Which books-again?

O
Posted By
outtasight
Sep 14, 2004
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293
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7
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Closed
Hello to the group. I want to thank all of you for your thoughtful responses to my initial post regarding the books I was going to choose among for purchase. I have garnered some good info on the books I listed and a couple of new book choices. Special thanks to Bill Hilton who gave a thumbs down to the book Dan Margulis’s Professional Photoshop not because of the book but because of where I probably am in the PS learning curve, etc. His post made me realize I hadn’t said enough about what level of photographer I am and what I shoot so this would make it tougher for you to know what to recommend. That is why I’m posting this new query which is on the same topic but with the following info on me.

I find I am not particularly intuitive about some of the PS concepts; the ones that are simple tools where you apply them and see what they do with the preview button I understand, such as applying the warming filters, gaussian blur, unsharp mask, dodge and burn, etc. However, although I understand the basic concept of layers I don’t work with them because I am not sure about how to work with them, although I have learned adjustment layers, but again that’s simpler to me than the overall layer use. So I’m looking for books that will be very clear and also detailed (i.e. not too much presuming) about the steps to take to use the more sophisticated tools and layer use. I probably don’t want to sit down and read a book straight through, but rather would like one with a good index so when I want to do a particular thing I can go right to it and focus on the matter at hand.

I’m strictly an amateur; don’t hope to exhibit anything but know and want good quality output. I come from decades of using 35mm Olympus gear-bodies and lenses; have had a wet b/w darkroom for decades; shoot scenics, animals (when I can find "em), birds, people (especially grandkids); don’t do any studio work; work only in RGB space; not into graphics, just photos; have cheap, 8.5 x 11, 4 color epson printer with separate Durabrite pigment ink tanks; looking to move to the epson 2200 or the new canon 9900 (I think that’s the number); have a canon G3 4MP point and shoot digital camera; looking to buy the canon 20D, 8 MP DSLR; recently bought the Minolta 5400 dpi dedicated 35mm film scanner.

OK-that’s enough about me. All of the foregoing should have been in my original post. I’m hoping that some of you will see this new post and weigh in again.

A refresher from my original post: I have the PS CS Bible, paperback version. I’m going to order PS CS Book for Digital Photographers-that’s definite. I want to buy 1 or 2 others, and my list contained the following:

Adobe PS CS Artistry
Real World Adobe PS CS by Fraser etc
PS Restoration and Retouching by Eismann
PS Color Correction by Kieran
PS CS Bible, hard cover ed.

OK-so what say you now?

Jim

How to Improve Photoshop Performance

Learn how to optimize Photoshop for maximum speed, troubleshoot common issues, and keep your projects organized so that you can work faster than ever before!

B
bhilton665
Sep 14, 2004
From: "outtasight"

So I’m looking for books that will be very clear and also detailed (i.e. not too much presuming) about the steps to take to use the more sophisticated tools and layer use.

I would still recommend "Artistry" since each chapter has a specific example illustrating a typical problem photographers face, with the original starting files and a step-by-step description of what to do, plus his final files so you can compare what you did with what he did. This is the best way for *me* to learn it, IF you’re willing to put in time actually doing the work in each chapter.

I probably don’t want to sit down and read a book straight through, but rather would like one with a good index so when I want to do a particular thing I can go right to it and focus on the matter at hand.

"Bible" or "Real World" are ideal for this … once a tool or technique catches your interest (or puzzles you a bit) just sit down and read the 20 or so excellent pages of background describing it in detail in either of these. There is also a lot of good info in the Photoshop Help files.

I don’t do any
studio work; work only in RGB space; not into graphics, just photos; have cheap, 8.5 x 11, 4 color epson printer with separate Durabrite pigment ink tanks; looking to move to the epson 2200 or the new canon 9900 (I think that’s the number); have a canon G3 4MP point and shoot digital camera; looking to buy the canon 20D, 8 MP DSLR; recently bought the Minolta 5400 dpi dedicated 35mm film scanner.

