Reviews (9)

Visual approach is great
More pictures, less words, better understanding! This book truly is a step-by-step visual guide for taking pictures, and then whipping them into shape in Photoshop.

Very helpful and easy to read.
This book has given me so many useful tips, I am finding it difficult to get off of my computer. I just keep trying different techniques that I get out of the book and am amazed with the results.
Very pleased
Was quite impressed with this book. The text & pictures work well together and the author is very knowledgable and informative.He has a Mac/Adobe focus on the software sections, but not that big of a deal, still some very useful information. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer Graphics - Photoshop    2. Photo Techniques    3. Photography    4. Subjects & Themes - Portraits    5. Techniques - Digital    6. Techniques - General    7. Photography / Portraits    8. Special kinds of photography   

Reviews (4)

Half way through the book, Recommended
Graphic Design Portfolio Builder is a good supplemental book for designers and beginning students. I wrote supplemental because this book does not comprehensively cover the features of Photoshop and Illustrator software (and it wasn't suppose to) but to help beginners you get familiar with the software and up and running.
Some great ideas for students and those redoing a portfolio
Having taught graphic design for the last 13years, I am always looking for material to use as a reference or even text in my classes. This book gives many ideas on projects that students can use to create a quality looking portfolio for that first job interview. Even though I am constantly encouraging my students to go beyond the simple text assignment, many do not. This book my just give them that spark to do just that.

Great for getting your feet wet!
PROS:
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Subjects:  1. Adobe Photoshop (Computer software)    2. Computer Books: Desktop Publish    3. Computer Graphics - Game Programming    4. Computer Graphics - General    5. Computer graphics    6. Computers    7. Computers - Other Applications    8. Desktop Publishing - General    9. Graphic Design    10. Graphic design (Typography)    11. Microcomputer Graphics    12. Computers / Desktop Publishing / General    13. Photoshop   

Editorial Review

This book is an excellent tool for learning how to use Adobe Photoshop 5 for Macintosh and Windows. The writers--actually a team from Adobe--guide you through the basic and advanced tasks of using the image editor and paint program to create and enhance a wide variety of photographs and images.Read more

Reviews (62)

Great learning tool
This book is a great start on your journey into the world of using Photoshop 5. You will be amazed at how easy the software is to use when you use the examples in this book.

I love this book!
This book is amazing! I got it on a friday and by saturday night I had finished it. The book is not short, mind you, I just couldn't put it down. I no trouble with any of the tutorials. I breezed right through them! Not only does it give you training on how to use the software, it also offers tutorials on basic editing techniques. Despite what other reviewers might have said, this book's CD is easy to navigate, I had no trouble finding any of the files, and if you don't know what "fading titles" are you obviously made the wrong decision purchasing this book and the software it refers to. I had a blast with the book and tutorials, and rushed to purchase the AfterEffects Classroom in a Book shortly after reading it.

Good for beginners
This book is excellent for beginners (as is the 6.x version). It's chock full of tutorials. I wouldn't recomend it for the advanced user, however. I believe that the "Bible" series is appropriate for more advanced users. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adobe Photoshop    2. Computer Books And Software    3. Computer Graphics - Photoshop    4. Computer graphics    5. Computers    6. Computers - Desktop Publishing    7. Desktop Publishing - General    8. Microcomputer Graphics    9. Programmed instruction    10. Computer aided design (CAD)    11. Photoshop   

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Computer Graphics - Game Programming    3. Computer graphics    4. Data processing    5. Design - General    6. Fashion    7. Fashion drawing    8. Technical & Manufacturing Trades    9. Technology & Industrial Arts    10. Textile Fabric (Applied Arts)    11. Textile design    12. Art / Design / General    13. Computer graphics software   

Reviews (6)

Never played with CorelDRAW?No problem.
Not having played with previous CorelDRAW products in the past didn't slow me down in getting in the groove of CorelDRAW 10!This is a great resource for beginners.Not only does the author impeccably dig into many areas of the software, but he also makes plenty of useful suggestions on technique.And, technique, for me, is where it's at!The language is easy to understand and the illustrations depict clearly the instructions given.I give it a 5!(My, I think I just had a Siskel & Ebert moment!) :)

It's a standard volume of what you need to know
We use it as a daily reference tool for graphic design. It seemed the best choice among several.

