Download the Photoshop World DC Brochure!

In March, Photoshop World will bring a new party to our nation’s capital to offer three non-stop days of informative, inspirational and invaluable photography, lighting and Photoshop training from seasoned professionals more than happy to share their tried-and-true tips and techniques.

From new and returning instructors like Greg Heisler, Jack Davis, Calvin Hollywood, Frank Doorhof and Jeremy Cowart to the addition of two new tracks, our first-ever Photoshop World in Washington DC is a can’t miss affair!

Click here to visit the landing page we’ve set up for easy downloading the official Photoshop World brochure, which will be arriving with the January issue of Photoshop User.

The brochure features descriptions of all training sessions and optional pre-conference workshops, a list of participating instructors and much more.

And don’t forget to register before Friday, February 17 to save an extra $100 off the registration rate.

So download the brochure today and start planning now for the ultimate educational experience!

Day Two Begins!

Welcome to day two! A lot of sleepy people showed up for Fay Sirkis first thing this morning after a fun night at Gameworks.

Adobe Senior Digital Imaging Evangelist Julianne Kost kicks off her second session of the day The Creative Composite. By the way, if you didn’t attend you missed Julianne singing her Tools Palette alphabet song. Priceless…

Photoshop World: Bring On Day Two!

Well, Day 1 of Photoshop World has officially ended and Day 2 is underway!

Starting off yesterday with the amazing “Project Photoshop” Opening Keynote was a blast (those guys at NAPP sure know how to have fun). Not only was the keynote fun, but it was a unique event in that Adobe had a special announcement for us: Carousel, a new product that acts as a multiple device photography solution. The Adobe team that created it was there to join in the announcement, which was so great to see all of those people that work so hard on great product experiences for us.
The keynote is also where the Guru award winners and Photoshop Hall of Fame recipients are awarded. It is so amazing to see the work that NAPP members create… All awards were well deserved!

After the keynote the sessions got into full swing. I attended Small Flash Basics with Joe McNally to kick off the morning… And what a way to start it off! Joe always has a fun and informative session, and really just to watch him work is awe inspiring. His audience can really bask in his passion for all things photography. I look forward to more lighting with him tomorrow!

My next session was Portrait Retouching for Photographers with the man, the myth, the legend– Scott Kelby. Talk about awe inspiring…He can retouch in Photoshop in about 30 seconds, whereas it would take me 3 hours! Which is of course why I’m attending PSW… to learn from the best.

After roaming the grandiose Expo floor and catching some short demonstrations from RC Concepcion and Moose Peterson, it was time for my final session, Making a Difference with Your Camera by Jeremy Cowart. This session was thought provoking and truly a great way to finish up the first day of PSW.

I look forward to more great sessions tomorrow and finishing up the day with Midnight Madness fun!

Breaking News! PSW App for Android Now Available…

Hey guys, Shawn Welch here. A lot of you know me as the app guy for Kelby Training and NAPP. Well today I am privileged to make an announcement that I think some of the readers of this blog will really enjoy.

The beloved Photoshop World app for the iPhone and iPad has just made its way to Android OS!

*Cheers!*

Yes, you read that correctly. I said Android OS. Last year at Photoshop World Vegas 2010, we launched a new iPhone/iPad app, Photoshop World for iOS, that put the conference in your hands. The app includes schedules, instructor names and bios, exhibitor listing, conference maps, breaking news — all at your finger tips. Today (and in the nick of time I might add…) we are happy to make available Photoshop World for Android.

Photoshop World for Android will help you plan and stay on top of your schedules at the conference. Complete with maps, exhibitors, instructor and class listings, if a room assignment changes or there is some important information that needs shared your apps will be notified and their content will be updated. This is just the first release of PS World for Android. As with PS World for iOS, the Android version will grow as people use it and more features will be added over time.

So rejoice, we have an Android app! Now it’s back to work for me — see you in Vegas!

Click here to download the Android version of the PSW app.

P.S. A big shout out to friend and colleague Scott “Fish” Fisher who made the app possible. Fish is the tech editor for both of my books on iOS development and I was thrilled when he told me he had Android experience as well. Android really isn’t my strong suit, but Fish really came through. Well done man!

Shawn Welch makes things for iOS and mobile. He is an author, designer and developer at Peachpit Press and Kelby Media Group. You can see his apps here and here or check out his books on Amazon.com. If you’re a designer who is interested in designing iOS apps, check out From Idea to App: Creating iOS UI, animations, and gestures. Follow Shawn on Twitter.

Introducing Your PSW Las Vegas Onsite Bloggers!