"Artistry" has some good specific info on various Epson and Canon printers, color management and monitor calibration packages, and compares various film scanners in detail, which would also likely be useful for you I think.

Another good "Photoshop for Photographers" book is by Martin Evening but my impression is it’s geared more toward studio photographers (I haven’t read it, just skimmed a couple of chapters at Barnes & Noble). I started with "Artistry" back on Version 4.0 so am probably biased that way; if I had started on the Evening book I might be recommending it instead 🙂 Several people like the Ben Wilmore books too … if you are located near a large bookstore you might see if these three are on the shelves and spend an hour thumbing thru them to see which writing style and teaching approach seems best for you.

Bill
O
outtasight
Sep 14, 2004
Bill-thanks again for responding. Artistry is going on my short list; sounds like the kind of thing I need, plus I did look at it at bookstore and I liked the writing style.

BTW, my monitor is calibrated with the Pantone Spyder setup.

I have the Martin Evening book for PS 5 but truthfully found it difficult to read, and so haven’t. Didn’t like the writing style plus as you say it’s geared more for pro/studio stuff. I haven’t heard of Ben Wilmore but will see if I can locate one at bookstore-gonna do a search now on Amazon for books by him and check reviews. There’s so much good candy in the store and so little money!! Thanks.

Jim

"Bill Hilton" wrote in message
From: "outtasight"

So I’m looking for books that will be very clear and also detailed (i.e. not too much presuming) about the steps to take to use the more sophisticated tools and layer use.

I would still recommend "Artistry" since each chapter has a specific
example
illustrating a typical problem photographers face, with the original
starting
files and a step-by-step description of what to do, plus his final files
so you
can compare what you did with what he did. This is the best way for *me*
to
learn it, IF you’re willing to put in time actually doing the work in each chapter.

I probably don’t want to sit down and read a book straight through, but rather would like one with a good index so when I want to do
a
particular thing I can go right to it and focus on the matter at hand.

"Bible" or "Real World" are ideal for this … once a tool or technique
catches
your interest (or puzzles you a bit) just sit down and read the 20 or so excellent pages of background describing it in detail in either of these. There is also a lot of good info in the Photoshop Help files.
I don’t do any
studio work; work only in RGB space; not into graphics, just photos; have cheap, 8.5 x 11, 4 color epson printer with separate Durabrite pigment
ink
tanks; looking to move to the epson 2200 or the new canon 9900 (I think that’s the number); have a canon G3 4MP point and shoot digital camera; looking to buy the canon 20D, 8 MP DSLR; recently bought the Minolta 5400 dpi dedicated 35mm film scanner.

"Artistry" has some good specific info on various Epson and Canon
printers,
color management and monitor calibration packages, and compares various
film
scanners in detail, which would also likely be useful for you I think.
Another good "Photoshop for Photographers" book is by Martin Evening but
my
impression is it’s geared more toward studio photographers (I haven’t read
it,
just skimmed a couple of chapters at Barnes & Noble). I started with "Artistry" back on Version 4.0 so am probably biased that way; if I had
started
on the Evening book I might be recommending it instead 🙂 Several people
like
the Ben Wilmore books too … if you are located near a large bookstore
you
might see if these three are on the shelves and spend an hour thumbing
thru
them to see which writing style and teaching approach seems best for you.
Bill

O
outtasight
Sep 14, 2004
Bill-just came back from amazon.com and boy, there’s a Wilmore book that’s got 5 star reviews from everyone except one guy who gave it a 4 star because the web chapter was omitted from the current edition. The book is called Adobe Photoshop CS Studio Techniques and although it says studio in title the reviews indicate thorough and simple explanations of all the tools as well aslayers and masks etc-with a CD with images, kinda like Artistry. I’ve got to try and find this at bookstore and this one is also going on my short list, which is getting longer. Much thanks for the recommendation.