THE CorelDRAW Bible !
This book has obviously been written by someone who has worked with this program for years. It's easy-to-follow, well organized, and explains all of CorelDRAW 10's sophisticated capabilities and technical workings using clear, concise, and well-illustrated terms. I've already found myself utilizing dozens of the of tips and tricks, of which there must be hundreds. After a few weeks of working through the chapters, I've yet to find a topic or effect not covered.A nice touch is the tear-out shortcuts guide for the keyboard and the CD containing hundreds of art, image, and effects files - plus a bonus of 6 additional chapters. There are also special sections on using Corel's new RAVE program, built-in web image utilities, the Tracing application, and entire chapters dedicated to customization and VBA program scripting. This book is a leap ahead of any previous editions of the CorelDRAW Official Guides and quite frankly is one of the best books I've read on any technical subject. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer Books And Software    2. Computer Graphics - CorelDraw    3. Computer Graphics - General    4. Computer graphics    5. Computers    6. Computers - Desktop Publishing    7. CorelDRAW!    8. Desktop Publishing - General    9. Microcomputer Graphics    10. Presentation Software    11. Corel Draw   

Reviews (3)

Intelligent people who can explain a complex program well
RW InDesign CS is a wonderful book. I own the previous (RW InDesign 2) version as well. Both Blatner and Kvern know InDesign well. Kvern has a slightly twisted spin on the world that makes it possible for him to make it interesting and exciting to uncover the details of InDesign. Both are always interested in helping other users in online forums. The book is meticulously designed with abundant screenshots with real world explanations. Incredible Reference Book-�Belongs on every designer's desk
This book belongs in the hands of anyone wanting to utilize InDesign to its fullest potential. There are tips and tricks throughout the book that you will not find documented anywhere else. In depth knowledge you get nowhere else
If you want to really get to learn InDesign from the bottom up also with its more advanced functions, this is the book you should get. Granted, it is not for beginners in the first hand, but for those of us who work with the application all the time and need to dig deeper to understand what it can do, be it nested styles, tables, master pages or whatever.Read more

Subjects:  1. Adobe InDesign    2. Computer Books: Desktop Publish    3. Computer Graphics - General    4. Computers    5. Computers - Desktop Publishing    6. Desktop Publishing    7. Desktop Publishing - General    8. Computers / Desktop Publishing / General   

Reviews (3)

Great book for Illustrator NOVICES
At first glance at this book, I really liked how the book was formatted by numbers and "quick tips". This made me feel like learning illustrator would be short and to the point. I liked the screenshots and shortcuts that were included and I felt like the first few chapters (or "tips") were a good way to get introduced to each topic in a quick and easy way. The reading in this book is good. It is easy to follow and straightforward. The reference guide is plus too!
graphicsglommer
I purchased this book based on another review on this site.However,I was very disappointed.This book may be great for a beginner but it is way too basic for anyone
Really Really Good. You are gonna want to hang on to this book!
I have used photoshop for years and bought this book the day i got CS2, and took my first leap into Illustrator. THIS BOOK IS GREAT! I am almost all the way through it and feel like i know this application. The book is simple and breaks Illustrator into 100 techniques with brief but QUALITY instructions. It has a very good index and is great for turning to with questions -- a great refrence or read.
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Subjects:  1. Adobe Illustrator (Computer file)    2. Adobe Illustrator (Computer software)    3. Computer Books: General    4. Computer Graphics - Game Programming    5. Computer Graphics - Illustrator    6. Computer graphics    7. Computers    8. Computers - Other Applications    9. Desktop Publishing    10. Microcomputer Graphics    11. Computer graphics software    12. Computers / Computer Graphics / Design   

Reviews (3)

