Adobe Photoshop CS2 On Demand [Paperback]

Andy Anderson (Author), Steve Johnson (Author), Perspection Inc. (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0789733900 | ISBN-13: 978-0789733900 | Publication Date: June 4, 2005

Photoshop can be an intimidating and time-consuming program to learn. Wouldn't you rather spend your time learning by doing rather than reading? Adobe Photoshop CS 2 On Demand features step-by-step instructions with accompanying visuals so that you spend more time learning and less time reading. The in-depth, wide-ranging coverage will enable you to get the most out of Photoshop CS 2 and included tool, such as:

• File browser
• Brush special effects
• Photo retouching
• Enhanced web output features
• Healing brush

Studying for the Adobe Certified Exam for Photoshop? This tutorial also includes exam objectives throughout its pages. You will become a master of Photoshop CS 2 with the help of Adobe Photoshop CS 2 On Demand.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Adobe Photoshop CS2 On Demand About The Author

Andy Anderson is a graphics designer and illustrator who has worked with Photoshop since it was released. A university professor, Andy is a sought-after lecturer in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. The remainder of his time is split between writing graphics and fiction books, and developing graphics, animations, and resource materials for various corporations and seminar companies. His clients include designers and trainers from the U.S. Government, Boeing, Disneyland, and other Fortune 500 companies.

© Copyright Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Introduction

How You'll Learn

• How This Book Works
• What's New
• Keyboard Shortcuts
• Step-by-Step Instructions
• Real World Examples
• Andy's Workshop
• Photoshop for Windows and Macintosh
• Adobe Certified Expert

Welcome to Adobe Photoshop CS2 On Demand, a visual quick reference/training book that shows you how to work efficiently with Adobe Photoshop CS2. This book provides complete coverage of basic and intermediate Photoshop CS2 skills.

How This Book Works

You don't have to read this book in any particular order. We've designed the book so that you can jump in, get the information you need, and jump out. However, the book does follow a logical progression from simple tasks to more complex ones. Each task is presented on no more than two facing pages, which lets you focus on a single task without having to turn the page. To find the information that you need, just look up the task in the table of contents, index, or troubleshooting guide, and turn to the page listed. Read the task introduction, follow the step-by-step instructions in the left column along with screen illustrations in the right column, and you're done.

What's New

If you're searching for what's new in Photoshop CS2, just look for the icon: New!. The new icon appears in the table of contents and throughout this book so you can quickly and easily identify a new or improved feature in Photoshop CS2. A complete description of each new feature appears in the New Features guide in the back of this book.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Most menu commands have a keyboard equivalent, such as Ctrl+P (Win) or A+P (Mac), as a quicker alternative to using the mouse. A complete list of keyboard shortcuts is available on the web at http://www.perspection.com in the software downloads area.

Step-by-Step Instructions

This book provides concise step-by-step instructions that show you "how" to accomplish a task. Each set of instructions include illustrations that directly correspond to the easy-to-read steps. Also included in the text are timesavers, tables, and sidebars to help you work more efficiently or to teach you more in-depth information. A "Did You Know?" provides tips and techniques to help you work smarter, while a "See Also" leads you to other parts of the book containing related information about the task.

Real World Examples

This book uses real world examples files to help you perform a task. The examples give you a context in which to use the task. By using the example files, you won't waste time looking for or creating sample files. The Photoshop example files that you need for project tasks are available on the web at http://www.perspection.com.

Andy's Workshop

This book shows you how to put together the individual step-by-step tasks into indepth projects with Andy's Workshop. You start each project with a sample file, work through the steps, and then compare your results with Andy's project file at the end. The project files are available on the web at http://www.perspection.com.

Photoshop for Windows and Macintosh

This book is written for the Windows and Macintosh version of Adobe Photoshop CS2. Both versions of the software are virtually the same, but there are a few platform differences between the two versions. When there are differences between the two versions, steps written specifically for the Windows version end with the notation (Win) and steps for the Macintosh version end with the notation (Mac). In some instances, tasks are split between the two operating systems.

Adobe Certified Expert

This book prepares you fully for the Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) exam for Adobe Photoshop CS2. Each Adobe Certified Expert certification level has a set of objectives, which are organized into broader skill sets. To prepare for the certification exam, you should review and perform each task identified with a Adobe Certified Expert objective to confirm that you can meet the requirements for the exam. Throughout this book, content that pertains to an objective is identified with the Adobe Certified Expert logo and objective number next to it.

