10 Weeks Later: A Look Back at Photoshop World Las Vegas

Dave Clayton, the National Association of Photoshop Professionals [NAPP] Evangelist in the United Kingdom, takes a look back at his experiences at his first Photoshop World.

While I have been a NAPP member for about three years, I have known about the conference for even longer. Living in the United Kingdom, I had always felt a little envious of people who could attend in their backyard! It’s an expense getting to Las Vegas from the UK. But this was the year to make it happen!

In the weeks leading up to Photoshop World, I confess I didn’t really know what to expect. I knew I’d learn a lot and have a great time doing it. And I’d been to Vegas before, so this trip was all about the conference.

Earlier in the year, I had been named the UK NAPP Evangelist. The position allowed me to quickly tap into the NAPP community and start making connections through my site www.nappmember.co.uk, Twitter and Facebook. Many of the people I’d encountered said we should meet at PSW. So apart from the obvious learning that would happen, I was really looking forward to meeting new people, including the “Photoshop Guys” and PSW instructors, and attending the Expo.

What actually happened just totally blew me away! The moment I arrived I was in awe. I’ve documented my trip in great detail on my blog, so I won’t repeat it all here but I would like to emphasize the benefits of attending Photoshop World and being a NAPP member. Here are the things that stand out in my mind as I look back 10 weeks later!

NETWORKING MADE EASY
Photoshop World really is the place to network with inspirational people! I chatted with noted Hawaiian photographer Randy Jay Braun in the hotel check-in queue. PSW Instructor Alan Hess introduced himself to me in the elevator when he saw me using Twitter on my iPhone. And, I met NAPP’s social media guru, the lovely Nancy Masse, without whom none of this would have happened. Thanks Nantz! During the course of the conference, I was introduced to Scott Kelby, Matt Kloskowski, Dave Cross and RC Concepcion (who later invited me on his late nght visit to In & Out Burger with the other Photoshop Guys). They were all lovely chaps, including The V. You so need the Vanelli experience in your life.

At Photoshop World you get to spend time with a real mixed bag of people… from hobbyists to designers to photographers… and you can learn so much from them.

NAPP has increased its footprint with the aid of social media over the past couple of years and this has helped members communicate before, during and after the event. This helped enrich my own PSW experience.

A PLACE TO LEARN & GROW
Whether you’re in a classroom or taking part in a special event, you will have the opportunity to learn and grow! For example: I spent an evening in Old Vegas on an APC Pro HDR Photowalk with the brilliant Brian Matiash and Jacob Lucas, my first experience in HDR (which I now love) and I tied for 3rd place in their special photo contest!

The classes and the quality of the instructors (who are all the absolute best in their own field and highly entertaining) are worth the price of admission alone. In fact Russell Brown is a one man Vegas show himself! You can pay more than that here in the UK for just one day of training on one product! And, you even get a phonebook-sized workbook with all the class notes, including the sessions you couldn’t attend!

So if you love Photoshop, design, video, photography and making new friends, then save up and get your backside to Photoshop World. You won’t be disappointed. You’ll come home with valuable knowledge, new acquaintances, amazing memories, a memory card full of photos and excess baggage from all the cool stuff you’ll get at the Expo.

Photoshop World… bloody brilliant!

Thank you Scott Kelby, a jolly nice chap.

And The Guru Goes To…

Last year in Las Vegas was my first Photoshop World, even though I have been a NAPP member since 2004.  Because I was going to be there anyway, I figured I should enter the Guru Awards for illustration.  I worked very hard all summer, created a piece specifically for my entry, and put an awful lot of pressure on myself.  As a result, I didn’t have much fun creating it, was stressing out about finishing it, and then ended up with an image I wasn’t pleased with.  It should have come as no surprise that I didn’t end up being a finalist.

While that didn’t in any way dampen my first Photoshop World experience, it did teach me a valuable lesson.  Don’t create an image just to try to win an award.  Hopefully that isn’t why any of us became artists in the first place.

As a result of that experience, I decided that this time around, my Guru submissions would be selected from the best of the work that I had already done this year.  I entered three of my favorite images in two categories, and surrendered to letting the chips fall where they may.

My wife and I were sitting down at the Calgary Saddledome one evening this past August for a Michael Buble concert, and just before I turned my phone off, I received two emails informing me that one of my images was a finalist for the Illustration category and another was a finalist for Best In Show.  Needless to say, I went over the emails a couple of times to make sure I had read them correctly.

