Book Reviews by d.a.w. DESIGN
Complete Adobe Photoshop CS4 For Digital Photographers
By Colin Smith and Tim Copper
REVIEW
The writing is clear and precise. Layout is a tutorial type step by step approach, which I personally believe, helps a person understand, accomplish the tasks, and learn. Lots of photographs of various categories and screen shots that gently guide you through all aspects of Photoshop until you complete your final image.
If you are a relative beginner or changing over to Digital this book with its CD - Rom holds all work files, 90 images, flash movies, and a Photoshop file with skin tones to help you progress even further.
If you know how to use a camera but not up to speed with Photoshop this is the book for you.
At $44.99 this book is well worth it. (NOW sells for $26.69 at amazon.com)
A quick review of the Chapters.
Chapter 1 – Is all about getting started with Adobe Bridge.
Explains the file formats, resolution, ISO and ways to organize, label and view images.
Chapter 2 – Deals with RAW converter.
Get’s a bit more in-depth with 16-bit RAW images.
White Balance, Camera Settings.
Working with multiple RAW images, Batch processing in Adobe Bridge.
Chapter 3 – Cropping and Perspective.
Learn how to correct common photographic problems.
Cropping out unwanted detail, lens correction filter.
Fixing distortion, straightening horizons.
Chapter 4 – Tonal Correction and Enhancement.
Learn about histograms to correct and improve your images.
Too dark, too bright or lacking in contrast?
This is the chapter to bring bad images back to life.
Chapter 5 – Color Correction and Enhancement.
Remove color casts and create a warming and / or cooling effect to photos.
Color correction using variations.
Hue / Sat, match color, lab color, it’s all in this chapter.
Chapter 6 – Selection and Masks.
Use the magic wand to select parts of an image, set the tolerance and anti-alias options.
Adjustment layer mask.
The quick selection tool (new to CS4)
Refine the selection, refine the mask.
Chapter 7 – Sizing and Printing.
Show how to resize the photo to retain image quality for print and web.
Printer profiles to ensure that your print matches your monitor.
Resolution, batch sizing images for email.
Color Management.
Chapter 8 – Sharpening and Noise Reduction.
Learn the noise reduction filter, smart sharpen and unsharp mask.
Sharpening using Lab color.
Non destructive sharpening using the high pass filter.
Chapter 9 – Image Retouching.
Reduce wrinkles, remove redeye, tattoos and acne.
Shrink waistlines.
Use the spot healing, patch and healing brush tools.
Chapter 10 – Frame and Color Effects.
Convert color images to grayscale, sepia tone.
Add depth of field to your images.
Create a classic vignette look.
Create a simple border and an edge effect for the photo.
Create a double matte effect frame.
Chapter 11 – Special effects.
Turn photos into hand drawn images and paintings.
Use patterns to create scanlines.
Create a vanishing point.
Use the image warp tool.
Chapter 12 – Combining Images for Creative Results.
Produce panoramic images.
Create collages and animation.
Remove an object from its background.
Extracting images with the extract tool.
As you would expect from Colin Smith and Tim Cooper nothing is left to the imagination, nothing is forgotten a good comprehensive read and learning tool.
Sells for $39.99 (NOW sells for $26.69 at amazon.com)
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