How to Cheat in Photoshop, Second Edition: The art of creating photorealistic montages [Paperback]

Steve Caplin (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0240519531 | ISBN-13: 978-0240519531 | Publication Date: February 2, 2004 | Edition: 2

Even more Photoshop time saving tips and tricks are included in this new, expanded edition of Steve Caplin's bestseller. Updates include many new images and techniques which show you how to make the most of the power of Photoshop!

With this book you can work from the problem to the solution with expert guidance from a professional illustrator. Each section is divided into color double page spreads on illustrative techniques; giving bite size chunks with all that you need to know in a highly visual, approachable format.

Most of the original Photoshop files are provided on the free CD, along with hundreds of dollars' worth of free, sample plugins and images, so you can try out each technique for yourselves as you read.

* 78 pages of new material show you how to take your Photoshop montage skills even further
* CD includes all the images from the book and 100 new, free, high resolution AbleStock images
* Benefit from a professional illustrator's timesaving tips and tricks!

Editorial Reviews

Review

Published reviews of current edition:

' ...written in a succinct and accessible style. Each chapter is self-contained with every spread taking the reader on a step-by-step guide to one particular technique. The real strength of the book lies in Caplin's use of the 'real world' examples. The Cheat of the title refers to shortcuts. Unlike some other writers, Caplin is aware of the concept of deadlines, as his workman-like approach to the subject shows.'
British Journal of Photography

'a superb set of step-by-step how-to guides for achieving photorealistic montages from the master himself. By "cheating", Caplin means quick, easy-to-grasp shortcuts to impressive ends. The book shows you how to create many effects, using a gallery of Caplin's commissioned montages - the finished pictures alone are almost worth buying this book for. A must for all montagers.'
Simon Jary, Editor MacWorld

'Shows you how to exploit features and be more creative in less time, covering just about everything you could want to do in Photoshop. The book's credentials are clear - many of the examples and case studies are taken from real-world commercial projects. There's a goldmine of practical and downright useful tips, tricks and step-by-step workthrough in this book.'
Keith Martin, MacUser

"A great book - even if just using Photoshop Elements! This book is a MUST HAVE for anyone with Photoshop Elements or the full version. While it is not possible to do everything shown in the book, at least 80% can be done straightaway using Elements and much of the rest can be done with work arounds or a bit of lateral thought. There are some cracking ideas and projects to get busy with, with Caplin's work being recognisable from many Magazines and Newspapers."
Amazon.co.uk customer

"Well-written, insightful and beautifully illustrated throughout." Digital Creative Arts

"The book is beautiful in color, very clear in structure and filled with real life examples...I highly recommend this book."
www.photocrack.com

"A great book to help you add realistic shadows, highlights and perspectives to your creations."
www.ephotozine.com

"Caplin's style is relaxed and friendly, and he has a knack for breaking down even the most complex tasks into easy-to-understand steps. Everything from simple drop shadows and softened edges to impressive multi-layered montages are explained in a clear and accessible way that makes the learning process enjoyable. There's enough material in this book to keep any Photoshop user engrossed for weeks."
Better Digital Photography

"I liked the ease with which the book could be used; each demonstration is lavishly illustrated and broken down into a step-by-step guide....there is a book-load of meticulously demonstrated visual effects, which all add up to a fascinating read...The book is quirky and very different to most Photoshop books I've read...this book...focuses on achieving the desired effect and getting the work done quickly."
Journal of Visual Communication in Medicine

"...there's a wealth of practical and, importantly, creative advice in here, all illustrated with real world examples. Highly recommended for all users." - iCreate magazine

Book Description

New edition of a best selling title: a goldmine of practical tips, tricks and step-by-step workthroughs! --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Focal Press; 2 edition (February 2, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0240519531
• ISBN-13: 978-0240519531
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 7.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,635,141 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Steve Caplin is a freelance artist and author working in London, England. His satirical photomontage work is commissioned by newspapers and magazines around the world, including The Guardian, The Independent, The Sunday Telegraph, The Sunday Times Magazine, Radio Times, Readers Digest and L'Internazionale.

