Customer Reviews

Photoshop Elements 8 Digital Classroom, (Book and Video Training)

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you are a novice photographer/designer and feel that regular Photoshop is too much for what you need it for, Photoshop Elements 8 and the Digital Classroom book are the perfect choice. This book clearly explains how to make your pictures look the best they can and everything is easy to follow. I really enjoyed the several chapters pertaining to adjusting color and exposure. This is perfect for those "great" shots you take that don't come out quite the way you expected. I also like the fact that with Elements 8 you can actually blend photos together using the Layers feature. This is a very handy book and program for those who want to get a little more out of their photos, without feeling like they need to have a professional photography studio software to accomplish it. Thanks AGI.

This is a great book for both the novice as well as the experienced user. For the novice, there's step by step instructions on how to import and edit your photos to get the most out of what might not be the best looking shot. For the experienced user, the breakdown of sections and chapters makes this an excellent reference to fine tune your skills and learn the secrets that allow you to get to the next level.

I spend my day supporting programs such as this and recommend this book to people that purchase this program and need a step by step tutor.

Adobe PSE8 Digital Classroom is a great instructional manual. I can't say enough good things about it! If I could give it 10 stars, I would. First of all, I am fairly computer literate, but a novice when it comes to photo editing. After purchasing PSE8, I was struggling to learn the program on my own. Then, eureka, I found Adobe PSE8 Digital Classroom. Digital Classroom is a step-by-step book that comes with a DVD. The DVD has video lessons for each chapter of the book and pictures to use for learning each feature. The video lessons provide an overview of the material covered in each chapter. The pictures, in my opinion, are the best attribute of Digital Classroom. As you apply the applications to the pictures, you will learn what each application is and precisely how to use it. Digital Classroom teaches you how to use the program in a clear, easy to understand, step-by-step, methodical manner. One caveat is that it is a time-consuming process. For me, it took approximtely two to four hours to get through each chapter (much like going to a class). However, once you do, you'll discover that the program is actually easy and fun to use. Now, I'm glad that I bought PSE8, and I am enjoying photo editing. It's easy to use, once you know how. If you are struggling to learn how to use PSE8, then look no further. This book will truly teach you how to use the program.

The samples provided in the DVD were very helpful but..

a) It is clear that, although the editor did a proper grammar and spelling proofread, nobody actually went through the book to do the examples. Many of steps were wrong, most could be corrected by a bit of thinking and alternative tries but some could not.

b) Too many of the steps in the examples were do this, do that, do the other thing, with very little explanation of why it worked.

c) Some of the explanations that were provided were laughably inadequate. See in particular the descriptions of the Screen and Multiply blending modes for layers. A bit more explanation is required.

Overall the book was helpful, don't get me wrong, but a 5 star rating? It could be with work but at present is a solid 3 star.

For a beginner this is the perfect package. It leads you very carefully step by step and tells you exactly what to do. Worth the price and more.

THIS IS REALLY THE BEST BOOK THAT CAME OUT ABOUT HOW TO USE PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS 8!! REALLY GETS INTO IT AND EXPLAINS ON VIDEO AND IN STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS IN THE BOOK.. YOU USE THEIR PICS TO PRACTICE AND LEARN ON.. EACH CHAPTER TEACHES YOU HOW TO DO SOMETHING.. THEN HAS YOU DO IT WITH YOUR OWN PICTURES. THEN GO BACK TO NEXT CHAPTER... LEARN AND DO! IT IS AWESOME!!! BETTER THAN A CLASSROOM THAT IS TOO CROWDED... YOU CAN LEARN IN YOUR "OWN CLASSROOM" AND BE THE ONLY STUDENT! I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO ANYBODY AND EVERYBODY :)

Whether you are new or a seasoned user of Photoshop or Photoshop Elements, this book is great resource. As a regular user of Abode Photoshop CS4, I find myself going to Elements 8 for a "down and dirty" quick way to accomplish my task. For the novice user, the step by step instructions are excellent and a very good way to learn the basics of layering, selections, colorization and how color works, etc. The book comes with a DVD that uses sample photos and easy to follow, step by step instructions that turn the novice digital photo editor into an accomplished photographer and is a great aid developing a solid foundation for Photoshop CS4, if the photgrapher is so inclined. One of the nicest things about this book is that each chapter stands alone so you don't have to go from start to finish but can learn in an order that works for you and at your own pace. I recommend this book for all levels of expertise.

I purchased photoshop elements due to the positive reviews, price, and supposed ease of use. NOT. I bought a book on Elements, no help, more confused. Then I purchased this book. I think it's great. The videos are great, the lessons and exercises really walk you through the steps. I didn't give it a 5 because I would have liked more pictures of the screens, and what to click on. At times it took me a long time to find the item to click with only a verbal description. But again, this is a great teaching book for those with absolutely no knowledge of how to use Elements.

My husband and I recently bought the Adobe Elements Eight & Premiere programs. We found this book and DVD to be quite useful. we received them in no time at all. Because we are fairly computer illiterate we worried that we might never learn to use the program but it was easier than we thought. Thanks a million.

For someone new to Photoshop in any form, this book/video package is a really nice introduction. Easy to load and use as a reference even after the lessons are mastered. If you have taken digital photos or have scans of older pictures, this book will help you make better images with Elements. I would recommend it...particularly to those who learn best from spoken/visual example rather than written instruction.