An Extremely Useful Format
Most computer books are either a reference guide in a dictionary like alphabetical format, or else they are a tutorial where they start with a blank screen and tell you to do this, do that until you have used most of the functions avaiable in the software package.
Made me an instant PS expert
This book is absolutely awesome. I'm just an amateur who uses Photoshop on digital photos, and the beauty of PS has always been that just about anyone can use it at a comfortable depth -- relying on the adjustment tools and not doing anything too tricky. However, this book give me an instant boost to several levels above where I was operating previously. Now I'm working with layers, masks, and channels, doing color replacements and composites that I never would have considered or attempted before...and all I had to do was go to the technique in which I was interested and simply go through the illustrative steps. I'm an instant expert, so to speak, and my creativity has been unleashed. Amazing!

Awesome, definitive reference
This book is a heavy volume, but I venture to say that it's just about worth its weight in gold. It contains nearly 400 pages of large-format, step-by-step, illustrated references to Photoshop tools and techniques. Every major tool is here, along with scores of easy-to-follow techniques -- all in color, with numbered steps. An added bonus is the multitude of useful cross-references that appear in nearly every spread. All of this works together to create a supremely useful reference for quick, accessible Photoshop solutions. Every Photoshop user would benefit from this superb publication, and for students, beginning or intermediate users, or those getting acquainted with CS2, it's a "must have." ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adobe Photoshop    2. Adobe Photoshop (Computer software)    3. Computer Books: General    4. Computer Graphics - Game Programming    5. Computer Graphics - Photoshop    6. Computer graphics    7. Computers    8. Computers - Other Applications    9. Encyclopedias    10. Computer graphics software    11. Computers / Computer Graphics / Design   

Reviews (6)

Works for beginners, too!
It's hard to find books on learning GoLive. The native Help files are just fine, but I like having a book next to me. After reading the reviews here, I assumed Tips and Tricks was too advanced and Classroom in a Book would be the one I'd need. However, as a rank novice, I have no experience creating frames, and Classroom barely mentioned them. Lo and behold, Tips and Tricks has three pages of succinct and understandable information. I'm finding myself largely able to put my site together just from using this book. Plus, as someone who likes to learn shortcuts ASAP, I'm digging the helpful little side notes on nearly every page. I'm not affiliated with Adobe in any way, except for being very happy with the CS2 suite, and now thrilled with being able to understand GoLive.

Highly recommended for all GoLive users
I have been using GoLive for over six years and was blown away by how much new information I learned from reading this book.Though I consider myself a veteran GoLive user, I found literally dozens of new GoLive capabilities in this book that I can't wait to use.
Worthless rehash of online help
I can't believe there are people with something good to say about this book.Probably friends of the author.
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Subjects:  1. Computer - Internet    2. Computer Books: Web Programming    3. Computers    4. Design    5. Desktop Publishing    6. Internet - Web Site Design    7. Web site development    8. Web sites    9. Computers / Internet / Web Site Design    10. Internet   

Subjects:  1. Computer Books: General    2. Computer Graphics - Photoshop    3. Computers    4. Computers - Other Applications    5. Interactive & Multimedia    6. Techniques - Digital    7. Computers / Interactive Media    8. Computing and Information Technology    9. Multimedia   

Reviews (10)

Belin...è Pazzesco!!!!
figata ci vediamo al solito posto alle 12.00. porta la corazzata
thorough, clear and structured
I am a beginner with Avid and was daunted by all the different and options available to me. Monohan's book was just what I needed. I am currently giong through the book from A to Z, which gives me an overview of all the options and work-methods the program has. Even though I allready had set up my workspace, this book gave me some interesting tips. Even though I had allready developed a workflow for my previous projects, I learned some new options by reading this book.
It's a Manual
I wish I just had the manual that came with the program. Often times you find the book more so telling you what it can do rather than how to actually do it. All in all, with it's help and a little time spent with the editing system you can figure this program out. It doesn't stray too far from the other major non-linear editing systems. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cinematography    2. Computer Bks - Desktop Publishing    3. Computer Books: General    4. Computer Graphics - General    5. Computers - Desktop Publishing    6. Desktop Publishing - General    7. Film & Video - General    8. Interactive & Multimedia    9. Multi-Media Hardware & Software    10. Operating Systems - Windows    11. Performing Arts    12. Computer Programming    13. Computers / Computer Graphics / General    14. Image processing: video   

