winner in many ways
20 Sep 2007 @ amazon.com
Photoshop CS3 for Dummies
reviewed by Dr. Eric Flescher, Olathe, KS: (dreric1kansas@aol.com)
Authors: Peter Bauer
Publisher: Wiley
Released: 2007
Pages: 396
$25 SA
30 Canada
16 UK
ISBN: 0-978-0-470-11193-2
Strengths: Well laid, easy to use and in color. Price is well worth it.
Weaknesses: No Cd
Novice/Intermediate/Advanced
Rating: 5/5
Photoshop is the premier graphics manipulation application. From humble beginnings, this program has developed into a "blockbuster," getting better and better, adding new features all the time. While there are many graphics programs that can do some of the tasks, Photoshop is the one that offers the most power and flexibility for the graphic professional. Now with the latest version, Photoshop CS3 has arrived at the next level. Using all the functions is not always easy. To meet that need, a guide for this version , Photoshop CS3 for Dummies, has been published. And many Photoshop users will find this book useful for a variety of reasons.
The author is Photoshop World Dream Team Instructor and is the author of graphic books, a host for video training titles and much more. His experiences in the field of graphics are displayed in this book and shows his excellent style, knowledge of graphics, and the Photoshop program.
The book spans 396 pages in five sections and twenty chapters. The pages and tutorials are well laid out. There is much white space so the text is not cramped and is very easy to read. Photos and and illustrations are in full color. Tutorials are aided by bold titles, numbered sections and steps. Like many of the dummies books, there are also icons which highlight tips, new features, warnings, technical stuff, remember(ing important information).
I really like this book for the many reasons. It is guidebook, resource guide and is very readable for the novice to the advanced. There is a fine and well done section learning about and using RAW images (ch.7), fine tuning fixes (ch.8), using images in text messages (ch.13), a well laid section on using unsharp mask and working with filters which includes an excellent table(ch.15).
This book is a great buy for many reasons, This book is more then a "dummies" book. The author communicates in concise, clear and understandable ways covering the strengths and versatility of the application while conveying a remarkable and easy to understand way to use program for your graphics needs. While this is a short review, I want to let you know again that this text will make a fine addition to graphic users, especially to those who are in need of a fine resource and guide to learn about or upgrade skills with photoshop CS3. You’’ll be up and running in no time and learning more graphics capabilities. That’s why I am ending this review short because not only is well done and I have said much already but I want to start using and learning now and gain some more new insights myself.
Change the book title
19 Jul 2007 @ amazon.com
Not sure why this booked is titled as it is. The author himself states that, "First, this is a reference book, not a step-by-step lesson-based text ..." and "If you’re brand new to Photoshop, start with one of the beginner lesson-based books, " not with this one. Why then is the book entitled, "Photoshop CS3 For Dummies"? With a title like that you would think that this book is for beginners.
This book should be titled, "Photoshop CS3 Reference" or something similar.