Customer Reviews

The Digital Darkroom: Black and White Techniques Using Photoshop

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

 

 

I was completely disappointed in this work. It contains only a general discussion at the very most basic level. It has no techniques, no helpful illustrations, and no description relating the digital process to the chemical process. There was nothing in this book that I could use to improve my scans, to correct contrast, to pull the most out of poor negatives, or to fix problem shots.

I read some of the other reviews, mainly negative but bought this book anyway as it is one of the few books dealing with digital BW photography.

I found this book to be quite instructional. I agree that there is a lack of detailed instructions. However, I believe that training people how to use photoshop was not a goal of Mr. Schaub. One should have a good grasp of how to "fix" and manipulate photos in photoshop before using this book. A good photoshop book or class is in order before this text.

That said, I found the brief but concise directions for each technique very helpful when planning manipulation for my own BW photos. There are many examples shown with precise descriptions of what was done to achieve the noted results. Before and after photos are shown in each instance.

I give this book a big but conditional thumbs up. If your are serious about digital BW photography and have a working knowledge digital photography and photoshop in particular, this book is for you.

Despite the somewhat lowest common denominator intro, this book is not for Photoshop beginners. It lacks the step by step hand holding which beginners often feel they need (and the other reviewers seem to be looking for -- there are lots of other books on Photoshop to fill that niche). Instead, this book is about looking at your black and white negatives/scans and helping you envision what you can be done with your images. Photoshop gives the black & white printer much more power and control over the image then is available in a wet darkroom but it takes more then a skills tutorial to help you reach that point. I like that The Digital Darkroom suggests what can be done rather then marching you lock step through a fixed set of procedures. Your understanding of Photoshop and the quality of your images will be rewarded by the extra work and thought that this approach requires.

If you know very few of Photoshop,this is a good book for you.If you are an advanced user,trying to aquire new skills on BW processing,forget it. Most hints you will already know and there are even questionable techniques,(as converting from color to BW by RGB->Grayscale command,and not channel mixer manipulation or other techniques that can minimize noise channels).Did not fullfilled my expectations.

I purchased the book in 2009. Unfortunately I didn't check the print date, which was 1999. Now, imagine a book on digital technique that is TEN YEARS old. I knew there was a problem when the book discussed saving large files onto Iomega Jaz drives, which have been obsolete for a decade.

Digital books should be labeled like food, with an expiration date.

I believe the PhotoShop manual does a much better job of explaining B&W process than this book does. This book has few details, vague descriptions, and is certainly not worth buying. In fairness, the last portion of the book gives 2 page tips that some may find useful to try.