Adobe Photoshop CS2 A-Z: Tools and Features Illustrated Ready Reference (Paperback)

by Philip Andrews (Author) "The Accented Edges filter searches out the edges within a picture and then highlights them with a line..." (more)
Key Phrases: shaded padlock, single slider control, sideways button, Version Cue, File Info, Magic Wand (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"Each section is expressed clearly with simple buy highly effective and user-friendly illustrations...These are definitely books you should have to hand while working at your computer." - Amateur Photographer

"Some books you can never get into, some seem to fit like an old glove. To me this is certainly one of the latter. As far as I can see every action you are likely to make as a photographer is covered...This book is a must have, easy to follow reference that will guide you through CS2's many tools and commands." - Royal Photographic Society Digital Imaging Group magazine

"A thorough guide to Adobe's recent Photoshop CS2 release, this book...acts as an effective reference tool thanks to its easy to follow A to Z layout." - Computer Arts

"If you find the help feature in Adobe Photoshop a bit sparse, then this book could be an easy to use supplement" Photoshop User

"If you ever wanted a quick reference guide to the mass of tools in Photoshop, then this is the answer...Keep it to hand as a quick and easy guide." - Which Digital Camera

Reviews of previous editions:
7.0 and previous eds:

'As the name suggests, this is a handy and easy to use reference for all things Photoshop. Designed in an index format, Bargh's informative book is well-illustrated and a valuable asset for all getting into digital imaging.'
- Better Digital

'The book provides a visual representation of various features within Photoshop accompanied by succinct, punchy text, which enables you to learn fast and efficiently. Whilst many Photoshop books are tomes difficult to read and understand, this book, with its easy and intuitive layout makes learning a breeze... Overall, this book is an invaluable reference tool that should adorn every desktop when working in Photoshop. Highly recommended.'
- John Shaw, Digital Photo and Practical Photographer.

'... this handy and simple-to-use paperback ... is a perfect adjunct to ... any other technique book dealing with Photoshop.'
- Professional Photographer

'There are stacks of guide books on Photoshop and I'd feared this would be another that is useful but impossible to navigate. The reality was a pleasant surprise, with the author honestly appraising some of the more esoteric features ... of all the Photoshop self-help guides I've come across, Peter Bargh's book is the easiest to use.'
- Amateur Photographer

'The book makes an excellent visual reference guide and should prove very useful for the beginner through to the advanced user.'
- Digital PhotoFX, five star rating

'Unfettered praise is all too rare these days so may this stranger say a warm thank you for your admirable volume "The essential visual reference guide" to Photoshop 7.0. Now much thumbed. Quite one of the best and most accessible of the mentor books to this fiendishly complex but magical software. I like the style and one feels one knows where you're coming from."
- Richard Wade, former Editor - Tomorrow's World BBC 1

CS-
'The more we used this book, the better we liked it. This isn't the ultimate Photoshop book - and it isn't meant to be - but we can't think of any other that provides such quick and concise reference information.'
- Digital Photographer Magazine

"If you find that the Help feature in Adobe Photoshop is a bit sparse, then this book could be an easy-to-use supplement...This book is best for self-teaching beginners." - Photoshop User, Sept. 2006

"The title says it all: this book goes through many, perhaps most, Photoshop tools, features and terms in alphabetical order...Helps get newcomers up to speed, or more experienced users discover the function of some mysterious command." - Photo Techniques, July/Aug. 2006

"This all-inclusive reference quide helps you learn new tools and menus, solve problems as you work and get direction on various features and topics. The book lists all of CS2's key tools and can be used with any version of the software." - PC Photo, June 2006

Book Description
An all-encompassing reference to all the latest Photoshop CS X features

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Focal Press (September 6, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0240520025
• ISBN-13: 978-0240520025
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #825,820 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful CS2 Reference for All Levels of Users, November 4, 2005

By	P. Smith (Northeast) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I must admit, I was a little reluctant to purchase this book as all of the Photoshop books over the years I have read that are set up as being basically encyclopedic have failed. I am now very glad that I purchased this book.

I would consider myself an intermediate Photoshop user and several things appeal to me about this book. First of all, unlike many encyclopedic like books just tend to repeat what the option or function is. For example, lets say the Photoshop option is "Find Edges". Many books would say, "finds the edges in an image" and that's pretty much it. But not this book. There is a nice discussion of the option and the dialog box that pops up when Find Edges is selected and the three sliders available and what each does. This book also directs you where to find the option and in which versions of Photoshop it is available.

Secondly, this book is wonderfully illustrated. Thirdly, it is not strictly encyclopedic. There are a number of follow along type exercises and the images can be found online at a companion site so that one can work along with the book. In addition, there are quicktime movies that can be viewed or downloaded to further explain material in the book.

In conclusion, This is definitely the best encyclopedic type Photoshop book I have seen and I have seen many others that have failed at this type of information presentation. I am giving it a five not only because of it's usefulness but also because this book suceeds where so many have failed. And at $16 it's a great buy.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Handy Help, August 22, 2006

By	J. Norcom "CJN Photo" (Auburn, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I'm new to CS2 and was having trouble weeding through all the possable ways of developing my photos. This book is a wouderful help with undrstanding some of the complicated tasks involved, the projects are simple to read and simpler to do, even if you are using your own photos instead of the ones that are included with the book on a CD. Having completing the projects in the book I reference it reguarly for my own projects.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful ready reference., June 29, 2006

By	D-MAG.org Reviewer (Lexington, KY USA) - See all my reviews

Title: Photoshop CS2 A-Z
Author: Philip Andrews
Publisher: Focal Press
ISBN: 0240520025
Pages: 244 pages
Reviewer: Charles Renee
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars


This Photoshop advice and teaching book by Phillip Andrews is a great find. It's not a sit by the fire and read book but, rather a wonderful ready reference.

Adobe keeps making great products and adding new features almost to the speed of "hold on I can't keep up.? This book offers some handholds on Photoshop. It is set up in dictionary style in which it describes every feature and action in Photoshop from A to Z with really nice color photos. In many cases it has multiple screenshots of features, filters and actions.

Even though the title describes itself as CS2 it has tips, tricks and shortcuts that apply to older versions of the program as well. It will tell you what versions each feature works with and highlights the CS2 only items. Photoshop CS2 A-Z might be the needed push for someone sitting on the fence about whether the program upgrade is worth it. This book is not a substitute for classroom type text books but a great companion for everyday use. My copy is already getting its share of daily abuse. Easy to use, easy to read, 5 star rating!