Virtually every Photoshop project starts with Open (how often do you choose New?) and ends with Save. And unlike other apps, Photoshop treats all image formats as native. Open and Save are the alpha and omega of imaging.

America likes its lists, and here’s another one. Imaging expert and award-winning author Deke McClelland presents his list of the top 40 features in Photoshop—beginning with #40 and working his way up to #1—one weekly video at a time. Some are tools, others are commands, still others are conceptual. All are invaluable. Learn these 40 features and you’ll know Photoshop.

Deke McClelland is an internationally renowned instructor and popular lecturer with an emphasis on Photoshop and the wider realm of digital imaging and computer graphics. Visit him online at http://deke.com.

In this episode of Photoshop for Video, Richard Harrington looks at the overlooked patch and healing tools to fix problems in your graphics and images.

Advances in digital SLR technology, driven by Canon and Nikon, have propelled the quality of high resolution photography to new levels on Snapixel.

San Francisco-based photo company Snapixel is finding out that photographers tend to be very loyal to their camera brand. When consumers want the latest and greatest equipment, they are more likely inclined to buy the newest model of their current camera, based wholly on brand loyalty. That said, most skilled photographers can be divided almost equally into two groups: Canon users and Nikon users.

The fierce competitors these groups represent have been one-upping each other for years and have established very loyal customer bases along the way. However, with the recent release of their newest high-end models, Canon’s 7D and Nikon’s D3s, it seems that certain special features may be enough to cause some to convert.

Canon’s 7D, released in late September 2009, produces beautiful still shots and is equipped with a durable, dust-resistant body. Its biggest selling point, though, is its video feature. The 7D shoots full HD video in 24, 25 and 30p and is equipped with several manual controls to allow for further customization. Currently offering what some may consider to be the best in video technology on a DSLR, Canon is generating huge sales, even luring in former Nikon users looking to expand into and experiment with video.

But that isn’t to say that Nikon is not enjoying enormous success itself. While its biggest competitor has joined other camera companies in the race to increase megapixels, Nikon has opted to concentrate on making pixels larger, not just adding more of them. This, in turn, has given Nikon the leg up in ISO technology, making the most attractive feature of the D3s its ISO capabilities of up to 120,400. Nikon’s cameras consistently outperform others in low light situations and now, with the D3s released in November 2009, some could argue they’ve even outperformed themselves (the previous D3 model had a maximum 25,600 ISO setting).

Moving into 2010, these models are regarded as the top digital SLRs in features, performance and value. One can only imagine what these companies will come up with next. But for now, you can expect to see photos of the highest quality, shot by pros and amateurs alike, on everything from Facebook to Flickr to Snapixel.

“New SLR technology has significantly improved the quality of digital photographs” said Ivan Wong, Snapixel’s Chief Operations Officer, who subsequently is an active photographer. “However, while much can be said for post production technologies, great photography always starts with a great eye.”

Since the release of these cameras, Snapixel has seen a significant upward trend in high resolution images added to their site by photographers who share their photos and submit their work to the marketplace. Snapixel allows photographers to buy, sell and share photos online. Snapixel members are also encouraged to submit their photos to appear in the company’s monthly magazine, which offers a unique opportunity for exposure. It is on this platform, at least, that the work of Canon and Nikon rivals can exist peacefully, side by side.

For more information on Snapixel, visit http://www.snapixel.com.

Webcam users have grown accustomed to their “perch” — using their cameras clipped atop their monitors.

In most cases, this setup offers little to no flexibility or perspective to what you may be photographing. Whether you are chatting up your Grandma in Green Bay or a business client in Belgium, IPEVO has come out with a unique and affordable alternative that will have computer users of both the Mac and PC persuasions leaping off of their perches for good.

The IPEVO Point to View (P2V) USB camera will magnify up to 2″, and is perfect for video chats, video tutorials and demonstrations, as well as photo sharing.

A Quick Rundown of the Features:

• 2 Megapixel USB web camera, with macro mode for excellent closeup images
• Unique, multi-jointed stand, handheld grip, and universal monitor clip for unlimited view options
• Continuous or single-click autofocus for clarity and sharpness every time
• One-touch snapshot mode; snapshots can be refined and organized with included software
• Plug-and-play for both PC and Mac
• Works with most Instant Messaging applications, including Skype, Google Talk, Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, and AOL.

