Photoshop for Dummies

digicammad (e2 Member)

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17 Sep 2003 - 4:26 PM

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Does anybody have this book and, if so, is it a worthwhile investment? I have a basic grasp of Photoshop but am struggling with things like layer masks, filter layers, history brush, etc.

Ian

peterkent

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17 Sep 2003 - 5:46 PM

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While respecting Pete's opinions on Photosop, I would be very dubious of using the Wow books as tutorials. They are aimed squarely at people who have a good grasp of Photoshop and want to get heavily into 'effects'. You'd be very safe buying authors like Greenberg, Blatner, McCelland, Fraser etc. I avoid the Dummy series like the plague, unless you like cartoons and being treated like a dummy - but that's just me. I speak from having spent many many hours in book shops perusing Photoshop books. The trouble is, you have to know a bit about Photoshop to know if the books are any good - it's catch 22!! Good luck.

Pete (ePHOTOzine Staff)

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17 Sep 2003 - 6:55 PM

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Completely disagree with Peter and DP about the Wow book. Don't take my word for it, go to a book shop have a look. You mentioned you have a basic grasp - that's all you need. Page 152-161 has some in depth, but very well explained info about layers and masks. There's loads of step by step walk through stuff, all highly illustrated. A lot of the material is graphically based but very high quality so you can apply your learning to photographs.

peterkent

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17 Sep 2003 - 9:20 PM

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Pete - The last Wow book I bought was the Photoshop 4 version. 329 pages of mostly effects and pages 52-66 on Selections, Masks, Layers and Channels. Some people have devoted whole books to those subjects alone. Maybe updated versions of the book are more comprehensive. Horses for courses.

flossie

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19 Sep 2003 - 12:52 PM

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I read all the book reviews and jotted down the titles and authors of the ones I liked the sound of.
I looked at the library and they had about 7 of them on the listing so I ordered them for 70p - I've just got the first one. You can look through then and if it isn't what you wanted you've only wasted 70p. I'd hate to fork out 20 - 30 for a book only to find it wasn't what I wanted.

block119er

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23 Sep 2003 - 10:20 PM

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I bought the Wow book, but to be honest I got through a couple of sections, before I wandered off. Feel I learn more from the monthly magazines at the moment, I'll go back to the book when I've got the hang of the basics as I feel like some say, you need to know something before you get it. In My Opinion. Tony

johnprior

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25 Sep 2003 - 4:02 PM

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Hi, can I add to the library, for my money 'Real World Photoshop' by David Blatner and Bruce Fraser is the best book around, if you have basic knowledge. The colour space 'Bruce' comes from one of the authors.

em0231

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26 Sep 2003 - 2:48 PM

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Instead of buying books as this can keep growing. Why not look at training CD's. Barry Thomas is the boss but his CD's are nearly 60. The other to look at is Barry Beckham, you will find him at Wantage Photo Club. He's very good.