In less than two weeks, Photoshop World will bring the world’s best photography, lighting and Photoshop training to the Las Vegas strip.

For three jam-packed days, the Mandalay Bay Convention Center will be all abuzz as photographers, artists and graphic designers from all over the world come together to learn from some of the industry’s best & brightest pro-structors (seasoned pros who can teach like nobody’s business).

Whether you’re attending this year’s conference or tracking the activity from afar, we don’t want you to miss a single moment. So we’ve compiled a great team of bloggers to give you complete round-the-clock coverage of all the goings-on at Photoshop World. Some are seasoned PSW alumni; others are first-timers. They’re photographers, graphic designers and artists from various backgrounds and skill levels… And they’re ready to share their Photoshop World experiences with you!

Meet this year’s all-star bloggers!

David Hodgins

Living in British Columbia, Canada, almost all his life, David Hodgins is an avid amateur with professional aspirations. Picking up his first DLSR in 2009, he wanted more from his images. That’s where Kelby Media came in. There is still a long road ahead, and Photoshop World is another stop on that path. He has a recent addiction to lighting. David is an adult educator and training developer in emergency communications. This will be David’s first PSW.

Kristina Jacob

Kristina Jacob is an avid photographer who loves to blend her geographic background with photography. The Los Angeles-based photographer moves from macro shots of flowers to broad landscape shots as she rebuilds a unique view of the world around her. Since picking up her first SLR years ago, she hasn’t stopped exploring life, nature and architecture through her lens. She builds on her love of photography through learning from great organizations like NAPP. Click here to read blog posts about her photography and experiences. This will be Kristina’s second PSW.

Theresa Jackson

Theresa Jackson is the owner of Orchard View Color, a graphic design business in Escondido, California. With 25 years experience in the print/graphics industry, her major focus is print design, including wide-format printing. Theresa also writes a bi-monthly technical column for Signs Of The Times magazine covering Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator tips for the signs industry. Her real passion though, is for fine art photography and Photoshop. She is an active member of the PhotoArts Group in San Diego and shows new work almost every month in local galleries. This will be Theresa’s second PSW.

Jim Patterson

Jim Patterson is professor of Business/IT at Paradise Valley Community College and an avid photographer in Phoenix. He specializes in travel, outdoors and portraits. Jim administers the NAPP-Arizona Facebook page and has led three NAPP photo walks in the Phoenix area, too. Click here to see more of Jim’s work. This will be Jim’s third PSW.

Melissa Reyes-Abbey

Melissa (Mel) Reyes-Abbey is a super busy mom, wife, coach, photo meetup organizer and photographer from St. Johns, FL (a suburb of Jacksonville). She’s an action photographer who loves portraiture and believes that ESPN will beg for her photos. She strives to learn as much as she can about how to create her vision and shape light. Being a social-media junkie, She’s found a ton of resources through books and the internet to educate herself. That’s how she found NAPP. SnapshotArtistry.com has been her business for almost two years. She loves happy clients and sharing what she’s learned with her fellow photographers. This will be Mel’s second PSW.

Kevin Stohlmeyer

NAPP member Kevin Stohlmeyer is an Adobe Certified Instructor, User Group Manager and Adobe Freelance Professional for Photoshop. The Milwaukee-based graphic designer specializes in digital illustration. Kevin has more than 15 years of experience in the field and has been teaching Adobe’s Creative Suite since 2000. Check out his blog posts at c2gps.com/blog. This will be Kevin’s fifth PSW.

So make sure to check back often from Tuesday, September 6 – Friday, September 9, 2011 to check out their blog posts, photos and videos from this year’s PSW and get a taste of this year’s must-attend photography, lighting and Photoshop training conference!

Photoshop World iPhone App Updated!

Great news! The Photoshop World App for iPhones and iPads has been updated for Las Vegas.

So if you’ll be joining us in the Entertainment Capital of the World for three non-stop days of the world’s best photography, lighting and Photoshop training, then make sure to go to iTunes to update your current version of the PSW app or download it for FREE!

The PSW app features the following:

Customizable schedule –Choose by instructor, time, class name, or add an entire track.

Class reminder and map – Countdown to your next event and find it on the built-in map.

Maps – Expo Map with vendor list and bonus class sessions.

News Feed – Track the #PSW hashtag on Twitter and PSW blog feed.

Instructors – Learn more about the pros and their classes.

So make sure to get the latest edition of the FREE PSW app and start planning out your Photoshop World experience from beginning to end! With so much happening in such a short period of time, you’ll be glad you did!

