Photoshop Filter Effects Encyclopedia, The Hands-on Desktop Reference for Digital Photographers |
| Posted by Administrator (admin) on Feb 15 2006 |
| Reviews >> Books |
Photoshop Filter Effects Encyclopedia
The Hands-on Desktop Reference for Digital Photographers
By Roger Pring, First Edition November 2005, 176 pages, $29.95 US (30% discount for PTSLUG members and the book qualifies for free shipping).
This book is one of four in the O'Reilly digital studio series which we recently received for review from the publisher. These are not all encompassing doorstop books on Adobe Photoshop, rther they focus on specific aspects of a more limited use of Photoshop. While the book covers all 109 filters in Photoshop CS2, it will be just as useful for users of earlier versions of Photoshop or Photoshop Elements, which have most of the same filters.
What I liked about the book the step-by-step instruction for each filter. The book has hundreds of full-color photographs, clearly written instructions and practical tips. The book devotes two pages for each filter. One of the extra bonuses is that you can get downloadable images of the examples in the book on line at at the O'Reilly web site.
One of the problems with using filters is that there is very little online help available with the application, and no printed manual. Users can spend hours trying to use filters effectively - an inefficient and often frustrating way to work. The author explains and decodes the settings of every filter that Photoshop CS2 has to offer, from Artistic filters such as Colored Pencil, Cutout, and Watercolor to Stylize filters like Bevel, Emboss, and Extrude. And, unlike many reference books that give you a lot of information you'll never need, it is filled with easy-to-follow, step-by-step, practical recipes for creating truly amazing effects, such as:
- Creating selective focus
- Simulating motion blur
- Adding special lens and filter effects
- Working with tone and color
- Creating dramatic solarized and posterized images
- Working with artificial lighting
- Simulating textures
- Creating multi-layered images and photomontages
- Reproducing graphic arts effects
If you would like to see the table of contents, an excerpt or 21 MB of examples you can get them at this web site:
http://examples.oreilly.com/photofilterfx/
For me this is a 5-star book because of the easy-of-use, focus, illustrations, step-by-step instruction and applicability to both CS2 users and users of older versions of Photoshop and PS Elements
Contact member services chair Bob Snow for the code for active members which can be used to receive the 30% discount either on-line or over the telephone.
Last changed: Feb 15 2006 at 2:38 PM
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