I am assuming that you are a new user to Photo Shop, not just CS. When I started with PhotoShop 3.0, I bought the Adobe "Classroom in a book" for PhotoShop. I still think that this is the best way for a "new user" to learn the program. The book provides lessons, and photo files, that teach the student how to use all of the tools. The files are "low resolution" so that the work proceeds quickly, and each lesson runs between 1-2 hours of work. As a new user, I found this book series to be very helpful in learning the PhotoShop program.
If you get his book, be sure to get the one for PhotoShop CS.
Brett being new to this forum and PS but not to graphics and commercial work I can offer this .02.
I’m currently proofreading a CS text right now. This came out of the blue, for like you I went out and bought a PSCS text and found it so full of typos and errors that I ended up calling the publisher and for the past couple of weeks, have been running this assignment for them.
Because of the genuine good intentions of the author expressed in the book, I’m really loathe to mention its title. However, I can say, it is none of the two you mention! (Bob – I haven’t seen the PSCS Bible locally yet but I think I will be buying it when it arrives regardless of how much skill I develop – it should be a nice to have resource).
So Brett back to you. For a first basic text I’d recommend one in color and I’d plan to follow the book hands-on (the color will help you in this regard).
However, before going to do this, I’d really recommend trying to work your way through the "Looking at the Work Area" chapter of the official PSCS Help Manual as it covers all the interface basics very well. I didn’t do this but now wished I had. If you like its style, you may end up saving yourself some money until something like the "bible" comes along.
Using the current text as an example, I found myself many times going to the official Help Manual to resolve conflicts and unclear info – and every time, I found the answer I needed. So I therefore, feel confident in Adobe’s own work.
It is just a shame that if a person has invested in the Premium Suite, that no physical manuals arrive for the money. But working with the computer industry as I have, I long ago came to reconcile the reality, that the future means paperless software – right or wrong.
Another tip – if you see some advice, in a manual or on a forum like this, start taking notes! You’ll likely compile a fair tome by the end of the year I’d say 😉
Hope this helps,
Adam.
