RAK Survey: What do you wish you knew how to do?

Here’s a super-quick one-question survey for Tuesday! And a giveaway!  

Is there a specific Photoshop technique that continues to elude you? Do you wish you were better at photo editing? At type and journaling well on your layouts? At creating your own digital/hybrid embellishments? At mixing paper and digital? At printing on specific items, such as canvas, vellum, transparency, or ribbon? At using your printer in general? At hybrid mini-albums? At using some of the cool hybrid products out there like water-slide decals and printable rub-ons?

What do you wish you knew how to do in Photoshop?

and

What do you wish you knew how to do on your computer that relates to scrapbooking?

This could include using Word, or digital organization, or page layout, font download/install/management, brush management, etc.

Let me hear it! :D Be as specific as you can, ok? Don’t worry about long-windedness or being too list-y. I love lists!

Also, if you’d like to let me know whether you consider yourself:

• Beginner digi (meaning ALL digi, except maybe mini-albums)
  
• Intermediate digi
• Advanced digi
• Beginner hybrid (meaning you make some blend of computer tricks on your paper pages, or paper and digi pages)
  
• Intermediate hybrid
• Advanced hybrid

That would be great! :D (I know, that makes the survey two questions long… sorry) 

RAK! 

And just to make this little survey worth answering, I’ve got two copies of my BRAND NEW BOOK, Computer Tricks 2 to give away to two random lucky winners!

Post to this thread before 6 p.m. EST on Thursday, Feb 21 for a chance to win. :) Tell your friends as well! I am interested in hearing from newbies and oldsters alike on your Photoshop challenges. :)

Update on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 at 01:59PM by Jessica

Lots of comments pouring in! Post away! Don’t be shy! This is your chance to be heard, and I can help. :)

And for those of you wondering - yes! I will read EVERY ONE. I’ll even print them out. Maybe I’ll even snuggle them. So post! Get your questions out there. :D 

Update on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 at 11:19PM by Jessica

I love you guys. You’re laying it out there bigtime, asking tough questions. Asking real questions. Jared and I are wondering how we capture and parse this data. Yes, that is how geeks spend a romantical evening at home. Figuring out how to capture and parse YOUR data, friends! Bring it on! We’ve got candles lit and everything. You have until Thursday, 6 pm EST.

Comments

[flowersgal]

I am definitely beginner so there are soooooooooo many things I want to know how to do. I wish I understood blending, knew more about brushes, and masks -- and, of course, I wish I were better at photo editing and clean-up. So much to learn, so little time!! And finally, I wish I'd be one of the two winners of your new book. I loved the first one.

[Jen K]

I need serious photoshop help. I think my biggest desire would be learning how to edit my photos better and add to them with brushes, etc. I am a beginner! I would also love to have beginner hybrid knowledge. :)

[roocmc]

I have been expanding my skills with PSE by leaps and bounds lately, but I am still thrown when it comes to using the Color Replacement feature. I finally got the brush function working reasonably well, though I'm still not totally thrilled with it.

[Michelle Filo]

In photoshop I would like to know how to organize my layers... I create too many of them and get lost!!!

I consider myself advanced even though I haven't been scrapping that long. I do all digi but am jumping into hybrid now (I used to be a paper scraper too! just lacking time now)

Thanks for the great give away Jessica, fingers crossed here hehehe

Cheers

[sassyaztec]

beg. digi

I want my pictures to look fabulous. So I guess actions, layers, masks, etc. would be most helpful.

Thanks!

[Karin Lindholm]

Hi!

I would love to get a copy of your new book.

[Linn]

I wish I knew what Adobe bridge did. I'm sure it must do something wonderful, but I don't know what. Haven't had time to fiddle around with it. It seems like there must be some way to organize and easily view digital scrap papers and embellishments somehow on Photoshop, but I don't know how to do that either. As for the rest of my computer, I'm hoping to find some way to manage and archive my photos better so that I don't bog down my hard drive forever.

