Adobe Photoshop CS2 Classroom in a Book (Paperback)

~ Adobe Creative Team (Author)
Key Phrases: layer style, smart object, magnetic lasso, Choose File, Adobe Bridge, Choose Select (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Photoshop is one of those programs that's so cool you just want to dive right in and start creating–but by plunging in head-first, without any guidance, you're likely to miss a lot. There's a solution: With this book, you learn by doing, getting your feet wet immediately as you progress through a series of hands-on projects that build on your growing Photoshop knowledge. Simple step-by-step instructions, review questions at the end of each chapter, and a companion CD with all of the book's project files make learning a breeze as the Adobe Creative Team takes you on a self-paced tour of the image-editing powerhouse. This bestselling guide has been completely revised to cover all of Photoshop CS2's new features, which include advanced tools for digital photographers, such as a new Spot Healing Brush for correcting scratches or blemishes, and Smart Sharpen for fixing photo blurring. Photoshop CS2 also includes loads of new creative tools, such as Vanishing Point and Image Warp. This comprehensive guide starts with an introductory tour of the software and then progresses on through lessons on everything from Photoshop's interface to more complex topics like color management, Web graphics, and photo retouching.

About the Author

The Adobe Creative Team is made up of designers, writers, and editors who have extensive, real-world knowledge of and expertise in using Adobe products. They work closely with the Adobe product development teams and Adobe's Instructional Communications team to come up with creative, challenging, and visually appealing projects to help both new and more experienced users get up to speed quickly on Adobe software products.

Product Details

• Paperback: 496 pages
• Publisher: Adobe Press; 1ST edition (June 3, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0321321847
• ISBN-13: 978-0321321848
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (104 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #23,048 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

299 of 303 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE Photoshop book, no matter what your skill level, June 22, 2005

By	Spencer M. Hall (Baltimore, MD) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have been using Adobe Photoshop since version 5.5, but didnt really get into it seriously until Photoshop CS (8). When I purshcased CS, i bought Jan Kabili's "Complete Course" title, because I considered the Classroom In a Book series to be too dry and technical. It seems that most PS books are either completely tutorial based (meaning you have to follow that sample projects in order to get anything from the lessons) or a cut-and-dry reference that doesnt go too in depth on explainations. "Complete Course" was the former, a big disappointment, and I never finished it. I have since upgraded to CS2, and wanted to get THE most comprehensive and most importantly, versatile book, that would provide explainations as well as serve as a reference.

I have not been disappointed in my purchase of Adobe Photoshop CS2 Classroom in a Book. From what I have seen, the book has chapters that suit everyone, whether you have years of experience with photoshop or are a complete beginner. I am somewhere in between, but found even the most basic "beginner" chapters contain some very useful information. As the book progresses the concepts become more complex and allow you to greatly expand your knowledge of PS.

But what impressed me most about Classroom in a Book was that it can be molded to fit your learning style. Included is a CD with example files for you to follow along with each lesson, trying out features as you go. However, if you are like me and do not learn as well from following a tutorial step-by-step, you dont have to use the CD. This book is written well enough and includes plenty of color screenshots that you can do just as well without the sample files. I am about halfway through the book, feel very confident in what I learned from those lessons, and have yet to pop in the CD. Using it (at least for the first half of the book) is up to you and depends on how you like to learn.

I also purchased this book, because sometime in the not-too-distant future, I am planning to take the exam to become an Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) in Photoshop CS2. For anyone else considering taking the exam, this is the official Photoshop book. Not only is this the guide that Adobe recommends as preparation for the ACE exam, but it is also highly recommended by many of those who have taken the exam and are now certified experts in photoshop.

This book was definitely one of my best book purchases to date; I am looking forward to the release of Adobe's Classroom in a Book for GoLiveCS2!

146 of 154 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great start if you know little about Photoshop, June 12, 2005

By	Guitar Grrl (city of angels) - See all my reviews

Let me start out by saying that I knew nothing about Photoshop when I bought this book. I couldn't even figure out how to make a blue background. I'm now on Lesson 7 (out of 16) and am already comfortable with doing things like editing family photos and cleaning up pictures. This book has been invaluable to me, and I'm only half way through.

The lessons are really easy to follow, step by step with color pictures. It also comes with a CD that contains tutorials and photographs that you work with in the lessons. Each lesson takes about 30-60 minutes, and they're fun :) It starts out easy and gets more difficult with each lesson as it gets more advanced.

Great book.. I'm going to pick up the Illustrator CS2 version when it comes out too.

61 of 67 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars "How to" is nice, but "Why" is better, May 31, 2006

By	Stephen Laskevitch "Adobe Certified Instructor" (Luminous Works, Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is well intended, and mostly well achieved title. That is, it serves a good introduction to the interface and application in general terms. But it falls far short of deeply teaching the application.

Yes, a user will have completed many exercises, and will have had many "successes", building confidence along the way. All good things. Additionally, one learns the vocabulary of Photoshop, the locations of tools and palettes, and something about the program's settings.

But sadly, as a teacher, I see little deep understanding of how to use the application from those who rely solely on this text. And although knowing where things are and what they're called are important steps to passing the Adobe Certified Expert exam, it's more important to know how to achieve results in efficient ways that only real understanding--and much practice--can produce. I was fortunate to help create that exam for the last several versions of Photoshop, and I believe it tests how an adept user actually uses the program. One should be proud to pass that test!

This book will get you started, perhaps, but it won't make anyone adept or expert. Try turning to Real World Photoshop CS2 (Fraser and Blatner) or Adobe Photoshop CS2 for Photographers (Martin Evening) for that. Classes don't hurt either, but I'm biased there. But mostly, joyful, frequent, and curious use will make one an expert.