What we’re about
NOW AVAILABLE NATIONWIDE! Are you looking for live & online Photoshop instruction designed for photographers? Look no more - I've been showing photographers how to successfully use Photoshop through our Meetups since 2009!
My name is John Watts of Watts Digital Imaging in San Diego, and I'm a "post-processing" specialist for photographers - - you take the "perfect shot", and I'll help you get the absolute most out of it - your printer or mine.
I specialize in serving the digital post-processing needs of photographers, whether it’s Photoshop Instruction & Services, LightJet Digital Prints & Finishing, or Color Management Products & Services.
I’ve been involved professionally in photographic imaging & printing in Southern California for over 40 years, and would love to share what I know with you. Click here for a full biography…
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We offer 2 kinds of online Photoshop Meetups - "Photoshop 101" Meetups & Small-Group Workshops - -
> 1) FREE Online "Photoshop 101" Meetups - 5 Total:
> • For those of you who are new (or fairly new) to Photoshop, here's a series of online fundamental classes that you can't miss - and for seasoned veterans, here's a chance to get back to the basics!
> • Best of all, they're live, online, available nationwide, & FREE!
> • Just like any discipline worth pursuing, learning the fundamentals is essential - - and that's what you'll get with these 5 General Meetup classes, aptly called the "Photoshop 101" series.
> • These are held sequentially 3 times a year, 2 to 3 weeks apart (usually Wednesday nights @ 6 PM PST), in a seminar-type format.
> • Attend all 5 "Photoshop 101" classes (even if not sequentially, and more than once if you want!), and you'll be starting on a rock-solid foundation, so come join us.
> • Click here for more, including technical requirements: https://wattsdigital.com/free-live-meetups-online
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> 2) Reasonably-priced Online Small Group Workshops:
• If you’ve ever wanted to discover specific cutting-edge features of Photoshop CC, now’s your chance to learn from John Watts - online, live, interactive, multi-session & in a small-group setting.
• They're also the perfect follow-up to the free, live & online "Photoshop 101" Meetups"!
• These reasonably-priced Workshops start at $125, and are limited to 5 students ONLY - using images provided by the attendees!
• There's a different specialized subject for each workshop - Layer Masks, Finishing Touches, etc.
• And you can be assured of privacy, since we're NOT sharing webcams - only our voices & monitors.
More info here: https://wattsdigital.com/small-group-workshops
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Specific technical details about how to join ANY of our online Meetups (via GoToMeeting) are here: https://wattsdigital.com/free-live-meetups-online
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Oh, and if you're interested, ALL Meetups are centered around the proven principles of my book, "Not Just Another Photoshop Book, 2nd Edition", available at Amazon, or as an immediate PDF download.
Looking for other Photoshop / Digital Printing / Color Management resources? Check out my website: https://wattsdigital.com
Look forward to meeting you!
Cheers,
John :-)
Upcoming events
3
- $175.00
•OnlineSmall Group Workshop: "The Power of Adjustment Layers in Photoshop"
Online$175 - MAXIMUM OF 5 ATTENDEES, 3 SESSIONS TOTAL - - If you’ve ever wanted to truly discover the incredible power of Adjustment Layers in Photoshop, now’s your chance to learn from John Watts - online, live, interactive, multi-session, and in a small group seminar-type setting.
Subjects covered include all of the necessary Workspace Panels, Layer Mask Strategies, basic Selection Tools - all from Section 4 in my Photoshop Book (https://www.amazon.com/dp/1723969117).
PLUS, we'll cover brand-new material NOT in my book, such as working with "Zones", advanced Selection Tools, Layer Mask techniques, and so much more - includes copious notes.
This reasonably-priced Workshop is limited to 5 students ONLY - using images provided by the students!
And you can be assured of privacy, since we're NOT sharing webcams - only our voices & my monitor.
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Price: $175
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• There are a total of THREE online group "sessions" for this Workshop, all on Thursday: October 30th, November 6th & 13th, 2025 - from 6 PM to 7:30 PM PST. Each "session" is 1.5 hours in length. These group "sessions" are held one week apart.
• That's a total of 4.5 hours of personalized, "hands-on" group photoshop instruction, with only you, 4 other students, & myself - again, using images provided by the students, in a seminar-type format. ...
• You also have the option of purchasing an additional ONE HOUR of online "one-on-one" Instruction, at a discounted rate of $49 per hour, & at a time of your choosing (after the group "Sessions" are completed) - - using either your monitor and/or mine. For more info: https://wattsdigital.com/1-on-1-web-instruction
• There will also be "Exercises" available (with provided image files & a "cheat sheet") to speed up the learning curve - but completely at your pace.
• Copious new notes beyond my Photoshop Book (required) are included - - also includes a "Rough Cut" (no editing) video recording from each "session".
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• Required: my current Photoshop Book ( PDF or Paperback) - https://wattsdigital.com/photoshop-book-e-book
• PLUS, at least 5 of your unedited RAW files in advance ...
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• Suggested: Although it's not absolutely necessary, I'd suggest that you use earbuds (rather than your computers' speakers) to avoid audio feedback issues.