Jim

"Bill Hilton" wrote in message
From: "outtasight"

So I’m looking for books that will be very clear and also detailed (i.e. not too much presuming) about the steps to take to use the more sophisticated tools and layer use.

I would still recommend "Artistry" since each chapter has a specific
example
illustrating a typical problem photographers face, with the original
starting
files and a step-by-step description of what to do, plus his final files
so you
can compare what you did with what he did. This is the best way for *me*
to
learn it, IF you’re willing to put in time actually doing the work in each chapter.

I probably don’t want to sit down and read a book straight through, but rather would like one with a good index so when I want to do
a
particular thing I can go right to it and focus on the matter at hand.

"Bible" or "Real World" are ideal for this … once a tool or technique
catches
your interest (or puzzles you a bit) just sit down and read the 20 or so excellent pages of background describing it in detail in either of these. There is also a lot of good info in the Photoshop Help files.
I don’t do any
studio work; work only in RGB space; not into graphics, just photos; have cheap, 8.5 x 11, 4 color epson printer with separate Durabrite pigment
ink
tanks; looking to move to the epson 2200 or the new canon 9900 (I think that’s the number); have a canon G3 4MP point and shoot digital camera; looking to buy the canon 20D, 8 MP DSLR; recently bought the Minolta 5400 dpi dedicated 35mm film scanner.

"Artistry" has some good specific info on various Epson and Canon
printers,
color management and monitor calibration packages, and compares various
film
scanners in detail, which would also likely be useful for you I think.
Another good "Photoshop for Photographers" book is by Martin Evening but
my
impression is it’s geared more toward studio photographers (I haven’t read
it,
just skimmed a couple of chapters at Barnes & Noble). I started with "Artistry" back on Version 4.0 so am probably biased that way; if I had
started
on the Evening book I might be recommending it instead 🙂 Several people
like
the Ben Wilmore books too … if you are located near a large bookstore
you
might see if these three are on the shelves and spend an hour thumbing
thru
them to see which writing style and teaching approach seems best for you.
Bill

G
Gadgets
Sep 15, 2004
Also plenty of stuff onlne including tutorials
http://www.extremephotoshop.com/tutorials.aspx

Cheers, Jason (remove … to reply)
Video & Gaming: http://gadgetaus.com
N
noone
Sep 15, 2004
In article <6kH1d.193219$ says…
Hello to the group. I want to thank all of you for your thoughtful responses to my initial post regarding the books I was going to choose among for purchase. I have garnered some good info on the books I listed and a couple of new book choices. Special thanks to Bill Hilton who gave a thumbs down to the book Dan Margulis’s Professional Photoshop not because of the book but because of where I probably am in the PS learning curve, etc. His post made me realize I hadn’t said enough about what level of photographer I am and what I shoot so this would make it tougher for you to know what to recommend. That is why I’m posting this new query which is on the same topic but with the following info on me.

I find I am not particularly intuitive about some of the PS concepts; the ones that are simple tools where you apply them and see what they do with the preview button I understand, such as applying the warming filters, gaussian blur, unsharp mask, dodge and burn, etc. However, although I understand the basic concept of layers I don’t work with them because I am not sure about how to work with them, although I have learned adjustment layers, but again that’s simpler to me than the overall layer use. So I’m looking for books that will be very clear and also detailed (i.e. not too much presuming) about the steps to take to use the more sophisticated tools and layer use. I probably don’t want to sit down and read a book straight through, but rather would like one with a good index so when I want to do a particular thing I can go right to it and focus on the matter at hand.
I’m strictly an amateur; don’t hope to exhibit anything but know and want good quality output. I come from decades of using 35mm Olympus gear-bodies and lenses; have had a wet b/w darkroom for decades; shoot scenics, animals (when I can find "em), birds, people (especially grandkids); don’t do any studio work; work only in RGB space; not into graphics, just photos; have cheap, 8.5 x 11, 4 color epson printer with separate Durabrite pigment ink tanks; looking to move to the epson 2200 or the new canon 9900 (I think that’s the number); have a canon G3 4MP point and shoot digital camera; looking to buy the canon 20D, 8 MP DSLR; recently bought the Minolta 5400 dpi dedicated 35mm film scanner.

