Your one-stop Photoshop reference, filled with the latest tips and techniques
There’s a reason why Photoshop is the industry standard for image-editing software. But it’s also that big, Photoshop has so many facets and features that a handy one-stop guide is exactly what you need. And you’ll love the “Putting It Together” exercises that give you hands-on experience – in rich, full color!
Learn the parts — the desktop, menus, panels, and key tools, and how to use Adobe Bridge
Make your selection — learn about each of the selection tools plus the powerful Pen tool and Paths panel
Brush up — on the Brush and Pencil tools and how to create vector shapes, create and edit type, and put type on a path
Restore and retouch — correct and enhance color, improve contrast, and use the Clone Stamp and Healing tools to fix flaws and damage
Print it — learn how to get the right resolution, image mode, and file format, and prepare your work for printing
Open the book and find:
How to crop images and increase their canvas size
Tips for creating gradients and patterns
Advice on resizing images
How to composite images with layers and blending modes
Filter techniques to correct or alter images
How the Vanishing Point feature makes editing easier
Steps for making adjustments with levels and curves
How to create contact sheets
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars CS4
I have already learned a lot about this program and have put most into use.
5 Stars This is a very good book!
I’ve used every version of Photoshop since 3. I would be embarrassed to admit how many PhotoShop books I’ve bought and read. Somehow, I thought I would be beyond a “Dummmies” book but I was wrong. This is a very good book. It is reasonably thorough with just under 700 pages even though it is done in a concise fashion. It is beautifully organized and the writing is clear and crisp. There is excellent use of instructional images and graphics.
I’m very glad I didn’t miss this great book. If you want to get serious about learning PhotoShop CS4, you can’t go wrong here.
Scott Kelby was honored with Professional Photographer magazine’s highly coveted 2008 Hot One Award for The Adobe Photoshop CS3 Book for Digital Photographers. Here’s what Jeff Kent, the Hot One Editor at Professional Photographer, has to say about the book: “In a how-to published by Peachpit Press, Scott Kelby, best-selling author on Adobe Photoshop, delves into CS3 to uncover the most important and useful techniques for digital photographers. Our judges liked Kelby’s direct approach with step-by-step instructions. In this new edition, Kelby shares even more secrets from the top pros.”
Shutterbug magazine chose The Adobe Photoshop CS3 Book for Digital Photographers as a Top Digital Book of 2007. Here’s what Joe Farace of Shutterbug has to say about the book: “Scott Kelby’s name on a Photoshop book is like the Dodge brand on the front of a pickup truck. You know it’s built RAM—or pixel—tough. Combining his famous twisted wit with unwaveringly straight tutorials, Kelby takes you through a detailed tour of Photoshop CS3 by showing how to use the new features. No fluff; just page after page of well-illustrated tutorials showing photographers how to get the most out of the new features, commands, and effects found in the latest version of Adobe’s flagship. It will get you up to speed on CS3’s new features faster than you can all by yourself.”
Scott Kelby, the #1 best-selling Photoshop author in the world today, once again takes this book to a whole new level as he uncovers the latest, most important, and most exciting new Adobe Photoshop CS3 techniques for digital photographers. This major update to his award-winning, record-breaking book does something for digital photographers that’s never been done before–it cuts through the bull and shows you exactly “how to do it.” It’s not a bunch of theory; it doesn’t challenge you to come up with your own settings or figure it out on your own. Instead, Scott shows you step-by-step the exact techniques used by today’s cutting-edge digital photographers, and best of all, he shows you flat-out exactly which settings to use, when to use them, and why.
That’s why the previous editions of this book are widely used as the official course study guide in photography courses at college and universities around the world, and this new edition for Photoshop CS3 exposes even more of the top pros’ most closely-guarded secrets.
Learn How The Pros Do It Each year Scott trains thousands of professional photographers on how to use Photoshop, and almost without exception they have the same questions, the same problems, and the same challenges–and that’s exactly what he covers in this book. You’ll learn:
• The sharpening techniques the pros really use. • The pros’ tricks for fixing the most common digital photo problems fast! • How to get great looking prints (that actually match your screen!) • A whole chapter on the latest, most requested Photoshop special effects! • How to color correct any photo without breaking a sweat. • How to process Raw images, plus how to take advantage of all the new Camera Raw features in CS3! • The portrait retouching secrets only the pros know about! • How to add real automation to your work. • How to show your work like a pro!
Plus a host of shortcuts, workarounds, and slick “insider” tricks to send your productivity through the roof! If you’re a digital photographer, and you’re ready to learn the “tricks of the trade”–the same ones that today’s leading pros use to correct, edit, sharpen, retouch, and present their work–then you’re holding the book that will do just that.
User Ratings and Reviews
4 Stars a great help
i bought this book bec i have photoshop cs3 since i am a photographer and was hoping to pick up some tips and i have,i would recommend it to anyone that wants to better their photography skills.
