Minimum System Requirements:

• At least 4 GB of RAM, a minimum of 2 Ghz processor, and ample hard drive space
• Ideally, you'll need a dedicated scratch drive (not a 100% requirement but it will make your retouching experience better)
• Adobe Photoshop CC (ideally most current version).  While you can work in older versions of Photoshop in this course, there will come a time when you won't have all the necessary options. Proceed with caution if you are not using Photoshop CC.
• I strongly encourage a Wacom Tablet (Intuos 4, 5 or Intuos Pro) - any size.  In depth retouching with a mouse or trackpad is like trying to sign your name with a potato -- difficult at best.
• A high speed internet connection (or lots of patience to wait for instructional videos to "buffer")

Prerequisite Knowledge:

• An understanding of the use of layers in Photoshop
• Basic understanding of Photoshop tools, locations of tools, etc.

Students will get:

• Deadlines to keep you on track
• one new class released each week for five consecutive weeks
• homework assignments each week to build mastery of techniques
• Individual homework critique each week
• Live weekly webinar
• Support via private Facebook Group and weekly meetings
• Video breakout by technique (no digging through the weekly video to find the technique you're looking for!)
• "Final Exam" in the form of critique on an image prepared in a competition manner using all the techniques taught throughout the course**
• Complimentary lifetime access to all course materials
• Private Facebook group 

^{**In order to be in compliance with the rules -- ALL homework is completed on images that will NOT be submitted for competition. At no time before the end of the course are students allowed to present, submit, show, or ask for critique from the instructor on any image they plan to submit for competition. This is a direct violation of the “under instruction” rule put in place for all PPA photographic competitions. If students break this rule, their images WILL BE DISQUALIFIED without warning and with no reprieve.}  

^{Please don't worry that this will negate the effectiveness of the course.  Never in the history of this course have we worked on actual entries DURING the course.  A merit print is not required to learn retouching techniques.}