Reviews (13)

Good Book Illustrator CS for Dummies
I have found that this book is a great place for a beginner or someone trying to improve on their graphic abilities to start.This book can be a very good tool to help review and remind you of some thing that my have slipped your mind.If you need to rate this book on the 5 star scale then I would give it a 4 �.The reason it fails for the full 5 stars is that it only had a few full color pages(16) and in some small areas, it is hard to find some things it asked you to process.You have to changed a few things (setup view), then they are where they say they are.One more little bit of info, if you are looking to buy this software and use this book, buy the book only and download the try me version of the "Illustrator CS".This way if you don't like the software then your only out the cost of the book.
Excellent Read, Very Instructive
If you're interested in Illustrator, this is the way to learn it.You'll laugh your way through it, and you'll be amazed how the foreign language of Illustrator can be so easy to understand.

Pretty Good Book
My favorite part of this book is where the author, with mountains of experience, says PC's are faster than Macs for graphics. It's about time somebody pointed it out. Notice how many people who give it poor ratings are those who worship at the altar of Mac.
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Subjects:  1. Adobe Illustrator (Computer file)    2. Computer Books: General    3. Computer Graphics - Design    4. Computer Graphics - Game Programming    5. Computer Graphics - General    6. Computer Graphics - Illustrator    7. Computer graphics    8. Computers    9. Computers - Desktop Publishing    10. Desktop Publishing - General    11. Microcomputer Graphics    12. Computer graphics software    13. Computers / Computer Graphics / Design   

Reviews (5)

A good reference for basic techniques
I was looking for some more advanced features than were offered, but it looks like it will be helpful to me moving forward.I build alot of forms in Adobe Acrobat.If you have never done javascript in Acrobat, or have intermediate knowledge, it may be a helpfull book for you.

Great Book!
I love this book! I am a professional graphic designer that does not know how to write any JavaScript. I just wanted to be able to create more dynamic pdf files. The author did a great job explaining the JavaScript used in this book in a way that non programmers can grasp!
A Great Step for Javascript Beginners
I have been making forms in Acrobat since version 3.0, and have a background in Dbase III, Foxpro, Visual Basic .NET, and SQL 2000. However, I never learned Javascript formally or in-depth.
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Subjects:  1. Adobe Acrobat    2. Computer Bks - Languages / Programming    3. Computer Books: General    4. Computer Programming Languages    5. Computers    6. Computers - Languages / Programming    7. File conversion (Computer scie    8. File conversion (Computer science)    9. Internet - General    10. JavaScript (Computer program l    11. JavaScript (Computer program language)    12. Microcomputer Text Processing Software    13. Portable document software    14. Programming Languages - CGI, Javascript, Perl, VBScript    15. Programming Languages - General    16. Word Processing - General    17. Computers / Programming Languages / CGI, JavaScript, Perl, VBScript    18. Java & variants   

Reviews (22)

Best Ever User Manual
Whether its the basics you seek or the advanced "insider" tips you need, this is the manual for you. Although Premiere Pro is much different than 6.5 and previous versions, you will soon find that using it will become second nature. This is the best book for Pro users on the market.

Adobe Premiere Pro 1.5 Studio Techniques (Studio Techniques)
Three stars for"user friendly" and five stars for content.The information is quite detailedbut needs a lot of interpretation and rereading to understand.The text doesn't always follow your project and one needs to go to the "Help" menu, often.However, if one preservers, the instructions will allow you to use the Adobe Premiere Pro 1.5 program to its fullest potential.

