Customer Reviews

Adobe Photoshop CS3 for Photographers: A Professional Image Editor's Guide to the Creative use of Photoshop for the Macintosh and PC

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Martin Evening's Adobe Photoshop for Photographers series has long been one of the most helpful guides on the market. This newest edition is updated for CS3 and offers full coverage of all the new features as well as continued coverage of everything carried over from prior versions. Weighing in at 680 pages and including a DVD with sample images, this is about as complete a package as you could ask for. The author methodically runs through feature after feature and does a good job explaining how to use them.

There are sections covering What's New, Configuring Photoshop, Camera Raw Image Processing, Selections and Masking, Darkroom Effects, Filters, Color Management, Automating Photoshop, and many others which I will not mention. This is truly comprehensive coverage. The writing style is clear and concise. This is a very effective guide that nearly always tells me what I need to know when I pull it off the shelf.

The closest thing to a negative (and it really isn't one) is that this is probably closer to an encyclopedia of Photoshop CS3 than it is to one of those guides that covers certain "how to" topics in great detail. Even with 680 pages, when you have to cover the entirety of Photoshop there is a need for brevity. So if you're interested in Masking this book will certainly cover it but you can't expect the same level of narrative as you would from an entire book on layers and masking. Since there is no book that can possibly cover everything in minute detail, my solution (and the only practical solution) is to buy several books for my various needs. I buy this volume as a general reference guide and quick how-to helper and then buy a few other guides to help walk me step-by-step through some of the trickier aspects of Photoshop. Some of my favorites include Photoshop CS3 Workflow: The Digital Photographer's Guide (Tim Grey Guides) which is an excellent foundation for beginners and intermediate users as well as The Adobe Photoshop CS3 Book for Digital Photographers (Voices That Matter).

In summary, Adobe Photoship CS3 for Photographers is an excellent and comprehensive guidebook. I would highly recommend it for anyone looking for the encyclopedic style Photoshop guide and it is well worth buying even if you have the old CS2 version.

I just recently acquired this updated volume of Mr. Evening's successful Photoshop guide with a yearning to upgrade from my CS2 version of his book. Those of you who are waiting to add the CS3 volume to your series or replace your CS2 edition, you won't be disappointed!

Martin Evening combines his digital photography expertise with his working knowledge of Photoshop to a level that encourages even the novice of PS users. He breaks down Photoshop's basic and advance features to help you comprehend and understand how and why it works without having to delve too deeply into the technical aspects.

I still consider myself an amateur photographer, still wet behind the ears with my Nikon D50. Having owned the CS2 edition, I appreciate how this series has helped me with insight into enhancing my work and getting more out of Adobe Photoshop. IMHO it is still the best Photoshop bible around! I've always enjoyed this series for its heavy stock paper, full color imagery and superb layout! Even when I'm not working in Photoshop I've always found this book to be a fascinating and fun read when I need to geek out on my various Photoshop/Corel Painter books and periodicals from the UK! (On a sidetrack note, I highly recommend Photoshop Creative and ImagineFX magazines for all you fellow PS geeks out there, both outstanding publications from the UK loaded with tutorials and tips!!)

Thank you, Mr. Evening for updating your outstanding book for CS3!!

It is interesting to read the existing reviews of Martin Evening's CS3 book and note the wide disparity in opinion. There can be several reasons for this, including a wide disparity in the needs and level of the readers.

I bought this book because I was looking for additional breadth on the Sharpening book by Bruce Fraser (which I recommend highly also), but what I found was a breadth and depth that I had not expected on virtually every topic in PS CS3 that I have examined. I know of no other book that lays out the whole (almost) picture of the new Photoshop, and does it in such detail and technical depth. There are three authors that I trust to bring me the technical depth I need: Eismann, Fraser, and now Evening.

There are high spots and low spots in the coverage. In some areas the coverage is just that, coverage. But in many, the depth is incredible, perhaps due to his own level of experiences.

Another aspect of the book that is highly valuable is the presentation of the author's opinions and methods. This is incredibly useful information because it overcomes the smooth bland formal treatments available elsewhere and gives you techniques used by (more than one) working professionals. This is exactly what I like about Eismann and Fraser as well.

