Reviews (7)

Photoshop CS2 Bible - Professional Edition Book Review

Great photos and graphics, sage advice.
The features you need, the advice you want, the examples you'll refer to again and again: that's what you'll find in this book. The experience and insights that the authors bring to this book have made it one of my favorites among computer books in general and my total favorite among Photoshop books. I recommend this edition of the Bible to anyone who has already used most of the basic features and wants some expert advice to move them on to the next level. The "Professional" tag is appropriate, but you don't need to be an expert to use the book: that's where it takes you. Don't expect this book to baby you and for every single button and dialog box to be covered, because this is a book focused on the features you use for more advanced projects, and the work that pushes the edge of the design envelope. If you're looking for coverage of everything in the Photoshop menus and tools, get the main CS2 Bible, the one that's like 1500 pages. If you want to learn specific stuff to take your work to the next level, the Professional Edition is the one you want.

Very detailed...
Good book giving the details on all the CS 2's new features. Two thumbs up! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer Books: General    2. Computer Graphics - Design    3. Computer Graphics - Game Programming    4. Computer Graphics - Photoshop    5. Computers    6. Computers - Other Applications    7. Computers / Computer Graphics / Design    8. Photoshop   

Subjects:  1. Computer Books: General    2. Computer Graphics - General    3. Computer Graphics - Photoshop    4. Computers    5. Computers - Other Applications    6. Computers / Computer Graphics / General    7. Photoshop   

Editorial Review

If you're looking for a thorough, hands-on guide to Adobe Illustrator 8, give this Classroom in a Book a close look. Developers at Adobe created the book's well-rounded exercises and explanations for beginning users who want to master the core features of this newly updated illustration program. The included CD-ROM has project files for working along with the book. Each chapter, or lesson, begins with a "Getting Started" section and ends with review questions and answers, so you can better evaluate what you've learned. A full-color section shows you the process or results of each lesson. First, you get a tour of the interface and learn how to work with the program's shape tools, color, patterns, gradients, lines, curves, and brushes. Next, you transform objects, manipulate type, blend shapes and colors, work with the Pathfinder palette, use layers, apply watercolor and airbrush effects, and draw 3-D cylinders and boxes with the illusion of depth. Finally, you're ready for output. You learn how to create color separations, prepare your work for the printer, work with Photoshop images, and optimize graphics for the Web. From beginning to end, the book is full of helpful hints for creating good-looking illustrations. Read more

Reviews (21)

Good book
Good book if you want to know the abc's of Illustrator. Well explained.

Incompatible with previous versions of Illustrator
Don't buy this tutorial if you have a previous version of Illustrator.I have Illustrator 7, but this tutorial is constructed so that previous versions of Adobe Illustrator will not open the files on the tutorial CD.So you can't use it with anything except Adobe 8 or more.I looked on Adobe's website for technical support on this issue and could find nothing.It might be a wonderful tutorial, but if you have anything less that 8.0, you will need to find something else.

Great for newcomers and Internet startup
I've been using Illustrator lightly for years and always wanted to learnmore about it but was studying other stuff.I'm an Internet consultantusually working around programmers and network engineers but sometimes, Ineed a fresh graphical look when we do not have anybody to do it.Read more

Subjects:  1. Adobe Illustrator (Computer file)    2. Computer Books: Desktop Publish    3. Computer Graphics - General    4. Computer Graphics - Illustrator    5. Computer graphics    6. Computers    7. Computers - Desktop Publishing    8. Desktop Publishing - General    9. Microcomputer Graphics    10. Computer graphics software   

Reviews (11)

Photoshop 6 for Dummies
Although this book can be quite useful for basics, it is too laden down with useless titbits. Also, a lot of important stuff is hidden between these, so it can be very easy to become frustrated. The book is presented well, slightly too much light humour but it does at least presume that you (like I did) have no experience. Practice will make you a much better photoshop user than reading this book, but combining this with thousands of F1 searches will set you well on your way.