5 Stars very satisfied
Was thrilled to be able to get this book. Took a class for Photoshop and the teacher used this book. His demos were right on target. I am very pleased with this purchase. The book is easy to use and easy to understand so I would highly reccommend it.
Thanks
Teri Carpenter
5 Stars Excellent Way To Learn CS3
This book makes learning photoshop CS3 so easy! Each chapter is a lesson unto itself. I felt fairly secure in my knowledge of layers before purchasing this book, now I find I was barely using the basics! I was missing the full potential that I had available and didn’t even know it! If you want to learn photoshop at home, on your computer, this is the book for you!
5 Stars great!
I love this item, it came in exactly the condition it said it was, maybe a little better, and I’m really enjoying it!
5 Stars “From a College Instructor’s aspect…”
I have read several Photoshop books written by Mr. Kelby, and learned quite a few shortcuts to producing great work. His CS3 book for Digital Photographers is just like having Scott by your side telling you how to take your image from good to great!! The information on using Adobe Bridge to organize images and using Camera Raw to process them is so helpful that I have added this book to the list of suggested reading materials for my students. I teach Photoshop Basic and Digital Imaging/Photoshop at the local college. I feel that this basic information will be invaluable to both returning and new students.
Photoshop is one of those programs that’s so cool you just want to dive right in and start creating–but by plunging in head-first, without any guidance, you’re likely to miss a lot. There’s a solution: With this book, you learn by doing, getting your feet wet immediately as you progress through a series of hands-on projects that build on your growing Photoshop knowledge. Simple step-by-step instructions, review questions at the end of each chapter, and a companion CD with all of the book’s project files make learning a breeze as the Adobe Creative Team takes you on a self-paced tour of the image-editing powerhouse. This bestselling guide has been completely revised to cover all of Photoshop CS2’s new features, which include advanced tools for digital photographers, such as a new Spot Healing Brush for correcting scratches or blemishes, and Smart Sharpen for fixing photo blurring. Photoshop CS2 also includes loads of new creative tools, such as Vanishing Point and Image Warp. This comprehensive guide starts with an introductory tour of the software and then progresses on through lessons on everything from Photoshop’s interface to more complex topics like color management, Web graphics, and photo retouching.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Classroom in a book
This is a great book for anyone trying to learn photoshop. We used the lessons in this book in my college course. Only we didn’t cover everything so I just went ahead and purchased the book so I could learn more. Everything is presented in a step-by-step fashion and it comes with the pictures to work on that you need. A great job in my opinion.
5 Stars Great for newbies or intermediates, also to share
I am an intermediate user who hasn’t needed Photoshop for some time, so my knowledge is rusty and somewhat outdated. My family are complete beginners who need to know Photoshop for various reasons. I agree with some previous reviewers that this book does not explain how to apply this to your work in great detail, but I figure if you need something then you can fill in the rest. This book teaches you the basics, the tools, the workspace etc. It’s wonderful b/c you can skip ahead, go back, move at your pace and skill level. And it goes quickly. Many similar books are so dense that it takes days or weeks to move forward, but here I am half way through the book in one day (even with the many distractions of my day). I’ve picked up many new tools to use, and I know in what real world applications to use them. I need Photoshop for scientific images, slides, etc; so I can easily read through and pick up what is useful for me. I have learned what settings to use in Axio and Zeiss to work better in Photoshop.
My family on the other hand, are going at their own pace; each with a different goal and skill level. They also love this book. One person is very new to computers, but he is learning practical ways to use Photoshop for his retouching of old family pics. Another person is using it for her horse website and also has learned many valuable lessons.
There may be books that match your skill level that are a little better, esp. if you are an advanced user (but why would you even consider this book???), but this one is great to share with people at various skill levels.
5 Stars Fantastically Awesome
This is a fantastic book for anyone who wants to learn Photoshop. It’s also great if you have it on hand as a reference guide.
5 Stars great tool for beginners of Photoshop
This book comes with a cd. In the cd is lesson plans. The book going step-by-step with the cd. 1 project at a time. When you finish the book, you totally get Photoshop and how to use it!
5 Stars Wonderful Learning Help
I really have enjoyed the Classroom in a Book series, and this one did not disappoint – wonderfully written, easy to take in chunks or all at once, and helpful videos!
The DVD videos are available on Safari. Please click here.
Pioneering computer graphics author Deke McClelland updates his bestselling hands-on tutorial for Adobe Photoshop CS3, the latest version of this industry-standard image editing and production program. As with previous editions, Photoshop CS3 One-on-One guides readers step by step through the program’s features and functionality. A key appeal of the One-on-One series is the two hours of DVD-video material included. Once you read about a particular technique, you can see how it’s done first hand in the video. The combination is uniquely effective. And hugely popular.
