Using Smart Objects as a Multi-reference Tool

Hey, folks. I have another Adobe® Photoshop® tutorial for you, showcasing yet another capability of Smart Objects. This time, I show you how to set up multiple layers to reference a single object so that a single change can be populated many times throughout your document.

As always, thanks for watching.

Render created using 3D inside Photoshop along with previous tutorial material

Hey guys, no tutorial today, but I thought you might be interested in seeing a project I slapped together.  I had an hour to kill, so I played with .... Photoshop.  Imagine that.

I was messing around with the 3D in cs5 extended and I thought to myself "this would look pretty good with a little tread plate".  So, using the technique from one of the earlier tutorials, I generated a pattern and from that, created a normal map to tuck snugly in behind the diffuse.

Just an aside, this was done 100% inside Photoshop.  No outside modeling software was used.  Maybe that will be in an upcoming tutorial?

Anyway, here's the pic, showing that there are some practical applications to all these crazy tutorials I throw up on the blog.  Enjoy.

Using smart objects to apply multiple strokes nondestructively

In this tutorial, we'll be using smart objects in Photoshop® to apply the same layer style multiple times to a single layer, which would otherwise would be a convoluted process to do in a non-destructive way.

Thanks for watching.

Fast grid lines by using Define Pattern and Pattern Fill

Hey folks.  Here's another quick tutorial using Photoshop®.  In this video, we use the Define Pattern tool and a Pattern Fill layer to quickly and easily create a symmetrical square pattern grid.

I hope you enjoy the video and thanks for watching.

fast tread plate pattern

Hey guys, here's a new tutorial showing how to create a fast metal tread plate texture pattern using a a fill layer that's already built in to Photoshop.  In only a couple of minutes, you'll be able to roll out a pattern that can be used as the foundation for your normal map, specular map, and even the starting point for your diffuse.

As always, all questions, comments, and suggestions are welcome.  Enjoy.

Easy image resizing for uploading to the web

Hey folks.  We have another quick tutorial for you.  Today, we're covering one of the most basic (and probably most common) tasks in Photoshop ... simple cropping and resizing.  We'll also talk about the "Save for web & devices" option, to ensure that your photos will fit within a host's file size limitation.  Enjoy.

quick and easy glossy animated button tutorial part two

Hey guys,

Here's part two of the glossy button tutorial.

Quick and easy glossy animated button tutorial

Hey, guys.  Will here.  As promised, here's the first tutorial.  In this tutorial, we'll be building a glossy button with animation that you can use in your own applications such as games, flash content, user interfaces, or on a website.

This is part one of two, so stay tuned for the second half.  It will be uploaded shortly.  As always, user comments and questions are welcome.

Enjoy.

Blogged

Hey guys.  I just created a new blog so that I can share some of the Photoshop knowledge I've gained over the years.  Coming soon (I already have two tutorial videos cut and waiting for upload)  I'll be providing online tutorials, primarily to help local designers and artists learn some of the finer points of Photoshop, but of course since this is a blog, they'll be available to the world.

A lot of online tutorials that are out there today, while brilliant, oftentimes assume that the user has at least a little knowledge about Photoshop, it's user interface, and design in general.  They sometimes don't go into enough detail during certain steps in the process or worst case, outright omit vital portions, leaving the user in a fog.  Another thing that happens quite often is you'll stumble across a really interesting design, only to discover that the project is basically finished, and all that's left is to tie a bow on it.  This is great for showing off your talent, but downright sinful when you're calling it a tutorial.  That's why it's called a tutorial and not a resume'.

The main thing I hope to do is to avoid both of these tutorial pitfalls.  My goal is to teach the techniques that I've learned in such a way that even someone who's barely (or never) used Photoshop should be able to follow along and complete the project.  Not only will you be able to complete the project, but (hopefully) you'll come away with a little understanding as to why things work out the way they do.

I promise to always do my best to make tutorials that are deliberate and in-depth, giving extra explanations where required.  And if I come up a little short on this goal, I will always make myself available to answer any questions you might have.

Well, that's probably good enough for an introductory post.  Stay tuned for the tutorials.  They're coming soon!