Dry, Dry, and still more Dry
I'd rather eat the pages of this book for lunch and swallow them without a glass of water than read any further from this bone-dry book.I found the humor in the book more iritating than helpful, and the expanse of long drawn-out paragraphs with very few visual aids proved this to be the worst Photoshop book I've laid my hands on. It should be subtitled (forcomputer experts only)
I have been a pen & brush graphics artist all of my life. Now that I have retired, I decided to try computer image manipulation. I bought this book in the hopes of learning to recolor, flip, distort, or whatever via my computer (I just got my first one in 2000)and have found it maddening to use. The authors gloss over information vital to a basic understanding of Photoshop and then blithely show highly advanced image techniques that cannot be duplicated without the underlying knowledge. It pretends to being step-by-step, but ignores crucial steps. For example, a complex collage is created using a number of disparate images: how did they select only that portion of the original? How did they make the surrounding parts of the image transparent so the background shows through? This are the most basic maneuvers, but a couple of months with the book left me unenlightened. I have since found another book that delivers on the premise of this one, Photoshop 6 In An Instant by Toot & Woolridge, and am now happily photoshopping away -- this despite the fact that Photoshop 6 for Dummies was more ... and has many pages of color illustration, in contrast to Photoshop 6 In An Instant's reliance on B&W even to show color manipulation! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adobe Photoshop    2. Computer Bks - Desktop Publishing    3. Computer Graphics - General    4. Computer Graphics - Photoshop    5. Computer graphics    6. Computers - Desktop Publishing    7. Microcomputer Graphics    8. Photo Techniques    9. Photographic Techniques Using Specific Equipment    10. Photography    11. Techniques - Equipment    12. Computers / Computer Graphics / Design    13. Photoshop   

Editorial Review

Bert Monroy's demonstrations on the cable channel TechTV's The Screensavers are so popular that he was their roving reporter at the 2004 Photoshop World conference. Monroy is impressive at showing, step-by-step, how he performs his Photoshop "magic," sleights of hand that can seemingly create images out of air, or in this case, pixels. As in his previous books, each section begins with one of his amazing Photoshop "paintings" and walks readers through some of the techniques used to create it. Here, though, Monroy is emphasizing his production process as a commercial artist, from working with client sketches to organizing his work.Read more

Reviews (3)

Wow!
Book Name: Commercial Photoshop with Bert Monroy
Great for Illustrators
Bert Monroy is a commerical illustrator with 30+ years of experience in the business and co-authored the very first book on Photoshop. Needless to say, the technical content of this book is unquestionable and quite educational. While many of the techniques in the book can be applied in other areas, a prospective buyer should be aware that the book is completely targeted toward illustration work. One of the techniques that Bert is famous for is creating photo-realistic images by painting them entirely in Photoshop with very few stock photography elements. Whether this is good or bad depends on what you're looking for, but don't buy the book thinking it's going to teach you how to retouch your family photos. One of Bert's many other books would be better suited for the later.

Excellent How-To Book
Bert Monroy is, undoubtedly, one of the most amazing Photoshop artists I�ve ever seen. He can produce images that look like photos, even though no photo was used.Read more

Subjects:  1. Adobe Photoshop    2. Commercial art    3. Computer Books: General    4. Computer Graphics - General    5. Computer Graphics - Photoshop    6. Computer graphics    7. Computers    8. Computers - Desktop Publishing    9. Computers / Computer Graphics / General    10. Photoshop   

Reviews (1)

A great book for design idea
If you are a designer who are seeking for design ideas. This is a book that you shouldn't miss out for your bookshelf. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer Books: General    2. Computer Graphics - Game Programming    3. Computer Graphics - Photoshop    4. Computers    5. Computers - Desktop Publishing    6. Desktop Publishing - General    7. Computers / General   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (14)

One of the best
Although the versions of Photoshop and Illustrator he discusses are much older than what's currently available, this book remains the best for tutorials on creating photorealistic drawings in both programs. I am in awe of his skills!

Avoid this book
Truly, truly awful book. Mr. Monroy should be ashamed. If you know the first thing about art or photoshop you do not need this book.I sincerely regretted buying it .

Photoshop Studio with Bert Monroy is latest edition of this
This is a truly great book but Monroy has made a new book called "Photoshop Studio with Bert Monroy" which is essentially an updated version of this book. I bet it would be a better buy. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adobe Illustrator (Computer fi    2. Adobe Illustrator (Computer file)    3. Adobe Photoshop    4. Computer Graphics - General    5. Computer Graphics - Illustrator    6. Computer Graphics - Photoshop    7. Computer graphics    8. Computers - Desktop Publishing    9. Microcomputer Graphics    10. Photo Techniques    11. Photographic Techniques Using Specific Equipment    12. Photography    13. Techniques - Equipment    14. Computers / Computer Graphics / General   

Reviews (2)

From Zero to Hero
I bought this book because I have been using Photoshop for several years but have never even opened up Illustrator. This book is amazing. I read it with ease understanding pretty much everything the first time around. Even without a knowledge in Photoshop anyone who seeks an understanding of Illustrator MUST READ THIS BOOK. The author makes it so simple to understand and yet displays the powerful features and ease of use with simple yet informative excercises. His method is simple. Give a lesson, do an exercise. Teachers of all subjects should read this book for an understandingof how to teach.