Whether you’re a first-timer looking to learn Photoshop, or a seasoned user interested in the groundbreaking features of CS3, Deke’s conversational style and carefully structured lessons guide you through everything you need to know to get up and running, and then takes you well into mastery. You’ll learn to:
Grasp fundamental and advanced concepts and theory
Use best practices, and techniques for making the most of Photoshop CS3
Build relevant, real-world projects
Use Photoshop’s workflow and file handling features
Use the combined power of Bridge + Camera Raw to process your digital photos
Choose the right technique for converting your images to black & white
Create beautiful multilayered documents including posters and flyers
And much more
A Photoshop expert, sought-after computer graphics and design lecturer and author of over 70 books, Deke creates a classroom environment in Photoshop CS3 One-on-One with written instruction and video training — except that you get one-on-one attention as you proceed from lesson to lesson at your own pace. It’s like having private lessons with the author.
Whether you’re an enthusiast, prosumer, creative pro, technical pro, or newcomer, Deke’s book will have you speaking fluent Photoshop CS3 in no time.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Great Place to Start
I was a complete noob to Photoshop. I had zero, zip, zilch, nada, no exerience using Photoshop. This was the first book I read on the subject. It got me started immediately using Photoshop. Deke McClelland’s watch, read, do approach to Photoshop worked wonders for me. Watch the video, read the lesson, follow the step by step instructions. It is a great introduction to Photoshop and, will prepare you for more advanced techniques. Although, it also includes more than a few tricks and, secrets that even experienced Photoshop users might not know. I have been using Photoshop for about a year now and, I still often refer to this book. Worth every penny of the cost.
5 Stars Great instructions and lessons
I’m pretty new to Photoshop and CS3 extended so I found this book extremely easy to read and with easy directions to follow. The lessons are great and Deke’s humour is good. I wish he would write some tecnique type books. I highly recommend this book to newbies to Photoshop.
5 Stars PS CS 3
Great book for beginners in photoshop. I previously had no experience with photoshop at all and this book was easy to follow, especially with the video tutorials as well
5 Stars Photoshop CS3 how-to-book
Outstanding book. Even for advanced beginners this is an excellent book. Techniques that you would never think of using. As an example; using the “Inner Glow” layer style to remove haloing/fringe of background color. Works wonders for blending the edges and matching the color of your subject. This and other techniques and tool options you probably never realized were available. Also, a very good video is included. Deke McClelland does a masterful job of explaining both in the book and the video. Money well spent and I highly recommend it (there is also a CS4 edition)……..
5 Stars Easy to understand
I’m working my way through this and have found it really easy to follow. Photoshop fascinated me and although I’d played around with it I didn’t really know what I was doing and the results were hit and miss. Now I can more fully understand the reason and workings behind the various features and while it can still be time consuming to get something just right, I know I’m on the right track. The videos are great and when you follow up with the relative chapters in the book it all just comes together. The book is written in plain easy to understand terms, not too technical for a real beginner like me.
Using field-tested methods and practical instruction in both Photoshop and Photoshop Elements, this book reveals eye-opening techniques, terrific workflow ideas, and timesaving ways to apply a broad array of Photoshop tools to optimize digital images of nature. Youll encounter spectacular photographs from exotic places around the world shot by the authors, as well as tips and examples from some of the most esteemed professional nature photographers. In addition, the CD-ROM includes more than 60 minutes of video training as well as sample images to help you practice the techniques featured in the book.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars A Must Have for Photographers Using Photoshop
If you are a photographer, and in particular a nature photographer, who has been using Photoshop to optimize your pictures, then this book is a must have. Building on the author’s previous knowledge of each version of Photoshop, it highlights the uniqueness of CS4 (and Elements). Photoshop can be a very intimidating program. However, this book is clear and concise. It discusses how to effectively and efficiently use Bridge to edit and catalog your pictures. It directs you on how best to bring your photo into CS4. It suggest a workflow that can be customized to meet your individual needs. It gives step-by-step instruction on techniques to enhance your photos supplying sample pictures to practice on. I have taken workshops with Ellen Anon and using this book is like having her in my computer room instructing me…from customizing my computer/printer settings to producing the finished product.
4 Stars CS$ for Nature Photographers
The first edition with Grey was a truly superior product. The new one may not be that superior. Mostly, the inclusion of Photoshop Essentials does not interest me, or make the book more valuable. Perhaps it is a gamble to see if that will increase the spectrum of purchasers.
So while the first volume was head and shoulders above anything else on the market, this one is slightly disappointing.
But basically it is well written and valuable.
5 Stars Excellent both as a text and a reference
I enjoyed this book … and it can be used both as a text from which to learn PS CS4 and a help reference once you get into PS CS4. The emphasis on Nature Photography is well thought out as the illustrations and text are well coordinated to show the best use of PS CS4 in this niche’ area of photography. It is easy to read and that is a plus.
5 Stars Excellent
This book is excellent and continues where cs3 left off. Ellon has a writing style that I really enjoy!
5 Stars Photoshop CS4 for Nature Photographers
If you are a photographer this book is an excellent introduction to CS4, if you are a nature photographer it’s a must. Clear, concise easy to understand instructions. The authors explanation of smart objects[what they are and how to use them]is superb.This book is an easy 5 stars.
