Looking Ahead to Photoshop World Las Vegas 2006

Gearing up for Photoshop World in Las Vegas next week. It's always interesting to watch thousands of photographers, graphic artists, designers, and other creative types come together all for the love of (or at least the preoccupation with) a single computer program. In my experience, it's a fun but frenzied week chock-full of informative classes, industry gossip, and catching up with notable Photoshoporati. I need comfortable shoes, a box of Emergen-C (cranberry flavor), and a battle plan to survive it. Here's my list of must-sees so far:

• At the keynote, Adobe's John Loiacono (Senior Vice President, Creative Solutions Business Unit) is scheduled to give the Photoshop faithful a sneak peek at what Adobe's got cooking. (Also at the keynote, new O'Reilly Author (and all-around great guy), Eddie Tapp, will be inducted into the Photoshop Hall of Fame.)

• Thursday afternoon the expo floor opens, and I'll be hanging out in the O'Reilly booth (#505, I'm told). It will be a great chance to meet readers and listen to what is on the minds of those who've come to learn more about digital imaging.

• Thursday evening, DAM Guru Peter Krogh will be sharing his thoughts on how photographers can best keep control over their ever-growing digital collections.

• O'Reilly author Deke McClelland will be imparting his accessible wisdom throughout the week in such interestingly named classes as "Unsharp Mask is Dead," "The Alpha Channel Monologes" and um, "Vanishing Point."

• Of course, I'll be on the lookout for any opportunity to travel in the hyper-reality of imaging-wizard Bert Monroy. Keeping my eyes open for the tell-tale banded ponytail...

More next week from Vegas!