Photoshop Elements 2: The Complete Reference

Once you get your feet wet with PSE2 tools and commands [with simpler books such as "50 Digital Photo Techniques", "99 Easy Tips", "PSE2 for Dummies", etc] it's time to take stock where to go next. If those suffice, stop right here. But, if you want to go beyond and really understand the richmess of PSE2 and the great things you can do with your digital images, then this is the bridge between novice and intermediate-to-advanced user. The massive 750-page text certainly isn't for first-timers. But once you get a feel for tools such as Magnetic Lasso, Magic Wand or Clone Stamp, you want to know what all those little 'options" such as threshold and feathering can do to improve (or ruin) your images. Here's the place to go! Just the tips alone are worth the modest price [never knew that TAB toggles between a screen crowded with tools, palettes & bars, and an uncluttered full-sized screen; or that the SHIFT-key will let you move the image while painting or correcting an image]. Not only is every tool and command explained, and color calibration of screen and printer detailed, but the authors then go on with a hands-on workshop on filters, effects and painting, and final sections on the fine points of optimized printing and web publishing. The authors write clearly, precisely, yet with admirable brevity; they maintain a comfortable balance of lightness without resorting to the heavy-handed forced jocularity of certain yellow and black books. The greatest (albeit not fatal) flaws are: a) absence of color illustrations alongside the text -- rather than the two full color page inserts tucked in the center; b) a CD with full resolution color images for hands-on mastering of the techniques described in the various chapters is a virtual necessity, and would add little to nothing to the total production cost. For these reasons, plus the fact that the author's website remains "...currently unavailable" for downloading compressed images, I deducted one star from the 5-stars for the content. Also, the index - although extensive - lacks references to common PSE2 terms such as anchor point, white point, portrait retouching, etc; a reference book certainly should have a near-encyclopedic index, as no one ought to read the book from cover to cover. All told: great intermediate level book that's easy to read and provides all the detail you might ever desire.

Look at the title " Photoshop 5.5- Get Professional Results ". The other review of this book downgrades the book because it is not for beginner. This is not fair to the author.If you have a modest Photoshop background and want to move to a higher level, this is a book to consider. It is well written and is a very good guide to advanced tasks in Photoshop.

Dear Mr. Ken Milburn! Forgive me for my bad English. I'd like to express you my delight and gratitude for your book "Photoshop 4.The professional Guide to creating Advanced Special Effects". In the city, where I live (Tashkent, Uzbekistan) no courses or teachers by Photoshop. I began to study this program independently leaning on available books (Deke McClelland, Adele and Seth Greenberg). This books instilled in to me despondent concerning my abilities and I decided that I simply dunce and never again open this program. But your book instilled hope for me. And I didn't mistaken. Language your book is available and laconic. Exercises which you offer simply splendid!!! Special thanks for acquaintance with demo versions and filters. You give me a possibility to feel myself a professional even on one minutes, though I common amateur. Thanks a lot for your excellent work! Good luck! Respectfully yours, Julia Kalendareva [email protected] October 31,1998

While I have years of experience with DTP, I only recently took up Photoshop. Frankly, it isn't what _I_ would call intuitive! Last week I had to do an info-graphic to accompany an article I had written. I needed to cut an image out of its background, soften the edges, and add a realistic shadow. Oh yeah, I needed three different images, too. After a half hour of unsuccessful fiddling around I remembered this book. I found the right section, and it told me what to do in clear, quick prose. AND...it worked! Ken Milburn and Mary Jane Mara have done a great job on this book, and a great service to the community. I can tell by the stuff I don't understand yet, that there are tips that willl appeal to more experienced users, too. Bottom line? If you use Photoshop, you need this book.

Well... finally! A Photoshop F/X book that concerns itself with the practical solutions needed by professional photographers, not just a mind-numbing ephemeral array of useless tricks and gimmickry. Obviously Milburn paid his dues as an advertising photographer thereby earning an understanding of the real-life challenges imposed by agencies and commercial clients