The key to the P2V’s flexibility lies in its uniquely designed stand (which upon first glance brings to mind the charming animated desklamp of Pixar® fame). The base is weighted to prevent tipping or shaking, and the stand has multiple joints to photograph from a myriad of angles and positions. If you’d prefer to hold the camera, it’s ergonomic grip will allow you to comfortably do so. Of course, should you ever feel lonely for the “perch” of bygone days, the unit does come with a universal monitor clip as well. (Photo at right shows detail captured with P2V.)

Additional Noteable Features:

• Take snapshots with one-touch button functionality
• Refine the photo with focus and resolution tools in the on-computer menu
• Handy Review mode enables you to view, edit, share and organize photos easily
• Included software has projection mode to showcase your images on large screens for business presentations, conferences, etc.

At just $69, this camera is one purchase that will easily pay for itself many times over within a few days. Best of all, it is compatible for both Mac and PC (a fact you can bet I will share with my kid sister, the diehard Mac lover!). If you pick up one of these little gems, be sure and drop us a note with your feedback.

Inpaint is a smart tool that fills the selected area with pixels taken from outside the selection boundary.

This allows users to seamlessly remove objects from a background, which may be very useful for removing objects and people that got caught on the tape inadvertently. For instance, users can easily remove a person standing behind them on a beach — and the beach will be all theirs! The same applies to scratches, noise and all kinds of objects that do not belong to the photo or spoil the composition. Inpaint is affordable, easy to use (select-and-run principle) and requires absolutely no knowledge of photo editing. Just select the object to remove, define the area to be used for generating the texture and click the Inpaint — Run command.

For the personal and professional user, Inpaint is a standalone application that makes image manipulation simple. Inpaint lets users select an element in an image file to remove and launches the restoration process. Inpaint scans the pixels in the surrounding area and intelligently generates an appropriate replacement texture.

With Inpaint, users don’t have to be a digital media master to get their images exactly how they want them. No more messing around with cut and paste, drag and blur or clone and stamp functions.

They can pull monkeys off their branches, pull birds out of the sky, tear up highways, and erase corporate logos. Get the clean professional looking images that presentations, advertisements and photo albums deserve.

Besides photo restoration, Inpaint can be used for texture synthesizing for different objects.

Want to learn more? Be sure to check out the Inpaint video tutorials and more at http://teorex.com/inpaint.html.

Since the first daguerreotype, photographers have cropped their images to hone in on the details that matter most. The crop tool does that, as well as straighten and more. Check out the latest video from Deke McClelland with #27 in the dekePod’s Photoshop Top 40:

Deke McClelland shows how to use Refine Edge in episode #35 of the Photoshop Top 40 Countdown.

Photoshop offers lots of tools for automating selections, but two stand out from the pack: The first, Refine Edge, lets you modify your selection using five different parameters and preview the results in five different ways.

Many of Photoshop’s best features can only be accessed from the keyboard. Like how would you know Alt+Backspace (or Option-Delete) fills with black?

Watch the video below — it gets better.

About the Video Creator:
In the summer of 2008, Deke McClelland, computer graphics and imaging expert, launched “dekePod”– a series of often irreverent and sometimes hilarious video podcasts designed to impart Deke’s expert tips with a high degree of retention.

Each dekePod is crafted to engage a creative audience with a fast-paced sequence of commentary and provocative imagery that can draw a smile or outright laughter. The result: a video series with unique production and training qualities unlike any previously seen online.

For more information, visit deke.com/dekepod.

A new survey conducted by International Communications Research shows that creative professionals are adjusting to today’s tough economic climate — and one of the key ways they are cutting costs is to use more stock photography.

“Increasingly, designers report taking on more concurrent projects while expanding their organizational and project management skills with greater awareness of the bottom line,” says Ami Brophy, CEO of The Art Directors Club.

The survey found that Shutterstock, the world’s largest subscription-based, online stock image agency, ranked highly in many key areas. Approximately 60 percent rated it highly for quality and selection of images, and three-fourths said they are likely to use the agency in the future.

With this kind of service, everyone — from large corporations to small mom-and-pop businesses — can afford to create professional-looking marketing materials and Web sites. Plus, Shutterstock’s 7.4M-image library continues to grow, adding an average of 70,000 images per week.

To learn more, or to set up your free account, visit their website.