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51 of 52 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Requiem for the Best, September 29, 2006
This book, and its predecessors for each iteration of Photoshop, are amongst the finest of the many instructional manuals on the software. This is because the book is not only comprehensive, but provides highly effective tutorials. These tutorials start with an image on the accompanying CD and lead the reader to modify that image step by step to a final image. Because of my admiration, I was shocked to read in the introduction that this was to be the last in the series. We will have to find our way through future Photoshop versions through other means.
This book covers almost everything a photographer would need to know about Photoshop CS2. (There are a few exclusions. A few editions ago the authors dropped reference to Image Ready, the software that comes bundled with Photoshop; I still keep an old volume around to consult when I want to make slices and buttons.) There's even a chapter on how to use the book that will let advanced users select just the chapters they need.
The book tells how to use all the Photoshop tools needed by a photographer, placing emphasis on the creation of a master image from which various forms of outputs, like web images and prints, can later be derived. The coverage of masks, blending modes, compositing images and Adobe Camera Raw are all excellent. Perhaps because I remember the chemical darkroom of my youth, my favorite chapter still remains "Digital Imaging and the Zone System" wherein the authors demonstrate that Photoshop is a legacy of the work of Ansel Adams.
It's important to realize that this is not an easy, quick read. Doing the exercises will take time, and nothing can be so frustrating as not getting the effect the authors suggested would occur, only to find on reexamination that you had misread or misinterpreted an instruction previously given. But you will learn to use Photoshop more effectively than any other book could teach you.
The authors are not afraid to express opinions. For example, their ringing endorsement of Epson printers is astonishing in this day and age when so many people try to curry favor with as many people as possible.
The accompanying CD includes a set of actions that can be loaded into Photoshop to automate the process. While I always resisted using these keys, I found that they include many of the actions that I created myself to help me along.
When photographers ask me for just one book on how to use Photoshop in all its aspects, I have always recommended this book. It saddens me to think that I may not be able to do that much longer.
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38 of 39 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
It doesn't get any better than this, December 11, 2006
In the dark ages of digital photography I used an early addition of this book to guide me through the labyrinthine intricacies of Photoshop 5.5. I thought I had found the holy grail of Photoshop wisdom. It was clearly written, incisive, and with more than enough detail to guide my learning for years to come. If you are anything like me, you can never know too much about Photoshop, and so I read just about every Photoshop book out there. My conclusion: it doesn't get any better than this. But with successive iterations of the book (it is now in its eighth edition) it has gotten better. In fact, I think it is the single best book to use if you want to master Adobe's Photoshop regardless of your skill level.
My high opinion of this book is based on several factors. First, it is easily understood. It has none of that tendency to try to dazzle you with extraneous and impenetrable wisdom that some authors like to trot out, nor does it indulge in superfluous humor that gets very stale on rereading. The quality of the writing is excellent, engaging the reader with the personal thoughts of the authors. At the same time, it is as complete as you might expect from an omnibus approach to Photoshop. Second, the organization of the book lends itself to learners at several levels by suggesting readings appropriate to the level of the student. It has separate learning tracks for beginners, intermediate users, and advanced users. The authors categorize the chapters as "read", "do" and "lecture" making it suitable as a textbook in a formal setting as well as self-paced tutorial. Third, the inclusion image files together with step-by-step instructions allow the reader to reinforce the ideas presented by the authors while at the same time exploring his or her own approaches. And finally, the accompanying DVD includes a host of useful actions, brushes and extras.
I like the approach that the authors take. Their handling of raw file conversions makes practical and intuitive sense to me. They prefer to turn automatic adjustments off and to postpone a lot of editing to Photoshop. For example, they recommend turning sharpening off. The only quibble I have is that the authors like to use the contrast curves in raw. My preference would be to set contrast drop-down to linear and to defer contrast tweaking to Photoshop. Their discussions of ACR's color noise reduction and luminance noise reduction are top-notch.
If the book concentrated on technical details only, it would be an excellent text. But the book also nurtures the elusive quality of artistry by encouraging experimentation and what amounts to a master class with the artist/photographer elevating this book to a level I have not seen in a general text.
In short: if there is only one Photoshop book you want to buy, look no more. It doesn't get any better than this.
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29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent in-depth but very clear and logical explainations, September 12, 2006
I have been using Photoshop since 1992, so I knew it fairly well before I bought this book, but my experience was mainly in graphical design. I am now focusing on photography. I have read a lot of confusing and conflicting advice on how to use Photoshop to get the most out of your photos and have an efficient "workflow", so I wanted a book to clear things up for me. I bought this based on several published recommendations. I have worked my way about 2/3rd through it and I have found it to be excellent in all respects. It's not a book for someone who wants a quick once-over, but if you want to really become an expert with Photoshop for photography, this book is great. It is detailed but interesting and very well written, with clear and detailed walk-throughs. It would make an excellent course text and contains guidance thereto. I love it.
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