// 4 Visual Proofs You Still Suck at Photoshop - Provided by Bob Staake
// Apr 29th, 2008 & filed under LearningA bad workman always blames his tools.
So they say, and who am I to argue.
Most of us these days, are extremely consumer orientated, and gullible. We upgrade our computers more frequently than we have too. We buy clothes we don’t really need, and we buy the latest software versions when we have no need to.
We fall into the trap thinking these things will improve our quality of life, and our efficiency. The truth is, they rarely do.
Just ask Bob…
For you designers out there, which pride yourself in your CS3 (myself included), you’ve got to check out at least one of the videos below.
They’re created by uber successful illustrator and designer, Bob Staake (he has a client list, which looks like a Forbes Top 100), using nothing more than Photoshop version 3.
Yes, you read that correctly. That’s the version of Photoshop released in 1994!
It’s proof that tools do not limit creativity or ability, and it shows most of us just how useless we are with Photoshop. Many designers couldn’t create these simple, yet effective images, with the latest version of Photoshop.
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Totally agree. I waited until CS1 to switch from version 5.
There’s a line in one of those “you suck at Photoshop” videos that goes something like, now you’re using about $200 of Photoshop. That line cracks me up.
I guess this is the question you should ask yourself when a new upgrade comes out: has software company x found a new method of getting the heck out of my way? If yes, then upgrade.
Unless there’s some sort of compatibility issue between you and someone else.
Otherwise, you’re fooling yourself. There’s no software that makes you a good designer. It’s a little bit of talent, a lot of hard work and an inhuman amount of self-criticism. The tools just help you to be yourself, faster.
Ian - CS1 was the first version I owned, so you’re way ahead of me. I only upgraded to CS3 because I moved from Windows to Mac.
Yeah, I came across that line too; very funny. Thing is, I’m guilty of not using half of the power of Photoshop. I definitely have a habit of creating things in Photoshop using comfortable techniques, rather than doing it the best way.
I upgraded fairly quickly from Photoshop 5.5 all the way up to 7. CS1 I never bothered, and used CS2 for a while..
My main motive for bouncing over to CS3 is the integration of the different programs (ie. Flash & Dreamweaver) into one common interface.
But, I might as well be a latest-version-whore. I don’t know
Eivind - Your excuses will be fruitless my friend - you’re just a money spending, latest software fanboy!!
What does that make me then? The company spent a whole lot of money on CS3 for me to pretend I’m a designer!
@Armin: Hahaha
Karl -Possibly
Each of the videos are just a reminder of how much can be achieved with versions of Photoshop over a decade old. I don’t know if Bob Staake uses v3 on a daily basis though. However, it looks like he could get away with it.
I have CS3, just haven’t found time to upgrade!
CS2 does the job for me, but there’s sooo much I don’t know about it.
Well Bob can make awesome artwork with version 3, but I’ve got more filters and can bevel and emboss like crazy!
Sure we can do most things in early versions of photoshop, but there are advantages to using the latest releases of software, esp with the cs3 suites. I guess there mainly productivity enhancements, but damn their worth it (Although work bought it for me, I personally wouldn’t have shelved out 4.5k for the mastering collection, but I love it, and their paying me by the hour so it probably saves them money in the long run…).
Like the new way flash handles psd files! And the various other little things that make our lives as designers a lot easier.
I only watched the 1st clip, but if you’re just doing character design or logo design, sure you can probably get away with just using ps 3 as theres not a lot of new features for those particular tasks, but if your working with various forms of media with various outputs, I think going with the upgrade helps. imho anyways
Theres my two cents… that guy is pretty great at what he does though!
Is it bad that I’m not all that impressed? Actually I just kept wondering, “Why would you make something like that in photoshop? Why not use illustrator?” it felt like he was making it extra complicated, but maybe that’s just because I’m an illustrator junky.
@Melody
Actually, I think he doesn’t meant that you don’t have to buy CS3 and use PS 3 instead; Bob is just trying to show us that many different creations could be made by a simple tool with a creative mind. Although, in many occasions, upgrading into CS3 is quite worth the money.
Great video! Thanks for turning me on to this artist.
I wrote a post about this too on my blog (and linked back to here). I look forward to reading more of your blog from my RSS reader.
Thanks.
Brad Ruggles
http://www.bradruggles.com