It was a Wonderland. If you've read "Enid Blyton's Magic Faraway Tree", where a new cloudland arrives in the upper canopy evry few days, full of unimaginable & extraordinary amazements, it was like that. So many clever people in a big sharing community turning out an Ali Baba's treasure trove of images, tools and tuts.

Coming back after a year or so hiatus I realise how much I simply skidded thru and so am now having xlnt time going back into saved files, digging out Apos I didnt have time to work on properly then and giving them new treatments with techniques I've since learned. Fortunately I have saved everything to PHD, so have a huge rersource base to access.
The best learning was from the great weekly challenges. I was going lame at the time so it kept me happily working at computer all day & half the night, but eventually my eyes went, hence the hiatus while I had surgery. All working now, but still can't walk well and to keep spirits up Apo works the charm.

Sounds like you too are a big fan of Ian's. His style is so far-out unique, I haven't seen any work so far that is in his league. Every one he posts makes me gasp & wonder how he ever got THAT to happen. My style is a world away from his, but I always learn something that I can incorporate into my methods from his incredibles. I am so grateful for his generous sharing in his tuts