Customer Reviews

Adobe Photoshop CS3 Studio Techniques

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is an updated version of Ben Willmore's Adobe Photoshop CS2 tome. The CS3 revisions were written by Ben Long. (Not that that really matters) Both Mac and PC keyboard commands are explained. The screenshots are all Mac OS X. PC users need not worry however as the functionality is pretty much identical between the two platforms.

Pros:

Packed with useful easy to find information.

Written in plain english. You don't need to know all of the trade words.

The CD is loaded with pictures you can use to do the lessons. Also the CD contains 5 "Bonus" chapters. (To keep the weight of the book down they say)

The bonus chapers are:

Line art scanning
Channels
Shadows
Type and background effects
Resolution solutions

Cons:

When I bought this is was listed as a hardback book but it is not. It is paperback. (I see Amazon has changed their listing)

Most of the pictures printed in the book are too small to see what the author is trying to show you.

The book has the worst quaility of paper I've seen on an Adobe printed book. The cover pages are thinner than they should be and the ends of the interior pages are cupped as if someone rolled them in a tube. Quite maddning as they are not cupped in the same direction and it makes it difficult to read.

I give this book 5 starts for content and 3 stars for the poor way the book is bound.

This book is the text for an advanced photoshop class I am taking. The author explains everything in simple terms and very thoroughly. The CD that comes with the books provides all images he uses as examples so you can try the techniques along with the book or use your own pics. I am only half way through this book but I think it's definitely helping my understanding of photoshop. The only thing is that I don't think this is an advanced book, I feel that this should have been the book for last semester's beginning photoshop class. Overall: great book for starting out in photoshop.

I love this book! It makes using Photoshop easy, but doesn't treat the reader like an idiot. It walks you through useful editing techniques step-by-step so that you can get the most out of Photoshop. It provides helpful examples to assist the reader in understanding the concept as well. A great purchase!

I bought this book as course requirement for my photoshop class. I never though this would be good as technical information book. My campus boot stores was selling it for about 40-45 dollars. I look for it in the www.half.com but Amazon offers the best deal. It seem like Amazon always offers the best deal for best selling new items.
The book start off as slow from panels design overview. It was a bit boring to read something that you already know ( I did some computer graphic course before and I am thinking about changing my major from computer science to Animation). However, although it was somewhat boring to re-read the panel design overview. This book highlight important shortcut keys and commands in separated window box in the book. It was very handy for me because I couldn't remember all the important shortcut keys and some functions. It would have wasted a lot of time if I have to scan though the texts just to look for something simple as reset button.
This book also cover some graphical term such as coloring and such. But it managed to keep it short and easy to read.
For anybody that wants to learn how to use photoshop likes a professional. I would highly recommend them because this book came with a CD that include photos files to practice for each chapter. This is not boring to read and it included a lot of exercise. When you learn to use software such as Photoshop you are going to need have a lot practice. Otherwise you would remember anything.
I would have buy this book even if I don't have to take this class. And I will not sell back. I will keep it for future reference and when I can afford CS4 I will buy the CS4 version of this book.

I'm taking a digital art class at my university this semester and reading Ben Willmore's CS3 Studio Techniques fills in all the gaps left out because of time constraints (we meet once a week for 5 hours). I've been showing my professor some of the techniques I've learned because of this book - things he hasn't discovered and he's been in the professional field for 8 years. I recommend this to anyone wanting the ins and outs of Photoshop explained incredibly well. Thanks Ben!

The author, Ben Willmore, is the hardest working Photoshop "Guru" that I know of! His head is overflowing with things to do in the "latest" evolution of Photoshop, whatever that may be (currently CS3). I have been to his seminars and buy his books FIRST when the kind folks at Adobe release another dynamite, dynamic piece of software. Ben even puts out the first "Up to Speed" book that I look for, so I don't have to rehash all the things I already know.

About this book, I have only skimmed the surface of what's available inside. If I had gone cover to cover upon receipt of this book, I think my head would have exploded long ago! Don't let the title scare you away...you DON'T need to have a "studio"! A lot of this is the same stuff you get at the seminars Ben does, only more detailed than the handouts!

In my opinion, you can't go wrong with anything written by this man. He is a wonderful speaker and author! 5 Stars!

Don't get me wrong, this is a decent book but if you own the previous one on CS2 there is little to justify the purchase - hence the low rating.

Clear and simple instruction on how things work (like curves). Not a cookbook but has settings for certain things (like sharpening settings for different types).

Well worth the money.

I have several reference books for the CS2 & CS3 Photoshop Program. I especially like this CS3 Studio Techniques book for the direct presentation of variables in the program. No need for me to hunt through chapters that do not apply to a problem I'm having at the moment. I find this book easy to follow and understand and no matter the level of experience with Photoshop, it could be used by all. I'm sure this will become a GREAT reference book for me. I have not used the CD lessons yet but intend to fine tune what I already know, but have forgotten because of overwhelming selection choices.

This book has shown me somethings I didnt know and is a great resource for photographers!