Steve has worked for advertising agencies including Saatchi & Saatchi, Bartle Bogle Hegarty and Lowe Howard Spink, and his work has won two Campaign Poster Awards and a D&AD Pencil award. He has lectured widely in England, Norway, France and Holland, and has taught digital design at the University of Westminster and the University of the Arts London.

Steve is the author of ten books: How to Cheat in Photoshop (five editions), How to Cheat in Photoshop Elements (co-authored, three editions), Icon Design, Max Pixel's Adventures in Adobe Photoshop Elements, The Complete Guide to Digital Illustration (co-authored) and Art & Design in Photoshop. He has also co-authored three mainstream books: Dad Stuff, More Dad Stuff, Stuff the Turkey and Complete and Utter Zebu.

When he's not at his computer Steve plays the piano well, the accordion moderately and the guitar badly. He spends his spare time making improbable constructions out of wood and other materials. His first commissioned sculpture was for the Bethlem hospital - the original 'bedlam' - in 2010.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

80 of 86 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finding the correct edition on Amazon, June 25, 2004

By 

Stanley Knife (London, England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Cheat in Photoshop, Second Edition: The art of creating photorealistic montages (Paperback)

Searching for "Cheat", "Photoshop" or any combination here on Amazon often leads to earlier editions of the book. If you're looking for the latest (third) edition and can't find it, try searching for the ISBN number:

0-240-51985-X

Hope this helps!

Steve

45 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!!!!! But make sure you get the latest edition!!, June 24, 2004

By 

Alan E. Cook "Kingsley Press" (Shoals, IN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How to Cheat in Photoshop: The Art of Creating Photorealistic Montages (Paperback)

Why does Amazon insist on selling an outdated version of this book? My wife bought me this book from Amazon for Father's day, but had to return it and buy the LATEST EDITION from another online retailer.

I'm a graphic designer, working with both print and web, and I am finding this book an absolute treasure! If you're an intermediate Photoshop user, there's no question about it, YOU NEED THIS BOOK! The tricks and tips revealed in this book are simply amazing. I've only owned the book for a few days, and am already using techniques I've learned from these pages. I'm eagerly waiting to devour more of the material.

This is not a book for novices--it assumes that you already know your way around Photoshop. Without that basic knowledge, you'll be out of your depth in many of these lessons.

I love it that each two-page spread is a self-contained unit/lesson which teaches a technique or procedure that will give you the desired results.

I have to say that I don't think I've ever been this excited about a book on Photoshop!!

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why you should buy this book, April 18, 2003

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: How to Cheat in Photoshop: The Art of Creating Photorealistic Montages (Paperback)

This is my 24th PS book. I've been through all the page by page manuals from the CIAB books through the Real World types, the Magic Series, WOW Series, etc. I'm at that stage where Photrealism is a challenge I would like to conquer. I have both books by the photorealistic guru Bert Monroy, and they are both excellent. Steve Caplin's book "How to Cheat in Photoshop" is a joy and can proudly sit right next to Berts books. While Mr. Monroy's books go into step by step detail, Steve Caplins book shows the shortcuts that become invaluable time savers when working in this type of medium. And there are serious plusses here. Beside the standard CD with images to use to work through the lessons, some of the more complicated lessons have video instruction that make what he is trying to convey much easier to follow. But my favorite thing about this book is that it is set up as a reference book. If you need to "match the head to the body", there is a heading and a two page "how to". Sections include: Selecting, Hiding and Showing, Composing the Scene, Light and Shade, Heads and Bodies, Shiny Surfaces, Metal, Wood and Stone, Paper and Fabric, The Third Dimension and Hyper Realism. But again, this book is set up like a reference book. It's not really intended to be started on page one and worked through. It's like Scott Kelby's great "Down and Dirty" books. So who should buy this book? If you are not into Photorealism, stay away. And although the lessions are well written and some even have video instruction, I am not sure if I would recommend this book to PS novices. The book is definitely written with the assumption that you have a certain level of knowledge of PS. But I really am enjoying this book. I can't remember thinking a book was this cool since I read Photoshop Channel Chops! This book is going to get used a lot.