Secrets of the Digital Darkroom: The Complete Illustrated Guide to Getting the Best Results from your Digital Photographs [Paperback]

Peter Cope (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2003

Secrets of the Digital Darkroom cuts through the jargon and mystique of digital imaging and image manipulation to reveal the professional secrets and insider know-how for creating innovative, effective digital images.



Perfect for photographers of any level, this straightforward guide uses a unique workbook-approach that helps readers learn by doing. Dozens of projects offer hands-on practice with montage, collage, image editing, combining photos with text, digital printing, and much more. Readers will also find concise, practical information on such popular software programs as Photoshop, Corel’s Photo-Paint, and Jasc’s Paintshop Pro, as well as painting applications like Photomontage, Panoramic Bryce, and Canoma. What’s more, 450 examples display these innovative techniques in action.




• Uses a workbook-based approach and cuts through the jargon and mystique of digital imaging

• Filled with unique projects that offer inspiration and reinforce skills learned

• Lavishly illustrated throughout with
stunning full-color photography

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Peter Cope, who has been involved in digital imagemaking since the 1980s, is a well-known photographer and writer. He lives in London, England.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Amphoto Books (May 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0817458247
• ISBN-13: 978-0817458249
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,564,858 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Worth the dough., November 6, 2004

By 

John R. Sneeringer (Columbus, Ohio) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Secrets of the Digital Darkroom: The Complete Illustrated Guide to Getting the Best Results from your Digital Photographs (Paperback)

I consider digital photography having 3 key components. The first is finding great scenes to photograph. Secondly is actually composing and exposing the photograph correctly. Lastly is digitally re-mastering the image to allow it to reveal all that the image is capable of. This book has answered all my PhotoShop questions regarding that third component and allowed me to exponentially raise the bar on my level of work and create professional quality results in minimal time. The book is very well instructed and very well rounded. If you need to quickly get "up to speed" with basic digital editing techniques and produce results that you previously commented "how did they do that?", this is the book for you. I rented it from the library but will be buying a personal copy for my own library.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reveals All, October 30, 2004

By 

J. Chippindale (England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Secrets of the Digital Darkroom: The Complete Illustrated Guide to Getting the Best Results from your Digital Photographs (Paperback)

This book contains all the technical information you require to manipulate your photographs in any way you desire. Obviously you need a computer and a photographic manipulation software tool, such as Photoshop or something similar. If reviewers have panned this book in the past I cannot understand where they are coming from. The book contains easy to follow exercises that help you to create the effect you are looking for and encourages you to use your own initiative to take things that step further. Anyone with a modicum of computer expertise can vastly improve their digital photogaphs. Not everyone wants to become involved in using filters, layers and masks, but to just be able to sharpen, adjust contrast and brightness of photographs and do some colour corrections makes owning this book well worthwhile. Believe me this book will help you to make a tremendous improvement to your photographs.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stands out against so many so-so books, July 23, 2004

By 

David Hughes (Davenport, Fl) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Secrets of the Digital Darkroom: The Complete Illustrated Guide to Getting the Best Results from your Digital Photographs (Paperback)

Given the strong reviews on Amazon for this title I was prepared to give it a wide berth. But after seeing a copy on a store shelf I was intrigued. As someone who knows a modest amount about digital photography and manipulation would I find it useless (as one reviewer suggests) or very useful? I'm pleased to say that I found it very useful indeed. The author (or authors, as the front page describes) knows his stuff but better still knows his audience. It is clear that he knows what aspiring digital photographers need in the way of help and encouragement and delivers it, whether by example or instruction. The text is never patronising and you get the feeling that he is your personal tutor. It is testament to the style that after reading through (and re-reading some favorite bits) I learned a considerable amount without knowing it. I've since learned that this part-US based British photographer has a number of other titles (not just photography but also digital lifestyles) and you can be sure I'll be seeking them out.

Have fun with your digital photography and read this book! Better still, buy it! Two readers were disappointed I can virtually guarantee that millions more won't!