Fantastic book for newbies
I've never used Illustrator before, my background is as a programmer for business applications, but now that I'm retired, I'm indulging my budding love for graphic design. I bought the whole CS2 bundle, LOVE IT, but of course it's very complicated, especially if you're just getting into graphic design. This book is a great place to start. This particular edition is MUCH cheaper than the deluxe edition, because all the graphics are reproduced in black & white. For me, the only chapter where that made a significant difference is, no surprise, the chapter on color, but I think that will be a subjective judgment you'll need to make for yourself. In addition to learning the basics of using Illustrator, the book also addresses some of the integration with the other programs in the suite, which I found to be very useful. Loved it! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adobe Illustrator (Computer file)    2. Adobe Illustrator (Computer software)    3. Computer Books: Languages    4. Computer graphics    5. Computers    6. Computers - General Information    7. General    8. Programming - General    9. Computer graphics software    10. Computers / General   

Features

• Illustrated

Subjects:  1. Computer Books: General    2. Computer Graphics - General    3. Computer Graphics - Photoshop    4. Computers    5. Computers - Desktop Publishing    6. Internet - Web Site Design    7. Adobe, Photoshop, Web Design    8. Computers / Computer Graphics / General    9. Computers / Desktop Publishing    10. Photoshop   

Subjects:  1. Computer Animation    2. Computer Books: General    3. Computers    4. Computers - General Information    5. Interactive & Multimedia    6. Computer Software Packages    7. Computers / Interactive Media   

Editorial Review

The author (the son of Paul Caponigro, a photographer in the traditionof Minor White and Ansel Adams) of Read more

Reviews (31)

Not for beginners, but an outstanding book
I have many photoshop books, and this is, by far, my favorite. However, it is not for beginners. The words "Master Class" hint at the skill level required to appreciate the book.
Good techniquesbut mostly about vision and esthetics
I too found the very thin and light type of this book very hard to read. However, after vowing to slog through it anyway, I found the discussions of the techniques to be well done. The problem, which can be viewed as either good or bad depending on your bend of mind, is that the author takes the reader on his personal journey of discovery of digital art. And personal journeys takes a long time and are somewhat boring for anyone else but the person himself. Starting from a photography background, I found the artistic point of view interesting, even educational and inspiring, but too much of a good thing. After a while, I started skimming the main text and reading the 'methods' summary at the end of each chapter which spelled out the techniques in a nutshell.

Best for someone with lots of Photoshop experience
I because acquainted through this book because it is a required text for a second-level digital photography class I'm taking in college.I've read almost all of it. While there is a lot of valuable information (particularly with regard to monitor calibration), this book definitely has some issues. Read more

Subjects:  1. Adobe Photoshop    2. Computer Books: General    3. Computer Graphics - General    4. Computer Graphics - Photoshop    5. Computer graphics    6. Computers    7. Computers - Desktop Publishing    8. Desktop Publishing    9. Desktop Publishing - General    10. Electronic Publishing    11. Microcomputer Graphics    12. Computers / Computer Graphics / General    13. Photoshop   

Reviews (12)

5 stars to the author, not the publisher.
The other reviews here on the author's style are so well done, that I'll just say I agree that this is a book worth going through cover to cover.
Superb Instruction
So often computer instruction books are re-hashes of the User guide.This one is a very well designed course.The author uses real world tasks to introduce all the most important features in a format which is entertaining.Its modular structure permits the learner to pick and choose his lessons.Its the first computer instruction book I've ever used which was fun.

Glad I bought it
It was difficult choosing a book as there is so much out there but I finally bought Jan's because of the overwhelming positive response.Well, I have to agree and am can only say that learning PSE2 through Jans course is a discovery!If you are in any way serious about Digital Photography and want to master the best tool out there than this book takes you through it with great intelligence. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer Books: General    2. Computer Graphics - Design    3. Computer Graphics - Game Programming    4. Computer Graphics - General    5. Computers    6. Computers - Desktop Publishing    7. Desktop Publishing - General    8. Microcomputer Graphics    9. Computers / Computer Graphics / Design    10. Photoshop   

Reviews (7)

Why no color?
I currently have three HOT books included this Illustrator CS book. This one is really disappoint one. Why? The book is about graphic, but all the pictures in the book are black and white. However, it comes with cd-rom, so it receives 2 stars otherwise.....

