Customer Reviews

Adobe Photoshop Elements 7 Maximum Performance: Unleash the hidden performance of Elements

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

 

 

Photoshop Elements 7 is powerful photo editing software, but it can be very difficult for new users to unlock that power. The interface is not at all intuitive to those of us who are not well-versed in the somewhat arcane art and science of photo editing, and Adobe includes virtually no documentation with the box. Online help files can be difficult to locate and understand. Many of the shortcuts and functions that must be understood and navigated to effectively use Photoshop Elements 7 would unfortunately stay hidden from most casual users forever were it not for experts like author Mark Galer who are willing to share the expertise that they have gained from years of experience in photo editing.

I previously used Photoshop Elements 5, and have the excellent book which was written on that version by renowned photography writer Scott Kelby. The version 7 book by Mr. Galer is every bit the equal of Mr. Kelby's book, and in my opinion surpasses it in some respects. Mr. Galer's book is separated into three major sections that contain a total of 25 projects for the user to complete. While doing the projects you will learn the ins and outs of the software. The book also comes with a DVD that contains not only all of the photographs needed to complete the projects, but also includes video demonstration of the techniques using the Elements 7 software, along with preloaded action buttons that can be inported into the program. These actions are essentially recorded macros of certain editing and enhancing techniques. These can be freely used on your own photos.

After a week of doing the projects in the book I can honestly say that I've gotten more performance out of the software than I did in a couple of years of using Elements 5 with the Kelby (and I do plan on getting the new Kelby Elements 7 book as soon as it's available). The DVD videos are just like being able to sit at the desk of an expert user while he demonstrates the techniques that he uses. I can't wait to get home from work each day just so I can sit down at the computer and learn some more. You will be happy with this book. It will unlock many of the secrets of Elements 7 and you will take your images to a new level.

Here is a link to one of the video tutorials included on the DVD. This one is in low res while the ones on the DVD are much higher resolution.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GaRkOBAEmo

I have been using PS7 for a while and thought I knew how to do it. This book and DVD opened up possibilities I never knew I could do. This is easy, step by step follow along instructions with a human side. Still a pretty high learning curve, but I bought the program for what it would do..and it does a lot.

While this book is not for individuals first starting with Photoshop Elements, it is an absolutely superb book for the advanced user. I marvel at the clever work-arounds and combination of methods to achieve the desired artistic goal. This book covers technique modifications that I have never even seen mentioned in other books. The book has 25 projects that are covered both in the book and on the DVD. The book is like a note taker for each of the 10+ minute DVD projects. (And you will need to take notes.) The DVD also contains PE7 add-ons to increase the PE7 functionality. It also contains stock photos, and other extras. In one of the projects Mark Galer continued to make subtle, but significant, improvements to an image that I felt was already perfect.

Mark Galer had my attention in his introduction. You can do advanced editing with Elements and the program provides the tools most photographers will ever need. He then goes through and proves his point with a series sophisticated exercises that you would think you could only do in Photoshop. There are lots of bonus tips, Element actions, and tutorials on the accompanying DVD. Nice graphics, excellent examples, it is definitely worth a read.

Adobe Photoshop Elements 7 Maximum Performance: Unleash the hidden performance of Elements

I am still working my way through this book and the included videos tutorials, but I have got a number of useful hints and processes that I have already applied to some of my own images.

Its not a book that is a basic how to manual.

It explains how to deal with specific issues in common situations.

I have been using the processes in the videos tutorials and applying them to my own images, a lot depends on the quality of the images. If its not a good quality at the start there is only so much that you can do to improve it.

This book has helped me and has shown me how to enhance/improve my images, but don't expect it to teach you how to fix/enhance a poor quality image.

I would recommend this book and I think it will be a valuable resource for my current and future needs to to fix/enhance my images.

So far, I have found this book to be a very informative and helpful in my quest to learn photoshop techniques. It is divided into chapters nicely and explains the subject matter pretty good. I have not had a chance to use much of the bonus material yet, like the video lessons. Installing the video lessons and the actions is easy. Finding it in your computer to use while in photoshop elements is a little tricky and I'm still working on that. Overall, though, this is a pretty good learning tool.

this book showes very advanced techniques for photo editing. Even though a beginner can follow this book and perform the projects in this book I would suggest a novice first read a starter book, one aimed more at explaining what and how the tools work. Very good book and i have started using some of the techniques on my own photos and am very pleased with the improvement.

This post is in response to the comment made by R. Morrison about opening some of the files on the supporting DVD that comes with this excellent book. The DVD works just fine and is packed with content including Raw files in the .dng format All files used in the book also available in the JPEG and TIFF file formats.

If the reader is encountering .dng files for the first time and has not set a default program for dng files it is possible that his or her computer will not know which program should open the .dng file. The solution for any user would be to simply right-click on a .dng file on the DVD and go to 'Open With > Choose Default Program > Adobe Photoshop Elements. This would then resolve the problem for all subsequent actions (clicking on the Raw link in the DVD interface to open the Raw file). This would be the same action that any computer user would normally do with ANY file type they would encounter for the first time.

Dorothy

Although there is a newer version, photoshop 8 out. there are only a few changes and isen't worth the expense of upgrading. So you can get the most out of ver-7 with this book, and for the price you can't beat it!

The DVD/book package Adobe Photoshop Elements 7: Maximum Performance shows how to produce professional-quality image editing without the need to upgrade to the more expensive, weighty and full version of Photoshop. Real-world projects are presented in step-by-step tutorials on editing techniques and using all facets of the program, from Camera Raw to optimize photos to channels, motion blur and other image-enhancing techniques. The DVD offers over 7 hours of movie tutorials, JPEG, and plug-in photo effects, among other elements. A top pick for any Photoshop Elements 7 user!