Working backwards

[Vankelmod]

First of all, I am a total beginner using Photoshop; barely know how to use all the tools, let alone in the right order. Next, this topic hasn't really got a simple answear. I'm looking for inspiration.

Basicly what I have is a silhouette in one color against a white background. What I would like to achieve is somthing a little more like a photo or a drawing using that exact shape. There are many tutorials on creating silhouettes in the web but I havn't found a single one describing working based upon one. Does this gibberish ring a bell to anyone? Can anyone come up with something I can proceed on?

[Kotik]

Hello Vankelmod.

I have to say that inspiring you with a white background and a silhouette is nothing I (and i doubt anyone else) can do. You see photoshop is a program with so many functions and tools that you can pretty much do anything imaginable with that silhouette.

However, when I am to work upon something I usually paint the result I wish in my head before starting the work. Then I start working on what I do have to get that final image done.

Hope this was of help to you.

Cheers,
Mike

[Vankelmod]

First of all thanks for replying. I was begining to dread that no one would answear.

Secondly, my real concirns were not as deep and existentialistic as might have come across. What I really was hoping for were some tips and tricks. Like e.g how to create a depth in the image, reproducing detail lines or giving the sihouette a couple of different colours in a none-MS Paint looking way. This little project of mine is mostly for getting to know the program and those kinds of pointers would be what I was looking for.

Now I'm just playing around with all the options. It's like a schimpanzee and a type-witer really. Eventualy I'll get it right, but this way I could speed up the process.

[Excruciating]

Have you considered/or are you following tutorials?

[Kotik]

When I was in the learning stage of Photoshop i learnt about nothing compared to what i did from tutorials. Devppl has a huge amount of easy step-by-step tutorials which helps understand how different tools, effects and filters work and how you can combine them to get different results.

I personally would suggest you take sometime to practice some very random tutorials and get a hang of the program and get used to its layout etc... You'll be having alot of tricks up your sleeve before you know it.


P.S: Im at work at the moment so I cant direct you to some tutorials what I think would be a good start for you. I will do it later today hopefully.

[Vankelmod]

Thanks guys. I've been trying to follow some tutorials but to me they've all seemed so advanced. Combining the right tools in five steps to achieve one tiny effect which by the way seemed only rarely usuable. Mayby I've been unlucky. I'll try getting through some of the tutorials here and picking a few that seems basic enough. Will be heavily grateful for any suggestions though.

[Kotik]

If you are really serious about learning photoshop very thoroughly and a very detailed yet simplified way I would suggest http://www.totaltraining.com/. They have video tutorials with TONS of very cool tricks and they explain stuff like no one will ever be able to. Downside is that you have to buy their DVD and it costs quite alot.

But I assume you don't want to spend that much on learning the program (who would to be fairly honest?). Here are a few tutorials I though might help you getting familiar with Photoshop.


http://www.devppl.com/forum/photoshop-tutorial-green-liquid-effect-vt293.html
http://www.devppl.com/forum/photoshop-tutorial-3d-shadow-effect-vt706.html
http://www.devppl.com/forum/photoshop-tutorial-make-a-devppl-avatar-vt708.html
http://www.devppl.com/forum/photoshop-tutorial-simple-pdf-presentation-vt672.html

This should be an okay start. You might have problems understanding some steps but thats normal. Skip to another tutorial if you are having troubles understanding one.

For a collection for tutorials (both tough and easy) visit http://www.devppl.com/photoshop-tutorials/

Good luck.