Photoshop Tutorials | Learn the art of photo manipulation | SurrealPSD

Want to learn the art of photo manipulation, but don’t know where to start? The articles of SurrealPSD are listed here in order, categorised by difficulty level and article type.

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Starting Out

• An Introduction to Photoshop – A gentle introduction to Adobe Photoshop, providing an overview of it’s uses and interface.

• Core Skills: Document Setup in Adobe Photoshop – Setting up new documents in Photoshop.

• Core Skills: Photoshop Layers Part 1 – An explanation of the absolute basics of Photoshop Layers.

• Core Skills: Photoshop Layers Part 2 – Photoshop layer techniques and functions explained a bit more in-depth.

• Core Skills: Photoshop Selection Tools – An introduction to the common selection tools and modifiers used in Adobe Photoshop.

• Core Skills: Photoshop Layer Masks – Photoshop Layer Masks explained. Use and understand masks with this jargon-free guide.

• Core Skills: Selecting Stock Photography – Improve the quality of your photo manipulation by being more selective with your stock resources.

• 10 Photo Manipulation Tips for Beginners – Avoid the pitfalls that many hobbyists fall into and instantly improve your photo manipulation skills. Ten bitesize tips to get you on your way.

• Core Skills: Photoshop Levels [HD] Video Tutorial – Introducing the Levels command in Adobe Photoshop and it’s uses for photo manipulation.

Intermediate

• Top 10 Photoshop Shortcuts - Here is a roundup of my Top 10 Photoshop Shortcuts. Essential time-savers for an efficient workflow.

• Core Skills: Photoshop Pen Tool [HD] Video Tutorial – Learn the most versatile function in Photoshop, the Pen Tool!

• Core Skills: Photoshop Adjustment Layers – Harness the power of Photoshop Adjustment Layers. The non-destructive method of applying Image Adjustments.

• Core Skills: Anatomy of a Photo Manipulation – A walkthrough explaining the elements of a complex photo manipulation.

• Basic Photoshop Retouch Tutorial (Level: Intermediate) - Apply beauty enhancement retouch techniques with this simple walkthrough.

• Photoshop Makeup with Soft Light (Level: Intermediate) – Produce stunning digital makeup effects in Photoshop, using the Soft Light layer mode.

• Photoshop Textures Tutorial (Level: Intermediate) – Learn how to create interesting texture effects using blending techniques in Photoshop.

Lighting Techniques

• Lighting in Photo Manipulation Part 1 (Level: Beginner) – Take the principles of traditional lighting techniques and apply them to your Photoshop work. Part 1 of a series on lighting in photo manipulation.

• Lighting in Photo Manipulation Part 2 (Level: Intermediate) – Achieve a sense of realism in your photo manipulation work with these simple shadow techniques in Photoshop.

• Lighting in Photo Manipulation Part 3 (Level: Intermediate) – Understand highlights and add energy to your photo manipulation work. Tips, theory and links.

•Highlights in Photo Manipulation (Level: Intermediate) – Add highlights to your fine-art work in Photoshop for ambience, depth and realism.

Background Removal

• Brunette Background Removal (Level: Advanced) – A simple technique for isolating hair with clinical precision.

• Background Removal with Layer Masks (Level: Beginner) – Step away from those quick-selection tools and harness the power of Layer Masks for professional background removal in Photoshop.

• Pen Tool Background Removal (Level: Advanced) - Use the Pen Tool and Layer Masks to perform professional background removal in Photoshop.

• Compositing and Selecting Hair in Photoshop CS5 (Level: Intermediate) – Deal with hair like never before with Photoshop CS5′s new Refine Edge command..

Horror Walkthroughs

• Photoshop Zombie: Undead Eyes (Level: Intermediate) – Learn how to create believable undead eyes in Photoshop. Part 1 of the Photoshop Zombie series.

