That's great!

I keep all my brushes, actions, plug-ins etc  in a separate folders in a folder I call Extras (totally outside the Preset directory). Then I load what I want into Photoshop. I keep the original Presets as is. I know what's mine and what's theirs!

If you want to clear out all the brushes you click Reset Brushes. This will default to the first Brush Set in the list (Assorted Brushes).

If you don't want a Brush Set to appear in the drop down list then it has to be taken out of Preset/Brushes directory. You then have to restart Photoshop.

If you are going to make a layer larger than the original image you would first increase canvas size:

Image > Canvas Size

To increase size of a layer you would first select the layer then:

Edit > Transform > Scale

The path won't print or be visible when saved. But If you really want it gone then click on Paths palette and delete your it.

You're welcome. You can always use the Quality slider but when you know the maximum file size you want then Optimize to File Size is your best choice.

Edit > Preset Manager > Preset Type: Brushes

Select the brushes you want to save as a set. If the brushes are continuous you can click the first one then hold shift and click the last one. For non continuous brushes hold the Ctrl and click each brush. Once you have selected all the brushes for your set click Save Set and name it.

Repeat for each set you want to save.

Photoshop can run on 2 PCs or 2 Macs owned by the same person but not one of each. If you want to switch from PC to Mac you need to contact Adobe. You will have to provide proof of registration and sign a LoD (letter of distruction). You would then be sent a new CD with a new license for the Mac.

Am I the only Photoshop user who hates to use keyboard shortcuts? There is only one I use on a regular bases and that's the space bar. It's the only way to pan around while zoomed in using the Pen or Lasso tool. While in Photoshop I prefer not to use the keyboard at all except when forced to when adding text.

Couldn't you do a selection add noise?

Filter > Noise > Add Noise

You could also use or make a grunge brush.

You're welcome. It's easy to miss with all the Preferences. I guess CS5 has approximately the same Preferences.  

I know with CS4 you go to Preferences > Interface > uncheck "Open Documents as Tabs". You can also uncheck "Enable Floating Document Window Docking". This will prevent it from accidentally docking if you move document to top.

There are 2 layers. You are only masking the tips of the bottom unblurred layer. You will still have the blurred softer edged tips of the top layer showing.

All the red in that tutorial is instructional. It's just to show where to click and where to paint.

What the tutorial didn't mention is when you "click the masking icon and press B" to make sure Black is the foreground color and White is the background color. You probably have White as the foreground color. Click X to switch foreground and background colors.  

Why not check the "Additional Plug-Ins Folder" in Preferences > Plug-Ins in PS? That way you could install your plug-ins whereever you want once. Especially when going from one version of PS to another. You don't need to reinstall them ... just point and restart PS! You can even have any other graphic software (like Paint Shop Pro) point to that same folder.

I created a "Extra Plug-Ins" folder. Inside that folder I created sub folders for each plug-in (Alien Skin, Eye Candy, KPT etc...). I installed my plug-ins into those sub folders. I point Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro & Photo-Paint to that "Extra Plug-Ins" folder. When I went from CS to CS4 I just checked that box in Preferences and browsed to my "Extra Plug-Ins" folder and Voila! all set with no pain the butt plug-in reinstalls.