Another aspect that rings true is that Evening refers to other subjects and authors that I have found very useful, such as for example The DAM Book by Peter Krogh and the issues related to Digital Asset Management.

It is not, however, an introductory book for most people. It goes fast and it goes deep. Other books would probably serve many who are looking for beginning books.

I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting an in depth treatment of Photoshop CS3 at an advanced level and who is willing to work to obtain it.

I found the CS2 version of this book at a local bookstore. Having just bought CS3, I looked online for a newer version. Voila! Amazon had the book in stock, and at a nice savings. Enough of the fluff! This book is just plain outstanding in every area. Well thought out organization of material with 'reader level' explanations of the how and why of examples. I have several Photoshop books that are "gee whiz, look what I can do texts" leaving the reader standing alone. Evening's logical progression of the setup through output is very understandable. The included DVD has video examples and extra material which is not in the hardcopy. I recommend this reference guide to all levels of photography and photoshop users.

Very difficult to understand. You practically need to know Photoshop in order to understand it. Following the pictures is difficult because they are so small makes it difficult to see. Large book and difficult for my hands to hold. Probably should be in two volumes. Don't pay more than $10 for this book because it's just not worth it.

Some other reviewers say they will wait for a different edition of CS3 to arrive! I need the information now. The Martin Evening book makes compromises on a HUGE subject, but covers in a clear, very helpful and informative way. I am pleased with the book.

I also like: Evening leaves out un-useful/nice-to-know information. He covers useful content, clearly, well illustrated, helpful CD with images to work on included! The subject could have covered 1000 pages, maybe an encyclopedia, but then we would complain of too much detail. Good work, Martin!

Negative: In some areas, Evening gives detailed methods, step by step, but fails to explain the underlying tools used. In 680 pages, one must edit out many details. So, opinion will divide based on how in-depth is one's knowledge of P-shop. If you have previously studied P-shop, this book will satisfy. If not, one may follow along but wonder about many details without explanation. For instance, what are Calculations using Pin-light? I see it creates an Alpha-chanel with red and green, but what is that? If I really want to know, I will look elsewhere.

As a commercial photographer and Photoshop expert, Martin Evening is ideally placed to write a Photoshop book for photographers. Bruce Fraser fans will enjoy the technical insight provided by this book. Photographers will enjoy the targeted content. Anyone who wants to know how to manage, develop and print their digital negatives will find this book indispensable.

This is possible the best reference book I have ever purchased. Every thechnique is explained simply and effectivly.
I've been using photoshop for many years and considered myself somewhat of and expert but this book as oped my eyes to what is possible.
I wouldnt limit this to photographers only, it is perfect for any photoshop user.
All I can say is BUY THIS BOOK.

I have to start by saying that I do love the writing and presentation style of the Scott Kelby CSx series of books but Martin Evening takes CS3 to the level that true digital photographers (using CS3) really need. In my opinion, one of the most important features for photographers is covered in Evening's book while not being mentioned in Kelby's. Soft-proofing is such a major benefit for digital photographers and Evening devotes 6-10 pages in his book on the topic. That is not a ton of pages considering the size of the book but the topic is not missed. In defense of Kelby, his book is not intended for the CS3 digital photographer who goes to these depths with their work. It is more for the tips and tricks that all digital photographers do, want to do or may come across a need for in their random workflow. Evening's book is for the hard core digital photographer who wants the most from their digital workflow. Defintiely for an advanced intermediate to pro level photographer who wants to really learn what may be a key element in their digital workflow. Both books though are great books to have on your shelf. The depth from one to the other is just different.

I've had several PS CS2 books, and since this was one of the first ones out for CS3 I bought it. After attempting to use the book, I have given up in frustration. I find the instructions very confusing and the example photos are not well done.

I do not get the expected results from his steps, and in many of his before and after photos you see very little difference. This is in stark contrast with PS books by Fraser and Kelby that I find extremely well written and easy to follow.

I will no longer use this book and am selling my copy. Don't bother with this one, and purchase one that is better written and easier to follow. I'm no dummy, but the author really needs to learn how to explain the steps better with more screenshots.