I’ll be honest, I figured I had a decent shot in the Illustration category.  My digital paintings had been hanging in art galleries for a few months, I’d heard plenty of feedback online and in person, and I believed the work really was the best I’d ever done.  That being said, I had also seen the wealth of talent at the previous year’s awards, so I knew that hopefully optimistic was all I could realistically afford.

I did not, however, expect to win Best In Show.  The shock of being nominated never really wore off on that one.

You’ll often hear people say their first year at Photoshop World was their favorite, because at that point, it’s all a very new and exciting experience.  While I normally wouldn’t dispute that, I’m going to offer up an exception.  Winning a Guru Award, not to mention winning two, kind of blew the first year out of the water.

The experience of hearing my name called was pretty much as you’d expect.  Exhilaration, excitement,  elation… I could offer a lot of words that are all synonymous with thrilling, but you get the idea.  Immediately following, friends and people I knew were congratulating me, I received a number of emails and Facebook posts from people who saw the win (it was broadcast LIVE this year), and compliments and congratulations from total strangers.  Quite overwhelming for the rest of the conference.

Then, of course, there were the prizes that came with the win, an Intuos4 tablet for the Illustration category and a Cintiq 12wx tablet for the Best In Show.  You won’t find a bigger fan of Wacom than me, and I would have said that before winning these great prizes.

I would imagine the most surprising part of all of this was what happened AFTER Photoshop World.  I knew that this award was well respected in the NAPP universe, but I either underestimated how many NAPP members are out there in the world, or I just didn’t realize how many people knew about the Guru Awards in the first place.

As I am a nationally syndicated editorial cartoonist here in Canada, a couple of my newspapers ran stories about the win, as many of my editors read my blog or knew I had been a finalist.  Two of the art galleries that feature my paintings (among them, the images that won) thought the wins were quite a big deal as well, especially the Best In Show.   I received emails of congratulations from companies and individuals I greatly respect even though I had previously had no contact with them.  Best of all, a few very important doors have been opened and new commission work has come along that I doubt would have been as forthcoming without the recent Guru publicity.  Apparently, these awards do carry some weight.

Now, I feel it’s important to mention that while awards are nice to have, they should not be the ultimate goal of an artist.  My work and the images I enjoy working on are more than enough without the Guru Awards.  I have a lot of fun drawing cartoons and painting illustrations, I’m passionate about my work,  and I’m well aware that it is a rare gift to be able to do what I love for a living.  But I will admit that winning them did feel a lot like a graduation, as if I’d finally moved up to a level where I no longer felt I was in the amateur category, even though I’ve been a full-time illustrator and cartoonist for over 6 years.

I would encourage anyone going to Photoshop World to enter your best images for consideration.  It costs you nothing but a little courage to put your work out there, and the more you do that, the easier it becomes.  If it’s meant to be, it’ll happen.  If not, there’s always another year of learning, improving your skills and another chance at the next Photoshop World.  Not being a finalist last year taught me just as much as winning two awards this year, and I’m grateful for both experiences.

You have nothing to lose by trying, and if you do happen to win, you just may have an opportunity to encourage somebody else to give it a shot.

Patrick LaMontagne is a full-time cartoonist and illustrator living in Canmore, Alberta, Canada.  You can visit his website at (www.cartoonink.com) or follow him on Twitter(@CartoonInk).

Farewell from Photoshop World

Well, it’s been a fun and productive week here in Las Vegas (which certainly isn’t always the case , and Photoshop World 2010 just wrapped up.

(Note: Last night, I went to the Midnight Madness special event, where NAPP gave away an iPad to a very happy winner! Everyone had a blast watching goofy Photoshop contests, ping pong matches, etc. and stayed up way too late…)

My Day 3 began with a presentation by Moose Peterson on landscape photography and post-processing techniques, following which I spent some time on the Expo floor where I chatted with Sandy at Wiley about the California wine country, and with my new friend Hillary, a graphic designer from California.

Then I saw Julieanne Kost’s seminar on automation in Lightroom, followed by Vincent Versace’s demonstrations on simulated lighting and lens blur effects in Photoshop. My last seminar of the day (and of the conference) was with John Paul Caponigro, who gave an enlightening and inspiring presentation about developing creative processes.