Not as good as other HOT publications
I have used the HOT for Flash and for Dreamweaver and have learned a great deal from both of them.But the Illustrator CS publication is far inferior on many levels, I am afraid (I know that I am in the minority here).The communication and conveyance of information is many times unclear and unfocused and assumes a level of knowledge is already in existence.The structure of the lessons are many times confusing, as is the graphics associated with them.I luckily got mine from the library and did not pay for it.I would not spend the money on this one, and do the same.Or try it out for yourself and then spend the money.Good luck, and keep up the good work with the other HOT publications!

Tells you why, not just how
Jeff Van West has a winnner of an Illustrator tutorial. A lot of other how-to books give you a bunch of steps that lead the user to a "whiz-bang" result, but they lack in explaining why and how that result was achieved. This book goes through the process of explaining the cause and effect of Illustrator's tools and effects _before_ going through the steps, leading to a better understanding of when to use those tools and effects. I've used "Adobe Illustrator CS Hands-On Training" as a textbook in my beginning Illustrator class, and it's been a wonderful teaching tool. My only real complaint (and it's a minor one at that) is that the graphics are not all that pretty (graphic artists are attracted to shiny objects). Still, the book accomplishes what it sets out to do. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer Books: General    2. Computer Graphics - Design    3. Computer Graphics - Game Programming    4. Computers    5. Computers - Desktop Publishing    6. Desktop Publishing    7. Desktop Publishing - General    8. Microcomputer Graphics    9. Computer graphics software    10. Computers / Computer Graphics / Design   

Features

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Reviews (4)

For the neo-pro
Many photographers surrender control over their images to their cameras' built-in converters: take back the art by understanding how to manipulate RAW files with THE ART OF RAW CONVERSION: HOW TO PRODUCE ART-QUALITY PHOTOS WITH ADOVE PHOTOSHOP CS2 AND LEADING RAW CONVERTERS. From calibrating a digital camera to work with RAW files and understanding differences between the leading RAW converters to manipulating both color and black and white images, this is for the neo-pro who wants to get the most out of his camera.
Great discussion of RAW workflow and more
Most digital cameras deliver pictures in jpeg format by default. Digital SLRs and many more advanced digicams provide a RAW format as an alternative. While jpeg provides convenience, the RAW format can give you more photographic information, more flexibility, and ultimately better pictures.
A must-have RAW workflow reference
Finally we have access to the RAW workflow expertise of Uwe Steinmueller in book form. And what a beautiful print version this is! Steinmueller, the publisher of OutbackPhoto.com on the Web, is well known for his comprehensive e-books on RAW workflow and other topics. This book is a treatise on RAW workflow which I think should be the first resource for the serious advanced amateur or professional photographer.
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Subjects:  1. Computer Graphics - General    2. Computer Graphics - Image Processing    3. Computer Graphics - Photoshop    4. File conversion (Computer science)    5. Photo Techniques    6. Photography    7. Photography, Artistic    8. Raw file formats (Digital photography)    9. Techniques - Digital    10. Techniques - General    11. Computers/Computer Graphics - General    12. Computers/Computer Graphics - Image Processing    13. Digital techniques    14. Image processing    15. Photography / Techniques    16. Photography / Techniques / Digital    17. photo, photography, digital photo, digital photography, RAW, raw, jpg, photoshop, adobe photoshop, adobe photoshop CS, image manipulation   

Features

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Reviews (9)

Fantastic Photoshop Book From O'Reilly
O'Reilly hits another ball out of the park with this solid Photoshop book.I love the layout and paper chosen with this serious and the tutorials and examples are just as good!!
Ok, but I expect better from O'reilly
Its often been said that there are several ways to do the same thing in photoshop.This book just gives you a few ways of doing them.My biggest complaint is that it appears noone proofed the photos. Some photo are of poor quality on 1 page and then fine on another.Another photo of showing a whitening effect shows someone with pink teeth.O'reilly is the best usually when it comes to IT books but this effort is subpar.

