I've Got a Human in my Throat: Create MORE Optical Delusions with Adobe Photoshop [Paperback]

Worth1000.com (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 19, 2006

A skills-based book that teaches specific Photoshop tricks in one- or two-page tutorials. Each skill is showcased by a handful of humorous images, giving readers the building blocks they need to create their own works of humor-filled art. "Create Optical Delusions with Adobe Photoshop" sets itself apart from the typical Photoshop book by covering the wonders of Photoshop with a funny, and sometimes shocking, spin. It includes the artwork of Worth1000.com, recently chosen as one of PC Magazine's top 100 Web sites. The images of Worth1000.com have been featured in USA Today, on CNN, and on Good Morning America.

Product Details

• Paperback: 291 pages
• Publisher: Course Technology PTR; 1 edition (January 19, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1598630709
• ISBN-13: 978-1598630701
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #504,603 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Tutorials, January 27, 2006

By 

Christopher C. Blakley (Liverpool, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: I've Got a Human in my Throat: Create MORE Optical Delusions with Adobe Photoshop (Paperback)

First off, a huge congrats to anyone involved with this book. It shows how much time and effort went into the making of this book from the sheer about of tutorials it offers. There is a different Photoshop technique on just about every other page.

I've Got a Human in My Throat has three sections: Getting Started, Exploring Photos and Effects, and Impressing Your Friends. On the included CD are all of the source images required to create each of the pieces in the book.

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pleasantly Surprised By This Book!, April 23, 2006

By 

Erica S. (East Coast USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I've Got a Human in my Throat: Create MORE Optical Delusions with Adobe Photoshop (Paperback)

I was VERY skeptical about buying this one because I was so dissapointed with the last book Worth1000 put out (ISBN: 1592005241) ....So I finally checked it out at our local book store and was surprised to find out they improved A LOT from the last one.

For one, they actually include the source images, then they even tell you how to create them...instead of the last book where they SHOW you lots but only let you in on a few of the more boring techniques....LOL

I like that they include most of the effects used in the contests on thier site...sorta like a handbook for entering contests on Worth. They don't bog the book down with all the boring "how to use Photoshop tools" steps (which you should either know already before creating these things or be able to find out instantly on the web or in the MANUAL)...They give you enough info to know how to do the effects but still leave it flexible enough to use on your own images and ideas.

I am technically still considered a newbie to Photoshop and image manipulation but I can understand the info given in this book and it helps me create all the things I've been wondering about....but if your like the previous reviewer that has trouble unless EVERY single step is explained in detail and only want to create exact duplicates of an effect, then you might be better off with another type of book first. This book is definitely for the "creative" mind.

I have always looked around hoping for even just a peek into the minds of these creative people on Worth who make such unbelievable images....and now thanks to this book, I have a lot more than a peek! Soon I'll be "wow'ing" others!
Thanks for the creative nudge Worth!

39 of 55 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Very poor documentation, April 10, 2006

By 

P. Smith (Northeast) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: I've Got a Human in my Throat: Create MORE Optical Delusions with Adobe Photoshop (Paperback)

When I first thumbed through this book, I was very impressed and excited by all of the special effects covered in this book. I was really wowed by this book. However, when I actually began reading through the instructions for the examples, I realized just how poorly written the instructions are. Multiple steps are left out. For those who are not advanced in the use of Photoshop, this book is going to go right past you. In the example of putting a giraffe's neck on a zebra's body the reader is told to clone out the zebra's neck (a step)then use the Edit>Transform command to place and manipulate the neck of a giraffe on that of the zebra (another step) and then to clone on stripes to the giraffe's neck (that's a step). Those are your instructions- that's it folks. No explanation of how to use the Transform tool (not a beginner's tool) in this situation or how the author carried out the cloning (which cloning tool, what size/type brush, where he cloned from on the zebra back end, how he got the stripes to line up on the neck and blend into the body, etc.etc.) Very, very poor. For the advanced Photoshoper who can read between the lines, this isn't a problem but then if you already know how to do it as I did, what's the point of owning the book?. For the beginner to intermediate user, this is not the book for you.I feel sorry for the person who wowed and excited and is expecting actual step by step explanations of the examples in the book from the great reviews here at Amazon. I can't help but think other reviewers were drawn in by the wow factor like I was at the beginning. If someone really wants to see just how poor the examples are, check out Photoshop Photo Effects Cookbook by Tim Shelbourne (O'Reilly) and compare it to I've Got a Human In My Throat. Shelbourne's book covers most of the same effects but actually gives true step by step examples including screenshots of Photoshop menus and dialog boxes which are rare in I've Got A Human in My Throat. Put the two books side by side and then decide if you really want to buy I've Gota Human In My Throat. Tim Shelbourne's book is a much better choice if you want to purchase a special effects book. There are other good choices out there as well. I've Got A Human in my Throat is just very nice eye candy.