This was followed by the Closing Ceremony, during which Larry Becker, the Educational Director for NAPP, acted as MC and introduced some final guest speakers, including Moose Peterson, who presented a slideshow of his work, Dave Cross, who demo’d smart technologies in Photoshop, and JP Caponigro, who talked about the components of digital color.

Larry also gave away a slew of free prizes, while Scott Kelby razzed him behind his back, with funny text on the screens that were behind Larry. Scott’s a funny guy… and quick witted. At one point he got the audience to spontaneously do the wave, much to Larry’s surprise. Maybe the funniest prank was Scott’s instructions for everyone to start taking pictures of Larry, with flash. The whole place lit up at once with popping flash bulbs, to which Larry could only reply “…you ever have one of those nightmares?”… very funny moments. Scott made some closing remarks, introduced and thanked the NAPP staff, etc. and then suddenly, it was over.

This was my third Photoshop World and I really enjoyed it. I learned some cool new stuff, made some wonderful new friends, and caught up with old friends. Thanks very much to Nancy Masse for inviting me to blog during the event! It added an extra, very fun, dimension to the experience for me. Scott Kelby and the Photoshop Guys, and all the staff at NAPP, really put on a first-rate event and I look forward to the next one!

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Nat Coalson is a photographer, teacher and writer based in Denver. For more information and to see Nat’s work visit www.NatCoalson.com, or find him on Facebook and Twitter.

My Day Two Report from PSW

For most people at Photoshop World, the first two days has been quite a whirlwind of activity: between the classes/seminars, the Expo and the social activities, it’s sometimes hard to keep up. But along with the thousands of other photographers, designers, artists and techies that are here, I’ve somehow managed… with the help of many trips to Starbucks!

Note: In the photo at right (taken from my hotel room as I write this blog post) the Mandalay Bay Convention Center is near the top left of the photo. A beautiful location for a trade show, wouldn’t you agree?

Day 1 Wrap-Up
After my last post yesterday, I ran into Rob Sylvan, who has a new book just released. Rob works for the NAPP help-desk. His new book, published by Peachpit, is “Taking Stock: Make money in microstock creating photos that sell”. I looked at a copy in the Kelby Training bookstore, and the book contains very useful information, presented in an easy-to-follow format. If you’re selling your images as stock (or thinking about it) check it out!

Next, I went to the Expo for a couple of hours and checked out some really cool new products from Wacom, Nik Software and Topaz Labs. I also chatted with the folks at Epson and checked out the stellar photo prints they had hanging in the booth.

I paid a quick visit to Richard Reyes, my fantastic insurance agent at Hill & Usher, in Phoenix. Richard specializes in providing comprehensive insurance policies for photographers, particularly equipment and liability insurance. I know first-hand that you don’t want to be without proper coverage! I highly recommend Richard and Hill & Usher.

Afterward, I stopped at the Adobe booth, where Lightroom Product Manager Tom Hogarty introduced me to the lovely and talented Julieanne Kost. We chatted about Lightroom, photography, business and life… also in the Adobe booth, I had a great time looking at the lineup of old versions of Photoshop running on the Apple computers of the day. It brought back lots of great memories of my days in design and prepress!

I bought a new Black Rapid camera strap at the Expo, from Midwest Photo Exchange. I really like these straps. Black Rapid sponsored one of my nature photography workshops this past spring in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and I gave away four of these straps to students, who also loved them. I’m writing a product review for Black Rapid and will post on my blog in the next couple of weeks.

To cap off the day, after the Expo many of the Photoshop World staff, instructors and participants went to the After-Hours Party at the House of Blues, where Big Electric Cat played. The band features Scott Kelby on guitar and keyboards, and his wife Kalebra (a killer vocalist), Tony Llanes on guitar, Scott Stahley on drums, and Felix Nelson on bass. They did a long, very tight set of rock classics, and the crowd ate it up!

Day 2
I started my second day at Photoshop World at a lighting seminar presented by the incomparable Joe McNally, which was excellent. In just one hour, Joe demonstrated a whole bunch of techniques for creating really nice light with simple Speedlite flash setups. He made some beautiful portraits of Adobe’s Russell Brown (sorry I couldn’t get any good pics of that…) I also saw the aforementioned Julieanne Kost present “The Creative Composite” during which she demonstrated how she makes her gorgeous photo-montage imagery. Cool stuff!

I spent just a few minutes at the Expo today, where I watched some of the live taping of the latest episode of Photoshop User TV.