[Lori]

I am completely new to digi scrapping and would consider myself an intermediate with Photoshop CS3--although there is a LOT that I don't know. It's a constant learning process. Working with brushes is a subject in which I need more training. I'm glad I stumbled onto your website and blog. What a wonderful tool.

[Kim]

Hi Jessica, I will be taking Digi in Deep when it starts in March/April - can't wait! Before digital cameras I have many 35mm photos and negatives. I would love to be able to scan the photos to use in digi layouts and know how to adjust the photo in Photoshop to make them look nice in my layouts when they are printed. The color is never quite right, the crispness isn't there, they are darker, and on and on and on!! I don't want to have to go to the expense of taking my 35mm negatives and have them put on CD's, it appears to be cost prohibitive. Of course I would like to have it done for the negatives to be preserved, but anyway.... you get the picture!!!

Anyway, hope this gives you some ideas! Thanks for all your classes and freebies!!
Kim

[Lisa]

Thanks for the RAK, Jessica! Your first book was so useful-- I still refer back to it all the time. I am an intermediate hybrid scrapper. I would love to learn how to make my own photo frames, like on a negative strip. I love that kind of grungy edge... I'm also having a problem when I put a photo into a digi photo negative strip --the photo is pixelated when I print it off (even though the photo is tiny and there should be tons of resolution).
Thanks again!

[Darcy]

I'm a beginner hybrid scrapper :) I would love to know how to use layers more effectively. It seems like I almost get it, and then I can't change a layer. I love the look of brushes/frames on photo's, and would love to see more info on different techniques directly on photo's, not just on a whole page. Thanks Jessica, you ROCK :)

[Robbie]

I consider myself a beginner to intermediate digi scrapper, I do paper scrap but usually do either all one or the other. Photo editing is the exception, I do that for both. My big three are,
extractions, better text, journaling and brushes.
I have Elements and CS3 would love to learn to do text on a path in Photoshop.

[JKidd]

I would consider myself and intermediate digiscrapper and am ready to start creating my own digital pages - would love to learn more.

[Joy]

I guess I would consider myself an intermediate scrapper, because I feel pretty confident with many of the PSE capabilities, but I wish I knew more about designing a layout. I have no natural artist ability, so need some tried-and-true formulas to good page layouts. Currently I have to "borrow" someone else's idea.

[obsessedcropper]

I wish I knew more about how to use paths. I would love to add journaling along side of a flower or element on my page, have tried paths, but I have trouble with sometimes around curves the letters bunch together....I'm sure there is an easier way than the way I am doing it and would love to see this perhaps in one of your classes.

[Barbara]

Just completed NWR...it was great, now I can't wait for Digi: In Deep! Guess that makes me intermediate hybrid.

Curves is a complete mystery...would love to know how how to use it!

Font management...for a MAC! Also, any way to print out a quick visual library of all your fonts, or classes of fonts (i.e., grunge, script, etc.)?

Hmmm...how about using the Pen tool with those crazy anchor points?

[Amy]

I'm just getting started using Photoshop and everything is new for me. I'm hope I'm one of the two who win!! Thanks.

[Suzanne E]

In Photoshop I wish I knew more about photo editing. I am using PSE 5 and just know that there is so much more I could do to make my photos look so much better. Anything & everything that has to do with photo editing. I can't wait to take your Digi: In Deep class in the hopes of learning more of this.

I would love to learn more about hybrid scrapping. I have spent years doing traditional and the last year I have been learning more about digital. Now I want to learn more about putting the 2 together and getting a page or mini album I can be happy with.

After taking your Up & Running and Now we're rocking classes I would say I am an intermediate digi and guess maybe beginner hybrid because I have used the computer for printing out journaling & titles for my paper layouts.

[Chris]

I would also like help with brushes. I can install them fine but always get confused about saving them so they are available the next time. I also would like help with text paths in Photoshop.
I am at an intermediate level in PSE5 but beginner in PSCS2. Thanks!