now out of date
great book but now behind the times, wish i'd of waited a bit longer till the release of 2.0 and the subsequent book; however, I believe everything covered in this book carries over to the new version of premiere pro. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer Animation    2. Computer Books: General    3. Computers    4. Computers - Desktop Publishing    5. Data processing    6. Desktop Publishing - General    7. Digital video    8. Editing    9. Motion pictures    10. Multi-Media Hardware & Software    11. Computers / Interactive Media    12. Image processing: video    13. Video photography   

Editorial Review

If you've been lucky enough to catch Bert Monroy's demonstrations on the TechTV cable show Read more

Reviews (12)

The book is beautiful, very informative.
I found this book very useful, very well illustrated, as Bert Monroy describes his technics.He teaches methods that opened my mind to the power that Photoshop CS has.While he covers many aspects of the program he dos not indulge in the usual rehash of every photoshop feature, focusing on specific projects.His reputation for a graphics artist and teacher are well deserved. Wonderful examples, just enough detail to convey the point without beating you over the head.Included color photos are well laid out, his teaching method couldn't be better.The tone will particular instruct the novice or intermeadiate user, but everyone will find something of use here. If you are looking for blow by blow 'how to' for every feature, look at Photoshop CS Sudio Techniques, or the Adobe Class Room in a Book.I only wish this book had more samples, examples.If you can't buy it, hope your local libray has or will.Do this for its artistic voice.

Paint in Photoshop!
Bert is a great artist and teacher. I took a class from him, and learned so much, but couldn't absorb it all at once. This book allows you to learn his techniques at your own pace, and will give you the confidence to start creating images from scratch in Photoshop, or add painting techniques to your image manipulation. Highly recommended for intermediate to advanced Photoshop users and all artists.

Amazing Work from an amazing artist
Bert Monroy is probably one of the most talented Photoshop users there is.If you've ever seen him on TechTV, you've seen how effortlessly he uses PS.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 - General    9. Microcomputer Graphics    10. Photographic Techniques Using Specific Equipment    11. Techniques - Equipment    12. Computers / Computer Graphics / General    13. Photoshop   

Reviews (6)

Availability og Paint Shop Pro 5.01
I have used and get a lot of mileage out of Paint Shop Pro 5.01 .Higher versions 8.0 and 9.0 have more bells and whistles but for day to day task 5.01 is more than adequate. I am having difficulty in getting the write up for Paint Shop Pro 5.01. Like most of Paint Shop Pro 'help'. They give the bare information. Why don't they run the user through a typical Paint Shop Pro task that one encounters in the real world. Consider it the best of all the graphic programs. Also XP OS versions of Paint is excellent and use that often.

This Dummy Found It Useful :)
Paint Shop Pro 8 For Dummies by David Kay helped this dummie a good bit :) . Being a "Newbie" to Paint Shop Pro 8 I was totally lost. This book starts with the basics such as downloading your pictures to the more complicated such as turning a photo into a painting. It has been a great help to me. The reason I am giving it 4 stars instead of 5 is that I have found it lacking in the one area I purchased it for and that is simple photo editing. Several tools and techniques are not explained in detail and/or not at all. But overall if you are a novice to Paint Shop Pro 8 as I was you will find it more than beneficial.

Decent but could use some work
Ok here is what I consider the skinny.If you have not used Paint Shop Pro before, then this book can help you get started.It is not a tutorial type of book.It tries to explain how the tools are used and what does some of the settings do.Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer Books: Desktop Publish    2. Computer Graphics - Design    3. Computer Graphics - General    4. Computer Graphics - Photoshop    5. Computer graphics    6. Computers    7. Computers - Desktop Publishing    8. Desktop Publishing - General    9. Microcomputer Graphics    10. Paint shop pro    11. Computers / Computer Graphics / Design    12. Photoshop   

Reviews (3)

Just as the title says: great overview of essencial lighting techniques
I'm not a professional lighting artist, I've been learning 3ds max for a few years, part-time. I've read several books and tutorials about changing a GI photon value from 1 to 10 or ajusting the spotlight faloff to 150, but I needed a book which gave me an integrated and comparative look on the various lighting techniques and methodologies 3ds max has to offer. This book does just that. It doesn't set out to explain every single button or value, it gives you the essencials about the way the various techniques work,not just by explaining sequentially scanline render, advanced lighting or mental ray, but also by transmitting good insight on production methods and light theory..The book explains the main parameters you have to adjust in order to make each technique work, and the pros and cons of every one of those. Obviously, apart from the tutorials in this book, you'll have to play with the values and learn the finer details for yourself. For me it was a great sistematization of all 3ds max lighting techniques, and I'm no longer baffled by the variety of ways I can use to light a scene, because I understood which techique works better in which situation.

