Customer Reviews

Photoshop CS3 For Dummies (For Dummies (Computers))

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

 

 

Not sure why this booked is titled as it is. The author himself states that, "First, this is a reference book, not a step-by-step lesson-based text ..." and "If you're brand new to Photoshop, start with one of the beginner lesson-based books, " not with this one. Why then is the book entitled, "Photoshop CS3 For Dummies"? With a title like that you would think that this book is for beginners.

This book should be titled, "Photoshop CS3 Reference" or something similar.

I bought the book because it was supposed to be for beginners and, as stated on the back of the book, full of tips, tricks and techniques. It IS NOT. Whoever wrote this must not have looked in the book at all. If you just want to know some of what program will do get this book. If you want to learn to auctually use the program and do something with it get another book. I personally like the ones with a CD-ROM.

Hi Everyone!

As the author of "Photoshop CS3 for Dummies," I'd like to take a moment to tell you about this book.

First, this is a reference book, not a step-by-step lesson-based text or "cool tricks cookbook." It's great for looking up and learning about specific features of Photoshop CS3. It's **not** a book that promises to teach you everything you need to know about the program, nor is it designed for classroom use. If you're brand new to Photoshop, start with one of the beginner lesson-based books, or a task-oriented book such as "Teach Yourself Visually Photoshop CS3.". Then, after you have a basic foundation in Photoshop, you'll find "Photoshop CS3 for Dummies" to be your key to truly understanding the techniques you learned in the lesson-based book.

Next, I'd like to suggest that you indeed use "Photoshop CS3 for Dummies" as a reference book. Flip to the table of contents or the index, find a topic about which you want to learn more, open to that section and start learning. Sure, you might be tempted to start at the beginning and read straight through (hey -- you wouldn't miss any cartoons or jokes!), but that's not how this book is designed.

Enjoy! And happy Photoshoping!
Pete Bauer

The author obviously knows his stuff, but I would never recommend this book if you are truly new to Photoshop. It was not at all helpful to me. Usually I can rely on the "Dummies" series for a good introduction to a topic. But in this case, the book was not the typical "Dummies" guide. Probably a good reference source if you have been using Photoshop for a long time.

I wouldn't say it is terrible, but I'm sure there are much better books out there--in fact I've just ordered a different one. In general, I like the "Dummies" series. Although I don't care to be labeled a "dummy", sometimes you don't want to be buried in the details and fancy tricks, you just want a quick guide to getting the simple things done, and this series is very good for that sort of thing.

But by the end of the third chapter, all the author did was rehash some mind-numbing details about what is in the program, there was nary a fun project or step-by-step problem solving lesson provided. I finally accomplished a few of the things I was interested in by skipping ahead to the sections that had relevant content, but I was astonished that it didn't cover even those superficial issues very well. So I wound up using the program's native help screens, and I have to say those were far more useful than this book.

All the while, the author uses the trademark snide remarks of this series (I'm sure the series editor requires this through some sort of template or author's guide for how these books are supposed to work). When I'm learning what I need to learn, I don't care. But when I'm not, these unfunny remarks become insufferable.

So my advice is, buy one of the better rated books in the Photoshop area.

This book covered Photoshop pretty good. There was very little info about CS-3 Bridge. Most people that are using Photoshop, have been using it for years. Bridge is new and you would think more information should be available. For example: CS-2 Bridge showed an open file icon next to the thumbnail that was open in Photoshop. So far I have not been able to do this in CS-3 Bridge. Even Adobe did not help with this. Maybe they need a separate book for Bridge and Version Cue.

Reading this book is so painful. The author jumps from one subject to the next. I am in chapter two, and I still do not know how to load a picture in the software.

I've been working with digital images for almost twenty years, and can create amazing images using programs other than Photoshop. However, because Photshop is THE standard, when the time came for me to buy and learn Photoshop, I also got this book thinking that it could provide me with basic reference help on the fly.

I was wrong.

This is not a practical guide. You can't look up "Text, placing in image" and get step by step directions for adding text to an image. Instead, this book deals with the concepts of and the theory of of the topic.

My biggest fault with this book is that its title is misleading. This is more an introduction to digital image theory (and Photoshop program set ups) than it is a pratical guide to making photoshop work for the causal user. If you are looking for a book that you can use on the fly, when time counts, don't bother with this book.

It was great to be reminded of many of the features I had not used in Photoshop for a while. Now I am back on track to be more creative in what tools I should be using for any number of photo problems.

I am glad to report that this is a GREAT helper in my efforts to learn this difficult program......I keep it by my side and flip to the parts I need when I need them.....Thank goodness for the "Dummies" books........