Click here to download the PSW app.

Prepare For Battle, Photoshop-Style!

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to have just a couple of images at your disposal, a ticking clock and a captive audience anxiously anticipating what kind of masterpiece you can produce? Well, now’s your chance!

During this year’s Photoshop World Expo, you’ll have the opportunity to face off against some of the world’s best and brightest Photoshop stars to find out if you’ve got what it takes to defeat a Photoshop Guru!

The series of no holds barred “Photoshop Wars,” sponsored by iStockphoto, will take place at the iStockphoto booth (#133) throughout the day during regular Expo hours. An exact schedule will be available onsite.

Think you’ve got what it takes to challenge a Photoshop Guru? Then get ready to step into the ring and battle it out with one of the Photoshop Guys! If you come out victorious, you’ll take home some amazing prizes! If you’d rather sit on the sidelines, don’t worry! You’ll have a hand in picking the winner! Either way, it’ll still be a heart pounding experience in front of a live audience. We promise you won’t want to miss this epic battle!

See you in Vegas for an all out Photoshop war!

Click here to download your FREE Expo Pass. Please note: Registered Photoshop World attendees get instant admission to the PSW Expo with their conference badge.

How Photoshop World Helped Grow My Graphics Business…

During last year’s Photoshop World Las Vegas I had the great pleasure of meeting Escondido, California-based graphic designer & photographer Theresa Jackson, who happened to be attending her first PSW. And she struck gold during the Opening Keynote, when one of her images was awarded the Guru Award in the Artistic category her first time at the big dance, so to speak! To say that Theresa is a huge fan of Photoshop World would be an understatement! She even reached out to me about writing a guest post on the PSW blog about her experience in Sin City and how it changed her life…

Here’s Theresa in her own words (and awe-inspiring images)!

I’m a graphic artist, the sole proprietor of Orchard View Color. Photoshop is the bread and butter of my business. I use it every day. I work in Illustrator and InDesign too, but Photoshop is the app I depend on most.

For several years I considered going to Photoshop World in Las Vegas. I wanted to go but struggled to justify the cost and time away from work. Self employment has some great perks, like the freedom to take time off whenever, but time off means no pay. Each year came and went as I sat on the fence trying to talk myself into attending Photoshop World.

Last year I finally made it to my first PSW, after participating in my first Worldwide Photowalk. Alan Hess was our walk leader in San Diego. Alan convinced me to go to PSW. That was exactly one year ago this month.

Before the walk, I learned that Alan taught at Photoshop World. I planned to ask Alan about PSW in hopes that he could convince me to go. I introduced myself as a freelance graphic artist, fine art photographer, and skilled Photoshop artist. I said, “It’s difficult for me to justify the cost of PSW. Tell me why I should go.”

Alan’s eyes lit up and he said, “Theresa, you HAVE to go to Photoshop World because you will be inspired. You will meet great people and you might just learn a few things.”

That was it. There was no better possible answer. I jumped down off that fence and registered for the event.

There is no debating it this year. I can’t wait to go back for my second PSW.

Attending PSW was a great decision for myself and for my business. I have many new clients and am busier now than ever. I believe PSW deserves the credit for my growing business. Here’s why:

I am inspired
Creative people inspire me. I didn’t realize how much I missed that until I went to PSW. I came back inspired to create more and to meet more creative people.

I am now very involved in a local PhotoArts Group. I exhibit with this group nearly every month. My photography hobby also provides content for my business website. The photo group connections and my website articles have both brought me new clients.

I made new friends
Last year I went to PSW alone. This year will be so different. I can’t wait to meet all my new NAPP friends in person. (If the list wasn’t so long I would name everyone here. You know who you are).

More friends means more resources. With Facebook and Twitter, help is almost instant. All I have to do is ask. That kind of resource is invaluable.

I gained confidence
Disclaimer alert: I won a Guru Award at my first ever Photoshop World. The Guru Award was for my Trippy Self Portrait (image below), which made me easily recognizable as a Guru winner. The Guru Award certainly boosted my confidence and gave me some instant credibility, which I recognize can’t happen for everyone. I still believe PSW would have boosted my confidence with or without the guru award.

Inspiration plus friendship is a great recipe for confidence building. Confidence helps me bid on new projects and negotiate with existing clients. It allows me to take on projects I might have passed on a year ago. Without a doubt my increased confidence equates to an increase in my business.

You HAVE to go to Photoshop World

I owe a big thank you to Alan Hess for getting me off the fence one year ago. I wrote this blog to pay it forward. Now is the time to invest in yourself and your business. Next year you can thank me by convincing someone else to do the same.

