Did you ever do that thing where you blew off two weeks of college/university, and then you struggled to figure out a super-nonchalant/casual pathway back into the classroom? All the while thinking the professor was going to grind your butt to beanmeal? And then once you had the balls to reemerge, you did so with a vengeance? Well apparently me too. Only I didn’t do it in school; I did it on my own website. And in response to a mild-mannered, cursing-and-swearing doodle post.
Thus, after a prolonged delinquency, I’m back. Which may be good or bad. I mean a deke.com without a Deke is, at the very least, harmless. A deke.com with a Deke results in this:
I really haven’t the vaguest idea what is happening in this lightly pastoral tableau. I only drew it.
(And as any court reporter knows, you never question the scene. You merely capture it.)
But I do know this: That thing above is a multi-layered file from my Photoshop CS5 One-on-One: Mastery video series coming next month to lynda.com. (Honest, I’m not pimping. I’m just providing you with my first-person testimony into what is, um, that thing above.) Plus, the graphic is very colorful and alarming and stuff. You know, I mean, for the sake of junk.
In all earnestness, despite the silliness of the above graphic (and text), I have been trying like crazy to wrestle to the ground two of Photoshop CS5’s newest and most rambling features, bristles brushes and the mixer brush tool. And I think I might have actually done it. Chapter 31, “Bristle and Mixer Brushes,” offers 2+ movies on the topic of everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know about how Photoshop’s newest traditional painting tools work. Which is to say, they’re not traditional painting tools at all, they’re digital simulations. (As goes with evertything in Photoshop.) And remember, these new features are not just for artists. These are tools for enterprising photographers as well. If only you should so dare to try.
(The robot did. And he paid for his audacity. But you? I dunno. I look at you and I think, heck, you might just get away with it.)
What’s he looking at….
Poor guy looks like he’s gonna crap his pants…. what’s there on the right?
I fear for his sanity and yours Deke… I know someone that could fix you both.
Cant find your email adress, Deke - so so I’ll put a correction
Hi Deke!
In one of your Lynda One-on-One CS4 Photoshop tutorials you mention that you cant find any use for a specific option in PS: To select a single vertical or horizontal line of pixels.
There is actually a VERY good use for this option, as camera repair people wil know.
Lots of compact cameras tends to develop a very specific fault after using it for a long time (dont ask me why): One or moe single rows of pixels goes bad. The result is that you get red vertical or horizontal lines in you pictures - which ruins your pictures.
With the option to select single rows of pixels you can rectify most of this red line by inserting the dominant colour - which was supposed to be there. Then you correct the details by zooming in and correcting the individual pixels, or use the Clone stamp tool if you do not want to spend much time on this.
I had this fault in a HP Photosmart camera - and HP would not repair the camera, so I had to use this select option to fix the pictures - and it worked great!
Greetings from
Stein Egeberg
Journalist, photographer - and fan of your tutorials:-)
Know How Robot Feels
Some days we all feel like letting loose.
Stein thanks for your information. Might come in handy to know this for future.
Deke: You are one colorful creature.
I’ll guess
It’s a big box with the title Adobe Master Collection CS6…. That would be enough to make us all look like that :-)
Well, that is awesome
I haven’t personally experienced that problem, but it sounds like a swell solution.
I occasionally use the single row marquee tool to add a horizontal line to a Web graphic. But, alas, I still don’t think there’s any reason to include the single row and column tools in the M key shortcut track.
I agree -
I agree: There is no reason to waste a good short cut on the single line selection.
I have a question for you, Deke: I study your different series - they are the best I found. I have one request: Could you make a set of “EuroDekeKeys”, a set of short cuts for European keyboards. For instance: You use the square bracket keys a lot - and these sign are allmost impossible to get to on a European keyboard. When you also have to press Ctrl, Alt, Shift and whatnot - you need at least 7 very long fingers on each hand:-) To make things even worse: I live in Norway, where the keyboard has 3 extra letters:-(
The same goes for color settings: Your European viewers and avid fans would appreciate a Color settings file for European standards. Maybe you know some link where this can be downloaded - both for CS4 and CS5?
Otherwise: Great tutorials.
And the “button guy” on your cartoon is obviously the Ctrl key on a PC anticipating to be hammered viciously after you have released your complete CS5 series - earlier he used to have a quiet life:-)
Greetings from Stein E.
