Recently there has been a rash of cranky attitudes in this forum. Im NOT going to link to, or point fingers at anyone But ya wanna know something? I'd take the bantering over "dead" or "dull" any day.

I am a Photoshop Professional - i make my living off the program every day, i won't say i'm an "expert" for two reasons: 1. i don't work for Adobe in developing the program and 2. with each upgrade i'm back learning just like a 6 month user.

When someone post a question to this forum and is looking for an answer whether it is "technical" or "opinion", i try to respond in a way that will be helpful in learning. To give an answer to a question such as, "How do i set the pen controls in version 7? They're not in the same place as my version 5? What gives??"

If i wanted to be "technically" correct, i'd say "See pages 172-185 of the Adobe Photoshop 7.0 User Guide!!!" Yes, technically correct, but less than pleasant and not at all helpful in learning...

If i answered like this "Pen controls, such as opacity, size, and flow, are in the Brushes palette in PS7.0. To set pen controls, open the Brushes palette, select a preset brush, and then choose Pen Pressure, Pen Tilt, or Stylus Wheel from the Control pop-up menu under the option you want to modify. " and maybe tossed in a screencapture too, it would be far more helpful, yet would be pretty close to what "Adobe" would tell you.

I dont want to answer EVERY question because I dont know them all. I would rather get ideas and solutions as well as "opinions" from other members because "we ALL know" there are at least a half dozen ways to accomplish any ONE task in PS. If someone starts to veer off and jokes around with another forum member who responded to the post, so what! You should see me in corporate meetings!! You can get a lot of help and valuable information from getting to know someone and not expect a "Dragnet" approach to an answer... (Just the FACTS Mam). As long as a member does not cross the line and violates the TOS, I dont give a rip if he/she goes a little off course. These arent Final Exams fer cryn out loud!

If everyone is afraid to post a question or refuses to because each answer does not bear a valid solution, then I may as well toss my mod beanie back in the pile and go hang out in the 2D forum.

Thank for staying with me this far,

:)
retrocity