Photomanipulation + Retouching + Color Grading Tutorial

We will be covering a lot of things in this massive tutorial. You will learn step by step how you can create any cartoon character you imagine using photomanipulation, retouching and color grading techniques. With only Photoshop and stock photos (or your own) you can create a unique caricature that can be a logo, a mascot for a product, a character in an ad, etc.. You can of course use the same techniques explained in this tutorial, in a more subtle way, to spice up your portraits or images.

This tutorial has a massive 89 steps detailing the entire process to achieve the image above and don't worry, all my tutorials can be done by anyone who has basic knowledge of Photoshop. Unlike other tutorials you'll sometimes see out there, you don't need to be a skilled digital painter to achieve the same results I get here - as I'm not a good digital painter myself ;)

As you can see below, I started out with a sketch of what I wanted to recreate in Photoshop. When doing a project like this, it is not a bad idea to do a sketch on a piece of paper, even if you are not that good at drawing, just so you have a clear idea of what you want to achieve. Another reason why drawing a rough a sketch is important is that a cartoon character has very different proportions than a real person and since we are using stock photos of real people to achieve our character, it's useful to have the scanned sketch of a cartoon in the background of your canvas in Photoshop to really help guide you in your creation. If you really cannot draw to save your life, you can use any cartoon image you find online and use it as a guide for proportions.

This Photoshop tutorial has 89 steps explained with text instructions + images and there are 2 steps a little more complicated that are explained with videos.

Online Singing Lessons – Your Full Guide

So… Online Singing Lessons – there’s so many choices.
So before we talk about why you should use an online vocal course, let’s get right to our reviews of the best training available to you!

The Best of the Best

Here are the best options for learning how to sing and for becoming a better singer FAST.

Aaron Anastasi’s Superior Singing Method

Cost:

• $97 One-Time or
• 3 Payments of $39.95

Pros:

1. Affordable w/ 60 Day Money Back Guarantee
2. Exclusive Exercises Not Available Elsewhere
3. $119 of Free Bonuses

Cons:

1. Weird Exercises (but they work)
2. May Need to Watch Videos a Couple Times to “Get It”

Read Our Full Review

More About This Program

People who want to get feedback on their vocal pitch, frequency, and intensity will truly love the concept behind Aaron Anastasi’s SSM. This program has already become one of the Internet’s most popular downloadable courses and its no surprise why – I loved it.
It’s very suitable for both beginners and advanced users alike. It is a video based online course that has supplemental worksheets and dozens of audio exercises for both men and women. All-in-all this is a really great vocal training program
However, the best part of this course is the fact that you have access to real-life support. You can ask Aaron questions about anything – something you’re having trouble with, clarification on a certain concept, or whatever. It is the next best thing to actually having a vocal coach. I seriously recommend this product. You can read our full SSM review here first.

Which is better.. Keyboard or Piano?

Real pianos are great but the one big drawback is you can’t turn the volume down so with a piano you tend to end up playing for the neighbours. With a keyboard you can stick on some headphones and play whatever turns you on – you can experiment, make mistakes and sound silly and play something a thousand times without driving other people nuts.
Ideally – have BOTH!
If you are buying a piano it is preferable to buy an overstrung piano not a straight strung! How to tell: Lift the top lid of the piano you should see the tuning pins at the top of the piano. If the tuning pins are evenly spaced along the pin block and the strings are all parallel and vertical this is a straight strung piano. If there is a group of tuning pins at the left and a separate group at the right and the strings cross over in a X shape this is an overstrung piano. Also get a tuner to check it out. I bought a piano once that needed to have the wood treated because all the pins (that tighten the strings) were coming loose very quickly after being tuned – disaster! What Keyboard should you choose?

A lot depends on what you want. Do you want a keyboard that sounds and feels like a Piano – then you’re looking for a keyboard or Digital Piano with WEIGHTED keys. Listen carefully to the piano sound – don’t be bamboozled by all the other buttons. If you want something portable then you are looking for a keyboard. Personally I would still look for one with weighted keys – I hate the feel of light plastic keys.
Get a keyboard with at least 61 keys – anything less and you will be craving for more keys after a few days. Also make sure get a sustain pedal, a keyboard is absloutely a dead thing without one. Without a sustain pedal as soon as you lift your finger off a key the sound stops dead – with a piano at least the strings vibrate for a second or two – the difference is quite noticeable.
see more Pianoforall

Now ANYONE Can Learn Piano or Keyboard e entertainment

Piano practice can be fun and e entertainment too!..

Most people don’t really want to ‘learn’ to play the piano or ‘practice’ the piano, they just want to ‘play’ piano. ‘Play’ sounds like fun, ‘practice’ sounds like a chore. We get this image from childhood – some kid stuck indoors ‘practicing’ scales while all the other kids are outside the window ‘playing’.
So, first thing we need to do is to see our piano practice in a new light. See it as a way of accelerating the learning process so that SOON you’ll be able to ‘play’ piano and play it well. If you don’t practice and you just play old familiar tunes you move rather slowly. Yes, you’ll get better at playing those old familiar tunes but technically you won’t be pushing yourself to greater heights.
Proper, structured piano practice helps you stride forwards. I say ‘proper’ because a lot of people have an idea that practice IS just playing songs over and over. Practice needs to involve unchartered territory. The golden rule is – ‘practice what you CAN’T play, not what you CAN play’.
First of all, work out what you want to achieve. Do you just want to know all your chords without thinking about how they are formed – then work out a practice routine that leads to that goal. Maybe you want to learn about inversions or chord substitution – again, make the practice fit the goal.
Split your practice session into two halves. In the first half play the difficult stuff – your mind is sharper to begin with – then reward yourself with some enjoyable but reasonably difficult tunes. Make sure you are comfortable. Many a bad back has happened because of a bad piano stool at the wrong height. Make sure your piano is in tune. If you don’t have a good piano and are serious about learning GO BUY A GOOD ONE. Every fifteen minutes stretch your arms and shoulders and roll your neck to combat stiffness. Check out some Yoga exercises for shoulders and back.

Follow the 3 times daily rule. Repetition in practice is ESSENTIAL. If you find something particularly difficult make sure you practice it at least 3 times every day. Don’t worry if it takes months to master – you’ll get there.
Don’t play for the neighbours. Practice piano at a time when you don’t care who is listening so that you can make lot’s of mistakes and play things over and over. Organise your piano music carefully – don’t keep it in a heap where you keep playing the ones on top. If you download sheet music put it in a folder. Have plenty of shelves near the piano. Be realistic – I truly believe that anyone can learn piano and learn it to an enjoyable level but no two people are alike – some are more ‘naturally’ gifted than others. If you have an average ability then it’s all down to practice. The more you practice the more you learn.

Now and then, practice with your eyes closed – or don’t look at the keys – this really sharpens you up. Organise your life so that practice is possible (this where Mindfulness comes in). Too many people think they don’t have time to practice when really they just haven’t found the time. How long should you practice – that’s up to what you want to achieve. You don’t have to be a concert pianist. Even if you just play for yourself just enjoy that. The archer who’s mind is on the prize cannot stay focussed on the target. Accept the bad days when it seems like you can’t play a note. Sometimes it’s better to walk away. So remember that ‘playing’ piano and ‘practicing’ piano are different. Which do you do? Aim for a bit of both.