• Photoshop Zombie: Skeletal Features (Level: Intermediate) – Create evil skeletal features in part 2 of Photoshop Zombie, photo manipulation tutorial.

• Photoshop Zombie: Flesh Wounds (Level: Advanced) – Create grisly torn flesh effects in Adobe Photoshop using texture techniques, layer masks and digital painting.

• Raw Deal Project Part 1 (Level: Beginner) – A Photoshop walkthrough that shows the true creative process, warts n’ all! Part 1: Concept and mood boards. (Part 2: Stock and background removal).

• Destroy Text in Photoshop (Intermediate) – Transform any typeface with this great looking grunge effect in Photoshop, much like the awesome Band of Brothers and 28 Days Later logos.

• Black Demon Eyes in Photoshop (Level: Beginner) – Learn how to create believable demonic black eyes in Photoshop with this simple tutorial.

Sci Fi Walkthroughs

• Photoshop Android: Mech Spines (Level: Advanced) - Create hostile looking Cyberpunk spines using simple digital painting techniques in this Photoshop walkthrough.

• Photoshop Android: Machine Works (Level: Advanced) - Create stunning Android creations in Photoshop using stock photography and photo manipulation techniques.

• Photoshop Android: Panel Work (Level: Advanced) - Use simple digital painting techniques to achieve a sense of 3D in your Sci Fi work.

• Photoshop Android: Highlights and Wires (Level: Advanced) -  Use the Pen Tool and Brushes to produce glossy highlights and wires in your Sci Fi work.

• Photoshop Chrome Type Tutorial (Level: Intermediate) – Use simple lighting effects to produce a sleek chrome-like effect for type in Photoshop.

Odds n’ Ends

• Instant Backgrounds in Photoshop (Level: Beginner) – Create simple dramatic backgrounds in Photoshop using gradients and brushes.

• Vexel Style Portraits, Part 1 (Level: Advanced) – Create stunning vexel portraits using bezier and soft-edged techniques. Part 1 of 2.

• Vexel Style Portraits, Part 2 (Level: Advanced) – In the second installment of our Photoshop Vexel tutorial, we adapt the bezier and soft-edged techniques to create stylised hair.

• Photo Manip Deconstructed – A look at the various Photoshop techniques used in a complex photo manipulation.

• Ambient Colour in Photoshop – Apply colour-casts in Photoshop for ambience and mood.

Theory

• A Photo Manipulators Manifesto – The democratising nature of photo manipulation.

• Why Photo Manipulation Rules – Examining the power of photo manipulation.

• The Importance of Scale and Composition – Learn the time-proven techniques of composition and improve your digital art.

• Colour Theory & Composition - Check out this great new DeviantArt article series covering the uses of art-theory in photo manipulation.

• Depth of Field in Photo Manipulation - Find out how the principles of photography and fine-art can be used to create a sense of depth in your photo manipulation work.

• Know your basics – Perspective – Kuschelirmel’s awesome theory series continues, with this installment focusing on perspective in photo manipulation.

• The Power of Observation – Learn how observing the work of your peers will improve your Photoshop skills.

• The Logic of SurrealPSD – SurrealPSD aims to teach the Core Skills of Photo Manipulation, and then progress onto the real juicy, creative aspects of Photoshop.

Networking, Industry & Education

• Freelance Advice for the Digital Artist – Honest advice for those seeking work as a freelance Digital Artist.

• Digital Artists Guide to gaining Work Experience – Get the lowdown on securing freelance work as a digital artist.

• 10 tips for University Success - Get the most value from your University course and improve grades with these 10 tips.

• 10 ways to Increase your Audience on DeviantArt – 10 tips for increasing your audience on DeviantArt, the world’s largest art community.

• Producing Flyers in Photoshop - A guide to producing flyers in Photoshop with tips on formatting for print and checking color modes.

• Site Review: Shadowness.com - A review of Shadowness.com art community website.

• Site Review: Behance.net – Reviewing the features of one of the web’s top pro-sites.