Customer Reviews

Photoshop for Right-Brainers: The Art of Photo Manipulation

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I am a self-taught Photoshop user. That is to say, I know just enough about PS to be REALLY dangerous! Al Ward's book, Photoshop for Right-Brainers was a JOY to read. I was able to follow what he was talking about and even reproduce the effects using my own photos rather than the ones on the included CD. Now THAT is a well written book when you can actually use the information on photos other than the ones provided for the tutorial.

One of the very first pieces of information, something that I will actually use when I work with photos, is High Pass, a filter that grays out pixels so the edge details are clear. Two other items in PS that Mr. Ward talks about are Extract and Pattern Maker. Extract is just what it says - taking an object and extracting or removing it from the rest of the picture. Great way to see how you would look as a blonde! The Pattern Maker is a tool that I will use as a web designer. I am forever trying to find a suitable background for my web pages. Now, thanks to Al Ward and Photoshop for Right Brainers I don't have to look, I can make my own. Pattern Maker allows you to select part of a photo and then creates a background from the pixels selected. VERY COOL.

Are you a text nut? If so, this book shows you how to create Chrome letters. In the same section, it shows you how to use Opacity and Fill on the text. Of course, this can be applied to an actual photo as well but it is a very nice technique to allow the background to show through lettering.

A few of the other techniques this book walks you through are Masking, Cartooning images, Warping images to "fit" to another object and Photo Merge. This last technique gives you the collage effect that allows you to create one photo from many or to blend two photos to make a panorama. There is a CD with the book and it contains a free version of Maya 5 Personal Learning Edition, Source Files so you can follow along with the techniques being taught and Preset Tools created by Al Ward for use in the various techniques he shows.

This book is packed with useful information and is one that can actually be followed and understood. Many times authors go into so much detail that you can't follow or they make it so difficult that you give up. Not this author! Al Ward has my sincere thanks for writing a book to make a program that I had only a little knowledge of into something that I can actually use in my daily work.

I've earned a living retouching photos for years and I continually seek out new material that will stretch my abilities. Most books are a rehash of the same old stuff for people like me. I discovered Photoshop for Right Brainers mentioned in one of Al Ward's tutorials and decided to take a look at it. FINALLY!!! A new source of inspiration! This book would probably be over the head of beginners but for those who have at least a working knowledge of Photoshop CS and how it applies to photos, this book ROCKS!!

PhotoShop for Right-Brainers is the art of photo manipulation at its finest. Al Ward clearly and explicitly takes the learner step-by-step through different techniques enabling the reader to advance his/her proficiency in huge leaps with each chapter. Each technique and tool Al explains is accompanied by a picture to elaborate his words. The knowledge and insights from Al's book will give each learners' PhotoShop skills advance life. Huge thanks to Al Ward.

Wow! Al Ward has outdone himself in this one. The book is beautifully presented on really high quality paper and the layout is stunning.

All the tutorials are easy to follow with wayyyy cool results. There is stuff in these pages that I have never seen in Photoshop books before and I have have read a lot of them.

If you are an accountant andall you ever want to do is crunch numbers and you hate pictures - run - run away fast... as far as you can from this book.

For anyone who has even a twinkling of interest in being creative, then this book is a must buy! It will open up new realms of possiblilities for you!

I love this book! I'm an intermediate user, and I was looking for some new inspiration, and I found it here! I love Deke McClelland's videos, and Scott Kelby is a useful, enjoyable read. Katrin Eismann has some great stuff, but you've got to really put your thinking cap on for hers..not always what I'm in the mood for. This book finally has some new ideas and the images are visually stimulating, combined in an interesting way, AND they are included on a CD. I climb into bed with Al's book wanting to relax and learn and then want to jump out and try something! A must have!!!

I like this book (a brand-new copy bought through Amazon) a lot for the reasons others have said, and for the obvious need it fills.
But when I tried to open the CD, my antivirus software found "trojan SHeur.AEPL!!!" Good grief.
I wrote Sybex (the publisher) customer support and they did respond within 24 hours, saying: "Discussion Thread
Response (Mark C.) 01/28/2008 10:13 AM
"Hi, and thanks for writing.
The files on the disc are not usable.
"We are sorry for the inconvenience. The files that were missing are provided in the attachment." (There was no attachment.)
This is unprecedented in my experience. But be warned, fellow customers, the CD in your book may hold malicious code. Apparently Sybex will send you the missing content, but that has not reached me yet.

Joe Cantrell

This book has been very helpful to me, I am a novice at photoshop but am very interested in learning to use Photoshop creatively. I like the way the book is structured and easy to follow.

Its always difficult to buy a book that gave you where you looking for, but this is for me one of the best books for photoshop addicts.

For all those who would like to get to grips with the nitty gritty bits of Adobe Photoshop this book has it all.Mr Al Ward has long been associated with the Adobe people and his methods of teaching others in this book is brilliant.
You Have all the tools and advice on how to use them illustrated, plus you have the oppportunity to use your own pictures and adapt them to create the illustration shown. This then makes the finished article more personal as you have used your own work and not that given to you.
Highly recomended

Good book. I borrowed it from the library then decided to buy it. Worthwhile tutorials to learn very cool stuff. I would recommend for beginner - intermediate.