Customer Reviews

Adobe Photoshop CS4 Studio Techniques

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I've been using photoshop professionally for a few years if you can call it that. Like a lot of people I would mess around with the curves not really knowing what they do to my images. Then I'd adjust the levels and eventually end up with what I thought was a decent edited photo. I like the other books out there for quick tips and recipes but it was clearly this studio techniques book that helped me finally understand what the hec i was doing.

This is not a step by step cookbook type of book but instead its a journey from the basic overview of CS4 to the complex curves, histograms, layers, sharpening and more. Do yourself a favor and get this book if you want to really learn photoshop, not just click the buttons and hope for the best. Congrats Ben and Dan on a terrific book.

Hmmm. Well, I've been using this title in my Photoshop courses at the college level since 2006 and I must say that this newest release/version is unorganized and mismanaged. What happened? I automatically order this book as soon as it is released with EVERY new version of Adobe CS, but I think I may start looking for another book. I can't understand the purpose of a chapter on "Layers and Curves". Why would these two LARGE and somewhat UNRELATED topics be bundled into the same chapter. What about a chapter on something a little more consistent, like "LEVELS and CURVES? Instead, Levels has been relegated to a small section in a chapter about preparing images for output and Curves has found a home in the premature chapter of 3.

In addition, there is what I assume to be an error between Chpt 1 and Chpt 2. Chpt 2 starts as "Selection Primer" on page 43, with an introduction to the necessity of mastering selection techniques, then it is interrupted by an entire section on using Adobe Bridge, which has nothing to do with selections. There isn't a mention of "selections" until page 60. Again, what is going on here?

Also, there is very little information on the new interface, and that which is included is muddled and hard to understand.

Generally speaking, the book is organized poorly - the flow that is introduced, from one chapter to the next, does not assist the user. Topics are jumbled, chapters are seemingly out of order and the new information doesn't mesh well with the old.

Overall, I am disappointed with this version of the book and will begin my search for a new textbook for my class. Perhaps if Ablan rewrites the book from the ground up, it will fill its shoes completely, once again.

I would like to recommend a book for those, who are like me, learning Photoshop or switching to the CS4 version. It is the main text used in my current Photoshop class.

This book gives a fast overview of what's new and the basic tools, then dives into the deeper mechanics of just what makes Photoshop the most efficient image manipulation tool on the market today.

This was chosen for the students in my class, because the philosophy of this book meshes with my professor's own ideals of Photoshop use (and he is a stickler for efficient, lean and potent work).

It is a step-by-step tutorial/manual for gaining proficiency in Photoshop.
I am enjoying it very much and find it emphasizes what the pros use and do over the sometimes sloppy methods of flashy Photoshop pizazz books that sometimes appear.

Web graphics, electronic publishing, art, poster creation - whatever your creativity leads you to, this book will serve you in acheiving your goals. If you want to learn how to "do Photoshop right", then this is a great first step on the journey to not only eye-appealing image wizardry, but most importantly Photoshop elegance and professional mastery.

If you don't know where to start with Photoshop, then this book a good guide for you. You will feel comfortable after covering couple chapters. Book has detailed explainations of features with screen snap shots. I bought this book for my photography class, and it helped a lot. I consider this book a good investment for beginners in Photoshop.

Any looking to master Adobe Photoshop CS4 will find this a key instructional, revised and updated for CS4 and including in-depth coverage of Adobe Bridge, Camera raw, and more. From real-world production insights to full-color camera and computer screen shot examples at nearly every step, this is an unbeatable, important guide and a 'must' for any serious Adobe Photoshop library and any taking a course on CS4.

I have bought many books by Ben Willmore. I read them because I like the author. His books are clear to an extreme, and always easy and fun to read. This book is none of those.

I have the impression that Ben Willmore's name was used for this book because he wrote deservedly successful books for previous versions of Photoshop and may have had some contractual obligation - certainly his name will help sell this book to readers of his actual works. But how much of his life can we expect him to spend actually writing detailed instructional books on all aspects of new versions of Photoshop? Evidently he was burnt out or otherwise occupied, and the publisher found someone else to write this one.

Right away, I knew this was NOT a book written by Ben Willmore. The information is neither always clear nor always helpful, and it's never actually fun to read. I suggest you read one of Willmore's previous Photoshop books and then get his "Up to Speed" on Photoshop CS4, which discusses what's new in the CS4 iteration.

Dan Ablan, the purported "co-author," deserves his name alone on this one, for various reasons. It may possibly retain some material from one of Willmore's books, but not enough to justify listing him as the author.

I'm a longtime fan of Ben Willmore and like to attend his workshops when the cruise through town. His books have always been enlightening in their approach and this new version is no different. I don't like the missing CD but I emailed Dan Ablan, the co-author who handled the revision for this title and to my surprise, he emailed me back almost instantly. He was pleasant and friendly and frankly I was quite amazed. It's great to know that an author can be contacted for questions and that's not something you find often.

About the book. I found it to be a very good transition from the CS3 version to CS4. I thought it might cover more of the CS4 features and skip some of the photoshop guts that the studio techniques book is known for, but it didn't. Yes the book is slightly slimmer and there's no CD. But that doesn't take away from the content, explanation of curves, blending modes, levels, sharpening and lots more. I found this book to be extremely valuable to get me up to speed. The layout and quality of this book is great, and the image examples are on par with what I'd expect from Peachpit publishing. Dan has done a great job coming in on the heels of Ben's work and retooling it for this new version. This was no small task and it's apparent throughout the book.

If you want to understand what you're clicking in Photoshop, rather than just pressing buttons and hoping that you end up with the right look - stimulate the economy and buy yourself this book.

Adobe Photoshop CS4 Studio Techniques
By Ben Willmore, Dan Ablan
Copyright 2009
Dimensions 7-3/8 X 9-1/8
Pages: 480
Edition: 1st.
ISBN-10: 0-321-61310-4
ISBN-13: 978-0-321-61310-3


I reviewed the previous version of this book when it was only Ben Willmore working on it. Dan Ablan was contracted to revise it for CS4 and I'm very pleased with his approach. He maintained Ben's easy going style while adding his own flair to the revised areas.

There are also 6 bonus videos available via download. The link is in the book. This is new material from Dan Ablan and the video's alone are worth the price of the book.

This book is a great resource for all CS4 readers. Material has always and still is presented in an organized and smartly planned manner. Dan and Ben's styles convey the information clearly and allow you to see further possiblities with the tools.

I especially liked the use of the Luxology logo on page 321. Yeah Dan, nice connection to your Luxology modo training and books.

I teach Photoshop at the College level. I have been using Studio Techniques for several Photoshop versions over the years - and my students LOVE Ben. They love the way he explains complicated stuff in easy-to-grasp terms.
They LOVE his images to practice on.
Well, when CS4 version of Studio Techniques came out, I bought it and planned to use it in my intermediate photoshop class in the Fall...Then I got the book and found that there was no CD. The CD was one of the BEST things about his lessons: interesting images to practice on, and lots of them. It was fun to compare your results with his examples. And the teaching style in this version of the book has changed to a lot more "dry" approach.

I am not pleased. I will be looking for a more user-friendly-yet-sophisticated Photoshop book. One with pictures to practice on.

I accidentally duplicate my order for 6 books instead of 3 for my friends and me, because something i click is not right, I call customer service, they take good care of it no problem, I am happy . So far I like the book very much It help me a lot in my school. Thanks Amazon for good service and cheap price too.