Disappointed
Not exactly what I was looking for.I was looking for a book that would guide me through the pit falls but what I received was a mish mash of vague ideas and then comments like, "I hope you see that this stuff is great." It was like reading molases. Please learn to create outlines and procedural steps. Everything in this book can be learned from online tutorials and the 3DS Max help and tutorial system.
Very Nice Book
I'm an architect and i needed some book that actually focused on several types of ilumination for architectural visualization, and this book has it, it's divided in 4 parts, theory, techniques, tips and tricks and taking it further. I like that it has the light theory, an essential part to understand how light actually works in nature.
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Subjects:  1. Computer Animation    2. Computer Books: General    3. Computer Graphics - 3D Studio    4. Computer Graphics - General    5. Computers    6. Computers - Desktop Publishing    7. Computer graphics software    8. Computers / Computer Graphics / General    9. Image processing: computer animation    10. Multimedia   

Reviews (5)

Very Helpful Guide to Illustrator CS
I purchased this book upon the recommendation of my professor for a college class in Computer Design. It is my first experience with the Visual QuickStart Guides and I am very impressed. It has been a valuable tool in helping me understand and use this previously unfamiliar software application. The table of contents is clear and well organized and the index is very extensive--I refer to it constantly. The book uses many illustrations with clear instructions and explanations. Commands and shortcuts and given for both Mac and Windows. I would definitely purchase another Visual QuickStart Guide.

Good reference book
this is a good reference book if you don't need to go to deep into the program.I recently upgraded to Illustrator CS and a few of the things confused me i.e. how the text to path tool works....so I bought this book as a quick reference and it has done a great job of fulfilling that purpose.
Visual QuickStart - Illustrator CS
The book has helped me learned or brush up on the application in matter of minutes.It's concise and it saves time when learning new things during crunch time.For more, in-depth, sunject matter, a more advanced book is required.This done does a job well for beginners! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adobe Illustrator (Computer file)    2. Adobe Illustrator (Computer software)    3. Computer Books: General    4. Computer Graphics - General    5. Computer Graphics - Illustrator    6. Computer graphics    7. Computers    8. Computers - Desktop Publishing    9. Microcomputer Graphics    10. Microcomputer Operating Environments    11. Operating Systems - Macintosh    12. Operating Systems - Windows    13. Computer graphics software    14. Computers / Computer Graphics / General   

Reviews (7)

A definite keeper.
Great book.Content is good, presentation is good and above all the examples are good.I would definitely recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn more about Photoshop.
Photoshop CS2 - Essential Skills Book Review

Essential reading
Mark Galer demystifies the processes in digital imagery and post digital photographic processes. The lay out is highly accessible and clear to follow, the projects are well illustrated and can be adapted to using your own images, as well as the ones he uses to illustrate the nature of the processes. As with his other books, and those that he co-authored, Photoshop CS2: Essential Skills (Photography Essential Skills) is a clearand stimulating work book, inspiring the reader to explore more digital photography processing. Essential reading for people processing digital photography in Photoshop. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer Graphics - Photoshop    2. Computers - Desktop Publishing    3. Photo Techniques    4. Photography    5. Techniques - Digital    6. Techniques - General    7. Photography / Techniques    8. Photoshop   

Reviews (1)

Just in Time
I can always count on having my books in time for my classes.Of course this was one of those times as well. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer Books: General    2. Computer Graphics - Design    3. Computers    4. Computers - Other Applications    5. Interactive & Multimedia    6. Computers / Interactive Media    7. Computing and Information Technology    8. Multimedia