Finally, I wrapped up my second day attending a very inspiring presentation by one of my favorite photographers, the great New York-based photographer Jay Maisel, who did two back-to-back sessions on “Light, Gesture and Color”. He presented a large volume of his stellar work and talked about everything from inspiration and perception to lighting and composition. I finished that session feeling exhausted and invigorated at the same time!

That’s it for me today; I’m headed out for dinner and drinks with friends from Denver, including the talented Photoshop retouch artist Armando Martinez.

See you tomorrow!

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Nat Coalson is a photographer, teacher and writer based in Denver. For more information and to see Nat’s work visit www.NatCoalson.com, or find him on Facebook and Twitter.

Opening Ceremony

This morning, Photoshop World Las Vegas 2010 kicked off with a bang! The NAPP Photoshop Guys came on stage in Kiss-style costumes and makeup and played a song with lyrics they wrote to the music of “I Wanna Rock and Roll All Night”; instead, it was “I wanna Photoshop all night, and retouch every day”. The guys played tight, the song and the sound mix sounded good. Fun stuff!

Afterward, Scott Kelby came back on stage (in his regular attire) and introduced John Loiacono, known as “Johnny L”, the senior vice president and general manager of Adobe’s Digital Media Solutions Business Unit and creative department.

Johnny did his act as an illusionist, pulling off a magic trick complete with a disappearing girl, and then introduced some new Photoshop technologies with the help of Adobe fellows Russel Brown and Terry White.

Following the opening ceremony and keynote, the first seminar sessions were well attended including Matt K. and RC Conception’s Lightroom presentations.

The Expo is now open and I’m headed down to the trade show floor to meet the folks and check out all the cool new tech. Check back today for another update!

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Nat Coalson is a travel photographer, teacher and writer based in Denver. He is the author of two Lightroom books including Lightroom 3: Streamlining your Digital Photography Process, published by Wiley in 2010. For more information and to see Nat’s work visit www.NatCoalson.com, or find him on Facebook and Twitter.

PSW tweetup photos

Tuesday night at Mandalay Bay hotel there was a Photoshop World Tweetup (an in-person “meetup” using Twitter to help spread the word and share tidbits…). Many of the Photoshop World instructors and attendees were there, and as the pictures show, a good time was had by all!

Thanks to Erik Valind, who was behind the camera taking photos of people at the tweetup, and Dave Rogers, who deftly managed the automated Lightroom workflow, live pictures captured on location were immediately transferred to Flickr for the world to see (like it or not!)

The setup used Lightroom 3′s integrated tethered capture features and Publish Services to transfer each new capture up to Flickr on the fly, complete with a custom graphical identity plate! This was a really cool setup that worked very well, and there are lots of great pictures to see at http://www.flickr.com/photos/erikvphoto/sets/72157624791646040/with/4922787663/

7 Ways to Save Money at Photoshop World Las Vegas – Part 2

Yesterday I posted Part 1 of this article; here are more tips on saving money when you’re in Vegas for Photoshop World.

4. Coupons, tourist guides and promotional offers
In most places I visit, I usually avoid anything referring to “tourism”. But Vegas is an exception; this is a place that offers all kinds of amazing deals if you take the time to find them. When you arrive at your hotel, check out the package of coupons and special offers they offer: if you’re not handed one at check-in, go to the concierge and ask for a coupon book.

Inside one of these printed guides, you’ll find deals on meals, transportation, shows, shopping and even a few true freebies. You can also get these coupon packages from the Visitor’s Bureau, and any hotel, even ones you’re not staying at. (Note: you might find it addictive to collect these things; they are all different and some of the deals they offer can be phenomenal!)

Here are links to some coupons you can get online (which may require some kind of purchase):

http://www.vegascoupons.com/

http://govegas.about.com/od/valuescoupons/Las_Vegas_Coupons_Bargains_Promotions_and_Las_Vegas_Coupons.htm

http://www.lasvegas-nv.com/las-vegas-coupons.htm

http://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/whyjoin-mrbdetails.cfm

5. Eating
Vegas has always been known as a place to get good food cheap, and it’s still possible, but on the Strip the buffets have gone way up in price over the past decade. These days, going to a typical buffet can represent a significant financial commitment! Instead of a sit-down restaurant, you can save some money by getting food at one of the many delis that have spring up around the resorts; a sandwich meal deal can be found for around $7.

