Customer Reviews

Adobe Photoshop CS4: Up to Speed

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Every 18 months Adobe issues a new version of Photoshop. Every 18 months Ben Willmore produces a new version of "Up to Speed", describing the new features of the newest version of Photoshop. Every 18 months I write a review saying that, for experienced Photoshop users, upgrading from the prior version to the newest version, this book is the quickest way to learn the new features. It's that time again.

As usual Willmore describes all the new features in clear precise language. If the function of the feature is obvious, he tells you how to set it up. If its application is not apparent, he explains the feature in enough detail to make it apparent. If it's really complex, he delves into the complexity. It's all there and there is not a superfluous word.

Typical was his instruction concerning Camera Raw 5.0. The new plug-in includes the Adjustment Brush, a tool that was brought over from Lightroom 2 that allows for local adjustments in Camera Raw. In 5 pages he provides the most clear and concise explanation of this tool that I've read anywhere. In fact I'd recommend to Lightroom users who may be a bit confused by the Adjustment Brush that they read this explanation. (Unfortunately, Willmore can't explain why the Adjustment Brush works so much better in Camera Raw then Lightroom, but then, neither can Adobe's engineers.)

I do have a single complaint. Willmore notes that some of the new features of the tools, like Bird's Eye View, may not work without the proper video card. What he didn't say was to go to the Adobe web page, where there's a list of the cards that work, and advice that you may need to download new drivers from the video card's manufacturer, and even links. I installed the new drivers and now all the features are available.

Why waste time reading a Photoshop CS4 book that tells you about features that are carried over from CS3? Spend an evening with this short book and you will be "Up to Speed."

... you've already read at least one of the other 'full featured' books from Deke, Martin, Katrin, Scott, and others, even Ben's 'Studio' book. And any of those authors are good choices if you're just starting out. But if you just want to get up-to-speed on the laterst version of PS, then this is the book to get.

And Ben adds the 'why' as well as the 'how' on the new features, so you'll have a deeper understanding of what has been added. While this book comes with no cd/dvd - there are many tutorials already on the web - I find myself using it as a reference after the first read-through and that is more handy than running and searching through a video to answer a specific question.

If I could give more stars than 5, I would.

... and get this book if you're upgrading to Adobe Photoshop CS4! Ben Willmore covers ONLY the "new stuff" in his Up To Speed series and this book is well worth its price. It's not a general Photoshop book - there are certainly plenty of those. Rather, this one is for learning how to make the best use of Adobe's latest "enhancements". Highly recommended!

Ben Wilmore is one of the Photoshop gurus along with Scott Kelby and several others. This book is a great overview of the changes and differences between CS3 and CS4. It is really not for beginners, but rather for those who are familiar with Photoshop's basic functions and how the new CS4 performs those. It essence Ben brings the reader up to date on where to find the tools and procedures in CS4 that we were so familiar with in CS3 and earlier versions. It is a no nonsense type of book and one that you will use as reference for the life of CS4. I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 in that there are not that many screen shots and photos as in Scott Kelby's books. Those would have been helpful. CS4 made a lot of cosmetic changes that a Photoshop user really needs to know about and has moved some of the functions around. You'll be lost for a while without Ben's help in this book. Recommended for all previous users of Photoshop.

As always - Ben Willmore does a great job of explaining Adobe Photoshop and in this case, what's new in CS4. If you already know Photoshop CS3 but you just want to learn the new features in CS4 (including Camera Raw)- this is the book for you. He gives great explanations of what's new and detailed instructions (with examples) of how to use the new features. I highly recommend this book!
Cathy

This is a wonderful book with all the new features of Photoshop CS4. He compares the features or changes to CS3 with a complete description of their function. This is not a "1-2-3 how to" accomplish something book, but an explanation of the functions within the various panels so you can understand the different icon choices.

I have used "uptospeed CS3" and now "uptospeed CS4" to upgrade my skills in Photoshop. In each case the information contained and the insightful presentation of that information has been excellent. With my relatively advanced experience with the Photoshop software it has been sufficiently comprehensive, allowing me to use the upgrades effectively and relatively seamlessly, i.e. to take advantage of the improvements and changes in the upgrades with confidence. The only criticism I have of the book is that it is poorly bound and falls apart with use. The publishers should be ashamed of themselves.

This book is very useful, pointing out new features in cs4. It is well written and definitely worth buying.

In past years I had ordered the complete books and their updates but I found it was a waste of time redoing everything I had done before. So I decided to do a shortcut which turned out to be very productive and actually gave me very precise info. This book is a must for those who need to keep up but to keep up with the most precise information and this book fills the bill. I strongly endorse this book and you are not going to go wrong by purchasing it.

This little book is filled with valuable information, and is easy to understand. It is well written and organized. I would expect nothing less from Ben Wilmore. I highly recommend it.