Yup. FREE.
Got an email about this 6 month online course being given by creativetechs.com and I jumped in. I keep meaning to blog about it, and since the 3rd class is today I am starting with this so I am sure to squeeze it in.
Here’s the deal.
CreativeTechs offers free worldwide online training to all as long as you are willing to show up at a specific time and day of the week. If you wish to download the classes after the live taping it will cost you, if you choose to access a specific 5 week course load it will cost you and if you choose to take chance on all their classes for a month it…uh-huh, will cost you.
The costs are very reasonable. They are just getting themselves in the saddle for now so this information might change, it already has from the first week’s broadcast, so no whining if you find it different when you go to their website in 15 minutes.
Download a day’s class and notes with worksheets. $15. Yes, its the very same free class you would get if you showed up at the specific time ( 11am Pacific Time)
Download 5 classes in a specific course section. $45.
Download All Classes current and archived with all course materials. $50 per month ( no contract)
They offer a different set of courses each week day. Thursday is Photoshop. The also offer an extensive Photography course, Lightroom, and Dreamweaver classes. Plenty of classes are archived as well.
For a full list of classes and for a break down of this weighty 6 month Photoshop Course check out their training area at creativetechs.com/training
* About the Classes
I found them easy to follow along in PS CS3 and take notes. ( yes, will pen on paper) The instructor Jason Hoppe does have a tendency to be somewhat scattered in his on the fly answers to live chat questions, but the course is well laid out and when he sticks to the script ( who of us does! LOL) the classes shine! Hoppe’s only fault could be he has worked in PS too long. You know the kind of person who was there when the computer gods and man touched? He wants to reminisce about how far Photoshop has come, the deal is he learned and discarded techniques over a long period of time and the shear wall of learning it all at once never hit him. The fact that he is teaching to those of us starring at the wall without have been a pitiful newb shows from time to time. Don’t be shaken by this. He does come back to center. If you find yourself lost it will be only momentarily. Other times he just wants to show off how fast he is. Let’s call it Ego Speed. Again this only happens for a few minutes and then its back to the course tract, so hang in there.
In short, if you fall off the back of the bus he comes back around and picks you up.
If you want Ego Speed for the entertainment value only, check out Re-touch Thursday ( 1 pm Pacific) where he retouches damaged, badly shot and poorly composed pictures into things of beauty. Its awesome if you don’t have to try and learn it but just want to sit back and watch. Reminds me of Bob Ross ( Rest In Peace, Sweetie) on Jolt Cola.
At his best Hoppe offers truckloads of shortcuts, tips, and timesavers. Since he likes to blaze he has learned the fastest way to do things and that is a PLUS. He shows you how to do the default way then shows his tips for flying with his hair on fire. Its right up my ally because I move at turtle speed and would like to be faster.
* How I Get The Most Out Of These Classes
I watch the 1 1/2 hours of course/Q&A each Thursday. Taking notes and following along in CS3. Then the next day I re-write my notes throwing out the things that I already internalized or parts I made note of that were strictly CS4 enabled. Then I spend the rest of the week till the next class working in Photoshop and trying to use as much of what I learned as possible.
If you are vacillating over whether to devote yourself to learn keyboard shortcuts, no more hemming and hawing, learn them! I thought I could do it all with the mouse when I first started learning Photoshop about 6 months ago and I had to abandon that ship.
Photoshop is just too complicated a program to rely on drop down menus and a few claw stroke keyboard moves unless you want to have moss grow on your behind!!
Embrace shortcuts.
Especially for this basic 5 week course set. After Hoppe finishes the basics he is going to fly! If you are still using drop downs for most everything you will just be watching. The only way not to become a spectator is to learn the shortcuts he is teaching now and get good at them. Long term, let’s face it, we all want to fly at Ego Speed!
Today’s Class is on Selections. Its starts at 11am Pacific Time ( Seattle based) Get signed up for classes at least an hour before, log on the web ( you will get an email with the GO TO WEBINAR link) at least 20 minutes before classes start. The crew will be chatting away so you will know you are in. Sometimes the classes fill fast so get there early and ruminate while enjoying a little bit of an inside look.
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SOFT WHISPER Freebie!!
Kim B has a new kit out, when does she not? *guffaw* its mind blowing how she produces such quality work on a weekly basis, but I have learned to roll with it and pick my jaw up off the floor as I do so.
This time around its all those dusty pinks and vintage feeling goodies that go together easily, but with the luscious twists of gold or silver toned do-dads and punches of burnt orange and buttercream. I know it sound like it will not work, but it does beautifully like all her work there is something for the matchy matchy side of us and a few touches for times we want to get punchy!
Anyone who endured the 80’s will recognize the pearl accents and mauves with lace as the “country” look of that time. So its safe and well known there, but throw in the newsprint alpha, and mauve to orange tipped ribbon along with some rhinestones and bugle bead, bead spills and we turn the corner to a new place.
Each image will take you to Kim’s Store page for Soft Whisper. Its on sale right now for $3.85 for a limited time. Regular Price $5.50.
Contains:
12 papers
1 Full Alpha (upper,lower,numerals and some exclamations)
32 elements
1 silver hanger
1 strip lace ribbon
1 pink leaf
2 mesh strips( one shadowed)
1 pink pearl fabric button
2 pearl strands
3 ribbons
2 strings
1 staple
1 stitching
1 vine
1 cluster wrap
1 metal bead spill
1 bow
4 leaf branches
1 moth
2 buttons
4 fabric flowers
1 jewel frame
1 silver oval frame
All 300 ppi
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This can go shabby or slick. I went shabby.
Remember QuickPage Freebie!
http://www.4shared.com/file/133219613/f5c67255/jc_rememberQP.html
Happy Thursday Folks!
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Edited: September 17th, 2009
![kb-sale45_thumb[1]](http://jodianncates.com/weblog/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/kbsale45-thumb1.jpg "kb-sale45_thumb[1]")
We have been wanting to do this since March but stuff just always kept getting in the way and putting it off. Well FINALLY we finished one…a whole bag, and a HUGE one at that 
Again the hand is still killing me so I’m being a jerk and stealing the store description hahahaha!![kb-skeletonleaves_thumb[1]](http://jodianncates.com/weblog/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/kbskeletonleaves-thumb1.jpg "kb-skeletonleaves_thumb[1]")