Also, for me, no trip to Vegas is complete without a trip to In-N-Out Burgers… I usually go to the one on S. Dean Martin Drive, off Tropicana road just across the west side of I-15. If you love burgers and have never had In-N-Out, you’re in for a treat!

Below are more places with tips on cheap eats:

http://www.ehow.com/how_4363_free-food-las.html

http://www.reviewjournal.com/dining/buffets.html

http://govegas.about.com/od/cheaplasvegas/a/cheapvacvegas_2.htm

6. Drinking
Vegas is a drinking town and it’s easy to spend a ton of money on alcoholic beverages if you order from the bar or the waitress in the restaurant or buffet. And drink prices at nightclubs are outrageous! But if you’re gambling (or at least appear to be), drinks are free. Hang out at a slot machine and wait for the cocktail girl to come around; if you tip well, you can drink cheap. Following are more ideas:

http://govegas.about.com/od/cheaplasvegas/Cheap_Las_Vegas_Looking_for_a_Bargain_in_Las_Vegas_Go_Cheap.htm

http://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/207984/las_vegas_guide/15_great_ways_to_save_money_in_las_vegas.html

http://moneysmartlife.com/save-money-in-las-vegas-a-cheapskates-guide-to-sin-city/

7. Photoshop World Savings
Last but certainly not least, if the cost of attending the Photoshop World show itself is putting you off, you have a couple of options:

One-Day Pass
This year, for the first time, you can buy a single-day pass that allows you to see all the classes and seminars offered that day. (Online registration is closed; check at the registration desk when you arrive.)

Free Expo Pass
The trade show has always been free, and as such is one of the easiest ways to get up to speed on what’s happening in the world of imaging.
http://photoshopworld.com/free-expo-pass/

Hardware, software, services… it’s all here. Most of the major players in photography, design and digital imaging will be participating.
http://photoshopworld.com/exhibitors/

In the vendor booths you can see live demos, and there are two theaters where “bonus” seminars are presented at no charge.
http://photoshopworld.com/bonus/

Any kind of travel can be pricey; why spend more than you have to? Saving a few bucks here and there can actually make a trip more fun. For me, being conscientious about my spending makes all the difference if I go to Vegas and throw money around indiscriminately, I leave feeling town like a schmuck. Vegas doesn’t have to be expensive, and you can still have as much fun as when you “break the bank”.

7 Ways to Save Money at Photoshop World Las Vegas – Part 1

If you’re coming to Photoshop World next week (and you don’t live in Las Vegas) you’re probably making final plans for your trip about now. And if you’re like me, getting the most from any trip requires some budgeting.

Like any city, visiting Las Vegas can be super-expensive or ultra-cheap, depending on the information you have and how you use it. I’ve experienced Vegas at both extremes and found that I prefer not to waste money if I can help it. Below are some easy ways to save a few bucks in Sin City.

1. Getting there
If you are planning to fly to Vegas for Photoshop World next week and you still haven’t bought your plane ticket, all is not lost. (Of course, you could drive…. but depending on where you live, you might spend more on gas than you would a plane ticket.) These days you can often get great airfares very close to the day of travel.

I always start at Expedia.com, and depending on what I find there I may go directly to the web sites operated by the airlines themselves; you will often find special offers on the airline web sites that aren’t available on the other travel web sites. Priceline.com can also be a great place to find deals on airfare, though most of the routes they offer will involve connecting flights.

Package deals
Expedia, Travelocity, etc. offer package deals to Vegas than can save you lots of money over piecing it together yourself. Look for packages that include both airfare and hotel.

Perfect timing
When searching for airfares, if you’ve got some flexibility in your schedule, try various days of the week and different times of day. You can find big differences in costs, particularly between certain days of the week.

2. Where to sleep
The folks at Photoshop World have negotiated great rates for Mandalay Bay and THEhotel, but there is an incredible number of other lodging options. Generally speaking, for a standard room, the hotels along the Las Vegas Strip are the most expensive. Find a hotel off-Strip and you’ll save money. If you want to go this route, I’d recommend looking for a hotel off the Strip but still far to the south toward Mandalay Bay, like the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino or Hooters Casino & Hotel (yes, really).

