Nowadays all people connected to the Internet. I have had many different types of learning experiences, from traditional classroom instruction to the newest e-learning methods-and a taste of nearly everything in between. I have seen, I think that e-learning holds the most potential as a system for Photoshop training.

When I first started hearing about virtual classrooms, I didn't like the same much. In my mind I probably associated e-learning with usual distance learning programs like television and correspondence courses. I'm grateful that I've had the opportunity to find out how wrong I was. Most people react negatively to new ideas the first time they hear them. That seems to be a fairly universal product of our education and socialization.

When I had my first opportunity to participate in e-learning, I realized almost instantly that I had been very wrong in my opinions-it easy to see why now. I didn't like traditional television courses because they were even less interactive than traditional classroom instruction-communication was one way, instructor to student, without any technology to allow students to ask the instructor questions during a class. And traditional correspondence courses were even more frustrating in the days when snail mail was the only mechanism to facilitate communication between instructors and students.

For creative artists, Photoshop training never ends: Martin Scorsese's film biography of Howard Hughes, The Aviator, used more than 400 shots created with Adobe After effects and Adobe Photoshop CS. The man behind the effects was Oscar-winning visual effects manager Rob Legato, previously known for his work in Titanic. Although some of the visual effects in The Aviator have changed little since Hughes himself used them to film Hell's Angels, the majority of effects for The Aviator were created by Legato and a team of artists using high-end computer graphics tools like Adobe Photoshop on Mac and PC-based systems.

On-the-job "Photoshop training" produced spectacular results in The Aviator. Desktop systems allowed artists like Legato to stretch their creativity to limits they would not have dreamed. High-end software programs like Adobe Photoshop are changing the way films are made. Usually, visual effects artists have not worked on a film shoot as part of the main unit; the main unit shoots a scene, leaving a space for the effects. Instead of relying on an expensive special effects studio-and working as part of the main unit-Legato was able to do the effects himself on a desktop system. Director Scorsese was able to give his feedback right away, and Legato could rapidly make any required modifications.

By using Adobe after Effects, Legato could show Scorsese what a scene would look like before it was filmed. This allowed the visual effects team to produce what is essentially an animated storyboard; the director could visualize a scene before shooting it-and before committing studio resources and live actors to film it.

With so many new software programs available every day, knowing which product is the right one can be quite a task. I have a feeling that many people steer away from learning how to use new software because the whole selection process can be so intimidating. If you're new to the wonderful world of digital editing and compositing, you need look no further: Photoshop is the industry leader, no matter what your specific field of interest might be. Photoshop is the software of choice for professional designers, as well as for amateur photographers and You Tubers.

One of the nicest things about Photoshop is that the user interface has changed little over the years, which makes it easy to upgrade from earlier versions. If you have learned how to use a version like Photoshop 6, check out the upgrades available for Photoshop CS2. Then sign up for advanced Photoshop training to see how CS2 can help you reach your full potential.

If you're a novice photographer or just starting to experiment with online video and digital imaging, a good place to start is Photoshop Album Starter Edition 3. This software is free, so it's a great way to learn the fundamentals of digital photography. It will teach you all the basics about how to view, manage, correct, and share your photos online.