EuroDekeKeys (good grief)
Did it ever occur to any of you “experts”... those who constantly want custom “hot keys” or want (for some reason) for Deke to take the time to make special keys just for you… that there is no magic in DekeKeys”.
You want something different.. then simply open Photoshop.. go to Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts and make all the changes you want all by your little selves !!!!!!!!!!! Adobe makes these options easily accesible for people just like you.
This applies to your Color Settings too!!!!!!!
It ain’t magic folks… it’s simply taking the time to actually learn about the program(s) you use.
EuroDekeKeys revisited
Yep, I agree - everyone should be able to make their own “hot keys”. But, drjack, there are two very real problems:
In Deke’s One.on.One courses he only covers the specific American color settings (as far as I can see from the 3 One.on.One courses), and not what the equivalent European color settings woud be - and I would like to know since I’m not an expert, I live in Europe - and I actually would like to learn. Deke’s tutorials are used by MANY Europeans - so this is not just me asking.
When it comes to “hot keys” I just wondered if Deke’s version - or some other improved set of “hot keys” adapted to European keyboards - are available as an easy download, a set that is as close to DekeKeys as possible.
The reason for this is the same: In the courses he refers to a number of “hot keys” Europeans can’t use simply because they would be totally unpractical on a European keyboard. Since I am NOT an expert I am also unsure of which short cuts I should change, and which ones I should keep.
In general: A lot of Europeans follow the One.on.One courses, and have legitimate reasons to inquire about these issues.
So: No reason to get excited, drjack - we do not expect Deke to custom design for each and every student - though we can allways hope:-) By the way: Now I it suddenly dawned upon me who the horrified button/screw/bolt guy on Deke’s illustration might be :-))))
EuroDekeKeys revisited
I agree,it is important to learn how to make your own short cuts.
However, there are two very real problems:
A lot of Europeans follow Deke’s One.on.One courses. Since the courses in general are directed at students with American keyboards etc. we do not know if his color settings file works with European color standards.
Regarding “hot keys”: I am NOT an expert on Photoshop, and I am unsure of which short cuts I should change and which ones I can change. This goes for many students. But, sooner or later we will learn which default short cuts that are really handy, and which ones we can change.
Also: In his courses Deke refers to short cut changes from his DekeKeys - which Europeans are can not install because the European keyboards are different from the American keyboard. I was simply asking if there is some similar set of DekeKeys which Europeans can download. Then it will be easier to follow the courses, and - of course - a lot of the short cuts seems great.
In general: MANY Europeans follow Deke’s courses - so these are reasonable questions.
So, drjack: We are not asking Deke to customize our individual keyboards, though we can allways hope:-)
EuroDekeKeys (clarification)
I was not getting “excited” and my comments were directed more at the U.S. users who constantly (if you go back thru some of these threads) want “custom” keys “created” for them.
I am aware of the major problems which exist for those who use (or must use) the Euro style keyboards… and, as the URL below shows… there are not really any feasible workarounds.
http://www.planetphotoshop.com/forum/showthread.php?t=721
From my limited experience with a Euro board, even those keys that are “accidently” mapped can be frustrating… such as, if I recall, using the “,” and “.” instead of the square brackets for changing brush size.
I admit to being a little confused as to how (even if they could be created) a totally different set of keys would help someone follow one of Deke’s tutorials unless he were to re-publish them all adding the Euro shortcut(s) every time he referenced the Mac and PC ones.
From what I’ve heard… the best (or most common) work around for those in your situation is to have a Querty keyboard handy for when you are working in Photoshop. Yes, it’s a pain in the ass but, in the long run, it’s the “easiest” and most foolproof solution. It’s not too much of a problem on a PC… I have no idea how easy it is to swap keyboards ISO/Querty on a Mac.
Sorry if I ruffled any feathers… ‘twas not my intent.
Keep in mind.. if “you” (or anyone else) can modify the shortcuts to a “somewhat” workable state… you can/could then post the (new and properly named) PSP file for others to download and use instantly in the same way Deke offers the “dekekeys”.
Take Care
HEY DEKE !!!! FEEL FREE !!!
HEY DEKE !!!!!!!!!!
