Secrets of the Digital Darkroom: The Complete Illustrated Guide to Getting the Best Results from Your Digital Photographs

I am not a Photoshop Guru, and yes, I agree with the other reviewer that if you own the manual that came with Photoshop you won't learn anything new here - BUT, I like the pretty pictures & the simplicity of the explanations is far easier than reading the manual! I don't use Photoshop on a daily basis so the techniques are not burnt into my memory, but I use it regularly enough that this book provides CONSTANT reference for me. In my mind I know what I want to achieve, I flick through the book , find it & refresh. It is great for times when you say "how do I do that again" or "how do I do xxx that I used to do in the darkroom" but I'm not sure if you use Photoshop every day if you'd need such a reference. I use this in conjunction with "Top 100 Simplified Tips & Tricks Photoshop CS2" which is very simple (great for beginners in Photoshop) for reference & reminder on specific techniques depending on what I'm trying to achieve.

This book contains all the technical information you require to manipulate your photographs in any way you desire. Obviously you need a computer and a photographic manipulation software tool, such as Photoshop or something similar. If reviewers have panned this book in the past I cannot understand where they are coming from. The book contains easy to follow exercises that help you to create the effect you are looking for and encourages you to use your own initiative to take things that step further. Anyone with a modicum of computer expertise can vastly improve their digital photogaphs. Not everyone wants to become involved in using filters, layers and masks, but to just be able to sharpen, adjust contrast and brightness of photographs and do some colour corrections makes owning this book well worthwhile. Believe me this book will help you to make a tremendous improvement to your photographs.

Good, no nonsense content characterises this book. It may not be cutting edge but good solid content using industry standard tools shows how even the most ham-fisted of us can produce great photos. One to enjoy.

"Secrets of the Digital Darkroom" is modestly priced for what one gets from the author in this book. I got a copy at the Library and am so impressed that I am buying a copy for my bookshelf and one for a friend as well. The book is very well printed in full color, with beautiful color illustrations on every page. Is every detail of Adobe Photoshop covered? Of course not. How could a book of 191 pages do that?Many details of digital photgraphic manipulation and management have become clear to me for the very first time after reading this book. I have been taking pictures since the '50s and graduated to my first digital camera 4 years ago so I am not a rank beginner.There are many "Recipe books" around but this isn't one of those. Neither is it a "Reference" book with lists of every Command, action and key stroke lists. But, that said, the instructions do apply specifically to Adobe Photoshop but have helped me to clearly understand my own Adobe PS Elements Two software though not all of the techniques are available in both programs. I think the knowledge gained here will go far in aid of the entheusiast that uses other programs as well. This book is "Knowledge Base".This book is very suitable for the beginner through the advanced amateur level. Subjects from color depth, resolution and balance to Curves, levels, Duo-tones, panoramic display, to hardware and much more, is well covered. It seems that not a single issue has been overlooked by the author, from the basics through very advanced techniques and concepts. Highly recommended for in depth knowledge of the process of digital photography in general from scanners, through digital manipulation techniques -basic through advanced - and finally printing. An excellent Table of Contents and index permits quick location of topics for in-depth reading. Well worth the money, in my opinion.