making money with skills

[rickmann]

Well I think most of the online stock photography sites like: photospin.com, eyewire.com, and comstock.com, pay for work done to artists. If that is what you are asking of course.


peace!

[SOE digital]

Correct spelling and grammar might help ;)

[berniebernie]

Correct spelling and grammar might help ;)

Hehe.

If you take the ACE (Adobe Certified Expert) test, then you'll have an 'official' recognition. It's not a crappy low level fake test as it is organized by Adobe.
Then it's a matter of being a freelance graphic artist, I don't see how else you can make money. Especially on forums, where loads of artists are excellent photoshoppers.

[-NG-]

Hehe.

If you take the ACE (Adobe Certified Expert) test, then you'll have an 'official' recognition. It's not a crappy low level fake test as it is organized by Adobe.
Then it's a matter of being a freelance graphic artist, I don't see how else you can make money. Especially on forums, where loads of artists are excellent photoshoppers.

Could you post a few links? As i'm interested in aquiring such certificate.

[berniebernie]

http://www.adobe.com/support/certification/ace.html


FAQ (pdf): http://www.adobe.com/support/certification/pdfs/ace_faq.pdf

"The ACE exam fee is US$150 worldwide."
I almost took it this year, but did have means to pay US currency (as I was living in england with restricted credit card), and I thought it was too expensive for what it was worth (I'd rather show a nicely built portfolio). And I though it was just some other mean for adobe to make money.

But it seems like the closest thing you can get from being officially recognized.

cheers

mlk

[rickmann]

Hehe.

If you take the ACE (Adobe Certified Expert) test, then you'll have an 'official' recognition. It's not a crappy low level fake test as it is organized by Adobe.
Then it's a matter of being a freelance graphic artist, I don't see how else you can make money. Especially on forums, where loads of artists are excellent photoshoppers.

I think that NAPP: http://www.photoshopuser.com/ also offered the ACE certifcation at a discount, that is of course if you become a memeber which then there is no real discount but if I remember when I was a member with them years ago they also had a certification that was reconized by Adobe but man was it much harder! I took it and bombed big time!

Peace!

[KW2006]

how so? what type of questions do they ask on these "ACE" tests that are so hard:shrug:?

[rickmann]

how so? what type of questions do they ask on these "ACE" tests that are so hard:shrug:?

Well here some samples from the prep guide (not the actual questions though). Of course some of these are very basic, but some are not, and is just for photoshop.

ACE EXAMTOPIC AREAS AND OBJECTIVES

1. Working with the Photoshop UI

• Describe the advantages of saving workspaces.

• Given a view in Adobe Bridge, explain when you would use that view.

• Describe the basic functionality provided by the Preset Manager, and explain how to use the Preset Manager to manage libraries.

• Customize menus and keyboard shortcuts by selecting options in the Keyboard Shortcuts and Menus dialog box.

2. Painting and retouching

• Adjust the tonal range of an image by selecting to proper options and using a levels adjustment layer.

• Adjust the tonal range of an image by selecting the proper options and using a curves adjustment layer.

• Explain how blending modes are used to control how pixels are effected when using a painting or editing tool.

• Given a setting in the Exposure dialog box, explain how that setting affects an image.

5. Supporting video

• Explain the purpose of Video Preview.

• Describe the purpose of pixel aspect ratio correction.

6. Understanding file properties

• Given a scenario, select the appropriate color mode for an image (Scenarios include for Web, for Video, for Print).

• Add metadata for an image in Adobe Photoshop.

• Explain the functionality provided by High Dynamic Range (HDR) images and describe the workflow for HDR files.

• Explain the advantages of working with 16-bit images versus 8-bit images.



8. Working with automation

• List and describe the automation features available in Adobe Photoshop.

• Describe the difference between scripting and actions and when you would use one over the other.

9. Working with filters

• Given a scenario, select the appropriate settings and use the Reduce Noise filter.

• Given a scenario, select the appropriate settings and use the Smart Sharpen filter.

• Describe the functionality of the Filter Gallery.

10. Managing assets with Bridge

• List and describe the functionality Adobe Bridge provides for viewing assets.

• Explain how to apply metadata and keywords to assets in Adobe Bridge.

• List and describe the functionality and set the appropriate options for Camera RAW preferences, and the Apply Camera RAW Settings menu options.

11. Using Camera RAW

• Describe advantages of the RAW camera format.

• Given an adjustment setting, explain the purpose of that setting.

• Explain the purpose of and functionality provided by the Open, Save, and

ADOBE PHOTOSHOP CS2 Page 8

Done buttons in the Camera RAW dialog box.

• Describe how to use the Digital Negative converter and explain the importance of the DNG format.

12. Outputting to print

• Given a color handling method in the Print with Preview dialog box, explain when you would use that method.

• Given a scenario, select and explain when to use a specific Print command (Print commands include: Print One Copy, Print Preview, Print).

• Explain the differences between monitor, images, and device resolution.

13. Managing color

• Discuss the color management workflow process that is used in Adobe Photoshop (Topics include: ICC profiles, color management engine, color numbers).

• Describe the difference between assigning and converting to ICC profiles.

• Configure color settings by using the Color Settings dialog box.

• Explain the purpose of and how to use the Proof Setup command.

• Discuss the relationship between color gamut and rendering intents.

14. Preparing and outputting images for the Web

• Given a scenario, choose the appropriate file format to optimize images for the Web.

• Create transparent and matted images by using the Save for Web command.

• Explain the purpose of and how to use Variables.

• Explain how slices can be used to optimize images for the Web (Options include: layer based, user based, linking slices for optimization).

• Explain the use of layers when creating an animation in Photoshop.

[rickmann]

I know that the NAPP exam was harder though than the ACE exam, at one point. They had questions like this:


1. You created a gradient in photoshop that is going to be used in the final artwork that will be printed at a large print shop. But when you go to print, the gradient shows banding in it. What do you do to remove the banding?

or

2. Your client has included there copyright information. They type is set it in photoshop, (example: black type over a red background) When they go to press the printer has a hard time keeping registration because of the small type. What do you do to fix this?

[dbates]

It won't be easy to get money for Photoshop work. Heck, if it were, I'd be doing it! The main problem is that there are just too many good Photoshop artists, and way too many people who think they're good Photoshop artists (not meaning anyone in particular, just generalizing). Take me for instance: I'm not a virtuoso, but I have learned pretty much everything I care to about photo retouching. In spite of that, there are many people on this forum alone who do much better work than me, and thousands of people who think they can do better than me, and between the two groups I have essentially no prospects of getting business. I've made way more money from photography than I've made with Photoshop.

[rickmann]

It won't be easy to get money for Photoshop work. Heck, if it were, I'd be doing it! The main problem is that there are just too many good Photoshop artists, and way too many people who think they're good Photoshop artists (not meaning anyone in particular, just generalizing). Take me for instance: I'm not a virtuoso, but I have learned pretty much everything I care to about photo retouching. In spite of that, there are many people on this forum alone who do much better work than me, and thousands of people who think they can do better than me, and between the two groups I have essentially no prospects of getting business. I've made way more money from photography than I've made with Photoshop.

amen to that.. I have been working with photoshop for years and I always find times when I am asking someone "how did you do that"? and times when people are asking me "How did you do that"? I think that with any program like Photoshop when there are so many things to learn and do that you will always find some one that is stronger and weaker than you in certain areas!

Peace!

[pushav]

You will have to bring something special to the table like drawing and painting it in you own style.

[-NG-]

Beeing a artist is more then just knowing how to work with a specific medium. I agree to pushav, beeing a good artist takes something special. :)

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