Customer Reviews

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom and Photoshop Workflow Bible

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm a professional portrait photographer. I work both in-studio as well as on-location and I have used Photoshop intensively for 6 years and Lightroom since beta. That said, I am always open to learning new methods that can shave time off my workflow - the less time I spend at the computer, the more dollars per hour I make. This book has helped me to learn more about the programs that I use all day every day.

Now, trying to cover ALL of Lightroom and Photoshop in one (albeit full-to-the-brim) book is an impossible task. One has to choose what to cover in depth, and what to leave out. Fitzgerald has done a fantastic job of covering the critical components of the actual workflow without getting bogged down in (for instance) the minutiae of how to do eye enhancement retouching so as to bring out liquidity and presence.

All of us need to `hammer through' thousands of images, sorting, color-balancing, retouching a bit, cropping, etc.,, etc., etc., ad infinitum! And, all of us need to do this faster and smarter without dropping our guard on the finest end result we can create (which is what our clients pay for!) Fitzgerald gives you just the right amount of information so you can get up and running RIGHT NOW and start using the programs.

This book is a huge help in that. Fitzgerald covers the entire process from importing images to Lightroom through final printing out of Photoshop. As a portrait artist who specializes in enhancement retouching I have spent hundreds of hours studying and using Photoshop and Fitzgerald teaches me new stuff on darn near every page. I also simply love Lightroom (especially 2.1!) and Fitzgerald gives so many great little tips along the way I wonder how the heck he could find time to learn it all and write the book when LR2.0 was still in beta!

Caveat: this in NOT an absolutely thorough coverage of every little thing in either of the programs (for instance, color management gets a few pages here and there whereas Bruce Fraser wrote a whole book on it!), but, that said, it sure as heck will give you the groundwork that you require for getting your workflow up and running and for understanding the programs enough to really get good work done. Actually, I am very surprised at how well Fitzgerald did considering the scope of this book.

I wish the index was more thorough, but I wish that for every book (oh! for an on-line concordance for books!) And I wish there were full-tilt keyboard shortcut charts for both programs (but those can be found on-line, I suppose). The layout is a bit dense to my eye, but there is so much to cram in, I guess if it were less dense the book would be a brick.

Lastly, I have to say that I usually find that book writers do a poor job of keeping a teaching-flow going while writing, they jump around, they try and be too `cool' and get all cutesy, or they dive down long, dark rabbit holes and lose the reader. Fitzgerald is one of the best in-print teachers I have come across, and I read many books per month.

All in all: if you want to improve your bottom line by improving your workflow, buy it!

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom & Photoshop Workflow Bible by Mark Fitzgerald is an indispensable text for today's digital photographer. I have been working with Photoshop for over a decade and Lightroom for the past 2 years. As I have transitioned between film and digital photography, going all digital 3 years ago, my post production needs have changed dramatically. The right software added to knowledge of workflow management coupled with post production skill is key to success. Lightroom is an incredible program that has allowed me to fully leverage the power of digital photography while Photoshop remains the premier program for serious digital image post production.

I have found Lightroom to be essential for managing workflow and Mark's book essential for understanding Lightroom. With the complexity that comes with modern software, an instructor like Mark is a rare find. I find his teaching style intuitive and his technical explanations digestible, being distilled down to the important necessities. There are some places where I would like to find more information (like addressing the limitations of watermarking and slideshow output in LR), but usually I find I am looking for features that are not yet fully fleshes out in Lightroom. LR 2.0 is a major improvement on the first version of Lightroom and I look forward to future upgrades of this relatively new software.

Photoshop is a beast. What can be done with Photoshop is nothing less than incredible. I have been self taught on Photoshop through the years and subsequently missed learning many of its key elements. Adobe Photoshop Lightroom & Photoshop Workflow Bible by Mark Fitzgerald has gratefully filled in many of the holes in my knowledge that are essential to harnessing the power of Photoshop. Here, Mark's style was indispensable as he took me through the steps that are most important to me as a Professional Photographer.

With the power and flexibility of both of these programs can come confusion at times. There are different ways to accomplish the same result so which way is best? A streamlined workflow is essential to being successful with your digital photography. The real value of Mark's book for me comes from increased productivity and more joy in the process. Having settings and preferences customized, presets and metadata at my fingertips, knowledge of the process and best practices in my workflow has allowed my photography to reach new heights. I have always enjoyed the process but the software can be frustrating at times. Mark has erased any frustration from my process and for that I am grateful.