Theresa has worked in the graphics and printing industry for 26 years. She currently runs her own freelance graphics business specializing in all things print, including wide format banners and vehicle wraps. In her spare time she pursues her love of fine art photography, which usually involves lots of Photoshop editing.

Photoshop World For Designers!

First, let me be up front. I am not a photographer by trade, I am a graphic designer. Having attended Photoshop World for several years, I can tell you that if you are a designer and use Photoshop or Lightroom in any part of your career, then you need to attend Photoshop World.

If you think that Photoshop World is just for photographers, you are missing out. Sure there are award-winning photographers, photojournalists and lots of photo-related topics. But Photoshop World is so much more. It is an all-encompassing experience with world-class instructors from all walks of life, digital gurus willing to show you their secrets, and unparalleled access to your Photoshop peers. Where else can you have your portfolio reviewed and discussed by Photoshop Hall-of-Famer Bert Monroy?

From learning amazing 3D with “Photoshop Guy” Corey Barker to new developments in InDesign from Adobe Evangelist Terry White, there is something for everyone. And yes, I said InDesign. In fact, a lot of the Creative Suite is covered during the conference – Illustrator, After Effects, Premiere, InDesign, even Twitter is a topic!

Strictly speaking from a designer standpoint, I believe that Photoshop World is the best conference I have been to in years. Don’t get me wrong, I do attend some photography-centric courses, even if I don’t quite understand all of the techniques being covered. But I still walk away from the session inspired and eager to learn more about the topic presented. That’s the great thing about Photoshop World – something for everyone and a chance to expand your skills.

My only regret is having to choose between all the great sessions. But not to worry – if you miss a session you have a great resource at your disposal as an attendee – the Photoshop World Workbook. It contains session notes, tips, techniques, and details from the sessions presented at the conference. This is the biggest conference workbook you will ever find. Trust me – after day two your arm will start to fall off. Bring a bag to carry it.

This is also your chance to network with other Photoshop enthusiasts. There is the NAPP Tweetup (which is always a blast), the After-Hours party (held this year at Gameworks), and the coveted Midnight Madness. Another great aspect is the PSW Expo, held during the conference. It has a multitude of vendors from publishers to software companies (including Adobe), showing you their latest innovations. If you want to really get some mad props for your work, you can also enter the Photoshop World Guru Awards competition. Each year, the entries inspire, amaze and wow attendees.

Whew! With all of this going on, no matter how experienced you are or what you do for a living, if you use Photoshop you should be here.

NAPP member, Kevin Stohlmeyer is an Adobe Certified Instructor, User Group Manager and Adobe Community Professional for Photoshop. A graphic designer specializing in digital illustration with over 15 years experience in the field, Kevin has also been teaching the Creative Suite since 2000.Check out his blog posts at http://www.c2gps.com/blog/.

Movie Making Made Easy at Photoshop World!

In recent years, there’s been a steady increase in the public’s appetite for video. People are clamoring for audiovisual entertainment that will enlighten, inspire or motivate them…or at least make them laugh ’til they cry. And they’re quick to share the standouts with their family, friends and colleagues. In some cases, it takes mere minutes for a video to get one million views on YouTube.

But not all videos are worth sharing. Some lack the pop to make a great impression due to issues like poor storytelling, grainy footage or shaky shooting.

So what does it take to create Hollywood-quality videos with stunning cinematography? Well, now you can find out by participating in a just-announced pre-con workshop at Photoshop World Las Vegas entitled “Intro To HDSLR Movie Making.”

Sponsored by Canon, this comprehensive workshop will be led by Pulitzer Prize winner Vincent Laforet, who has been credited with starting the HDSLR revolution by creating the first DSLR movie, “Reverie.” The poignant narrative short film — shot in less than 72 hours with no pre-production time, a minimal cast and crew and an out-of-pocket budget — was the first 1080p video shot with a still camera. During its release in 2009, “Reverie” was seen more than two million times in the first week alone.

During Laforet’s intensive class, he’ll teach you the tools and techniques employed by the top directors of photography in Hollywood to create primetime television programs and feature films. And, he’ll shine a spotlight on the gear used to make movies including cameras, lenses, tripods, mounts and steadicams, as well as post-production techniques in Adobe Premier.

So if you’re looking to kick start your Photoshop World experience and want to learn more about movie making with a still camera, make sure to sign up today! If you’ve already registered for Photoshop World and would like to take this new pre-con, please call Customer Service at (800) 738-8513 and they’ll sign you up.