Photoshop Channel Chops [Paperback]

David Biedny (Author), Nathan Moody (Author), Bert Monroy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1998

Written by Photoshop gurus, David Biedny, Bert Monroy, and Nathan Moody, this must-have guide reveals the secrets of the true power behind the most popular image processing program-Photoshop. In no time, users will build a solid understanding of alpha channels, masks, layers, and compositing, and master the advanced features of Photoshop to create stunning digital effects.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

This is an excellent guide to using advanced channel-processing techniques and other procedures in Adobe Photoshop. The writers assume that you're already familiar with this image editor, but that you want to learn how to use channels, alpha channels, and masks creatively and effectively in your work. ("Chops" is an acronym, created by the authors, for channel operations.) They also assume that most of your work focuses on creating composite images.

You learn how to use layers, Calculations, blue-screen and green-screen techniques, and paths to achieve various effects. Historical overviews help place each given topic in perspective. The guide discusses why and when you'd want to use each technique, providing a highly valuable real- world emphasis. Photoshop Channel Chops features Photoshop 4.0 for Macintosh in its screen shots and tips, but because the writers present a great deal of theory as they teach the technology, users of previous versions of the software and Windows can easily apply what they learn to their own projects.

Product Details

• Paperback: 226 pages
• Publisher: New Riders Publishing (January 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1562057235
• ISBN-13: 978-1562057237
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #135,339 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #61 in Books > Computers & Technology > Programming > Algorithms > Digital Image Processing

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unbeatable Photoshop theory, December 9, 2002

By 

Pumpkin King - See all my reviews

This review is from: Photoshop Channel Chops (Paperback)

If you aspire to be a hardcore Photoshop user, this book is probably the one you want above all others. It's not a step-by-step tutorial, a mere reference book, or a book that leads you through the tools and various functions of the software. Instead it discusses the fundamental concepts you need to know to use Photoshop to its fullest. Some statements in the book are outdated, but fortunately, they are usually statements of opinion and occur only in a few places. Most of the book is still applicable since Photoshop today still has channels, alpha channels, paths, layers, and calculations. This book hasn't been updated since it was written in 1998, but it really doesn't need to be. It's not about how to use particular tools and new features. It's about how to think with Photoshop. And it's deep enough to read over and over for reference. I would encourage even beginner Photoshop users to read this book if they are really committed, especially if they want to learn about compositing. By the end of this book, you'll be able to understand how Photoshop does what it does, and why it is such a powerful program.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Recommended reading instead of taking notes, March 24, 2000

By 

J Woods (Rochester NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Photoshop Channel Chops (Paperback)

Being an Adobe Certified Expert in Photoshop, I was quite literally flabbergasted with the detail and concepts that this book presents. I teach Photoshop two nights a week at a Fortune 500 company, and was trying to put together a syllabus for my Advanced Photoshop Course. When I read this book I threw out the syllabus and made my students buy this book instead.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everyone should have this book on their bookshelf!, October 11, 1999

By 

Anthony T. Pittari ([e-mail]) (Princeton, New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Photoshop Channel Chops (Paperback)

I've probably read every book available on the subject of Photoshop but i've always come away from each of them with no more than a few tricks you can only use in very specific situations. "hey look, pillow-embossed text!" PCC is the exception to this rule. It's content far outweighs it's perceived size. David's writing style and obvious enthusiam for the subject shows with every paragraph. I found myself excited and couldn't wait to jump into PS and start trying out some of the concepts that he so clearly explains. I think my favorite quote is from the begining of the book: "Learn how to be a creative problem solver. Memorizing sequences of commands in a graphics program isn't the way to such enlightment." I've been trying to find a nice way of saying that for years. You owe it to yourself to hit the buy button. You wont regret it for a second. Actually, you wont have time to regret it, you'll be too busy having fun using the techniques from this book.