I can not recommend this book enough. The volume of images with digital photography can be crushing for both amateur and professional photographers. Being able to quickly manage your images and then knowing how to retrieve the ones you want is essential. Mark will get you to the point where shooting is fun again, your images look fantastic, and the workflow is second hand nature, freeing you up to concentrate on those aspects that bring you the most joy.

I have been a commercial advertising photographer for thirty-five years. I started shooting digital in 1995. One of the things I learned early on is that if you don't have your digital asset management under control you can lose your shirt on the back end. In this book, author Mark Fitzgerald lays out a comprehensive road map using the powerful combination of Lightroom and Photoshop to manage my images. Quality and speed (in that order) are the two primary goals when it comes to processing my images. Mark has shown me how to use these two powerful tools to add a creative touch of custom processing to my files quickly and with the knowledge that I am archiving them in a reasonable way. This has become my workflow bible and its home is right next to my computer where I refer to it often.

I have been using Lightroom since it first came out. I've used it effectively but always knew there was more I could get out of the software. This book just brought it to life! I'm a professional photographer and I love taking pictures, not reading text books; so I've always left it up to my wife to read them and then explain to me how to do what I need done. This book, however, is easy to find subjects of interest, and then follow the clearly written instructions. I found the book's design of using Notes, Tips and Cross References particularly helpful. It's the only Photoshop/Lightroom book I use.

As a serious amateur photographer and Photoshop fan for several years, I loved this book! Mark gave me the tools to get my workflow under control. I have read around 30 books on Photoshop, Lightroom and Camera Raw and this one best explained how each of these terrific programs work together to bring order and fun back into my photography.
Mark is a particularly gifted teacher. He has a way of explaining things with just enough detail to thoroughly explain each concept without getting bogged down in unnecessary side trips.
I recommend this book for anyone who needs help putting their workflow all together so that it works seamlessly from the time the photos leave the camera until they are output!

I am a professional photographer with a bit of lack of focus. It is very hard for me to focus on reading a manual on anything from cover to cover. This is why this book has been so helpful for me. The way it is broken down and simplified is great. The TIPS that run throughout the book at times have made me smile as I thought...geez that helps! The best part is just having it on my desk and then when I am looking (like I did today) for a way to reduce noise in my images...it really cleared it up for me. Then it was kinda hard to put down.

Mark's writing style kept me interested because he gives real world examples to illustrate his point. This book walks you through loading the card from the camera to outputting either a file or print and along the way you learn why the steps are performed in a certain order. The book is easier to follow because it is written in a way that even a beginner would find understandable. I really liked the fact that it was not too technical but more conversational. The Notes, Tips and cross-reference boxes that are on the pages are a nice addition that gives you more tidbits. I don't think I will need seperate Lightroom and Photoshop books. Thanks Mark for this very helpful book!

When it comes to computer technology, I have never considered myself a quick learner. I can see the potential and WANT to use it, but am fearful I'll do something wrong. With that said, I have limped my way through Lightroom's basics for a couple years (and love the program and recommend it to anyone!) However, as my skills improved, I felt like I needed to take a leap to the next level and really understand it rather than just feeling lucky each day.

Fitzgerald's book was the perfect solution. I used it as a personal tutor. There was a conversational feel about it that kept my tech fears at bay. However, at the same time, I never felt as though I was sacrificing knowledge. The information was all there in an understandable format.

Although I read front to back, I used the index many more times along the way as a good reference point and take me back to the topics as needed.

I am a professional photographer that has used Photoshop from the beginning and Lightroom from the first Beta version, and I thought that I had a pretty good understanding of my workflow. I picked up Mark Fitzgerald book and started working through the chapters. Mark has a wonderful way of teaching and I was able to streamline the work that I was doing and learn new techniques that made keeping track of my images so much easier. This book is a must for anyone, beginner or pro, that wants to work smart.

Mark Fitzgerald has created a Lightroom book that truly distinguishes itself from the rest of the books on this popular subject. He has created a workflow guide that is succinct and easy to read and follows a path that makes intuitive sense while not getting bogged down in excessive detail.

The aspect of this book that really sets it apart is the coverage of the interactive nature that Adobe has built in between Lightroom and Photoshop. After reading this book, one should be confident in knowing how to address all image management issues, including when to use Lightroom and when to use Photoshop, as well as what to do in these programs when one gets there.

Although this book doesn't go in to great detail in a few technical subjects, it strikes a good balance between presenting what one needs to know with keeping the text readable. I would highly recommend it to intermediate amatures to seasoned professionals.