FEEL FREE TO JUMP INTO THIS ONGOING SHORTCUT DISCUSSION ANYTIME !
As you know (or should know) this is far from the first time the question of “custom” keyboard shortcuts (aka “DekeKeys” on this website) has come up.
Sometimes, like the current discussion with “Stein4”, they are very legitimate concerns from those on the other side of the pond… and many times simply frivolous requests from newbies too lazy to learn all the preference settings PS has to offer.
You cover basic preference(s) settings in most of your tutorial packages as well as a little about color work spaces… but almost nothing about how users can create their own “portable” hotkey sets (or modify yours).
You’ve apparently got a lot of followers (or those who would like to be followers) all over Europe (and elsewhere) where the Querty keyboard is not used. Since the majority of these “hot key” questions come up ONLY because you promote your “DekeKeys”... you owe our European brethren some type of clarification, for better or for worse, straight from the horses mouth.
Maybe the next time you are at the Lynda.com “studio” you could crank out a simple, down and dirty, tutorial (to be made available on this website) covering (a) why there are “DekeKeys” to begin with, (b) how to create and/or modify and save either the Adobe default keys or the DekeKeys (baring, of course, any conflict with preexisting and/or legacy hot keys) and (c) also address the current discussion regarding Querty vs European keyboards (and other variations).
The answer to “(c)” may not make anyone happy.. but at least it will have come from you.
The recent questions about color workspace (around the world) also should be addressed.
The ball is in your court Deke… all of Europe is waiting !!
Thanks drjack
Thank you for interesting suggetions, drjack - very constructive! I appreciate your effort to find some solutions.
Back to the problem at hand:
To complicate things even more Europe uses QWERTY keyboards (I’m guess this is what you meant). The real problem are all the special keys which seems to be placed totally differently placed on a Euro keyboard compared to the US keyboard (or so it seems when I am watching One.on.One). Take for instance the square brackets keys which is a Deke favorite in his tutorials. On Euro keyboards they are placed under the Alt gr ensemble - and it is very difficult to press a combination of Alt gr+squarebracket+Ctrl+ (for instance) up or down arrows. And when you finally manage to wrap your fingers around this I have no idea if this will work:-)
The obvious solution would be to create a another short cut. But when you start making a series of new shot cuts this would immediately create two new problems:
1. Beginners - and even intermediate - students are uncertain of which specific, “taken” short cuts they should leave alone. Also their is little information about the general logic of short cuts, besides Ctrl usually means adding, while Alt takes away (this is on a PC, not a Mac). It would be very usefull to get a lesson in the general Adobe logic for short cuts. Deke even mention that Adobe is working on a project to make the different applicationss interfaces (PS, InDesign, Illustrator etc.) as similar as possible (I believe this project is called Owl???).
2. If you are a fairly new or intremediate student - AND make a lot of new short cuts - this will automatically make it more confusing to follow Deke’s directions.
Conclusion: When it comes to Color settings I guess it would be fairly easy for Deke to make and include a Color settings file for the European market.
The short cuts bit is a bit more complex - as drjack pointed out. But, as I mentioned: Europe is a huge market for Deke’s tutorials - and it seems that te only ones making good tutorials are Americans.
So: Any suggestions?
Thanks drjack (a reply)
I’m not even going to touch the Color Workspace end of this discussion although if you are producing “for the web” (I hate that term… it should be “to be viewed on a computer monitor or other electronic display”)... it should not matter in what part of the world you are in.
In regards to “querty” keyboards… actually some/many of those in Europe are “quertz” boards (similar to “querty” but with “slight” changes).
Then it goes downhill from there…
A extensive wiki article at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keyboard_layout
shows why a simple, one set of shortcuts for all of Europe would be almost impossible since it would seem that many countries (re: languages/dialects) have and/or require their own special, unique [European] keyboards.
For example: A “Spanish” keyboard used in Spain is unlike a Spanish keyboard used in Mexico.
Bottom line… shortcuts, whether they be the default ones that ship with PS, those modified by Deke or those created/modified by a user… serve no purpose than “possibly” simplifying a given “call” (by saving one or two mouse clicks). Some people swear by them, some people hate them and are more comfortable with mice and menus and, unfortunately, a few newbies are under the impression that without them nothing will work (groan/sigh). I’ve even heard a few newbies whine that without Dekekeys they can’t accomplish anything Deke is trying to teach them.