Adobe Photoshop CS4 Digital Classroom is like having a personal instructor guiding readers through each lesson, while they work at their own pace. This book includes 13 self-paced lessons that let readers discover essential skills and explore new features and capabilities of Adobe Photoshop. Every lesson is presented in full color with step-by-step instructions. Learning is reinforced with video tutorials and lesson files on a companion DVD that were developed by the same team of Adobe Certified Instructors and Flash experts who have created many of the official training titles for Adobe Systems. Each video tutorial is approximately five minutes long and demonstrates and explains the concepts and features covered in the lesson. Coverage includes information on Adobe Bridge, Camera RAW, masks and layers, painting and retouching, and selections and layers. Jam-packed with information, this book and DVD takes users from the basics through intermediate level topics and helps readers find the information they need in a clear, approachable manner.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Practical Introduction to PS
If you’re new to Photoshop, this book gives you the essentials of the program. It then goes beyond the basics and shows you handy techniques in this very robust program. The exercises are step by step, and even in the early chapters experienced users can pick up handy tips for routine processes. The integration of the text and the disk is well done, but you can learn from the book even without the computer explanations. A particularly handy quick overview is the video summary of each chapter. Worth the money because it allows the user to get the most out of his or her investment in the Photoshop program.
5 Stars A Great Introduction
I purchased this book in order to get more insight on all the features of Photoshop. I wasn’t disappointed. I thought the chapters were well organized. And everything worked that way the book said it would. Just follow the directions and you should do well.
Once you finish this book, get a copy of Photoshop CS4 Channels & Masks One-on-One by Deke McClelland.
5 Stars Very Helpful
As I have mentioned in most of my photography reviews I’m a 60’s something dinosaur who has a 1970’s Master’s Degree in Photography. I understand photography but I’m learning digital. This book is very helpful. It is not the “Be All End All” for Photoshop but then I don’t think there is one. I subscribe to [...], am a member of NAPP, and attend every seminar that gets within 200 miles of my southern Arizona home. I find that everyone thinks something else is the “Most Important” part of Photoshop. This is one of the blocks in my education. It is very well done and I appreciate the lesson files.
5 Stars Excellent
I’ve gotten through the first nine chapters and find this book has an excellent way of teaching. In only two cases have I looked at the videos for help. I like the way they use pictures to help you see exactly what you are going to do. I just checked the errata on their website because I was having problems with the “reset Adobe Photoshop CS4 Preferences” on page 3. I found on Adobe that you should press Ctrl+Alt+Shift immediately AFTER launching Photoshop. I highly recommend this book. I had been dabbling in Photoshop for about a month before receiving the book. The book helped me explore some amazingly powerful aspects of Photoshop.
5 Stars Mystery solved
I used to wonder what was so great about Photoshop. I had often heard of it’s use by photographers and how it could be used to falsify photographs of real world objects. Then, as an artist, I learned that it could be useful from a illustrator’s point of view. This book opens up all the aspects of photoshop that are not apparent from the many menu and dialog items available in the application itself. It provides examples of how to use Photoshop to its fullest. Now I think I have an idea why it is so expensive! It is just an excellent piece of software! I can only say that because of this book. It has opened up possibilities that I have not even dreamed of before, and has widened my artistic horizons.
Coming to terms with alpha channels (or masks) is the most sure-fire way to boost the quality of your work in Photoshop. But masking isn’t easy-in fact, the elusive alpha channel has been described as the least understood feature in Photoshop’s enormous arsenal.
Now, you can master masking with Deke McClelland’s unique and effective learning system. Through step-by-step text lessons, DVD-video demonstrations, and real-world projects, you’ll learn how to select and composite highlights, shadows, clouds, fabric, feathers, glass, flame, lightning, eyes, all varieties of hair, and then some. Deke’s expert advice and guidance is like working with a personal coach. With this book, you will:
Learn at your own speed with 12 self-paced tutorials
Try out techniques and best practices with engaging real-world projects
Get more than 850 full-color photos, diagrams, and screen shots that illustrate every key step
See exactly how it’s done in real time with five hours of all-new video instruction
Test your knowledge with multiple-choice quizzes in each chapter
And more. Photoshop CS4 Channels & Masks One-on-One simulates a classroom environment that provides one-on-one attention as you proceed from lesson to lesson. You’ll learn to use Photoshop faster, more creatively, and more efficiently than you thought possible.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Approachable, engaging, and worthwhile…
I recently purchased Adobe’s CS4 Web Premium edition, and was giddy at the prospect of learning all the new ins an outs of the new program, but already had a great deal of experience with Photoshop (starting with version 7). I hesitated not getting something like Ben Willmore’s “Up to Speed” book, but I’ve found that there are so many resources on the web that I’m able to watch tutorials to learn about the new pieces of CS4 that way.
I wavered between Scott Kelby’s book and Deke McLelland’s One on One series, and ultimately decided that I’d seen enough Scott Kelby on Photoshop User TV for free so why not try Deke. I’m so glad I did.
