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Usually ships in 1 business days | | | | | | ARE YOU READY FOR AN AMAZING NEW VERSION OF THE PHOTOSHOP BOOK THAT BREAKS ALL THE RULES?
Scott Kelby, the best-selling Photoshop author in the world today, once again takes this book to a whole new level as he uncovers the latest, most important, and most exciting new Adobe Photoshop CS4 techniques for digital photographers. This major update to his award-winning, record-breaking book does something for digital photographers that’s never been done before—it cuts through the bull and shows you exactly “how to do it.” It’s not a bunch of theory; it doesn’t challenge you to come up with your own settings or figure it out on your own. Instead, Scott shows you step-by-step the exact techniques used by today’s cutting-edge digital photographers, and best of all, he shows you flat-out exactly which settings to use, when to use them, and why. That’s why the previous editions of this book are widely used as the official study guide in photography courses at colleges and universities around the world.
LEARN HOW THE PROS DO IT
Each year Scott trains thousands of professional photographers how to use Photoshop, and almost without exception they have the same questions, the same problems, and the same challenges—and that’s exactly what he covers in this book. You’ll learn:
• The sharpening techniques the pros really use.
• The pros’ tricks for fixing the most common digital photo problems fast!
• The step-by-step setup for getting what comes out of your printer to match exactly what you see onscreen.
• A whole chapter on how to process HDR (High Dynamic Range) images.
• How to master new CS4 interface and workflow features.
• How to color correct any photo without breaking a sweat.
• How to process RAW digital camera images (plus how to take advantage of all the new Camera Raw features in CS4!).
• How to add real automation to your work.
• How to show your work like a pro!
• A host of shortcuts, workarounds, and slick “insider” tricks to send your productivity through the roof!
Plus, Scott included a special bonus chapter with his own CS4 workflow, from start to finish. If you’re a digital photographer, and you’re ready to learn the “tricks of the trade”—the same ones that today’s leading pros use to correct, edit, sharpen, retouch, and present their work—then you’re holding the book that will do just that.
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| | Product Details | | Author: | Scott Kelby | | Paperback: | 480 pages | | Publisher: | Peachpit Press | | Publication Date: | January 01, 2009 | | Language: | English | | ISBN: | 0321580095 | | Product Length: | 10.0 inches | | Product Width: | 8.0 inches | | Product Height: | 1.07 inches | | Product Weight: | 2.85 pounds | | Package Length: | 9.9 inches | | Package Width: | 8.0 inches | | Package Height: | 1.1 inches | | Package Weight: | 2.85 pounds | | Average Customer Rating: |  based on 81 reviews |
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| | Customer Reviews | Average Customer Review: ( 81 customer reviews )
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86 of 90 found the following review helpful:
 Just what I needed Jan 17, 2009
By Julie Neal
If you're like me, when you sit down to process photos you don't really have the time to explore options and try out new techniques. You just have time to do the work. Though my byline above IDs me as a book author, I also do color correction for the photos in my books, and have done commercial photo retouching since those dark days in darkrooms. I learned Photoshop on version 1.0 (we upgraded from Digital Darkroom, anyone else remember that?), and since that time haven't kept up much with all the new improvements. I just get photos in and need to get them out. Quickly.
Anyway, I haven't bought a Photoshop book in years. I saw the other good reviews this book is getting and thought I'd give it a try.
And boy am I glad I did!
There are four chapters here I'm going to use a lot:
CHAPTER 6 is filled with shortcuts, tips and tricks. Many other books are too, yes, but this one has a straightforward presentation filled with doses of humor. (Whereas many software guides are about as interesting as a dead fish, this one is filled with a lively, witty writing style that nevertheless gets its points across cleanly.)
CHAPTER 7 is all about color correction, which is my main concern. A section called "The trick pros use to make color correction simple" is nice to know. It suggests using black, gray and white cards in your photo, and the Curves adjustment in Photoshop to almost automatically correct the color.
CHAPTER 10 focuses (sorry, bad pun) on problematic photos. Included are:
a. Fixing color in indoor shots
b. When your subject is in the shadows
c. 15-second fix for under- or overexposed photos
d. Dodging and burning in CS4
e. Instant red-eye removal
f. Fixing reflections in glasses
g. The CS4 secret to fixing group shots
h. Having Photoshop extend your depth of field
i. The fastest way to resize brushes ever (plus you can change their hardness, too)
CHAPTER 13 finally explained the configuration of color space to me in a way I, after all these years, now understand. There is also both the lame way and the correct way to calibrate your monitor.
Also covered thoroughly: Bridge, Camera Raw, black and white photography, HDR, special effects and sharpening.
With crisp text, clear descriptions, a pleasing layout and great organization, this is a book I'll be using every day. What a resource!
The author has written two other books, both of which our company uses often:
The Digital Photography Book
The Digital Photography Book, Volume 2
49 of 51 found the following review helpful:
 Good Step-by-Step Guide Jan 14, 2009
By Joseph Boone
Scott Kelby has never tried to make his guide the biggest or most comprehensive book on Photoshop. His focus is to identify those tasks most useful to digital photographers and give step-by-step explanations to get them done. Most of the information is presented in a very task-oriented approach. The emphasis is squarely placed on giving you the tools to get things done quickly and efficiently. As such, I consistently find it a useful reference book as I edit photos.
