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ADVANCED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

I love books. I own hundreds of them. I hope you keep this book next to your nonlinear editing or motion graphics system so that it can be truly useful. Books aren’t people, however, and no matter how conversationally I try to write, this book will never replace the personal connection you may experience with a trainer, instructor, or professor.

You need to look for a personal training opportunity that matches your needs. I am not a fan of those big, rolling caravans that advertise three-day “master workshops” where you will sit in an auditorium and learn everything. Education needs to be a personal and balanced experience.

I tell folks to consider enrolling in a college class. This will most likely place you with 20 or so other people for a few months. Chances are the class will focus on print and Web and not video. There are exceptions, however, with several schools offering Digital Media Production or Broadcast Journalism programs. A college class has the benefit of homework and the subsequent feedback loop. I spent about a third of my professional life teaching college students the ins and outs of video and motion graphics. I am sure that these students frequently fail to realize just how new and exciting this field is.

Adobe Certified Training Providers

There’s a high likelihood that you don’t have the time to take a college course. For working pros, there’s a better solution: Adobe Certified Training Providers. There are several classes and resources to choose from. The best place to start is Adobe’s website at http://www.adobe.com/misc/training.html.

Adobe’s training page offers several alternatives to advance your skills. Be sure to visit http://www.adobe.com/misc/training.html and look for authorized learning opportunities near you.

Adobe carefully selects and screens its training centers and trainers. By ensuring that all of the trainers have passed a standardized exam, an objective level of quality control is maintained. Carrie B. Cooper, Training Partner Relations Manager within the Adobe Solutions Network, said that Adobe tries to offer variety. “Adobe Certified Training Providers (ACTP) offer beginning, intermediate, advanced to more specific courses like Photoshop for Photographers,” said Cooper. “The best thing to do is to check out the training centers’ Web sites and catalogs.”

One of those centers is Future Media Concepts. With offices in six East Coast cities and Chicago, FMC offers a full range of Photoshop and video-oriented courses (http://www.FMCtraining.com). Ben Kozuch, President and cofounder of FMC, explained his company’s approach to training:

“We offer hands-on training in an intimate environment of no more than six people. Instructors are certified by Adobe, so participants are assured the highest-level quality training. Instructors are not professors, but industry professionals. We offer training on all Adobe software, varying in level from beginner through advanced.”

When searching for a center, be sure to check their references. Ask for customer testimonials, and be sure to check Adobe’s site to make sure they are listed as an ACTP (http://partners.adobe.com/asn/partnerfinder/search_training.jsp). You should also expect flexible and accessible scheduling (including weekend classes). Ask if instructors are working professionals. Some centers also offer a satisfaction-guaranteed policy and financing plans.

“Training is a major investment of time and money. You want to make sure that it is done right first time so you don’t have to spend time again after a bad experience,” said Kozuch. “Bad habits are tough to unlearn. At an authorized training center, you learn the software the way the manufacturer intended it to work.”

Industry Certifications

So you want proof that you are as good as you think? Certifications offer Photoshop pros a chance test their mettle. The most recognized certification is the Adobe Certified Expert or ACE. To become certified, one must pass the Adobe Product Proficiency Exams for Photoshop. (While you’re at it, you can pick one up for After Effects, Premiere, and most other Adobe products.)

Adobe Certified Expert

Exams are computer-delivered, closed-book tests. The exam consists of 60 to 90 multiple-choice questions. The tests are administered locally at Prometric computing exam centers located around the world. You’ll know whether you passed immediately after the exam. Diagnostic information is also included in your exam’s report to help identify strengths and weaknesses. The ACE program was created by Adobe to fill a specific need for users and instructors.

“It started as a vehicle to objectively measure instructors’ ability on the products,” said Carrie B. Cooper, Training Partner Relations Manager within the Adobe Solutions Network. “We expanded that audience to include all types of experts on the products, be they consultants, students, designers, etc.”

To become certified, Adobe recommends the following five steps:

Recommended Reading

Becoming a good designer is a continuous journey. Below you will find the favorite items from my bookshelf. I have personally read and used all of these books and training discs, and I recommend them strongly.

Books on Photoshop

Copyright gilas/stockphoto.

Books and CD-ROMs on Type

Need to know more about type? I dug deeper into typographic theory in Chapter 5, “Some Words on Words, Logos, and Symbols.” There are many more aesthetic decisions to be made, as well as some guidelines on legibility, alignment, and white space that need to be reviewed.

Books and Discs on Motion Graphics

Books on Color

Books on Design

Photoshop Web Sites

A quick online search will leave you overwhelmed. If you judge by quantity, Photoshop is a wellloved product. Since your time is limited, I offer a scaled-down list of some of the best sites out there. Be sure to look for valuable resources and alternative points of view. Also, keep in mind that the majority of these sites are written from Web and print perspectives. In general, Web-oriented sites are the next best thing because they discuss designing for the screen as well.

Tutorials and Support

Filters

Actions, Styles, and Add-Ons

Publications with Frequent Stories about Photoshop

There are several great computer magazines that routinely discuss Photoshop and related topics such as third-party plug-ins, motion graphics, and video. A magazine has a certain timeliness to it, and can provide excellent tips on Photoshop updates and add-ons.

Conferences with Extensive Coverage of Photoshop for Video

Looking for some face-to-face training on Photoshop? The following is a list of conferences at which I have spoken. All offer coverage on Photoshop for Video.