His masking techniques, video companion, and mathematical descriptions of how Photoshop looks at images all come together seamlessly. He uses different examples in his videos with the same focus as the chapters they represent. The text has icons right from the photoshop screen rather than telling you to click the mask button, or the layer styles button. Deke also explains what specific settings mean to more than just one image. His sense of humor is entertaining, and doesn’t get in the way of the purpose at hand, to learn masking with channels. He does give you some good lessons on making selections, and tells you when to use which type of selection tool, and why. I’ve spent many years with Photoshop, and still feel that I’ve learned a great deal from following along with Deke’s lessons. I’m tempted to get One on One with Illustrator if he offers it. Thanks Deke!
4 Stars Great learning book.
Great book, but too many technical problems with this releave. Also way too many typographical errors in the book.
4 Stars Photoshop CS4 channels & masks
This book is great! I have been using photoshop for many years now, this book is showing me new stuff!!!!!
It is definitely a book for advanced users. But if your willing to push yourself, I can’t recommend this book enough !
I bought this book because of the subject matter, channels and masks.
The video that comes with it is the simple versions of the concepts in the book.
I would have liked to have seen more difficult examples like seperating trees from a bushy backround.
For me, the book tends to get lost in translation, it’s not cut and dry, theres a lot of verbage for each example, some of it useless for the average user.
I would the pay the same price for a book half that size that cuts to the chase and shows me how to work with channels and masks.
I don’t care how the program works, i’m looking for instant gratification with my little artworks.
5 Stars Great Book
Do you want to know everything there is to know about channels and masks in Photoshop CS4? Well, this book will get you well on your way. Deke McClelland is a great writer. He makes the samples fun and, yet, quite challenging at the same time. I purchased this book and wasn’t disappointed.
Full-color book and instructional DVD form a complete training package for Adobe CS4 Design Premium
Written by a team of Adobe certified instructors, this complete training package helps you learn to use the market-leading design and development suite at your own speed. The book includes 26 lessons that let you discover essential skills and explore the new features of Adobe CS4 Design Premium. Each lesson includes step-by-step instructions and lesson files, supplemented with video tutorials on the DVD. Each lesson in the book has a supplementary, five-minute video lesson that demonstrates and explains the concepts and features covered in the book.
You’ll also explore integration techniques that can be implemented using Adobe Bridge and Version Cue, the file management and collaboration tools found in Design Premium.
Full color, step-by-step instruction makes learning even complicated tasks less intimidating, while the video training demonstrates each task
Covers InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Acrobat, Dreamweaver, Flash, and Fireworks
You set the pace, learning at your own speed
Written by the same team of Adobe Certified Instructors and Creative Suite experts who have created many of the official training guides for Adobe Systems
Includes 26 lessons designed to teach you all aspects of the most popular design and development suite for print, Web, and mobile media
Adobe Creative Suite 4 Design Premium Digital Classroom is like having your own personal instructor guiding you through each lesson at your convenience.
With the release of Adobe Creative Suite CS4, Dreamweaver solidifies its role as the de facto tool of choice for anyone using Photoshop and designing for the Web. Adobe Dreamweaver CS4 for Windows and Macintosh: Visual QuickStart Guide uses a combination of task-based instruction and strong visuals to teach beginning and intermediate users how to create, design, and publish powerful, innovative Web sites with Dreamweaver. Leading technology authors Tom Negrino and Dori Smith take readers step-by-step through the new features in Adobe Dreamweaver CS4, with completely revised chapters on critical tools like linking and including images and Flash animations. They also cover improvements to using styles and CSS in Dreamweaver, and the new Code Navigator in Dreamweaver CS4. Beginning users will learn to create their first Web site, add text, style and position page content, manage styles, work with links, incorporate images, media, tables, forms, and frames, design site navigation, and so much more. Experienced users will find this a convenient reference to the new features of Dreamweaver CS4.
This tutorial takes photographers beyond the quick tips and gimmicky effects of many digital photography books. Author Katrin Eismann — an internationally acclaimed artist, bestselling author, and gifted educator — offers high-profile work, including her own, as examples for teaching photographers how to use the digital medium to create, edit, and output images that reflect their true vision.
Co-authored by photographer and teacher Sean Duggan, The Creative Digital Darkroom translates skills, concepts, and nomenclature of the traditional darkroom into digital solutions for photographers who sense that, despite the newness of the technologies at hand, there remains a timeless method for learning and practicing photography the right way. This is not a Photoshop book per se, but it does focus on the photographic aspects of Photoshop, something other books claim to do but rarely have the discipline to accomplish. The Creative Digital Darkroom includes:
Four sections that cover the black & white darkroom, the color darkroom, creative techniques, and production essentials
Chapters that begin with a thorough foundation followed by numerous tutorial examples that apply the theory to real-world examples
Examples and a layout that enables readers to find, understand, and apply the featured techniques quickly and easily
The authors are both renowned photographers and Photoshop experts
Clearly, The Creative Digital Darkroom is not your typical digital photography “how to” book. It’s ideal for intermediate and advanced photographers, artists, and educators looking for clear, concise, insightful, and inspiring information and techniques on how to make their photographs shine. The language, and techniques will immediately appeal to serious students and professionals, and the original tutorial images and high-profile work will make the book an important visual resource for educators and art appreciators.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Excellent content, bonus customer service
This review briefly covers two things: The book, The Creative Digital Darkroom, and the customer service experience I’m having with Amazon, O’Reilly and one of the book’s authors, Katrin Eismann.