Among the hotels right on the Strip, and fairly close to Mandalay Bay, the following are the most affordable:

Harrah’s

Imperial Palace

Flamingo

Bally’s

I’ve stayed at every one of these hotels. If all you’re looking for is a bed and a shower, and you don’t plan to hang out around your hotel much, they are all fine. However, these buildings are all quite old and the quality of accommodations varies widely. (Of these four, I’d most strongly recommend Harrah’s, which is pretty nice, and is a great value.)

The Downtown hotels are typically less expensive than on the Strip, but the distance can be problematic. It’s too far to walk to Photoshop World from downtown, and the cost of taxi rides back and forth will likely negate any savings from the cheaper hotels downtown. (The same generally applies for off-Strip lodging, so you will want to stay as close to the Strip as possible.)

Here are links to some other web sites with info about lodging in Vegas:

http://budgettravel.about.com/od/destinationsavings/qt/vegas_staytips.htm
http://hotels.about.com/od/lasvegas/tp/cheap_hotels.-0O-.htm
http://govegas.about.com/od/lasvegashotels/tp/cheaphotel.htm

TIP: Internet service
Internet service is incredibly expensive at most of the hotels in Vegas. On one trip a few years ago, I spent several hundred bucks over a period of four days, using the internet from my hotel room to make web site updates for a client. Ouch! But that was wired internet, anyway… back when you paid by the minute. Fortunately, these days with Wifi, it’s not nearly as expensive as that. Still, you’ll be looking at $10-25 per 24 hour period at the major hotels.

Many trade conferences provide free WiFi services to their participants; this may be something that will happen at Photoshop World this time around… I’m not sure. But before you pay for web access at your hotel, look hard for free WiFi, because it can be found, even in Vegas.

3. Getting around Vegas
Since the main events at Photoshop World are self-contained within the Mandalay Bay convention center, convenience is built in. Mandalay Bay presents an incredible array of dining, shopping and entertainment options. Still, for most people, there will inevitably be cases where you’ll want to go somewhere else around town.

Walking in Las Vegas can be tricky. For one thing, the size of the resort buildings makes distances deceptively difficult to estimate. For example, from the front of Mandalay Bay, you can look down the Strip and see the faux Eiffel Tower in front of the Paris resort, and think “hey, I can walk that far”. Well, you probably can, but I can tell you it will take twice as long as you’d expect, because it’s a lot farther than it looks. Secondly. as you walk in front of, or through, other casinos, it’s hard to keep a steady pace with all the potential distractions. Finally, there’s the heat… though you can walk a long way without going outside, eventually you’ll have to face the desert  heat which is often over one hundred degrees, even at night.

Modern transit
There are innumerable taxis and limo services that can take you anywhere you want to go. But like the distances involved, the costs are easy to under-estimate. The traffic along the Strip and surrounding side streets can be atrocious: you sit unmoving while the meter runs. A one-mile taxi ride between hotels can run you $20 or more depending on circumstances and your generosity in tipping.

TIP: If you want to grab a taxi, find other people to share the ride and the fare!

For getting up and down the south end of the Strip, the Las Vegas Monorail is the clear answer. You can buy single-ride ticket or one day and three-day passes. A three-day pass is $28.00 when bought online (a bit more at a ticket machine) and is worth every penny. It’s fast, easy and, well… fun!

TIP: there’s a free tram that runs between Mandalay Bay and Excalibur. Excalibur is an easy walk across the bridge from MGM Grand, which currently is the southernmost stop on the Monorail line.

Here’s a link with more info about transportation in Las Vegas:

http://budgettravel.about.com/od/destinationsavings/qt/vegas_getaround.htm

That’s about it for now… but stay tuned! I’ll post Part 2 of this article very soon. In the meantime, if you want more information about what’s happening in Vegas next week, the two best web sites for general information and deals are

visitlasvegas.com

vegas.com

See you soon!

Seven Days and Counting

Are you coming to Photoshop World in Vegas next week? … Not sure yet?

The big event starts just a week from today, and if you’re a photographer, video editor, graphic designer or web developer, there’s a ton of reasons to be there.

If you’ve been to Photoshop World before, you know what I’m talking about. If not, I’m here to help illustrate the benefits of this top-notch digital imaging conference.

Of course, you can get all the specifics on PhotoshopWorld.com, but on this blog, I’ll answer some questions from the perspective of a guy who’s attended Photoshop World several times as a participant.

