The Royal Photographic Society South East Region
			The Adobe and the RPS The Digital Darkroom Tour Bewl Water Conference Centre   On Sunday 13th October 2002 some 50 members of the RPS gathered at what is fast becoming the home of the Society in the South-East, the Bewl Water Conference Centre, to learn just what can be achieved with Adobe’s image manipulation software. Michael O’Neil from Adobe first demonstrated how Adobe® Photoshop® Elements 2.0, which offers a powerful and simple way to apply many common corrections to photographs before printing or e-mailing them or putting them on the web. Having whetted our appetites for image manipulation, he went on to show the more sophisticated capabilities that are available in Photoshop® 7.0. Amongst the new tools in the latest version of the software is the well publicised ‘Healing Brush’ that truly lives up to the hype. Anyone who has used the cloning tool to touch up flaws in photographs or scans will welcome the ease with which this can now be done seamlessly. Michael demonstrated its use by removing the ‘occasional’ wrinkle that we all develop as the years roll on from a portrait – and though there are many other uses for it, this one is sure to be a winner! Although many of the tools are familiar to anyone who has used image manipulation software, there’s no doubt that Photoshop® 7.0 now makes applying them far more intuitive. Other improvements included in version 7.0, which clearly become second nature to use very quickly, are the simple and versatile way that file information can be displayed in a browser and the ability to save regularly used settings for tools and program windows and recall them later. Those who distribute their images electronically will welcome the facility to save images in Adobe® Acrobat® format with security settings that permit certain uses whilst ensuring that others are not possible and that details of ownership remain firmly embedded in the file. Throughout the presentation Michael offered tips and advice on digital image capture and manipulation suitable for all experience levels ranging from beginner to expert. Whilst we able to see how the various effects could be achieved with the Adobe® software, digital image capture was not overlooked courtesy of Jessops who supplied several Canon digital cameras to try out. A number of books giving advice on using Photoshop® 7.0 were also available to browse through. Everyone who came along had a chance to win their very own copy of Photoshop® 7.0. A draw was made at the end of Michael’s presentation and two lucky winners – Martin Eley from Hastings and Mike Nicholson from Eastbourne – will no doubt be keen to try their hands at some of the tricks they saw during the morning. The picture shows (from left to right) Martin, Michael and Mike. Thanks are due to Michael for making the morning both enjoyable and educational and for ensuring that no matter what anyone's views or experience of digital photography, there was something of interest. Although, sadly, not everyone could win a copy of Photoshop® 7.0, if you are a student, teacher or lecturer you can get up to 75% off many Adobe® products. More details of this great offer can be found on the Adobe web site.
			South East Regional Organiser Send an e-mail to the Regional Organiser
			The Royal Photographic Society Fenton House, 122 Wells Road, Bath BA2 3AH, England Telephone +44 (0)1225 462841 - Fax +44 (0)1225 448688
			COPYRIGHT NOTICE WARNING This web site comprises and contains copyright materials. You may not distribute, copy, publish or use the images or any part of the images in any way whatsoever. You may not alter, manipulate, add to or delete an image or any part of an image. Copyright for all the images remains with the Royal Photographic Society and its contributors. Contact the South East Region Web manager. Page last updated 23 January 2005.