About me: I’m an amateur photographer and an engineer. I shot film with a Nikon FE2, then spent some time with a digital point & shoot. Now, I have a Nikon D90 and hope to do the things with a digital darkroom that I could not do in color film because I didn’t have a chemical darkroom.
First, the book review. This is based upon a quick read. The book is 400 pages and has high information density. This is the sort of book that I read once to learn what is available to me, and then use it as a reference for deep dives. I spent a few weeks perusing books in local shops and the local library. Here’s why I picked this one:
– It is a beautiful book that is well-illustrated. The photos are available online. The writing is clear and the examples are well thought out. The overall structure/organization makes good sense.
– The book does a good job of covering both technical (objective) and artistic (subjective) elements of “developing” a digital photo. To me, it felt like both subjects were covered well, and were not confused.
– On the objective side, you are taught what is technically good, and how you get there. The process can result in intermediate steps in which the picture looks worse than when the process began. The authors patiently explain the entire process for a series of varied examples. If you are looking for a book that informs at the level of, “slide the slider to adjust color”, then this book is not for you. Personally, I found the level of depth to be at the appropriate level–a good bit of info I can put to immediate use, and a lot of info that will challenge me in a productive way to reach the next level of digital photography.
– On the subjective side, the amateur in me was introduced to a wide range of digital photographs that were developed in a way that was non-obvious (at least to me).
As for customer experience, I had a problem others here have recently posted about: the book arrived with a color jacket but low-quality b/w print inside. Because I had held several copies of this book in my hand prior to purchase, I was certain that something was clearly wrong. At the time of this writing, I can tell you:
– Amazon MAY be stocked with bad copies
– I contacted Amazon about a return and they were very accomodating–the process could not have been easier or more pleasant.
– I then contacted the book’s publisher and one of the authors–they, too, were very helpful, offering to replace the book themselves.
– The Amazon replacement arrived, again in b/w. I am now returning the book to O’Reilly so that they can examine it. Katrin is sending me a replacement. They are going to great lengths to accomodate me in every manner. At this point, my principle emotion is that I feel bad for them having to sort out the apparent problem with Amazon’s stock.
5 Stars Must read for anyone starting out with Photoshop or Lightroom
I’m half way through this book and already I’ve learned more about how to use Adobe Photoshop CS4 and Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2 than I’ve gotten out of any other book or website. The authors’ style is very straightforward and provides not only directions on how to use the tools in the applications, but also explains why you should use them. Also, there is a special download-only chapter on printing that does a marvelous job explaining how to configure photoshop and lightroom to get the most out of your printer.
2 Stars Prepare your photos to view on your monitor.
This book is chock full of great information. After a quick scan of the entire book I was excited to really delve into it in-depth in spite of the really lousy page design. On closer study, I was fairly appalled at the errors throughout this book. None of which are listed on the companion web site’s errata page. When I’m following someone else’s step by step work flow, I expect it to be correctly laid out for me. This book does not do that.
The largest problem with this book is that it seems to operate on the assumption that one is going to go through all of these processes only to have one’s photographs appear better on the monitor’s screen. The fact that to learn anything about printing one must read the “printing” chapter online is ludicrous.
All in all, a very good book information wise, graphically a disaster, and a true challenge to decode some of its step by step methodology. But seriously folks, we do all this work to our files so that we can print. This book falls flat.
2 Stars Newspaper-print photo quality really kills this book, sad to say
I’m puzzled by the enthusiastic reviews of this book. I agree that the writing and concepts are quite good. But the book design and the printing quality are a real negative for a photography book (so to speak…). It made me think I was looking at a low-grade newspaper: all the images and screenshots are printing in low-res, low contrast B&W with significant banding and streaking. In addition to looking shabby, it makes it hard to see the effect the images were supposed to illustrate. It’s so bad that I thought I was reading a cheap rip-off of the original, possibly published by pirates in some far-off copyright-ignoring country (which shall remain nameless), since it’s inconceivable that writers and photographers the quality of Eismann and Duggan would tolerate this shabby presentation of their work. I’m also amazed that O’Reilly, normally a very-high quality publisher, would put their name on this thing.
The book design is also a head-scratcher: huge swaths of small type with little white space. Just looking at it gives me claustrophobia, and reading it is tiring.
I wouldn’t normally rate a book primarily for these kinds of faults, but sheesh…this is a photography book! It’s supposed to have at least half-way decent photos in it, not images that look like an old newspaper! And for $49.99 list, it should have GREAT images and printing!
