Adobe PhotoDeluxe 4 for Dummies [Paperback]

Julie Adair King (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 17, 2000 | ISBN-10: 0764507087 | ISBN-13: 978-0764507083

As computer programs go, Adobe PhotoDeluxe is easy. Without exerting much energy, you can create pretty cool pictures. But this ease breaks down when you start looking closely at the quality of your digital art. That's where Adobe PhotoDeluxe 4 For Dummies comes in.

This book explains the science behind the art of PhotoDeluxe so you can use the program to your fullest advantage. PhotoDeluxe 4 runs on Windows NT 4, Windows 98, and Windows 95. This book focuses on Windows 98 – if you're running Windows 95 or NT, you may find a few areas where things work differently than described, but the majority of information is absolutely the same no matter what flavor of Windows you fed your computer. Finally, if you're wondering what level of digital-imaging experience you need to understand this book, the answer is none. It's designed for those who are at the beginner or intermediate level when it comes to image editing.

In simple, easy-to-read language, Adobe PhotoDeluxe 4 For Dummies helps you wrap your brain around some perplexing subjects, including:

• Choosing the right resolution
• Selecting a file format
• Saving and printing your masterpieces
• Cropping your images
• Correcting brightness and contrast
• Covering up flaws in your snapshots

Beyond that, you gain the information you need to venture past the program's surface level and explore its considerable hidden talents. Almost obscured by the consumer-friendly PhotoDeluxe interface lurk some very powerful image-editing tools – the kind that you may expect to find only in professional (read: expensive) graphics software. This book shows you how to exploit these tools and even how to work around some built-in limitations to get a bit more flexibility than the program's designers likely intended.

Adobe PhotoDeluxe 4 For Dummies leads you safely along the sometimes-rocky image-editing trail, gets you out of jams when necessary, and even offers you some entertainment along the way. In short, it's the perfect companion for your PhotoDeluxe journey.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

PhotoDeluxe, Adobe's entry-level, consumer-oriented image editor, includes many of the great painting and color-correcting tools common to its professional software package, Photoshop. Though easier to use than Photoshop, PhotoDeluxe contains some features that are not quickly accessible or understandable to novice users, and that's where Adobe PhotoDeluxe for Dummies comes in handy.

Part one of the book presents the basics of editing pixel-based images, navigating the PhotoDeluxe interface, and saving and printing files. Part two moves through the wide variety of image-editing tools available that will allow you to manipulate the brightness and contrast controls, color options, and canvas size. You will also find instructions on adding borders and shadows; fixing red-eye syndrome; changing an image's focus; and removing dust, noise, and patterns. The third section teaches you how to use the painting, layers, and type tools; play around with color; and work through special projects such as creating wallpaper and sending images via e-mail. The final section of Adobe PhotoDeluxe for Dummies covers fun effects and troubleshooting problems, shortcuts, and online resources.

The book's contents are applicable to versions 2 and 3 of PhotoDeluxe, including the business edition, for both Windows and Mac platforms. The accompanying CD-ROM has trial and shareware versions of image cataloging and management tools, panorama software, puzzle makers, plug-ins, and Web-authoring tools. --Kathleen Caster --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Publisher

Discover how to:

Understand image-editing basics
Correct red-eye and other photo flaws
Have fun with painting, layers, and filters
Create cool special effects
Put your images online -- and even on a t-shirt

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 328 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies (May 17, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764507087
• ISBN-13: 978-0764507083
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,650,395 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Julie Adair King is the best-selling author of many books about digital imaging, including Digital Photography For Dummies, Shooting & Sharing Digital Photos For Dummies, and Digital Photography Before & After Makeovers. When not writing, she teaches at various locations, including such noted photography schools as the Palm Beach Photographic Centre in Florida.
A native of Ohio and a graduate of Purdue University, King now resides with her furboy, Mocha the Wacky Wheaten Terrier, in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

182 of 191 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A terrific resource for the Photo Deluxe software, January 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Adobe PhotoDeluxe for Dummies (Paperback)

After trying on my own for a long time, I bought this book. I recommend it to anyone who is not an electronics whiz and wants to make the most of Photo Deluxe 1, 3 or business edition. It was very helpful. I did things not covered in any manual.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for dummies and geniuses, November 11, 2001

By 

Ken2001 (Memphis, TN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Adobe PhotoDeluxe 4 for Dummies (Paperback)

In buying this book, at first I was a little reluctant to do so because I thought that the "Dummies" books were for, well, dummies. However, after doing an extensive search for books on PhotoDeluxe, I found that there were few. Of those, the only ones that are currently in print are a Quickstart book, which usually isn't that informative, and Adobe PhotoDeluxe 4 For Dummies. As a graphic production artist who is starting a career, I needed a book that could get me up to speed fast on PhotoDeluxe. I was particularly interested in the area of color correction, since that was my most pressing need at the time. The book, despite its title, exceeded all my expectations and I have gained a lot from it. It familiarizes you in the many features of PhotoDeluxe in a way that's easy to understand, without insulting your intelligence. The book covers everything, from color correction to the many special effects that PhotoDeluxe is capable of producing. In fact, from reading this book, I have learned that PhotoDeluxe is more similar to its higher priced counterpart, PhotoShop, than I thought it was.
In closing, I highly recommend this book to anyone who desires to learn how to use PhotoDeluxe. In comparison with other books on graphic software, this one's as good as any other.