Customer Reviews

Photoshop Elements 2 Hands-On Training

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If your new to digital imaging and want to get a solid fundamental background, then this book is a must. I felt like I was in the classroom with a top-notch instructor. That is how the exercises are presented. You can feel your confidence gaining as you complete each exercise. I found myself wanting to hurry back to get to the next exercise-- no kidding. I have tried other Elements 2 training books but they fell far short in comparison to Hands On Training. These other books might be useful after completing "Hands On Training". This book is truly HOT. I am so happy that I found this book. Five stars to Mr. Rebenschied.

Without qualification, this book gives the best software instruction I have ever encountered. I just spent $300 for seven and half hours of instruction in using Photoshop Elements 2 and whereas the class was good, I would not have needed it if I had known about this book. The book comes with a CD from which you download the exercises to your computer; then the author, Shane Rebenschied, takes you through step by step. Other books tell you what tools to use to do certain tasks, but don't tell you how to use these tools. This books does just that -- tells you what the tools do and how to use them. The author repeats the instructions each time you use them or tells you where to find them, so you don't have to go thumbing through the book. By the time you finish the book you have done them enough to make them be automatic. I made myself start at the beginning of the book and work straight through. Sometimes I would think that I already knew how to do a certain thing, but would go ahead and do the exercise anyway. Everytime I learned something new! Also on the included CD are short movies where you actually watch a project being done. I would give 10 stars if I could!

I have used photoshop elements 2.0 for 3 months now and have been getting nowhere trying to master photoshop elements on my own. Sure I learned how to crop images, change the brightness, contrast, hue etc... by myself. But, the real power photoshop elements was discovered after buying Shane Rebenschied (Hands-on training) book. It will walk you through from importing images -using layers with easy to understand step by step instructions & CD-ROM examples. I have tired many Photoshop elements 2.0 books before Shane Rebenschied (Hands-on Traning). Sure the other books are great for advance techniques and reference but really lack the concept I needed to get started. I would highly recommend Hands-on Training to anyone trying to grasp the basic fundmentals of Photoshop elements 2.0 with the additional of Scott Kelby (The Photoshop Elements Book for Digital Photographers) for advance learning and reference.

Whenever I start a new interest, I must buy every related book. When I began digital photography and using Photoshop Elements, I increased my creative library exponentially. No matter what I read, I had a mental block about layers. The CD-ROM exercises and text of this book, finally helped me understand the concepts and use of layers. Perhaps the humor is a bit corny, but the content, hands on training and content make this a must buy for new digital photographers using Photoshop Elements.

What a great find! I have twice worked through all the lesson tutorials, using the book and CD in combination.

Another book kept telling me how important "unsharp mask" was for sharpening the focus of photos. But I could not find how to adjust and combine the three settings in the unsharp mask dialog box. Adobe Photoshop Elements 2 H.O.T. suggested settings which have improved my photos immensely.

Thank you, Shane and Lynda, for producing such a great book. It is worth several times its price.

If you can ignore the author's attempts to humor you, this is a pretty good book......he takes you thru PE2's paces, with lots of pictures and an accompanying CD with exercises. It's $20 well-spent, since the User Guide that comes with the software is pretty much useless unless you're familiar with the program to start with. Can't go wrong.

Instead of an author telling readers how to do something, Shane Rebenschied in Adobe Photoshop Elements 2 H.O.T., Hands-On Training, offers us practical experience by including exercises on the books CD. Though Photoshop Elements 2 (free trial copy included with the CD and is sometimes included for free with scanners) is intended to help the hobbyist photographer manipulate their images (Photoshop at $$$$ is intended for professionals), the seemingly infinite choices of available settings can be daunting. But Rebenschied takes readers by the hand, and with humor walks through the basics so everyone can manipulate their images with confidence. Readers will finally understand layers and how to manipulate them to get the photos they want. Techniques include correcting colors, shading, removing unwanted details, adding text, and retouching to remove red eye, dust, and scratches. There is so much more to mention but I will only add my personal favorite on how to combine many regular photos of one scene into a large beautiful landscape montage. Printing of images in many formats including individual shots, contact sheets of one or many photos, and picture packages just as one would receive from a professional photographer is included as well as publishing for e-mail and the Web. Apple computer users might be disappointed with most all of the screen shots from Windows machines but it really makes little difference for comprehension. Significant differences are illustrated with OS X screenshots. One could gain understanding from just reading the book but the advantage over the competition is practicing as the author describes techniques. I remained intimidated by Photoshop Elements even after reading other books. But after reading and practicing with Rebenschieds training guide, I finally feel I have a handle on the subject.

This is a great book if you're still using Photoshop Elements 2.0. I'm glad I got this book, even though I plan to swtich to Elements 3.0 soon. It's easy to follow and comprehensive. Thank you.

Although I have worked my way through this book and learnt the basics quite well, I wouldn't recommend it . The author obviously thinks a good computer book needs a lot of jokes to make it sell. Unfortunately his jokes are so lame that by the end of the book they were driving me crazy.Jokes are only good if they are funny. Shane's jokes are NOT funny!!! He should give up the jokes and just concentrate on teaching the program. Then he will have a really good book!