I returned it almost immediately.
All in all, I was left with with the age-old question: What were they thinking?
5 Stars Knows whereof she speaks
The author of the classic digital retouching and restoration handbook is back with an updated “digital darkroom” book for the latest version of your favorite image editor.
This one covers topics that really need explanations for the ambitious photographer/image editor. It covers RAW processing, workflow, image correction, and software options such as Lightroom and various plug-ins. You’ll learn about color spaces, file preparation, and other essential topics. Although I expect that few readers of this book have ever actually worked in a chemical darkroom, they’ll find the digital orientation of this book useful and informative.
UNLOCK THE SECRETS OF THE HOTTEST TRICKS, AND MOST REQUESTED PHOTOSHOP EFFECTS IN ONE AMAZING BOOK!
Scott Kelby, co-host of Photoshop User TV and the world’s #1 bestselling Photoshop author, is back to unlock the secrets of an amazing new collection of the latest eye-popping, jaw-dropping, Photoshop special effects—the same kind that made Scott’s previous editions of this book one of the top selling Photoshop books in history.
You’ll learn some of the most closely guarded Photoshop CS4 special effects—the same ones you see on TV, in magazines, and on the Web. Using Scott’s simple step-by-step method, with hundreds of full-color images, you’ll see exactly how it’s all done. The book is written so clearly, and it is so easy to follow, you’ll immediately be able to create all of these effects yourself. You’ll learn:
• The latest photographic special effects • How to fake studio shots (you’ll be amazed at how it’s done) • The latest cutting-edge type effects • The most popular effects used by big movie studios • The most-requested advertising effects • Commercial effects that clients go crazy over! • The most asked-for current Web effects • Amazing 3D effects using Photoshop Extended • Plus loads of effects that look hard, but are easy once you know the secrets
And not only that, but the whole book is packed with creative ideas, layouts, and design techniques that will help you unleash your own creativity. It’s all here, in the only Photoshop book of its kind. You’re gonna love it!
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Another Kelby How-to
I look forward to every edition of Scott’s Down & Dirty Tricks and have them all. Each one is better than the one before (not including CS3… ;-p). Judging from some of the reviews, some of the reviewers may not be aware that Scott started with Photoshop for (Mac) artists/designers long before delving into how to improve one’s digital photography. Even though I’m also a photographer, my first love is Photoshop and how to improve on and achieving those cool tricks to my photography. I highly recommend any and all of Scott’s publications. Open the book and start anywhere. Easy to understand and fun to read.
1 Star Totally useless for me
I have a bunch of Kelby books and really liked most of them. However recently I have started to use other authors’ books and started to like them even better. The books of Martin Evening and Ben Willmore are really great…much better than anything I ever read from Scott. This books has nothing for photographers like me. This book may not be off topic but I found these special effects so useless (well except for the desaturated portrait), that I am not sure that I would buy a Kelby book ever again. It may be use useful for other readers but a total waste of money for me.
5 Stars Photoshop CS4 Down & Dirty Tricks
Very useful book way awesome a must get book! It will open your mind more of designing!!
5 Stars Great Book
Scott has done a great job on this update. Remember it is about Photoshop, not photography. With that in mind, some really great Tips and Tricks.
4 Stars A solid entry level book to new CS features and special effects
What I like about this book are…
(1) Step by step, picture-guided method of teaching. Very easy to follow.
(2) The book covers a variety types of usage of Photoshop tricks, like effects of type, photo, vector art, lots of commercial material, posters, web material… etc.
What I do not like about this book…
The paper!!! Yes, you heard me, it’s the paper. I am by no means an expert of paper, but this type of paper is so much harder to flip the pages. They don’t really stick to your finger (so you can’t easily “clamp” the pages up with 2 fingers), instead the pages stick to each other (so it’s not easy to flip pages using the edge of the paper. You might think I’m crazy complaining about the paper, but I found it very annoying, and it just made reading the book that much more unpleasant.
What I wish about this book…
I wish that it came with a CD of the materials (say texture, photos… etc.), so readers can actually follow it step by step; which in my opinion is always a better way of learning.
Other thoughts:
- The material used in the book has very very strong commercial sense
- After reading it, I think this book teaches you design more than anything.
- The book is really about Photoshop tricks here and there, a lot of them you don’t really need the latest CS to achieve. The title of the book is really not so helpful, in the sense of what the book is about.
- Scott is a decent graphic designer. I think he went to school for it…
Conclusion…
I think it is worth the money for me.
I learned graphic design, a little bit web, and many tricks for my photography.
