniques that come from the darkroom. Photographers either block light, or cup the hand to direct light into certian areas. This allows underexposing or overexposing of different parts of a photograph. Today, we can perform the same function very easily in Photoshop. There are two main reasons to dodge (brighten) and burn (darken)...

How to dodge and burn in Photoshop

Creating HDR Photos in Photoshop (Updated for 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

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

Creating a filmstrip in Photoshop

Here is a tutorial that will show you how to create a filmstrip in Photoshop. Create it and then place your photographs inside it for maximum impact.

Making a filmstrip illustration

Making semi-transparent selections with Alpha channels

Here is a tutorial that you can use for layered collaging. While it might be easier to use a layer mask or a quick mask to acheive the same result, this tutorial is engineered to help you understand Alpha channels. An understanding of Channels will put you onto the fast-track of Photoshop mastery.

Painting in Alpha Channels

Using Curves in Photoshop

This video tutorial shows you how to use curves in Photoshop. Finally, curves are explained in a way that anyone can use them and understand them. Unlock one of the most powerful image adjustment tools available in Photoshop and take full control over the tonal adjustments of your photographs. These curves work in CS5, Lightroom and Camera RAW.

Learn Photoshop Curves.

Dreamy Photo effect and Design a CD Cover in Photoshop

In this tutorial, you will learn one of my favoriate techniques for adding a dreamy, high contrast look to a photograph. It's a really quick and easy technique that adds punch. We will also create a simple CD cover with the photograph and use Vector Shapes.

Dreamy Photographic Effect

Creating HDR Photos in Photoshop

HDR 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 photos.

Shooting and combining HDR photos.

Photoshop basics - Making and modifying selections.

Here is a tutorial that will show you how to select and cut out complex shapes with just a few moves of the basic selection tools. Learn to modify selections and save time when cutting out objects. Learn how to add, subtracts and merge selections with a keystroke.

Using the selection tools

Ultimate guide to creating Vectors with the Pen tool in Photoshop.

One of the most difficult and useful skills to have in Photoshop is using the pen tool to create crisp and clean paths. The mystery is finally taken away with this simple step-by-tutorial. Learn how to master the pen tool to create different types of paths.

Create Vector paths and curves

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Video based Tutorials

As well as all our original written tutorials, we also have video tuts 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.