Photoshop Elements 2: 50 Ways to Create Cool Pictures

Loved it! Huss didn't mess around, he just got straight to the meat of the program. I bought a digital camera and PE2 5 days ago and finshed the book 2 days ago...I'm now enhancing color, ballance, contrast, etc., I can drop in a new sky if I took a picture on an overcast day, I took a picture of a rose that looks like an oil painting after messing with it...I can do all of the things that I dreamed of doing when I bought my camera and PE2. I highly recommend this book to anyone who thought that PE2 might be a program that could help them produce better pics, but who has struggled figuring out what the hell all those tools and options do for you. This is the first book I have read and its great, now I hope that "Hidden Power..." is as good as this one!

I was seduced into buying this book (my second book on Elements) just because it was a full color book and the photos in it looked great. As I began to read it, I became aware that it was more than a book about correcting bad photos. The author not only shows how to fix the common problems with photographs, but he also teaches you how to take better pictures in the first place - saving a lot of time correcting them with Elements. Using some of his simple (and sometimes humorous) suggestions, the photos I took of my folk's 50th wedding anniversary last weekend looked professional. This book is hands down, the best book I have read on either Elements or digital photography. Forget taking cool picture, do you want to take and create great pictures? - get this book.

OK, my digital camera is my first "real" camera ever. I've never been one to tinker with photos but finally see the benefit in this wonderful information age we're living in. I'm as "green" as it gets when comes to Photograpy "tech" speak, yet I have no fear of manipulating photos anymore. Why?!? Dave's book!!! This book is truly intended for anyone that would like to their improve photos without having to overload on a bunch of uninteresting software manipulation that assumes you know EVERYTHING about digital photography. The software is pretty snazzy too, I must admit, and the book makes using it a breeze. I read enough in 1 hr to easily help me fix-up approximtely 1/3 of my photos (I am computer literate though), and I was REALLY pleased with the results. I have one thing to say: Friends & family BEWARE!!!

True to the book's title, you will learn at least 50 ways to create cool pictures. If you must have the theory of color or light to satisfy your need to use Photoshop Elements, this book is not for you. If, however, you want to get right into improving and turning your pictures into great images without all the "techie" lingo, then by all means you must get this book. It is full of picture examples (good photography in color) with easy to follow steps to fix, enhance or just have fun with your pictures. This book is sure to satisfy the needs of the occasional film or digital shooter and those who are, well,... "shutter addicted." There are enough projects and tips and tricks in this book to pick up and have fun with over and over again. Worth every penny! I highly recommend this book!!!

This easy-to-read book is obviously about a good software tool, but its value lies in the truth of the title. As I use this book, I am really beginning to feel that I can create cool pictures.I picked up this book as an attempt to make use of the pictures from my very(free) digital camera. I am amazed that I can make my many mediocre pictures into rather good pictures without spending an hour searching for clues from the help text.I must also comment on the good navigational tools this book offers. This book includes a good index, too often missing (either the "good" or the "index") from other publications. The best part is the clear and thorough table of contents, which saved me more than a trip or two to the index anyway.I always seem to be a sucker for Tip boxes. Happily, they are strategically placed throughout the book. They are the keys to truly mastering the program with techniques for getting the job done quicker or avoiding pitfalls.The author's apparent knowledge of the complexity of photography and the software makes this book a great technical reference. His casual tone and approach make the book a great learning tool. While I am more likely to be found reviewing a restaurant or coffeehouse, I make this exception for a book because it is so tasty!