Ok. Here's my final planned project for 2009. As you will notice the numbers go down: 365 photos, 52 tags, 52 catalysts, and now 12 areas of focus. I want to make sure these projects are realistic and no more than I can handle in one year, especially on a year when I'm expecting a baby.

As I mentioned a few days ago, I'd like to learn to use Photoshop better. I've been using Photoshop since 1992 and while I've learned a lot over the last sixteen years, I really haven't learned as much as I could have and I've never spent focused effort to improve my knowledge.

Obviously, the main area of focus on Photoshop for me is the digital photography since that's my business. But I'm also interested being able to make brushes and overlays, and basic things to help me do more hybrid scrapbooking. This list might change over the year and I learn and explore more but here's main areas of focus I've chosen so far:

1. layer masks
2. image modes: lab color
3. channel mixer
4. hue/saturation
5. curves
6. layers: fill or adjustment layers and layer styles
7. channels
8. textures: grunge, vintage etc.
9. paths
10. creating brushes
11. clipping masks
12. lighting effects

This project will include finding and doing workshops related to each area. Ideally, at least one a week. As I do them, I will post links to workshops and any examples I produce.

And, this will also mean that I will finally work my way through David's amazing tutorials especially since I'm already a member and receive them all. Just because I need to be ultra-organized for things to actually happen, here's the order in which I plan to do his tutorials: (this may also change if my focuses change)

• Read First: Digital Workflow: all four parts and Creative Workflow
• January: Portraits: part 1 and Masking: part 1 and Lanscapes: creating dramatic skies
• February: Lab color mode part one and Toning Color Images and Black and White:part one
• April: Night Photography and HDR images part one and part two

As you'll notice, these end in April because that's when the little one comes. I figure after that things might get blurry for a while and by the time I have my sanity back, David will have put up a whole bunch more so I can add them to my list then.

Well there you go. If you know Photoshop very well and have some advice on how to revise the list above, what to add or remove, all advice is welcome. I plan to start this weekend so let's see how much progress I make.