This thorough, self-paced guide to Adobe Photoshop CS3–written by the experts at Adobe Systems’ is ideal for beginning users who want to learn key Photoshop concepts and techniques, while readers who already have some experience with Photoshop can use this book to learn Photoshop CS3’s more advanced features and newest tools. Using clear, step-by-step, project-based lessons, each chapter walks readers through the creation of a specific project, with each chapter building on the reader’s growing knowledge of the program, while review questions at the end of each chapter reinforce the skills learned in each lesson. Photoshop CS3, long the industry standard for digital imaging software, offers plenty of new features and enhancements for creative professionals and digital photographers alike. Users can enjoy unrivaled editing with non-destructive Smart Filters, improved curves, and adjustable cloning and healing with Preview Overlay. Increase productivity with Photoshop CS3’s streamlined interface and new Photoshop Lightroom ” integration. Anyone who wants to create a composite will benefit from the revamped Photomerge® tool, which lets you apply automatic layer alignment and blending to your images, while the new Quick Selection tool lets you select pixels not just by color, but by texture and shape as well. And digital photographers will be pleased to know that they can now process multiple Camera Raw images in a fraction of the time it used to take.
Educational instructor notes—created to help teachers plan, organize, and time their lessons—are available for this book (and for other Classroom in a Book titles) at www.peachpit.com/instructorresources.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Photoshop Classroom in a Book
Adobe puts out an excellent book and tutorial that makes it very easy to learn all the wonderful things that this program can do. Even for those experienced with the older versions, this book brings them right up to speed in no time.
3 Stars It’s okay
I just wish it had the CD when I bought it….It would have helped so much more.
5 Stars Love it!
This book is so easy to follow! I would recommend it for beginning to intermediate Photoshop users.
5 Stars Photoshop cs3 classroom in a book
Since I have rarely worked with Photoshop, this book was perfect for getting to know the tools and how they worked. Each lesson was step by step; you were given an image of the end result and the pieces to start with. I will be hanging on to this book as a reference for the finer details that I will not work with on a daily basis.
5 Stars Great book
Very clear and easy to use you want to learn CS3 this is the book
The fastest, easiest, most comprehensive way to learn Adobe Photoshop CS4
Fourteen lessons in Adobe Photoshop CS4 Classroom in a Book cover basic and advanced techniques in Adobe Photoshop, the world’s best image-editing software. Learn how to retouch digital photos, work with layers and masks, navigate the workspace, prepare images print, and explore the latest features. Tips, extra-credit exercises, and step-by-step lessons help you become more productive using Photoshop.
Learn to correct and enhance digital photos, create image composites, transform images in perspective, and prepare images for print and the web. Combine images for extended depth of field, and try out the new 3D features in Adobe Photoshop CS4 Extended.
“The Classroom in a Book series is by far the best training material on the market. Everything you need to master the software is included: clear explanations of each lesson, step-by-step instructions, and the project files for the students.” —Barbara Binder, Adobe Certified Instructor, Rocky Mountain Training
Classroom in a Book®, the best-selling series of hands-on software training workbooks, helps you learn the features of Adobe software quickly and easily. Classroom in a Book offers what no other book or training program does—an official training series from Adobe Systems Incorporated, developed with the support of Adobe product experts.
User Ratings and Reviews
1 Star Blatant Theft
They took my money but I never received a textbook. I kept waiting for it and I eventually got too far behind in the class to catch up, even after I bought it again from another source. I had to drop the class all because of this awful company. I lost money in more ways than just the textbook. I want it back.
Worst experience ever.
5 Stars textbook 2
Adobe Photoshop CS4 Classroom in a Book I loved this book! It was very informative and perfect for my classes!
5 Stars Photoshop Classroom in a Book
I have been a big fan of Adobe products since they first came out. This book series has been around for almost every program and every upgrade they have released, so the folks at Adobe know how to best showcase the awesome power of their programs in a concise, class room type instruction manual.
The teachings are straightforward and easy to follow for the beginner, with tips and extras for the more advanced student. The lessons are broken down into easy-to-manage sections, and one can go through them in order or just go to the section that they need immediate help in. Many Colleges actually use this series as their text books for photoshop and digital manipulation classes.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to learn Photoshop and quickly get up to speed in Photoshop CS4. And for those who want to take it a step farther, Adobe offers professional certification in most of their programs.
5 Stars If you are starting Photoshop for the first time, get this book!
I aquired Photoshop as a hobbyist and this was the third book I bought trying to figure out what I could do with the software. Other books define what each feature does and how to access it, but Classroom in a Book puts the features into context. I learned the software as well as some basic graphic design and photography skills. Before you spend money and time on a class on Photoshop, try this book!
5 Stars Good starting point
I was able to complete most of the exercises in this book. The directions sometimes were different than on my mac. In the margins, there is additional info, and that cleared up many things. I liked how the book teaches us to use Adobe Bridge to organize photos! Very handy! I love all the things this book teaches you! I used it for a college class. There are lesson files with images to to the exercises on the computer. All you need it a CD ROM player. There are extra credit exercises and quizzes in this book. There is some photo retouching, though Photoshop does much more. Some 3D is in a later chapter. I do not believe I can do this as I am on a Mac.
Professional commercial photographer and digital imager Jeff Schewe (based in Chicago, USA) has teamed up with best-selling Photoshop author Martin Evening to