I’m convinced, after reading dozens (if not hundreds) of whines, that some newbies are under the (mis)impression that the DekeKeys are complex actions rather than simple, straightforward “hot keys”.
Anyway.. and I could be terribly wrong and way off base but, the way I see it… with the plethora of keyboard variations [all over Europe], since I highly doubt that Deke (or anyone) would produce a video or book for each possible keyboard, if a person feels that they really need “DekeKeys” in order to “follow along” with Deke’s tutorials then the simplest solution is the one I previously mentioned….
... buy a cheap American version of what we consider a normal Querty keyboard (re: the kind Adobe and Deke reference) and simply swap it in during your Photoshop work sessions or when trying to follow a Deke tutorial. (Note: this may not work of your operating system has a proprietary language.. But still should, to some degree, if you are not “typing” text)
The other “obvious” solution is to ignore “shortcuts” altogether and just use your mouse (grin).
If you really look at that wiki article (above) I think you’ll see why the possibility of anyone (including Adobe) ever coming up with a European set of shortcuts is remote at best.
All I can say is “Good Luck” and “Best Wishes”.
Dr. Jack
My humble opinion regarding keyboard shortcuts :-)
I agree that getting a litttle bit of the European graphics market information from master Deke ;-) would be awesome :-)
But regarding keyboard shortcuts… It would be hard for Deke to talk about every single combination of keys in different keyboards. So it is as it is. I personally use my own keyboard shortcuts that are convenient for me. Incidentally none of my (additional/changed) shortcuts overlap with Deke’s, although my Polish keyboard is practically the same as American. It is no problem for me but I believe that for super beginners additional/different/changed keyboard shortcuts can be a real challenge because there are so many shortcuts already in PS…
The advice from someone below that you shouldn’t use keyboard shortcuts at all is really silly in my opinion. I encourage everybody to learn shortcuts as fast as possible - it will massively speed up your work in PS.
Re-revisited EuroDekes - AND those pesky square brackets
I totally agree: Short cuts are great tools.
When it comes to US vs. Euro keyboards:
There has been a tendency to focus on the differences between Euro and US keyboards, and that European keyboards are totally different from each other.
This is misleading: My work takes me all over Europe, and I often use local PCs - wheter it is in Krakow, Ljubljana, Oslo or London. So far I have had no problems with using them accurately alltough I was brought up with a “Norwegian” keyboard.
I have also had American visitors and they have used my PCs without any real problems. European keyboards and US keyboards are actually really similar - and it really does not matter if it is Querty, Qwerty or other types of keyboard layouts. The important things are that allmost all European keyboards have all the letters from A to Z, all the numbers, Alt, Shift, Ctrl, Caps lock etc. etc. etc.(I have a PC).
The real problem is that Deke has made A LOT of short cuts with SQUARE BRACKETS - which are hidden under the Fn key on many Euro keyboards. Special signs like this ARE a problem, especially when you follow Deke’s courses where specifically the square bracket keys are refered to a lot.
I would have had no problem with making similar shortcuts, if I only knew where to locate each and every option under the Shortcut menu. For instance: I have expanded - and read through - all of the options in the Shortcut menu, but I cannot find an option that says (for instance) Increase numerical value of (this or that tool.)
So life would a lot simpler for viewers/students in Europe if you - when making the square bracket shortcuts that you refer to umpteen times in you 3 One-on-One series - instead would make a shortcut by using some of the numerous letters, numbers etc. which ARE available on keyboards all over the Western world. As things are now the pesky square bracket shortcuts comes embedded in the DekeKeys without any further explanation.
SO: No need to make new sets of shotcuts for each and everyone, the DekeKeys are for the American market - and should be understood and respected as such. But it would be great if you would loose the bracket keys. There must be some other common keys that can be used!
When it comes to color settings this is a whole different matter: Adobe’s applications have specific European options - and different US options. I am no expert, but with the limited numbers of color setting options - is it difficult or technically unfeasable to make a color setup for the Euro market?
Otherwise: Thanks to Deke for great tutorials - he really has a knack for teaching. I simply love his “cliffhangers” at the end of each session, when he says:“And in the next chapter you will learn something that will alter your life” - and every time I pray that it does not include square brackets:-))))