1. I’m not really into Photoshop. Why bother?
Photoshop World is about so much more than just Photoshop. First and foremost, it’s an Adobe-sponsored training event, with a full schedule of classes for all disciplines and skill levels. In addition to Photoshop, there are classes about Lightroom, Dreamweaver, InDesign and Illustrator. For photographers, there are all kinds of seminars and demonstrations on lighting, workflow and developing your own creative style. The Expo provides up-to-the-minute product information about the newest technology in photography and imaging, as well as ample free learning opportunities. There are also special events and services including Help Desk Live, portfolio reviews and after-hours parties… the list goes on and on!! Photoshop World is an all-inclusive trade show with something for everyone interested in digital imaging.

During Photoshop World, I’ll provide ongoing coverage and reviews of the classes and events on this blog.

2. Is it worth the money and/or the time?
Overall, I’ve found Photoshop World to be a very good value. It’s not cheap, but the opportunities to learn and grow are well worth the cost. Like any industry event, to really get your money’s worth, you need to be willing to fully participate. If you jump in with both feet, I think you’ll find it time and money well spent.

This year, for the first time, a single-day pass is being offered. This is a great way to experience Photoshop World without making a huge commitment.

Over the coming week, I’ll blog about ways to save money and get the most from your Photoshop World experience.

3. Who else will be there?
The Photoshop World instructors are a “who’s who” of top working pros in photography, design and imaging. You’ll also find that many of the audience participants are experienced, talented folks like yourself. At Photoshop World, there are people from many countries, working in many fields and with a wide range of interests. Photoshop World is a fantastic opportunity to meet new people, do some serious networking and generally have a great time with like-minded people.

Next week, I’ll post interviews with instructors and participants here.

4. I’m not much for structured schedules. Can I do my own thing?
Of course! This is Vegas, after all. When you find you’ve reached your limit of learning, there are plenty of other things to do. One of the great things about the all-inclusive Photoshop World pass is that you can come and go at your choosing. Simply review the daily schedules of events and find the pace that works for you.

The complete schedule is already posted and available on the PhotoshopWorld.com main web site.

5. What if I’m not a “professional”?
Unlike many other industry events, you don’t need to be a working professional to benefit from Photoshop World… you just need to care enough about your work to strive for “the next level”. And if you’re a working pro, Photoshop World is your chance to hone your skills, brush up on the latest techniques, and learn new tricks from some of the most successful artists in the business today. (If you’re aspiring to become a pro, attending Photoshop World will help you get there!)

Over the next ten days, I’ll write more about trip planning and logistics, ways to save money, how to get the most from the seminars and other useful tips for both first-timers and veteran alumni of Photoshop World. (Plus,  I’ll see if I can slip in a few Lightroom and workflow tips!)

I’m excited and honored to be a guest blogger for Photoshop World Las Vegas 2010, and I’m looking forward to your comments here. And of course, I look forward to seeing you all in Vegas!

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Nathaniel Coalson is a travel and fine art photographer, teacher and writer based in Denver, Colorado. Nat has worked professionally in photography, imaging and printing since 1987. His work has been exhibited extensively, received numerous awards and is held in private and corporate collections. Nat is is an Adobe Certified Expert in Lightroom and Photoshop and is a top-rated instructor who has taught digital photography and imaging to photographers at all levels. He is the author of two Lightroom books including Lightroom 3: Streamlining your Digital Photography Process, published by Wiley in 2010. He has written articles on Lightroom for magazines including Photoshop User and Great Output and is a contributing writer at TheLightroomLab.com. For more information and to see Nat’s work visit www.NatCoalson.com.

6 things about PS World for iOS 4.0 and iPad

Hello everyone! Shawn Welch here, creator of the Photoshop World iPhone/iPad application for iOS 4.0 (I also developed the 3.0 version, but that’s old news right?)

Now — before we get into PS World for iPhone, a quick note about Photoshop World for Android. I wanted you to know that we are not ignoring you; we know that a lot of Photoshop World attendees do not have an iPod Touch, iPhone, or iPad. The unfortunate truth is that there is very little reusable code going from iPhone to Android. Besides the image assets, 100% of the code needs to be rebuilt ground up. Android apps are developed in Java, iPhone apps are developed in Objective-C. It’s kindof like converting from Hebrew to Japanese — not only do you have to deal with language/syntax differences, but the overall “grammar” needs to be re-written and sometimes there’s just not a word to say what you need to say…

Ok, all of that to say — we are working on it. Will it be done in time for Vegas? Not sure. Will it be done in time for PS World 2011 in the spring. Yes. (knock on wood)

Brass Tacks
Back to Photoshop World for iOS 4.0 and iPad. One thing I’ve learned about the Internet over the years is that it likes lists. So instead of giving you a long drawn out explanation of every little feature in PS World (the application itself has over 10,000 lines of code) I’ve decided to give you the top 6 things you need to know about PS World for iPhone/iPad.

