Photoshop Elements 3 Solutions [Paperback]

Mikkel Aaland (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0782143636 | ISBN-13: 978-0782143638 | Publication Date: December 7, 2004

Transform the Ordinary into the Extraordinary

With Photoshop Elements 3, Adobe has introduced substantial new features for digital photographers—including RAW support, organizing tools, Healing Brushes, and much more. As the software has become easier for digital photography enthusiasts to use and more compelling for serious digital photographers who seek the finest results, so has this acclaimed guide.

In Photoshop Elements 3 Solutions, award-winning photographer and author Mikkel Aaland has extensively revised his best-seller to include all of version 3's smart new features plus many fresh techniques and examples. Whether working with digital images is a hobby or part of your livelihood, Aaland's practical solutions, stunning color images, and reader-friendly approach will guide you to a higher level of expertise.

Inside, Aaland shows you the ins and outs of Photoshop Elements 3 for Windows and the Macintosh, including:

• Organizing and managing your digital images
• Touching- up faces to make people glow
• Enhancing product images so they stand out
• Transforming outdoor and real-estate shots
• Fusing photos into priceless panoramics
• Combining images into realistic composites
• Working with the Camera RAW format and advanced digital photo techniques
• Optimizing photos for the Web, screen, and e-mail transmission
• Creating PDF slide shows and professional-looking picture packages
• And more...

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

I've spent several months thoroughly updating my book to reflect the changes in Photoshop Elements 3. In addition to carefully re-working old procedures, I've added over 20 new step-by-step tutorials that take advantage of completely new features, filters, and tools such as the amazing Healing Brush. I've also written an entirely new chapter titled "Advanced Digital Photography Techniques" that delves deeply into the world of RAW data and the Photoshop Elements Camera Raw plug-in. The chapter includes a novel procedure using Photomerge to extend the exposure latitude of digital cameras along with a great technique for turning an ordinary photo into a dramatic drawing.

The book also includes extensive material on Photoshop Elements 3's new Organizer-a feature available only to Windows users. The Organizer is a morphed version of Photoshop Album, previously a stand-alone image management program. Integrating the two programs was a challenge, and Adobe pulled it off beautifully (Mac users get the benefit of an improved File Browser-and a lower retail price for the program.)

It's my hope that anyone using Photoshop Elements 3 who wishes to get more from his or her digital images will greatly benefit from my book. As always, I welcome reader feedback, so feel free to send me your questions and comments at the email address included in the book. I'll try and get right back to you. Enjoy!

From the Back Cover

Transform the Ordinary into the Extraordinary
With Photoshop Elements 3, Adobe has introduced substantial new features for digital photographers—including RAW support, organizing tools, Healing Brushes, and much more. As the software has become easier for digital photography enthusiasts to use and more compelling for serious digital photographers who seek the finest results, so has this acclaimed guide.

In Photoshop Elements 3 Solutions, award-winning photographer and author Mikkel Aaland has extensively revised his best-seller to include all of version 3's smart new features plus many fresh techniques and examples. Whether working with digital images is a hobby or part of your livelihood, Aaland’s practical solutions, stunning color images, and reader-friendly approach will guide you to a higher level of expertise.

Inside, Aaland shows you the ins and outs of Photoshop Elements 3 for Windows and the Macintosh, including:

• Organizing and managing your digital images
• Touching- up faces to make people glow
• Enhancing product images so they stand out
• Transforming outdoor and real-estate shots
• Fusing photos into priceless panoramics
• Combining images into realistic composites
• Working with the Camera RAW format and advanced digital photo techniques
• Optimizing photos for the Web, screen, and e-mail transmission
• Creating PDF slide shows and professional-looking picture packages
• And more…

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Sybex, Inc. (December 7, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0782143636
• ISBN-13: 978-0782143638
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,836,963 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mikkel's Done it Again, November 28, 2004

By 

Linda (Huntington Beach, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Photoshop Elements 3 Solutions (Paperback)

Step-by-step techniques covered in this book explain the new Elements 3.0 features including the Healing Brush, RAW support and improved Red Eye Removal.

The technique for combining images using a Gradient Mask is one of the neatest tricks I've seen in a long time.

The book is chuck full of color images and all of the example files are on the CD.

The book also explains how to set up your preferences to take advantage of the software.

The book skips all of unnecessary simple stuff and gets right down to the meat of program including coverage of the Organizer (formally Album).

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Could have been a 5, January 17, 2005

By 

Michael W. Schellenberger (georgetown, in United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Photoshop Elements 3 Solutions (Paperback)

Overall decent book but could be a 5 star if it had just one more chapter and some 'theory'. I want to know why/how the tools work not just be told to click here, check this and select that. The examples are great but when trying to do similiar things with your own work not knowing the basics can sometimes really slow you down.

I was quite suprised to find little to no organized help on some of the basics. i.e, what is feathering, hard or soft brushes. I still can't figure out how to use the 'Color Changer'. Scattered thru out the book are some detailed basics but they are hard to find.

The overview says the book has 'extensive coverage' of the Organizer, it should read 'getting started' with the Organizer. A 5 star book would suggest ideas on how to organize using Tags and Collections.

Now to the good....I have learned a lot and found the book very helpful. All of the examples are real world and quite realistic. If you are totally new to working with graphical editing on a computer I would not suggest this book.

38 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Have!, November 29, 2004

By 

Barbara J. Wayne - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Photoshop Elements 3 Solutions (Paperback)

Mikkel Aaland's Photoshop Elements 3 Solutions is a must have companion book for Adobe Elements 3.

His book has easy to understand large color illustrative before & after photographs detailing how each tool, option, or effect works. These are also included on the CD which comes with this book, a wonderful teaching tool!

He walks you through the tasks step-by-step helping one to easily grasp all that Adobe Photoshop Elements 3 has to offer.

Screen captures of dialog boxes, throughout this book, from the program also help you to see the exact settings used to achieve his results.

The highlighted notes which appear in their own boxes are an extremely valuable source of information!

Mikkel's vast knowledge of Adobe's Photoshop will get you up to speed quickly and easily. Before long, with the help of his book, you'll be fluent in Elements 3 and will be turning your digital images into your own masterpieces. I highly recommend his book!