How to learn any software program

If you would like to learn a software program, such as Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, or Dreamweaver, I have some suggestions to make it easier and faster for you. It will soud simple enough, but you would be surprised at how many times people get this wrong and end up being frustrated.

• Find out what the software program is for. Think of a software program as a tool in your toolbox. If you really don't know what the software program was designed to do, chances are you will be flying blind. Look it up on the web. Ask people.

• Use the correct software program for a particular need. Once you know what different software programs were designed for, choose the correct tool. If you need to create web pages, the correct tool is Dreamweaver. If you know Photoshop, you possibly could try to create a web page using it, but it will be a world of frustration for you. I call this "hammering in a nail with a screwdriver".

• Keep it simple. There are always about a dozen ways to do any given task in a software program. In Photoshop there are usually much, much more. Find the way that makes sense to you and do it. Don't let someone talk you into some convoluted, complicated, way of doing a task. Stick with what works for you. If there is another way that you discover later that makes more sense to you, you can change at that time.

• Learn best practices. This is all I teach. If you have guessed your way through creating something in a software program, and you don't dare open the file up again, you have made a mess. Throw it away and create it correctly.

If you would like to get personal on-site software training in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator or Dreamweaver in the greater Phoenix, Arizona area, please contact me. Yes, I will also do a training session on setting up your blog on Google Blogger. Paypal accepted, morning appointments only.

Training session - Introduction to Adobe Illustrator



Adobe Illustrator is my favorite software program. But for many people, even people who are comfortable with Adobe Photoshop, it remains a mystery. The first thing that you have to know about Illustrator is that it is not Photoshop. If you've turned it on and driven it around and expected it to be Photoshop, you probably have been frustrated. It takes a completely different way of thinking to get it to work. When you see that, you understand. And once you understand, you will love this software program, like I do!

Adobe Illustrator is a drawing program, as opposed to Photoshop, which is a painting program. I like to think of these two programs as sisters. They seem similar at first, but they are different, and different for a reason. In an introduction to Adobe Illustrator, we would cover

• The Adobe interface. If you've already worked with Adobe software before, you will be aware of this. It is an intuitive icon-based interface that was designed for creative people. If you use it correctly, it is a pleasure, if you use it wrong, it can be just terrible. This is where we start.

• Using simple, or primitive, shapes. This is at the heart of all vector programs, which is what Adobe Illustrator is. All computer animation is based on vectors, from "Toy Story" to "Avatar". No, Adobe Illustrator isn't used for computer animation, but it is the best introduction to vectors. A vector shape is a series of points that is "rendered" by a computer. You draw the shapes, the computer fills them in.

• Drawing vectors, using paths, strokes and fills. This is where it begins to be completely different from Photoshop. Vectors are independent of resolution. A vector image can be output to any resolution that you want it to be, from low (web) to high-definition. In fact, if you are confused about resolution and pixels, that's fine, Adobe Illustrator doesn't deal with them, so you don't have to.

When you start drawing with Adobe Illustrator, you will understand why it's such a great program. Trying to do the same thing in Photoshop is like trying to draw with a broom! Adobe Illustrator is for precision.

To prepare for your Illustrator session, be sure that Illustrator is installed and running on your computer. No, it doesn't matter what version you have or whether it is on a Mac or a PC. Just let me know. Give yourself three hours of focused time by turning off your phone and telling people to leave you alone for a while. Don't worry, we will take breaks!

If you would like to get personal on-site software training in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator or Dreamweaver in the greater Phoenix, Arizona area, please contact me.  Yes, I will also do a training session on setting up your blog on Google Blogger. Paypal accepted, morning appointments only.