1. Staying Current (Automatic Updates)

By default, your app is set to automatically update class schedules, room assignments, maps, instructors, and exhibitors. Your app will automatically check for updates (if enabled from the “settings” panel) every time your app launches (or comes into focus if your device supports background processing). Leave this turned on and you will always be in-the-know.

2. Managing your Schedule
When you first download PS World for iPhone and iPad, your schedule will default to the Photoshop World Conference Schedule and will contain special filters for each timeslot available. Three things you need to know about managing your schedule: adding events, removing events, and creating custom events. Adding and removing classes really hasn’t changed, so if you want to skip over that part, you have my permission. Creating custom events, however, is a very cool featured requested by our very own Mr. Dave Cross. I encourage you to watch the short video below.

To add a class simply tap a timeslot on your schedule list, tap on a class that looks interesting, and then tap the (+) icon located in the top right corner of the class. You can either add just the selected class, or choose to add the entire track. Coming soon (in about a week or two) will be the ability to define a second choice class for all timeslots.

You can remove a class from your schedule by swiping the class and tapping the “delete” button, or by clicking the trash can icon on the class detail page

Creating a custom event could not be easier, check out this video for a quick tutorial (sorry, this video has no sound).

http://flic.kr/p/8i4oNp

3. Connect with Friends
Schedule management was long — let’s make this one short. Sprinkled throughout the app you’ll find various means of connecting with friends by either Twitter, Facebook or Email. You can update your various statuses, tweet about a class, or just send someone an email to tell them what a great time you are having. If you have it, use it!

4. Message Updates from NAPP
This one is actually pretty important, and you should definitely keep reading if you’ve gotten this far. At the bottom of your home screen you’ll see a message bar. If this bar ever turns blue and indicates you have a new message, simply tap the center of the bar to bring up the message dialog.

These messages come straight from NAPP and contain important information about the conference. They could announce schedule changes (which will also be automatically updated on your app) or they could announce spontaneous contests. Last year during expo hours we gave away a lot of free stuff from various exhibitors using the PS World app — I can only imagine we will do it again.

5. News, Twitter Feeds, and More
RSS feeds are all over the place, including your PS World app. The “News” section will pull in the current news feed from photoshopworld.com. Twitter feeds, located in the “Connect” section, will pull in the latest news from Photoshop World hashtags on Twitter, as well as @NAPP_News. Needless to say, if there is news floating around on the Internet about Photoshop World, the PS World app puts it in your hands.

6. Bump!
This is cool, and probably something you won’t be able to test until you get to Vegas. Find another person with the PS World App and exchange your schedules just by bumping your phones together (or iPads, or iPods). Once you’ve shared a schedule, it will be added to the My Schedules section under “Shared Schedules”

Bonus #7!
Here are a few things you might not know about your app:

This means, if you’re sitting in a class and it’s not what you thought or expected, the best way to find a new class is to tap, “Classes > Photoshop World Classes > Date and Time”. The list will automatically scroll to the classes currently in session and will indicate them with a bold/red “In Session” label.

Ok, that’s about all I have. This blog entry turned out much longer than I anticipated, and looking back, a 5 min video would have probably been easier… You can download Photoshop World for iOS 4.0 and iPad here. Please take a second to leave us feedback and 5 stars!

See you in Vegas!

-Shawn

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Shawn Welch is a designer and developer for web, multimedia, and iOS development. Currently living in Boston, Shawn spends his 9-5 as Sr Editor for Digital Strategy at Pearson Higher Ed Arts and Science, one of the largest college-level textbook publishing companies in the world. Outside of his 9-5, Shawn develops mobile applications, designs and builds websites, and creates video/audio multimedia projects. Shawn is currently writing a book for Peachpit Publishing, “From Idea to App”, to teach creatives and developers how to design for the iPhone/iPad. Say hello to @shawnwelch on Twitter or visit his site, anythingsimple.com