Photoshop CS6: The Missing Manual [Paperback]

Lesa Snider (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 25, 2012 | Series: Missing Manual

Photoshop CS6 is truly amazing, but it can also be overwhelming if you’re just getting started. This book makes learning Photoshop a breeze by explaining things in a friendly, conversational style—without technical jargon. After a thorough introduction to the program, you’ll delve deep into Photoshop’s secrets with expert tips and practical advice you can use every day.

The important stuff you need to know:

• Learn your way around. Get a guided tour of Photoshop’s beautiful new workspace.
• Unlock the magic. Discover the most practical ways to use layers, channels, masks, paths, and other tools.
• Fine-tune your images. Learn techniques for cropping, retouching, and combining photos.
• Play with color. Drain, change, and add color; and create gorgeous black-and-whites and duotones.
• Be artistic. Create original illustrations and paintings, use text and filters effectively, and edit video clips.
• Share your work. Produce great-looking images for print and the Web.
• Work smarter and faster. Automate common chores and install plug-ins for complex tasks.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Lesa Snider is on a mission to teach the world to create—and use!—better graphics. She’s an internationally acclaimed speaker; stock photographer and chief evangelist for iStockphoto.com (www.lesa.in/istockdeal ); as well as the founder of the creative tutorial site PhotoLesa.com. Lesa is the author of many video-training workshops (www.lesa.in/clvideos) and the coauthor of iPhoto ’11: The Missing Manual. She writes a regular column for Photoshop User, Elements Techniques, and Macworld magazines, and contributes frequently to Design-Tools.com and PlanetPhotoshop.com. Lesa is also a long-time member of the Photoshop World Dream Team of instructors and can be spotted teaching at many other conferences around the globe. She also teaches Advanced Photoshop for the international graphic design school, Sessions.edu. You can connect with her online on Facebook (www.facebook.com/PhotoLesa), YouTube (www.lesa.in/ytvideochannel), Twitter (@PhotoLesa), and www.PhotoLesa.com.

During her free time, you’ll find Lesa carving the twisties on her sportbike, dressed up in her Star Trek best at a sci-fi convention, or hanging with fellow Apple Mac enthusiasts. Lesa is a proud member of the BMWMOA, F800 Riders Club, and the Colorado Mac User Group (www.CoMUG.com) a.k.a. the Boulder Mac Maniacs. Email: [e-mail].

Product Details

• Paperback: 888 pages
• Publisher: Pogue Press (May 25, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1449316158
• ISBN-13: 978-1449316150
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 1.6 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (65 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,768 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #8 in Books > Computers & Technology > Digital Media Management > Photo Editing > Adobe Photoshop
  • #11 in Books > Computers & Technology > Graphic Design > Adobe Creative Suite
  • #12 in Books > Arts & Photography > Photography > Equipment, Techniques & Reference > Reference

More About the Author

Lesa Snider is on a mission to teach the world to create -- and use! -- better graphics. She's an internationally acclaimed speaker, stock photographer and founder of the creative tutorial site, www.PhotoLesa.com. Lesa is the author of the Missing Manual series of Photoshop books, several video training workshops on Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, Camera Raw, and iPhoto (www.lesa.in/clvideos) and she's the coauthor of iPhoto '11: The Missing Manual. She's the Advanced Photoshop professor for the international graphic design school, www.Sessions.edu, and writes a regular column for Photoshop User, Elements Techniques, and Macworld magazines. Lesa also contributes frequently to Design-Tools.com (get 3 free issues at www.design-tools.com/3freelesa) and records free training videos for PlanetPhotoshop.com (www.lesa.in/lesaplanet). She's a long-time member of the Photoshop World Dream Team of instructors and can be spotted teaching at many other conferences and workshops around the globe. You can connect with her online on Facebook (www.Facebook.com/PhotoLesa), YouTube (www.YouTube.com/thePhotoLesa), Twitter (@PhotoLesa), or on www.PhotoLesa.com.

During free time, you'll find her carving the twisties on her sportbike, dressed up in her Star Trek best at a sci-fi convention, or hanging with fellow Apple Mac enthusiasts. Lesa is a proud member of the BMWMOA, F800 Riders Club, the Colorado Mac User Group (CoMUG.com) and the North Coast Mac User Group (NCMUG.com). She lives in Boulder, CO with her husband and two beautiful kitties.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 40 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The only book you need to understand Photoshop (This is The Photoshop Bible) May 26, 2012

By Hadden

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I have never reviewed a product on Amazon, and I buy stuff on here frequently, but I have to say, this is the BEST book on Photoshop that I have ever read. This is the only book you need for understanding the ins and outs of such an exciting program. Lesa does a masterful job at focusing on every detail of Photoshop CS6 and showing you exactly how every piece of it works. Don't want to read about every tiny detail of a program with tons of features? No problem, she's way ahead of you. She goes so far as to tell you what you should read if you are reading it for a certain reason (photography, design, etc).

