Need Advice, not help

indentHello everyone. I'm not new to graphics at all, however i've used photoshop for about 5 mins total in my entire life. I'm an avid Jasc software user(Paint Shop Pro), except for my graphics suck. I need advice.
indentLet me digress a little, I'm a programmer by nature. I do have some a creative instinct, at one time way back in high school. I used to be in advanced art classes and used to study classical and modern forms of art. I know art and am familiar with what good and bad graphics are. My passion is webpages and print design, yet I cannot create webpages that are bad ass, so to speak, because I don't know photoshop.
indentFrom what I've seen around the web, there are several websites with graphics that blow you away. You should know what I'm talking about. In order to persue my goal of learning to make excellent images I need to know the best way to learn photoshop. I've considered taking a class at the local college... that's usually a waist of time because professors just teach the basics. I then thought maybe there are books out there that teach you the mechanics of photoshop... but I figured that they do not go into great detail about composition and creative content, just how to point and click. I figure that you guys would know what I should do.

Thanks.

Photoshop is al about knowing how to do what you want to do. I am sure you know how to create a red square. But if you don't, search for a tutorial that will explain you. If I am correct team photoshop has a section in wich "the tools" are explained. This is a good way to start.

Google for photoshop tutorials, pick out the good ones and you'll be busy learning for days.

Geassel,

indentI've actually done this, but didn't get too far. The tuts I went through wernt usable at all... I don't know if it's just me or what. Could you recommend a tutorials page?

Nevermind, I just saw that teamphotoshop has tutorials, I had no clue, my bad.

The best advice that can be given, I think, is to simply ask questions. This forum is frequented by many people who are very skilled at photoshop, and a lot of them are perfectly willing to help you.

There are a few books and Videos I could suggest, I'm not sure how much you are willing to invest in your Photoshop Education, but I'll throw them out there.

I personally like the "Total Training" video series for Photoshop. It has about 21 hours of video and I've watched it entirely on three separate occations.

Deke McCllend's "Photoshop CS One-on-One" (Published by O'Reily press) looks to be a good learning resource as well and is written by the host and driving force behind the Total Training Videos.

Once you have the basics down then you can move on to the killer graphice and stunning visuals. For those I would suggest "Photoshop CS Down and Dirty Tricks" or one of the "Photoshop WOW" books. These cover quick easy tricks that can create really cool effects and give you a foundation to create your own variations.

Good Luck in learning Photoshop, It can be a very rewarding experiance.

Thanks, highly appreciated

If it's basic or advanced tutorials you want to farmiliarise yourself with photoshop with, then go to http://www.good-tutorials.com there's many many tutorials there and there are new ones added all the time.