© Copyright Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Paperback: 544 pages
• Publisher: Que (June 4, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789733900
• ISBN-13: 978-0789733900
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,264,795 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good for Beginners, September 4, 2005

By 

MWeisbart "Michele" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Adobe Photoshop CS2 On Demand (Paperback)

Photoshop CS2 on Demand by Andy Anderson and Steve Johnson (ISBN 0-78897-3390-0) is a good book for the beginner to intermediate level Photoshop user. The authors of this book have a great way of presenting the material. First, they present the information about any topic on (at most) two facing pages. The reader doesn't have to worry about getting lost or reading long passages in order to go through one of the tools. Second, the information is presented on a step-by-step basis, so the reader can follow along and actually accomplish each step before going onto the next one. Third, the information is presented in a combination of short written passages and effective visuals. After all, Photoshop is a visual program; it only makes sense that the best way to learn and master the program is to do it visually.

One of the hardest things about learning a new program is deciding where to start. Once you have learned the tools and how to set up a file, do you learn about layers and color or about the history palette and selection techniques. Again, Andy Anderson and Steve Johnson have a good strategy. The information seems to naturally flow, one subject to another. That being said, if the reader decides to skip to a particular chapter of interest, one doesn't get lost or feel that they are missing something. Again, I think that this is because the authors have used effective visuals and short, but understandable explanations of the actual process necessary to use a tool or manipulate an image.

Photoshop CS2 on Demand does cover all the new additions to CS2, which is really why I got the book. However, this is where I really think the book falls a little short. Anderson and Johnson do a good job explaining the new vanishing point tool, for example, but they barely touch Smart Objects, which is a huge addition to Photoshop CS2. I mean, it explains how to use Smart Objects, but I am not sure that someone unfamiliar will Photoshop will understand how being able to go back and manipulate an image once a manipulation has already been applied is really revolutionary for Photoshop and how much flexibility it gives the designer. In addition, image warp or wrapping is barely touched upon by the authors and then, only incidental to the discussion of Smart Objects. I believe that these are two additions to Photoshop CS2 that deserve a little more explanation.

One thing that this book does, is clearly indicate what issues are relevant to those seeking to become Adobe Certified Experts. Under the heading of each page, where relevant, the little Adobe Certified Expert insignia is present. This is a great way to present and highlight this information. I only wish that they had used the same means to highlight information relating to those things that are new to Photoshop CS2. They do add a "New" within the text covering new items, but it is very difficult to just thumb through the book and find out where these topics are - you really need to know what they are first and then find them in the index or table of contents.

Finally, this book does offer one of the best chapters I have seen about automating your work with actions. It is a great workflow tool and I have found very few books that so effectively and comprehensively go through the actions palette.

24 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Impressive and inexpensive too, June 10, 2005

By 

Animator "Photoshop Junkie" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Adobe Photoshop CS2 On Demand (Paperback)

This is one of those titles that you wish you had purchased long ago. Andy gets into the details of Photoshop, and not only shows you where all the buttons are in this huge application, but gives you creative tips and tricks on how to use them. Just the section on photo-restoration alone has saved me hours (if not days) of work. I honestly can recommend this title to any beginner to intermediate level Photoshop user.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Quick Reference with in depth information!, March 3, 2006

By 

Lynn May (DEN,CO) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Adobe Photoshop CS2 On Demand (Paperback)

I researched various Photoshop CS2 instruction books through digtal photographers and photo forums and this is an excellent choice. I have found information in this book that I could not quickly find (needed the information for a project) in two other top rated Photoshop books. I know that I will reference this book often. Easy to use, quick, with color coded page edges and an actual index that leads to the information you need. Well written for those of us who are actuall photographers, and computer users, but new to Photoshop.

If I could only have two books on Photoshop CS2 I would get On Demand and PhotoshopCS2 One on One by Deke McClelland, one for quick reference with some instruction and one for full instruction. Both Excellent. Actually, the Photoshop CS2 On Demand was the first book that I bought. I have been borrowing One on One.

If you're an old 35mm user like me switching to digital, then Perfect Digital Photography (by Dickman & Kinghorn) is excellent with almost half of the book being dedicated to image processing.

I rated this book 5 stars because it is what it claims to be, On Demand instuction, with enough information to help you do the job without the need to read a large section of the book.