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!

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.

Pre-PSW Checklist

Hi all, long-time attendee, first-time blogger. Just kidding. With less than a week to go I thought a recap for resources and tips for Photoshop World might be helpful.

For those first-time attendees or for those who want the inside scoop on how to get the most out of your Photoshop World experience, do not miss Larry Becker’s “First-Time Attendee Orientation” held Tuesday during the Pre-Con sessions. This event is FREE and is held in two sessions: 3:15–4:15 pm and 5:15–6:15 pm.

If you cannot attend Larry’s event, or want more information about Photoshop World or getting around Vegas in general be sure to check out my “Insider’s Guide to PSW”. You can download it here.

To help plan your schedules two electronic options are available for you. First is the PSW App by Shaun Welch available for the iPhone. If you don’t have an iphone or iPod Touch,  don’t worry there is the ever-popular PSW Schedule PDF by Dave Cross which you can download here.

Next, if you are on Twitter, be sure to sign up for the NEW Photoshop World Hashcaster Site for the latest information and roundup of all the day’s PSW news and important Tweets. You can sign up here. Speaking of Twitter, the Photoshop World Tweetup will be held Tuesday night at 8 pm just outside the registration area on the patio (same location as last year). This is a great opportunity for you to meet and network with other Photoshop World attendees and the instructors (including Scott Kelby himself).

Last, here is a handy checklist of things to remember when coming to Photoshop World:

1. Your Badge. It is the “must-wear” accessory at this year’s “Project Photoshop”.  You need it to get into any event during the conference. If you forget it, expect to be asked by staff to go back and get it.
2. Comfy shoes. As in shoes you can walk around in all-day and not get blisters. Learn from my first-year mistake. Ouch!
3. A sweater or jacket. Vegas may be 110° F next week, but the conference rooms are air conditioned so be prepared if you tend to get chills.
4. Water. There is water available in the back of the session rooms. However, if you are going on a photo-safari or photo-walk, bring water. In Vegas, it may be a dry heat, but 100°+ temperatures can sneak up on you.
5. Writing utensils. It seems every year I am borrowing my pen to the person seated next to me so they can fill out their evaluation forms at the end of a session. Don’t forget you may also want to take notes during the sessions.
6. Money. Now I don’t mean bring cash for the table games, but be sure to have your credit cards or cash on hand for the expo hall. Many exhibitors will be selling as well as displaying their wares and also there is the Kelby Training Bookstore. It’s like Target – expect to spend a lot more than you planned for.

Hope this list and resources help you make the most of your PSW experience. See you all next week in Vegas.

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 more than 15 years experience in the field, Kevin has also been teaching the Creative Suite since 2000. Check out his blog posts at c2gps.com/blog.

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.

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 Opening Day Highlights!

If you follow Photoshop World at all, I’m sure it comes as no surprise that the opening keynote on Day One starts out like a rock concert and a Hollywood movie screening all merged into one. If you’re brand new to PSW…don’t worry, so am I; but as it turns out…that’s what it’s like!

So lights, camera, action, music, video, balloons, confetti, models, runways….here we come.

An auditorium full of hungry photo and photoshop devotees eagerly awaited this morning’s keynote event…and we weren’t disappointed! There was an opening video fashioned after TV’s “Project Runway.”  It was at this moment that I realized what a DORK I CAN BE!

The conference theme is “Project Photoshop” and I had been walking around kind of dwelling on how little sense that made to me and wondering why on earth they would have picked that for a name. I wondered what it was I must have missed that would have made it all make sense. “Duh!” she says to herself after the first 6 minutes of the keynote event.

It was a real treat to see a few tricks that the Adobe folks showed us when it came to using Photoshop; but the real thrill was getting to see glimpses of what they are working to release on some future date…(kinda like a software version of concept cars at an automobile trade show!)  We got to see how easy it might one day be to fix lens distortion with just a couple of clicks! “SWEET!!”

A personal high note for me was when one of the people I had the good fortune of meeting yesterday won one of the Guru Awards this morning.  The Guru Awards are given to people who have submitted photoshop work in a variety of categories prior to coming to the convention and then the top three in each category as well as which of the three is the winner are announced at the opening event! It was a lot of fun to feel excited about one of the winners when 2 days ago I didn’t expect to know a soul!

So far that’s my favorite part; people have been friendly and easy to meet.  I don’t know, maybe like myself, all this lovely creative, “techie” stuff and all the fun toys just puts everybody in a good mood. Whatever the reason…I’m having a blast being a part of it.

BTW…the Classes I took today; the Expo I wandered around; the After Hours Party I went to…ALL JUST AS FUN AS THE FIRST HOUR! Oh how I wish I had known about all of this years ago!

Jan Ziskovsky

Jan is a first time attendee from Iowa.  She is a commercial food photographer and graphic designer.

PSW Opening Ceremony – Full of High Energy!

Wow! I could feel the energy as I was walking up to the Orange County Convention Center! Everyone poured into the room with great anticipation of what we were about to experience for the next three days. As I was looking at all of the unfamiliar faces, I realized we all have at least two things in common…we all are trying to improve our creativity skills and we all know the power of Photoshop.

The music was playing, the t-shirts were being thrown (I caught one!) and of course the balloon drop added to the fun! The funny video that “starred” several of the instructors was fun to watch and showed that they all enjoy what they do. The keynote included an entertaining fashion show with colorful creations were a photographer’s dream to capture walking down the runway!

Adobe’s “Johnny L.” was also on hand to share some amazing things that Adobe is working on (and some they’ve already done!) The technology is incredible. Makes me realize AGAIN, you have to keep learning and listening to keep up with it all – technology will leave you behind in a hurry if you don’t! 

And then they handed out several awards to attendees who had worked hard throughout the year with their mad skills! I sat there in awe thinking, “Maybe one day I can be up there accepting an award!” What an honor that must have been for them – not to mention the great prizes they won for their talent and hard work!

This was one of the best Opening Ceremonies that I have been to! The energy was sky high and now I’m ready to dig in my heels and learn…and have fun along the way!

P.S. The “technique” I used in the above photo, I learned in one of my classes! Thanks Lesa Snider!

Keri McDaniel – (Snapped Images) is Photographer in Atlanta specializing in Lifestyle Photography   -   www.snappedimages.com

An Inspirational Beginning

Let me start off by saying that I am extremely excited to be live blogging for PSW 2011 in Orlando!  I have attended this conference many times before and continue to come back year after year.   I did something today that I have never had a chance to do in my 5 previous years at PSW, actually make it to the opening ceremony & keynote speech.  It was fantastic!  The theme for this year was Project Photoshop and fashion reigned supreme.  There was a live runway show with garments that were inspired by the tools of Photoshop.  My favorite design was the Type Tool dress, however the winning look was Scott Kelby’s paint-bucket dress, which was amazing.  After this opening, I vow to never skip the keynote again!  It sets the overall tone for these 3 days and really gets you ready for what you are going to learn.

PSW Orlando Keynote Liveblog

Welcome to the Photoshop World Orlando 2011 Keynote Liveblog!