Hey all, I've been working around with photoshop for quite some time now, but never really got into a habit of chopping regularly. I'm finding when I actually have the time to do a chop, I sit for quite some time wondering "where do I start..?" Any opinions on a particular technique to use when getting started or method to follow? I understand each chop is different with the given sources, but thought maybe y'all could throw some pointers out there for me...maybe certain routines you follow throughout a chop? Any advice is greatly appreciated

Learn to cut out items really good. Next I would learn blendingmodes. And then I would focus on shadows, light and colormatching.

I never hurts to learn color, shadows and perspective from an artbook.

It will help if you can memorize every tool and option in photoshop.
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KIDDING!!!!!!!
(do what Pakimo sez! )

Not sure if this helps but, How I chop is with music and at least a 12 pack to start
(for a good chop may take 24 beers or so). Hahaha......
Really you need to remember to have fun with it and let your mind do the choppin. What ever you do is just have fun. With that you will go far!

Happy chopping

Grab a pencil and paper, then do a rough sketch of the composition, it could just be scribbles that make sense to you. For me, it's a good brainstorming method, and once I find a sketch I'm happy with, I'll have a better idea of what needs to be done in photoshop and get straight to work.

Another trick when you are staring at a particular work and think of nothing to do with it. Spin the thing around 90 look again then 90 and look again, etc. Maybe find an interesting part or piece of the image and cut it out and go from there.

Hope this helps. Often I will edit for awhile till an idea of what to do comes sneaking into my head.

Pencil and paper? what's that?

Look at the source in thumbnail size. When it's that small, it takes away all the hard lines of whats there. You are left with mostly, only color and shapes. That may help you start to see what it "could" become.

Thanks guys, I'll give your ideas a try...time to see if I can actually put together a semi-respectable chop now