Circumstances aligned themselves and I was asked this past Friday to cover a section of computer graphics, teaching an introduction to Photoshop and InDesign. (Classes started Monday) Although I have used Photoshop for 20 years this is VERY challenging for me. It is one thing to stumble around the program in my own expertly acceptable but inept way and quite another to pass this off as a preferred method of emulation. So, I am cramming, training myself to do things the Zen-like Adobe way.

After three days of this, my wife has given me this advice: Relax.

Of course, she is right. It not like I don’t already know this stuff. Teaching lessons from the heart is always better than teaching numbers from a book. RELAX DUDE!

Whew …

OH! Some Photoshop Shortcuts:

photoshop_cs3_shortcuts

And a fun link: Photoshop ad busting

Before the holidays, I was commissioned to create a custom caricature of a husband who liked to step out on his wife — with a hot dog. This artery clogging temptress was apparently too much for him to resist and she caught him red handed. It has been a topic of conversation within this family for the year. So what do you give a person who has everything? How about a editorial cartoon of the event? This was a lot of fun to do, and the wife/mother-in-law tag team on the creation was a hoot. Since it was a gift, I waited until the holidays were over before posting.

The concept, thumbnails, and final rendering were created using SketchBook Pro (all digital). Now If I could convince him that turnabout is fair play?