Customer Reviews

Scrapbooking with PhotoshopElements: The Creative Cropping Cookbook

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Scrapbooking with Photoshop Elements: The Creative Cropping Cookbook
by Lynette Kent
Sybex Press
ISBN 0-7821-4377-6,
175 pages plus three endpaper pages of laminated tear-apart tutorial cards
Price: $29.99 US, $41.95 CN, £19.99 UK

There's a lot to like in the early chapters of this friendly, inviting reference and tutorial book. How often do we see introductory text dealing with principles of design and color theory, with a presentation that doesn't require a wall of post-graduate diplomas to comprehend?

Fifty pages covering digital cameras, scanners, input devices, printers, and data storage come next, written in a straightforward style, accompanied by graphics that are cheerful without being cutesy. "The Care and Feeding of Your Scanner" is especially useful, including advice for scanning three-dimensional or messy objects with the help of clear plastic wrap.

Still nothing limited to the craft of scrapbooking, which is a crucial observation. Scrapbooking with Photoshop Elements is, in spite of its precise title, a general-interest primer on the basics of digital imaging. Elements enters the text at page 82, nearly halfway into this book, which shifts into high gear from here onward.

Photoshop Elements' mighty Toolbar is explained in detail, along with some other basic attributes, and soon readers are learning how to whiten teeth, creating custom cookie cutter frame shapes, adding artistic effects to their photos, and making homegrown sports trading cards. These tutorial chapters are loaded with numbered, sequential lessons that are Mac/Windows aware. Hints and tips are plentiful.

Scrapbooking finally takes center stage with instruction for "building a digital page," including "scanning a 12 x 12 page with a letter-sized scanner." Does that sound tricky? It is, but not formidably so. A final appendix assists readers in monitor calibration, something most beginners would be intimidated to pursue.

If you've been reading this review without falling asleep, you'll wonder why scrapbooking is the dominant title, instead of, for example, digital imaging or a similarly banal term. Could it be a marketing decision?

Adobe Photoshop Elements 3 is functionally identical in its separate Mac and Windows versions (unlike single-CD Elements v.1 or v.2), but very different in how catalogs of photos are handled. The Windows edition includes a separate component for that purpose that s-o-r-t o-f resembles Apple's free iPhoto. Adobe took Microsoft off the hook by developing Elements 3's new Organizer.

Three thick sheets of heavy, laminated, colorful, perforated card stock contains twelve double-sided lessons from Scrapbooking with Photoshop Elements' most important interior pages. Some editor and graphics person and paper buyer devoted a lot of energy and expense to providing these cards that add considerable value and utility to an already first-rate book. Easier to use than to describe, I'll find plenty of ways to make sure my photo students become well acquainted with their contents.

Digital photography and image editing don't need to be heavy-duty chores, as we learn throughout this high-quality book. At $30 US, Scrapbooking with Photoshop Elements is well priced, given the extent of its material and presentation. Book Bytes rates this title at a very strong 4 out of 5.

The first part of the book explains everything the novice needs to know about design elements, digital cameras, scanners and printers. But what I really appreciated were her explanations of special effects and incorporating text with art for my scrapbooks. Her step-by-step instructions are less complicated than the help section of Photoshop Elements. This book is the perfect compliment to the PE's software.

I have read many "How To" books. This one is a cut above the rest. Lynette Kent clearly is a gifted writer, who knows, and loves her subject. Unlike so many books of this genre, that are written by "hired gun scribe hacks", Scrapbooking with Photoshop Elements has a spirit that makes the subject come alive, and makes the reader anxious to try out the many skills that Ms. Kent simplifies. A clear layout. Creative, real world examples. Precise and easy to follow instructions. I have seen books that cost twice this much, that do not deliver half the value. If you want to really take your scrapbooking to a new level-- buy this book! If you just want to learn a great program like Photoshop Elements--- buy this book!

This is a book that actually does what the cover says it does. I found the directions clear and complete, and I especially appreciate the inclusive index. A nice surprise was the selection of coupons in the back for discounts and free photo prints which I had not anticipated.

I ordered this book as an introduction to both Photoshop Elements and digital scrapbooking. It's just excellent. However, it's for Photoshop Elements version 3.0. I have version 4.0, so the half of the book which serves as a Photoshop Elements "how-to" did me no good. Unfortunately, I'm going to have to return it. It's a pity because this is an excellent little book.

I am not a scrap booker, but this book is jam-packed with useful information on using my digital camera. I love the "recipe cards" which contain step-by-step instructions for the prodedures I use the most. Lynette has a knack for giving clear, easy-to-follow instructions. She has also has done lots of research on products and services that I can try out for myself. I LOVE the discounts! This book makes it easy for someone to start at the beginning with a camera and achieve terrific results.

This is the most complete and artistic of all the books I have read on Scrapbooking. The Photoshop instructions are clear and easy to follow. This is a MUST for anyone who is serious about their scrapbooking looking professional! I really enjoyed that the photos looked like ones all of us have and have not put together...yet! Joyce Cooper

An easy to read, well thought out book that covers a lot of ground without ever getting lost in obscure information. By the time I had finished the first three chapters I felt I had learned more about presentation that I had from any other source. A must have basic reference witht the right information. Lynette Kent really understands this subject and knows what is important.

Ms. Kent's clever approach with your computer is full of "recipes" for easy techniques to make you scrapbook look great. She even includes "recipe cards" at the back of the book so you can cook up a project quickly and with no problems. She shows how to make professional looking pages with Photoshop Elements which is really easy to use. This book is loaded with so many great ideas. It is is must-have for scrapbookers!

The Scrapbooking Cookbook is finally something easy to read! I would suggest it to anyone who wants to improve the way their digital pictures look when they print them, or use them to make albums. I have tried reading these books before and only get to page 3 or so. This books tells me how to easily fix the things that bug me like red eye, bright spots, and color problems. It also tells me how to put together cute but professional looking pages. I feel like Lynette Kent is a friend explaining this stuff to me. This is a great purchase for everyone that has digital pictures!!