Learning Photoshop

I was asked recently how I learned how to use Photoshop. It is a more interesting question than you know...

About 1995, I wasn't much good with computers. I could do word processing like everyone else, and had tinkered a little, but that was it. I was teaching Illustration on an HND Graphics course at the Sheffield College. My Line Manager decided it would be useful if I could teach Photoshop the following year. I was given a copy and told to go home and learn it over the summer break, ready for September. I'd been on a day's course the year before, so knew how Photoshop worked, but of course, I'd forgotten all the detail.

Not my best summer. Lots of stress, quite a few tears. I decided the only way was to try to stay one step ahead of the students. Come September, I was sort of ready.

There was a nice new computer suite, full of Apple Macs. Unfortunately, I had a PC at home. Not a problem once your inside Photoshop, but I'd never used a Mac before: I didn't know how to turn it on!!!!

I had to ask my students for help (19 year old blokes mainly). Amidst the grinning, one pointed out the 'on' key, carefully disguised with an apple logo. Grrrrr...

It took me most of that year to regain my credibility. It was appallingly nerve-wracking too, constantly trying to pretend I knew what I was doing. But, by the end of the second year, I realised that I at last had a grip. I left the college soon after, to return to full-time freelance work, but that baptism of fire stood me in good stead.