OK-that’s enough about me. All of the foregoing should have been in my original post. I’m hoping that some of you will see this new post and weigh in again.

A refresher from my original post: I have the PS CS Bible, paperback version. I’m going to order PS CS Book for Digital Photographers-that’s definite. I want to buy 1 or 2 others, and my list contained the following:
Adobe PS CS Artistry
Real World Adobe PS CS by Fraser etc
PS Restoration and Retouching by Eismann
PS Color Correction by Kieran
PS CS Bible, hard cover ed.

OK-so what say you now?

Jim

Jim, I do not recall if it was added to your list in the previous thread, and I’m only looking at the recent "unseen" posts right now, but if not, Adobe Photoshop Classroom in a Book is a good project tome. The weakness for me, is that they do not go into a lot of the "why," but it is a totally hands-on book, and is the text for a ton of community college courses around these parts. What I like about the Wilmore Studio Techinques set (for each ver of PS) is his delving into the why, as much as actually doing. Curves and Layers are two areas that I think the why is almost as important as doing, but that is me. I tend to like a book, over a tutorial on the Web, CD or DVD, but then I’m probably older than most here, and spent many more decades in an analog world.

Hunt
O
outtasight
Sep 16, 2004
Hunt-me too on the age, preferring books and analog comments. I’ve decided on Willmore’s book along with a couple others. For a project book I’ve decided on PS Artistry because I liked the writing style. Thanks for weighing in.

Jim

"Hunt" wrote in message
In article <6kH1d.193219$
says…
Hello to the group. I want to thank all of you for your thoughtful responses to my initial post regarding the books I was going to choose
among
for purchase. I have garnered some good info on the books I listed and a couple of new book choices. Special thanks to Bill Hilton who gave a
thumbs
down to the book Dan Margulis’s Professional Photoshop not because of the book but because of where I probably am in the PS learning curve, etc.
His
post made me realize I hadn’t said enough about what level of
photographer I
am and what I shoot so this would make it tougher for you to know what to recommend. That is why I’m posting this new query which is on the same topic but with the following info on me.

I find I am not particularly intuitive about some of the PS concepts; the ones that are simple tools where you apply them and see what they do with the preview button I understand, such as applying the warming filters, gaussian blur, unsharp mask, dodge and burn, etc. However, although I understand the basic concept of layers I don’t work with them because I
am
not sure about how to work with them, although I have learned adjustment layers, but again that’s simpler to me than the overall layer use. So
I’m
looking for books that will be very clear and also detailed (i.e. not too much presuming) about the steps to take to use the more sophisticated
tools
and layer use. I probably don’t want to sit down and read a book
straight
through, but rather would like one with a good index so when I want to do
a
particular thing I can go right to it and focus on the matter at hand.
I’m strictly an amateur; don’t hope to exhibit anything but know and want good quality output. I come from decades of using 35mm Olympus
gear-bodies
and lenses; have had a wet b/w darkroom for decades; shoot scenics,
animals
(when I can find "em), birds, people (especially grandkids); don’t do any studio work; work only in RGB space; not into graphics, just photos; have cheap, 8.5 x 11, 4 color epson printer with separate Durabrite pigment
ink
tanks; looking to move to the epson 2200 or the new canon 9900 (I think that’s the number); have a canon G3 4MP point and shoot digital camera; looking to buy the canon 20D, 8 MP DSLR; recently bought the Minolta 5400 dpi dedicated 35mm film scanner.

OK-that’s enough about me. All of the foregoing should have been in my original post. I’m hoping that some of you will see this new post and
weigh
in again.