The topics covered are varied and generally right in the sweet spot of what will be most useful. There is quite a lot of material on how to use the Raw File conversion utility because in many ways this is the foundation of everything that you will do with an image (assuming you shoot in Raw). Other topics that every photographer should be interested in that are well covered include color management and sharpening. Of course, there are many other chapters covering material almost as essential as what I've already mentioned.
For those who own the prior version for CS3, this is no mere reprint of old material with a few new pages to cover the CS4 features. Mr. Kelby is diligent enough to make each guide better than the last and offers new photos and examples with each new edition. I applaud this effort, because it certainly isn't duplicated by all of his competitors in the field.
In the past, my biggest criticism of Scott Kelby's books has always been his use of humor that takes over certain segments of the book. But I finally realized that he limits the would-be stand up comedy act to his chapter introductions and explicitly tells readers in the introduction to skip this material if they want to, because it has no relevance to the process of learning Photoshop. While I would prefer chapter introductions that give a quick context and introduction for the material, it's probably not the end of the world for those of us who don't find him funny to just skip these sections and let him have his fun.
Overall, I highly recommend this book. Mr. Kelby has done an excellent job organizing and presenting a useful guide to Photoshop CS4 and I commend him for that. While I'd still prefer he soften the comedic approach, this is an excellent text that will prove its value again and again to CS4 users.
30 of 31 found the following review helpful:
 So much more could have been in this book. May 31, 2009
By mhnstr
When I bought Photoshop CS2, I wasted a lot of effort with my photos until I bought Kelby's book. Not only did the book describe how to use some of the features in Photoshop that I used every day, but he also taught tricks such as adding twinkles to eyes. When I bought Lightroom, again it was Kelby who taught me how to use the program. In fact, I told all of my friends who used Photoshop that they needed Kelby's books. So when I upgraded to Photoshop CS4, I of course bought Kelby's book. And this time I was disappointed.
True to form, Kelby presents to the reader step by step instructions for some of the functions you may want to use in Photoshop CS4. Working with color, black and white and dodging and burning are all included in the book. But, as someone who already knew the basics of CS2, the CS4 book doesn't offer a lot of new information. And as someone who uses Lightroom instead of Bridge, I found the two chapters on Bridge to be interesting, but not so useful. The chapters on HDR images are interesting academically, but then Kelby recommends not using Photoshop for these images. The chapters about printing and showing your work are nice, but I bought the book to learn how to use Photoshop CS4 to improve my photos. These other topics would be better in another book so that Kelby could concentrate on teaching tips and tricks.
Missing from the CS4 book are all of the great tips that were in the CS2 book. I find that I actually use the CS2 book a lot when working in CS4 are rarely look at Kelby's Photoshop CS4 book. Also missing is more information about adjustment layers. Maybe I missed something by skipping his CS3 book, but to me, adjustment layers are the most exciting part about Photoshop CS4 and Kelby only devotes a few pages to them.
I actually wish that I had saved my money and used it instead for training on Lynda.com or the Lynda CS's (Chris Orwig is very good) Photoshop CS4 for Photographers. By using the Lynda training, my skills in Photoshop CS4 improved dramatically. Because of the Lynda training, I can use curves and other adjustment layers without reservation. I would recommend Lynda instead or in addition to this book.
In Summary, with the chapters on importing photos from your camera, cropping and printing, this book would be very good for someone who is new to Photoshop and needs to know the basics. However, more advanced uses who are familiar with Photoshop might be better served with a different instructional guide (book or DVD). If you already own Kelby's Photoshop CS2 book, you really dont need to buy this one as well.
70 of 82 found the following review helpful:
Not what I expected Mar 04, 2009
By Elle
This book was recommended to me by the instructor of the beginning photoshop class that I'm taking. For someone who has NEVER used photoshop, I don't think this is as user friendly as I needed it to be. The three stars are primarily due to the lack of foundational language that I needed to guide me through the process. I've found another publication that has met my CS4 needs in a way I hoped this book would have. I'm hoping that after I've built a solid foundation of knowledge with photoshop that I'll be able to pick this book up again and work its magic. I would not recommend this book for the beginner unless that beginner has a strong tech background. This book seems more in line with those who have worked with the process for a while and feel quite secure with their knowledge of photoshop.
18 of 19 found the following review helpful:
Updated to CS4 but missing crucial info. Mar 16, 2009
By Pablo Reyes
"CleverXP"
I liked the new updated pictures and some of the details, specifically the ones on the new CS4 features. But Scott made a big mistake when he dropped some of the chapters and lessons on the editing. He dropped the Faces chapter, and with it, all the techniques photographers use frequently to edit portraits. The book concentrated more on Bridge and Camera Raw, even when this is important, it's not really Photoshop CS4 (you can use ACDSee or any camera brand software to import and review keepers and bad pics and to perform the initial corrections, but the name of the book is PHOTOSHOP CS4 BOOK ...). And the book still lacks valuable and simple info on printing and color management on CS4. So i got a bit dissapointed with this version, because now we have to use both books at the same time and sometimes even figuring out how to do thins from CS3 here in CS4. I'd recommend the book, but you'll have to buy the CS3 one too.
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