Photoshop 7 Down and Dirty Tricks [Paperback]

Scott Kelby (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0735712379 | ISBN-13: 978-0735712379 | Publication Date: May 3, 2002 | Edition: 1

Updated for the latest version of Photoshop, Photoshop 7 Down & Dirty Tricks is packed cover to cover with step-by-step tutorials on the coolest Photoshop 7 effects. The book is not another rehash of masking, pixels, and file formats or resolution--it's nothing but the cool stuff that will make your client's (or boss's) jaw drop.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Scott Kelby is both funny and generous. His wry sense of humor doesn't get in the way of the hundreds of nifty techniques in this new collection of Down & Dirty Tricks. In fact, when you first flip quickly through the book, gobbling up all the creative ideas and timesaving tips, his sly jokes only add to the I've-just-hit-the-lottery feeling.

Whatever you're looking for--type that looks distressed, made of gel, or carved in stone; shadows in perspective or in motion; text that wraps around a globe; a glinting starburst on the edge of an object; a logo artificially placed at the bottom of a pool; or a starry sky created in an instant--just about every trick is here. And most are done in 10 steps or less. Also, each page has a Quick Tip sidebar (there're over 200 of them) that are worth the price of the book alone, with everything from getting better results from your eyedropper tool (click on Options and change the Point Sample to "3 by 3 average") to the quickest way to change units of measurement (the secret is in the Info palette).

The book has been updated since the previous edition with mostly new illustrations, many new and better ways to perform the same tricks, and a few completely new ones. Project files and images can be downloaded from the book's companion Web site at downanddirtytricks.com. Although aimed at experienced Photoshop users, the text is detailed enough for readers of all levels. For example, steps like "make a copy of that layer by dragging it to the New Layer icon at the bottom of the Layers palette" or "press the letter m to switch to the Rectangular Marquee tool" are repeated in full whenever a trick calls for them. This not only helps beginners, it allows all readers to hop around the book and be able to carry out any trick in any order. Yet another reason this book could've been titled Speedy Down & Dirty Tricks. --Angelynn Grant

From Library Journal

It seems to be the year for launching new versions of old standards. Photoshop 7 introduces a number of new features that should drive demand for manuals. Everything addresses Photoshop beginners, with two chapters on resources and solving common problems that should be especially helpful; appropriate for public libraries. Teach Yourself, for beginning to intermediate users, is more thorough, covering the channels, masks, and other techniques that Everything omits, in addition to the basics. Chapter Q&As, quizzes, and exercises help users learn on their own; a valuable purchase for all public libraries. A full-color guide for intermediate users, Down & Dirty explains step by step "cool tricks," showing how to achieve easily impressive special effects, from wrapping type around a circle to creating backlit photo backgrounds. Sidebar tips offer additional information, and images in the book are available for free online. Magic also instructs intermediate to advanced users on creating cool, full-color effects but contains longer projects that each combine several techniques. The CD includes project files and demonstration software. Larger public libraries should consider either title.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Peachpit Press; 1 edition (May 3, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0735712379
• ISBN-13: 978-0735712379
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 8.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (56 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #577,337 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I'm President of the National Association of Photoshop Professionals, Editor and Publisher of Photoshop User magazine, and a book author myself, having penned more than 30 titles.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Photoshop 7 Down & Dirty Tricks, January 17, 2003

By 

Richard R. Zellner "ttdragster" (Lisle, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Photoshop 7 Down and Dirty Tricks (Paperback)

Scott Kelby has a way or writing books for the adverage person, but puts enough interesting information in there for experienced graphic designers. Photoshop 7 Down & Dirty Tricks is the top book of his in my opinion. You could start on any page and pick up something fun and interesting to work on. If you take the time, you even get friendly support from Scott in straight terms. When I read it, I get a sense of ease in being able to figure out how to create really cool tricks in a short amount of time. I could see some people being dissappointed in the book for this. Instead of diving deep into any design concepts or photoshop tools, he focuses right on particular effects. Once you complete the book, if you feel the need to read it from cover to cover, you may feel cheated if you're the kind of person who likes in depth explainations of tools and filters of photoshop. I see this book being best for someone who already has a basic understanding of photoshop and wants to pick up a few really cool tricks here and there. If it's the first time you're working with photoshop, you'll be able to put together some really impressive artwork in no time. I think the extent of your photoshop abilities will be pretty limited in the long run if you choose this book as your source of learning a highly developed graphics application, however. It's comparible to learning a couple songs on guitar, but skipping all the principals that could help you in playing or writing whatever song you want to.

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Photoshop Reference Book, August 12, 2002

By 

Dennis A. Amith (kndy) (California) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Photoshop 7 Down and Dirty Tricks (Paperback)

If you have purchased the previous versions of Scott Kelby's Photoshop Down & Dirty Tricks book, I highly recommend getting this new version.

In his introduction he does talk about if you need Photoshop 7 to purchase the book or can someone use Photoshop 5 and use the book and he lets the reader know that in previous books, to make certain shapes you needed to go through quite a few steps but with Photoshop 7, it's much easier and less time consuming to do certain tricks which he had in his previous books and also he has added a lot of new tricks using the latest Photoshop version.
He also points out the advantages of Photoshop 7 and how the newer features will benefit photographers but he mentions that P6 owners can take advantage of the book.

I like to think that I know Photoshop very well but what I love about his book is learning how he does certain tricks so quickly, I seem to do some of those tricks in a more time consuming manner. So, to see his way of doing certain tricks definitely helps. You see, I'm not a manual reader and as
much as I would like to sit back and learn every new feature of Photoshop 7, I don't have the time and maybe I'm just too hard headed that would rather learn on my own. And if you are like me, then you will definitely love this book.

Anyway, for those who are not familiar with his books. You don't have to read it like a usual book, just peruse the pages and if there is a trick you like, you can learn it. He explains step by step how he creates the trick and on each page at it's sides, there are tips for Photoshop 7 users and how to utilize the best image for print or web work.

Kelby takes a look at the current Photoshop trends that he sees in magazines within the last year and incorporates it into his book. From metallic effects to 3D effects to advanced shadow techniques and many of the popular effects you see on print and the web from popular fad/tricks such as the tv scan lines, Matrix text, halftone pop dots effect, glassy reflections and so
much more. Kelby's "Down & Dirty Tricks" has never disappointed me and has only been a big positive to adding his techniques to my print and web work but also to learn to do certain techniques quicker.

An excellent Photoshop reference book! Check it out!

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars techniques illustrated step by step, May 10, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Photoshop 7 Down and Dirty Tricks (Paperback)

The format of this updated edition for Photoshop 7 is pretty much identical to the previous edition for Photoshop 6. If you already have that book, then perhaps this one may be redundant. Most of the concepts and techniques from that book have been duplicated in the current edition, with the addtition of a few new ones. However, it is refreshing to note that the author had taken the trouble to use completely new images and illustrations.

Techniques are described and illustrated with corresponding color photos for each step, throughout the entire book. The structure of the book is very much "task-oriented" -- meaning, in order to create a certain visual effect, you follow a sequence of steps.

For those who don't have the previous edition, and have some basic working knowledge of Photoshop, this book is certainly worth getting. It shows you some really neat ideas.