A refresher from my original post: I have the PS CS Bible, paperback version. I’m going to order PS CS Book for Digital Photographers-that’s definite. I want to buy 1 or 2 others, and my list contained the
following:
Adobe PS CS Artistry
Real World Adobe PS CS by Fraser etc
PS Restoration and Retouching by Eismann
PS Color Correction by Kieran
PS CS Bible, hard cover ed.

OK-so what say you now?

Jim

Jim, I do not recall if it was added to your list in the previous thread,
and
I’m only looking at the recent "unseen" posts right now, but if not, Adobe Photoshop Classroom in a Book is a good project tome. The weakness for me,
is
that they do not go into a lot of the "why," but it is a totally hands-on book, and is the text for a ton of community college courses around these parts. What I like about the Wilmore Studio Techinques set (for each ver
of
PS) is his delving into the why, as much as actually doing. Curves and
Layers
are two areas that I think the why is almost as important as doing, but
that
is me. I tend to like a book, over a tutorial on the Web, CD or DVD, but
then
I’m probably older than most here, and spent many more decades in an
analog
world.

Hunt
O
outtasight
Sep 16, 2004
Just wanted to thank all of you who have helped guide me to my decision as to which books to order. I appreciate your time and thoughtful comments.

Jim

"outtasight" wrote in message
Hello to the group. I want to thank all of you for your thoughtful responses to my initial post regarding the books I was going to choose
among
for purchase. I have garnered some good info on the books I listed and a couple of new book choices. Special thanks to Bill Hilton who gave a
thumbs
down to the book Dan Margulis’s Professional Photoshop not because of the book but because of where I probably am in the PS learning curve, etc.
His
post made me realize I hadn’t said enough about what level of photographer
I
am and what I shoot so this would make it tougher for you to know what to recommend. That is why I’m posting this new query which is on the same topic but with the following info on me.

I find I am not particularly intuitive about some of the PS concepts; the ones that are simple tools where you apply them and see what they do with the preview button I understand, such as applying the warming filters, gaussian blur, unsharp mask, dodge and burn, etc. However, although I understand the basic concept of layers I don’t work with them because I am not sure about how to work with them, although I have learned adjustment layers, but again that’s simpler to me than the overall layer use. So I’m looking for books that will be very clear and also detailed (i.e. not too much presuming) about the steps to take to use the more sophisticated
tools
and layer use. I probably don’t want to sit down and read a book straight through, but rather would like one with a good index so when I want to do
a
particular thing I can go right to it and focus on the matter at hand.
I’m strictly an amateur; don’t hope to exhibit anything but know and want good quality output. I come from decades of using 35mm Olympus
gear-bodies
and lenses; have had a wet b/w darkroom for decades; shoot scenics,
animals
(when I can find "em), birds, people (especially grandkids); don’t do any studio work; work only in RGB space; not into graphics, just photos; have cheap, 8.5 x 11, 4 color epson printer with separate Durabrite pigment ink tanks; looking to move to the epson 2200 or the new canon 9900 (I think that’s the number); have a canon G3 4MP point and shoot digital camera; looking to buy the canon 20D, 8 MP DSLR; recently bought the Minolta 5400 dpi dedicated 35mm film scanner.

OK-that’s enough about me. All of the foregoing should have been in my original post. I’m hoping that some of you will see this new post and
weigh
in again.

A refresher from my original post: I have the PS CS Bible, paperback version. I’m going to order PS CS Book for Digital Photographers-that’s definite. I want to buy 1 or 2 others, and my list contained the
following:
Adobe PS CS Artistry
Real World Adobe PS CS by Fraser etc
PS Restoration and Retouching by Eismann
PS Color Correction by Kieran
PS CS Bible, hard cover ed.

OK-so what say you now?

Jim

How to Master Sharpening in Photoshop

Give your photos a professional finish with sharpening in Photoshop. Learn to enhance details, create contrast, and prepare your images for print, web, and social media.

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