• Suggested: so that you’re familiar with my teaching style & “system”, attendance at a few of my free online Photoshop 101 Meetups before we meet is highly recommended - - OR, at a minimum, review some of the free "Photoshop 101" video recordings, especially Class 2 & Class 4: https://wattsdigital.com/free-photoshop-101-videos
• Suggested: a relatively current version of Photoshop CC. Don't have Photoshop CC? Download here: https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/photography.html
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Price: $175
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To sign up & attend - 2 STEPS ARE NECESSARY:
- RSVP here on this Meetup page (if you're new to Meetup, you'll need to sign up for a free account).
... and then ...
- Securely pay online via Credit / Debit card on my website: https://wattsdigital.com/small-group-workshops
• After you've paid, I'll contact you via email within 2 - 3 business days to confirm.
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To see more, including technical details, click here: https://wattsdigital.com/small-group-workshops
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Questions? Please contact me - - thx again, and cheers,
John :)
https://wattsdigital.com
john@wattsdigital.com2 attendees 
•OnlinePhotoshop 101 - Class 4: Master File Creation and Workflow
OnlineFREE TO ATTEND! - Master File Creation and Proper Workflow should be essential elements in how you approach and use Photoshop, regardless of the version. Consider this class the culmination of Classes 1 through 3.
Creating a Master File is NOT for every image: it’s for those images that you want to spend time with, doing all that’s necessary to make your image “pretty”. Here’s where you pour your artistic “blood, sweat and tears” into your image - more on Master File Creation here on my webpage: https://wattsdigital.com/master-file-creation ...
It’s also important to standardize your Workflow: adjusting your contrast should be done before color correction, cropping should be done before sharpening, and so on.
So here's what we'll do: I'll spend time creating about a half-dozen of YOUR Master Files from start to finish, using a standardized workflow.
Those who RSVP are encouraged to pre-submit one or two unedited RAW file - "problem" files encouraged! - we'll use them throughout the seminar to put what we've learned into practice. Please submit via my webpage upload: https://wattsdigital.com/upload-files-to-me (Please do NOT upload to the Meetup website!) ... RAW files only, please - you do not need to send your .xmp file, if you have one.
The cost to attend is FREE for this 90 minute Meetup, but you should RSVP soon, as space is limited. Please note that in the interest of time, the focus will be on the subjects listed, rather than other functions, tools, and concepts of Photoshop - copious notes will be provided via PDF.
This free workshop is designed primarily for those fairly new to Photoshop, but it is also a good refresher course in the basics for those with a bit more experience. Please respect my intellectual property rights - no audio or video Recording! Questions encouraged via chat - let's have some fun!
RSVP early, as RSVPs will close 1 hour before start time! - We'll finish at 7:30 PM - See you there!
John Watts - john@wattsdigital.com
Watts Digital Imaging: https://wattsdigital.com
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Specific details about GoToMeeting, and how to join the online Meetup once you RSVP, are here:
https://wattsdigital.com/free-live-meetups-online4 attendees
•OnlinePhotoshop 101 - Class 5: Color Management 101, PLUS Editing for Success
OnlineFREE TO ATTEND! - This Meetup is a "2-Fer":
1). Color Management 101 (One Hour):
Proper Color Management allows you to accurately reproduce what you see on your monitor in printed form, whether it is to your photo inkjet printer or files you send to a custom lab. Being able to print with a great degree of consistency and accuracy saves you time, frustration, and money.
The old adage, "WYSIWYG" (What You See Is What You Get) readily applies when you are properly color-managed. John will show you the 3 steps to successful Color Management and how to implement these into your Photoshop workflow, in a style that even the most die-hard "non-techie" can enjoy and understand
2). Editing for Success (1/2 Hour):
The second part of this Meetup will focus on the concepts of proper image editing - or, how do I know which of my many images are strong enough to create a Master File?
So, you just got back from a photo shoot, and you've got all these hundreds (thousands?) of wonderful images - now what? How do you properly sift through all of your images, critically pick the absolute best ones, and then make the most out of them using Photoshop?
When it comes to a great final image, it's important to be a tough "self-editor" of your images, and then knowing what you're aiming for before you can properly use the tools in Photoshop.
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The cost to attend is FREE for this 90 minute Meetup, but you should RSVP soon, as space is limited. Please note that in the interest of time, the focus will be on the subjects listed, rather than other functions, tools, and concepts of Photoshop - copious notes will be provided via PDF.
This free workshop is designed primarily for those fairly new to Photoshop, but it is also a good refresher course in the basics for those with a bit more experience. Please respect my intellectual property rights - no audio or video Recording! Questions encouraged via chat - Let's have some fun!
RSVP early, as RSVPs will close 1 hour before start time! - We'll finish up promptly at 7:30 PM - See you there!
John Watts - john@wattsdigital.com
Watts Digital Imaging - https://wattsdigital.com
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Specific details about GoToMeeting, and how to join the online Meetup once you RSVP, are here:
https://wattsdigital.com/free-live-meetups-online6 attendees
Past events
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