Photoshop CS2 Gone Wild [With CD-ROM]

After reading all reviews (that I find not really fair) I decided to put my opinion on the table. Before I write my reviews, I'm very curious what other people think about this or other book. And I should say that in this particular case I am not agree with some of them. I see that many people have chosen this book as a start point for travel inside of Photoshop. And this book (as I see) is often compared to other references. This book is not a reference and if you would visit companion website, you would without any doubt have more information about what you can expect inside of this book. This book is continuation of "Gone Wild" series. As distinct from "Illustrator CS2 Gone Wild", this book have more interesting tutorials (bigger book - more tutorials) and also CD, where you can find all files for this book and follow every step of tutorials. From my side I would also like to say that this book is very interesting in that way, that it gives you a look at very unusual tutorials and designs. What I mean by unusual? Let's say that at the end of 19th century nobody understood paintings of Kazimir Malevich. And misunderstanding with this book is related to that fact (I guess) that many people think that all information is too easy or not interesting. But try to do it yourself and you will stuck at some point not knowing what to do or HOW to do. With this book you get a chance to see unique and inspiring techniques that are very abstract. That means that you have chance to make acquaintance with new style or start from it. In couple of words, this book dares to show you that side of design that from first look you can find unimportant. I think many tutorials are great and very good explained. With a bit of fantasy you can always combine different techniques and make your own. It's good way to study, to improve your skills and to take a look in new direction of designing. The one think I agree that this book is not for photographers. For them there're always special series of books with mark "For Digital Photographers Only" (Photoshop CS2 I found very good and really great book for Photographers). If you're a person that likes theory first, I would suggest that you need to start from Photoshop Bible. Great reference and all information is always within a touch. Book is printed on good quality paper; it has a lot of tips in places where you would like to do some things in other or your own manner. At the beginning of every tutorial you will find end-plan. What kind of tutorial can you expect inside? Let's see: - "Make your ex-partner old" (very funny tutorial if you want to see how looks your partner or ex-partner when he/she is old) - Atlantis found (one of my favorites - very creative tutorial) - Photo merge - The Highway - Neon signs for bars or café (maybe you want to become a marketing executive then this kind of tutorials will be very useful for you) - It come out of space (make your own alien without any sketches using only

In "Photoshop CS2 Gone Wild," author Sherry London leads the reader step-by-step through a wealth of creative projects and amazing effects, with ample illustrations and plentiful sidebars offering additional useful tips and tricks. The Photoshopper who explores London's projects will become conversant with more features and possibilities of the program than the casual user would even dream of. Best of all, her projects can readily serve as the inspiration for additional projects, and her instructions and techniques can easily be adapted for the reader's own creative work.

This book exceeds my expectations in it's creative projects. I have had the most fun working out the projects she has included in the book, and included CD, and applying her techniques to my own photographs. The instructions are so easy and I marvel at the results. She includes the steps as well as screen shots of the layers palette so that anyone at any level of expertise with Photoshop can follow along and actually create the wonderful projects. This is one book you don't want to miss! I love it!

This is the second book in the Gone Wild series, the first being Illustrator CS2 Gone Wild. The Photoshop CS2 Gone Wild is in full color, a step by step tutorial book designed for beginners to advance users. The book gives beginners with basic graphic design skills the instructions step-by-step to creating great digital art. The book allows you to choose any exercise at will, the exercises are non-destructive editing. Tips and notes are found throughout the book. Ten chapters packed with great creative effects. A great book that includes the use of the new Photoshop CS2 tools. The book comes with a CD with all the images you need to work with the various exercises. Also six (6) bonus exercises pdf files, plus the source images. [..] I give this book five (5) out of five (5).

What can I say? This is by far the best Photoshop book I have ever gotten and I own most of them being a Photoshopaholic. Sherry London writes in a way anyone can understand and work along. I couldn't put the book down. Do yourself a favor and put "Photoshop CS2 Gone Wild" in your Christmas stocking and then sit down at your computer and have some fun. She thinks of things to do with Photoshop that most of us would never try on our own. The only word I can think of to describe this book is GREAT. Ann Roberts