This is the book I've been waiting for!
At last!This is the book I've been waiting for!I've been on the hunt for a book that goes over practical photo editing with Photoshop-you know, how to alter colors, fix over/under exposure, remove distractions, etc.Most books I've come across are either designed for the Photoshop professional (meaning they leave out all the steps between A and Z), or they're too basic.This book is it-a step-by-step guide to Photoshop editing for the casual Photoshop user.
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Subjects:  1. Computer Books: General    2. Computer Graphics - General    3. Computer Graphics - Photoshop    4. Computers    5. Computers - Other Applications    6. Digital techniques    7. Miscellaneous Software    8. Photography    9. Retouching    10. Techniques - Digital    11. Computers / Computer Graphics / Design    12. Computers / Computer Graphics / General    13. Computers / Other Applications    14. Computers/General    15. Photography/Techniques - Digital    16. Photoshop    17. photoshop, photo retouching   

Subjects:  1. Computer Books: General    2. Computer Graphics - General    3. Computers    4. dharma zen, photographers, retouchers, illustrators, designers, teachers, students, plastic surgeons, Retouch portraits, Photoshop CS2   

Reviews (10)

This book is for me, I am a Dummy :-)
Okay... Altho i am getting better, I still am not very savvy on the computer. Because of this book my friends think I am a photo guru!!! This book is soooo easy to understand and the example pictures are a big help. I am having so much fun!!! I highly recommend this book for beginners.

Photoshop Elements 3 For Dummies
I do a lot of scrapbooking and was quite disappointed when I purchased Photoshop Elements because I could not seem to get around in the program. Now that I have the Dummies book I'm navigating the program with the greatest of ease. The book has talked me through step by step in easy to understand language. My pictures are looking much better and I'm able to print the sizes I want and recently I've started creating accessories for my pages. So I highly recommend this book.

Photoshop Elements 3 for Dummies like me
I never know how much of a "Dummy" I am until I try to fiddle with a computer program.The Dummies series have always come to my rescue.I enjoy the lively banter-style format which makes me feel like I am getting personalized assistance. With no arguments!Even if I never figure out my software, at least I will have enjoyed the experience!The book covers the subject, but with no consideration to related programs (ie., XP, wherein I believe my problems lie...)XP for Dummies, coming right up! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adobe Photoshop elements    2. Adobe Photoshop elements (Computer software)    3. Computer Books: General    4. Computer Graphics    5. Computer Graphics - Design    6. Computer Graphics - Game Programming    7. Computer Graphics - Photoshop    8. Computers    9. Computers - Desktop Publishing    10. Desktop Publishing - General    11. Digital Image Processing    12. Digital techniques    13. Photography    14. Computers / Computer Graphics / Design    15. Photoshop   

Reviews (5)

awesome
I have been reading this book for the last 30 minutes and it's one wow after another. I just turned to my dog and said "This book is amazing!" hehe. Even for the well-seasoned
I **LOVE** this book!I've been using Photoshop since version 4 and i'm self-taught.I am not an expert yet but then i don't consider myself a novice either. Photoshop reference extraordinaire
I love this book! I wish all software books were written this well. If you took 20 Photoshop books at random and put them through some magic process that took all the good stuff out and condensed them into 1 easy to read, well-organized, no fluff, no 1500 pages and 4 pounds of paper book, this would be what comes out.Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer Graphics - Design    2. Computer Graphics - Photoshop    3. Computers - Desktop Publishing    4. Data Transmission Systems - General    5. Digital Image Processing    6. Photo Techniques    7. Photographic Techniques Using Specific Equipment    8. Photography    9. Techniques - Equipment    10. Computers / Computer Graphics / Design    11. Photoshop    12. Publishing on the Internet    13. Computers    14. Graphic Design   

Subjects:  1. Computer Books: General    2. Computer Graphics - General    3. Computer Graphics - Photoshop    4. Computers    5. Computers - General Information    6. Computers / Computer Graphics / General    7. Photoshop   

Reviews (16)

The cutesiness is dull, dull, dull
I learned a lot from this book, but it was annoying to have to plow through a lot of meaningless chit chat to do so.The book could be 25% shorter without all the senseless yammer--which was not that funny.When I'm trying to understand a particular tool or function, I don't appreciate the extra time it takes to read about how pixel resolution is like grandma's oatmeal cookies, or whatever.

Great Help
I always had difficulty with the original manual. On a given subject it referred you to another place in the manual. The Dummies book does a better job of covering a subject in it's entirety. The index is also much better.

Much Better Than The Manual
I learned a lot from this book and it really turned Photoshop from something intimidating into a very powerful tool that I now enjoy using. My photos are much better now and my wife is amazed at how well I can salvage seemingly "ruined" pictures. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adobe Photoshop elements    2. Computer Bks - Other Applications    3. Computer Graphics - General    4. Computer Graphics - Photoshop    5. Computer graphics    6. Computers - Other Applications    7. Digital photography    8. Digital techniques    9. Microcomputer Graphics    10. Photo Techniques    11. Photographic Techniques Using Specific Equipment    12. Photography    13. Techniques - Equipment    14. Computers / Computer Graphics / Design    15. Photoshop