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Hey all! After PSW, the NAPP team got super busy with the release of CS5 promoting it and developing their live webinars to show all of the new and totally killer features. If you didn’t get a chance to see them, click the link, you still can! And if you do watch them, you will get to see Corey Barker take 3-D to a whole new level. He, in my eyes, is the next Bert Monroy and a true leader of innovation. He’s also, just a fun guy!

I am pleased to give you the man himself…

Corey “The Laddy” Barker

click the pic to visit Corey’s website

1. What’s a typical day like for you at NAPP HQ?

Well first of all there is no such thing as a typical day here at NAPP HQ. Working for Scott really keeps you on your toes. You just never know when he’s going to show up with the next big idea or project. To be honest, I thrive on the spontaneity. Not knowing what’s coming is rather exciting. Some people like working in a structured, corporate environment. I just couldn’t handle it. Part of being a creative involves a huge element of the unexpected and we get that almost every day here.

2. How did you come to work for NAPP?

I had been a NAPP member for quite a few years and even attended about half a dozen PSWs before joining the team. I always thought it would be so cool to do what these guys did. Then one day on the NAPP member page there was a short video by the Photoshop Guys announcing an open casting call for the next Photoshop Guru. At the time I was thinking, “this is my shot” but I was reluctant because I thought I wasn’t really good enough. So I spent an entire weekend and put together a whole portfolio presentation and sent it off. I eventually received an email and was asked to interview with Scott at PSW in Las Vegas since I was attending anyway. It went so well that I was too excited to attend any of the sessions for the rest of the event. I got the call about a week and a half later and the rest, as they say, is history!

3. Before you were NAPP staff, you would spend time in the NAPP Forum Battlegrounds – if you had time to take someone on in a Photoshop battle now – who would you want to be your opponent and why? -from a NAPP Forum Member

I would probably say either Bert Monroy or Felix Nelson. Those two are a couple of the very best digital artists I have ever seen. Would I beat them? Probably not, but I would learn so much more along the way!

4. When you first started, who inspired you the most? Who inspires you the most today? Why?

Well as I said earlier. Bert and Felix are two huge influences on me now. But when I started I was greatly influenced by Scott Kelby’s early books and even the WOW book series back when Jack Davis was doing them. I also learned a tremendous amount from Ben Willmore. This man bleeds Photoshop knowledge. Today these same people inspire me but as I have matured as an artist I start to seek my inspiration in things like movies, TV and web. There are so many ideas in the world, all you need to do is stop and look around.

5. Being the Photoshop Laddie has brought a certain amount of fame to you- are there times when you want your anonymity back? If yes, when & why? -from a NAPP Member

No, not really. The fame hasn’t really reached the point where it’s become annoying. In fact the only time I have been recognized outside of an industry event (i.e., PSW, seminar, etc) was one time when I was at the Apple store here in Tampa and someone noticed me and asked if I was Corey Barker from Layers TV. It’s weird when someone knows you but you have no clue who they are.

6. Are you currently working on a book? If so, what is it about and when is it going to be out? -from @StudioDee via Twitter

Actually, I am currently working on a book that is a collaborative effort among several other authors, one of them being Bert Monroy, on 3D workflows in Photoshop CS5 Extended. We are each contributing a chapter to the book. Due out mid-late summer 2010. Other projects are in the works.

7. What is your favorite part of the Photoshop World Conference?

The entire conference is my favorite part but, to be specific, I love when people walk up and show me samples of their work that employed a tutorial or technique they learned from me. It’s really gratifying and impressive to see how creative people get. Oh, and I love Midnight Madness. So much fun!

8. Is there ever a time when Photoshop is not open on your computer? What programs are usually open on your computer? -from a NAPP Forum Member

I always am running Photoshop but I also run Illustrator, Safari, Mail, iTunes, Quicktime Pro, and Bridge. These are the apps that are running on my machine 95+% of the time.

9. If you could swap places with any other NAPP staff member for a day, who would it be and why?

No one, all these guys are crazy! LOL! That’s not true. If I had to choose I would say probably Felix Nelson. I’d like to get inside his head and get a handle on his creative thought process. We are all unique in that regard but I’m curious how a fellow artist sees the world.

10. If you had kids or pets, would you name them after Photoshop filters? If yes, what would you choose to name them?

No, I love what I do, but having a pet named “High Pass” is just asking for ridicule. I do have a cat named Blue. Don’t ask where that came from.

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A big Thank You goes out to Corey for taking the time out to answer these questions in the middle of the PSW/CS5 madness and adding to the NAPP interview series.