This isn't some boring book as the word "manual" in the title might lead you to believe. No, Lesa is a pro at keeping the information she presents, insightful, detailed, interesting and she does it all in a very conversational and fun way. It's like having a super cool instructor right there telling you all about the best photo editing software ever made. I got the print version for my office and a digital copy so I can have it with me on the go. It's the only Photoshop reference book you need. Feel free to shop around like I did, you won't find a better book than this.

45 of 57 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Kindle version is unusable May 28, 2012

By Nor'easter VINE™ VOICE

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

A previous reviewer questioned if figures appeared in the e-book version because the sample doesn't show them. In the comments to this reviewer, it was noted by the publisher that figures do appear in the full book, just not the sample. I thought this was a bit odd, but being a Missing Manuals fan, I accepted this answer. I purchased the full book and there are have found some very bad issues with about half of the figures that I viewed. They are very small (often an inch high) and you can't enlarge them! I can't tell what in the world the figures are trying to show. I see red arrows going from here to there, but can't tell what is going on. This is extraordinarily sloppy and I wonder now if it is purposeful that figures aren't shown in the sample. I certainly would not have purchased this book if I would have seen this problem before purchase. Im on an iPad and about half the figures are tiny and unusable so I really feel for anyone trying to view these on a device with a smaller screen.

This problem is pure laziness on O'Reilly's part. They should have taken the time to make sure ALL of the figures were readable instead of enlarging only about half. I am so disappointed. With other Missing Manual books, The publisher has made certain all figures were easily viewable. It is so sloppy that they didnt do this here. My next stop is to call Amazon and get a refund for this book.

Word to the wise- forget the Kindle version of this book. From a Missing Manuals fan.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional CS6 Bible June 11, 2012

By Ray Caldrer

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This intermediate level book is exceptional in my opinion. It pretty thoroughly covers CS6, similar to last year's edition. Scott Kelby refers to the book as the CS6 bible and, of course, he is the Photoshop Guy.

Lesa writes in an easy to read and understand "down-home" persuasion. Her examples are straightforward and detailed for simplicity and sometimes witty. I bought the book the day it was released and I'm sure the publishers and she wanted to get the book on the market as soon as possible. The drawback, mentioned previously by another reviewer, was that some of the additional information was not yet available on-line for download. I usually refer to this book first for guidance.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars CS6 the missing manual June 6, 2012

By Teresa L Denny

Format:Paperback

You don't have to fear Photoshop or learning photoshop with this book. Lesa Snider has to be one of the best (if not the best) instructors in the world. She uses very easy to understand terminology and methods to teach you the most complicated program in the world. The book is laid out in a manner that makes it easy to find what you are looking for. Very pleased with my purchase. I have no complaints.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wins the throw it down the stairs test... December 3, 2012

By Anne TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

I have started to play around with Photoshop when I have time--it really takes a lot of time to learn how to use it. Many people learn via youtube--which has been highly recommended to me as a way of learning how to use Photoshop. My way of learning something is to use books. So, I requested two books for review on the new version of Photoshop--CS6.

The first book is this one by Lesa Snider. During college, one of my professors told me that I wrote reports that would win the "throw them down the stairs" contest. This contest said that the ones that went the farthest were the best. Of course, this was a joke, but what he meant was that my group was very thorough. That's exactly what I'd say about this book. It would definitely win that contest, because it's a thick, thorough book.

This book covers absolutely everything. I have to admit that after reading the first two chapters and having no experience with Photoshop, I set it down. I was completely overwhelmed and doubted if I could ever learn how to use this program. After a few months of simply playing around with the program once in a while and using another book, I opened it back up. Now, it makes a lot more sense to me. If I want to really get good at Photoshop, this book will help me do that. It starts from the ground up and builds skills on top of each other. The writer does make it as interesting she can--this is a computer manual after all. I chuckled at the first chapter and smiled. The illustrations are from a PC version, but she regularly makes notes about the differences for mac and pc users. Photoshop is a very complicated program that requires a lot of skill. My brother in law told me that you can never fully know how to use all of Photoshop. Would I recommend this book? Definitely.... Take a look at it if you're looking for a book that will cover everything. Read more ›