[Melanie]

I would say I am an itermediate/advanced PS user (been doing digiscrapping for 3 years; used PSE 3,4 PSCS 2 and I want CS3!!!) and a beginning/intermediate hybrid scrapper.
My biggest challenge? PHOTO EDITING
I haven't found a really good tutorial place for tips on photo editing. I would love to learn curves (I do know PSElements users can't use curves). I would love to be able to add photo effects (even do a good sepia tone would be great!) I would love to turn color inot B/W and make it look stunning. Just don't know HOW.
And I really really want a copy of your book .... lol!

[MichelleS]

I'm a beginner digi. I wish I new more about extracting an image and just more about photoshop overall.

[Staci B]

Hi Jess,

I suppose I'd consider myself intermediate digi, heading towards advanced.

I use CS2 & the one thing that continues to baffle me is text paths - I'd LOVE to know how to create my own, but have trouble even using pre-made ones if I want to edit them at all (i.e., make them smaller or larger).

Also, can't get enough photo editing tips.

[DebWoo]

I am a beginning hybrid/digi (I am trying out both), have used templates and created word art.

I wish I knew how to turn photos/mats/elements at an angle.

I cannot seem to figure out how to make my word art to one layer (can do this) but movable (not sure what the right word for this is) ie. so that I can just move over the words to a background without there being a white background to it. make sense??

look fwd to seeing your new book, Deb

[Amy :o)]

I am a beginner digi-scrapper. And when I say beginner, I mean I just figured out that my computer has PSE2 on it (see what I mean LOL). That being said, I am just so excited to start on this whole realm of scrapbooking and want to learn everything!

[Donna]

This is my 1st comment on any blog ever so you can probably guess I am a total newby.

I just got it installed last week and I am doing baby steps or more like crawling.

Just the tagging is confusing - I dont get the albums thing and how many tags on each photo?

I am starting from scratch and have been on the hunt for tutorials and any help - tips I can find.

Good Luck to everyone I am sure there is much for us all to still learn - so when you get stumped on a How To just remember at least your not a newby anymore!!!!

Hugs to all,

Donna

[Jane]

I have been doing digital scrapping off & on for years but I would say I am a beginner digi-girl. I really would like to say I am better at it then I am but who are we kidding really? I know basics & that is it. After all the years I have played with Photoshop you'd think I would know more but I really don't. I still get confused by mask layers! I really would love to know how to make my own actions or to create a proper text path that doesn't mess up the text so bad. A short cut key to save a project or duplicate one instead having to use the mouse? I'm not asking to much am I?? :)

[Teresa]

I'd love to finally master making my photos shine (both from the perspective of taking the photo and editing it in PSCS2). I'd also love to learn how to combine my digi-scrapping with traditional more often. :) I'd consider myself an intermediate PS user and beginner hybrid gal. Thanks!!

[Tanya]

Hi Jessica,

I love your site! Because of you I have become quite good with Photoshop Elements-I would say now I am an intermediate hybryd scrapper.
This is my first time leaving a comment, but I would love a copy of your book!

Things I would like to learn on the computer;
-How to do shaped text-ie journal around a photo in a circle or photo shape...
-how to do a photomerge and also if there is a secret to taking the photos for a merge so they go together well
-how to "stitch" a layout together.
-how to print onto transparencies, to make my own overlays.

Thanks- and good luck to me!

[obsessedcropper]

I wish I knew more about how to use paths. I would love to add journaling along side of a flower or element on my page, have tried paths, but I have trouble with sometimes around curves the letters bunch together....I'm sure there is an easier way than the way I am doing it and would love to see this perhaps in one of your classes. I would consider myself an moderately advanced student willing and wanting to learn as much as I can to make my creativity go quicker. These techniques in Photoshop are taking me sometimes longer to do than on paper and I would love to become more proficient with quicker techniques. I know this one can't be that difficult. Thanks.

[side by side]

I am an intermediate digital scrapper.

I want to learn how to selectively color a photo.

Also I want to learn how to use actions.