Photoshop CS3 Channels and Masks Bible

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 544 pages
• Published by: Wiley May 7, 2007
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0470102640
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0470102640
• Book Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 1.1 inches
• Weighs: 2.6 pounds

Product Description
Add sizzle to your images with these invaluable tools.

If you're using Photoshop without working with channels and masks, you're missing out on some of the most powerful and creative features Photoshop CS3 has to offer. Let this comprehensive reference teach you to use these valuable tools the way professionals do. Create dazzling composites, speed your workflow, get awesome color--it's all here and more with step-by-step instructions, techniques, and examples. If you want to tap the full potential of Photoshop channels and masks, this striking full-color Bible is the book you need to succeed.You'll learn to:

• Harness channels and masks for faster workflow.
• Unravel the secrets of creating, mixing, and converting digital color.
• Add lighting effects, 3D, and other channel pyrotechnics.
• Create composite layer content with advanced blending.
• Reveal, conceal, and refine your images with layer masks.
• Combine selections from single and multiple documents.
• Posterize, create textures, correct faded images, and more.
• Use type masks to add an artist's sparkle to the text.
• Work with soft-edged selections.
• Select and composite transparent shadows.
• Blend layers.

Inside, you'll find brilliant full color throughout, including hundreds of color screen shots and examples. Order your copy today!

Back Cover Copy
Add sizzle to your images with these invaluable tools

If you're using Photoshop without working with channels and masks, you're missing out on some of the most powerful and creative features Photoshop CS3 has to offer. Let this comprehensive reference teach you to use these valuable tools the way professionals do. Create dazzling composites, speed your workflow, get awesome color—it's all here and more with step-by-step instructions, techniques, and examples. If you want to tap the full potential of Photoshop channels and masks, this striking full-color Bible is the book you need to succeed.

• Harness channels and masks for faster workflow
• 
  
  Unravel the secrets of creating, mixing, and converting digital color
• 
  
  Add lighting effects, 3D, and other channel pyrotechnics
• 
  
  Composite layer content with advanced blending
• 
  
  Reveal, conceal, and refine your images with layer masks
• 
  
  Combine selections from single and multiple documents
• 
  
  Learn to posterize, create textures, correct faded images, and more
• 
  
  Use type masks to add an artist's sparkle to the text

Inside, find brilliant full color throughout, including hundreds of color screen shots and examples.

Learn how to work with soft-edged selections

Learn how to select and composite transparent shadows

Learn how to blend layers

Reader Reviews
Unfortunately, almost half of this book is wasted on introductory Photoshop instruction. Around chapter 6 or so, the author finally begins to discuss channels and masks. If the book had a different title, then I would have no complaints about such a distribution of content. But given that this publication is alleged to be a bible of channel work and masking (intermediate to advanced aspects of image manipulation), I just don't appreciate its level of filler material. The author also doesn't give particularly detailed attention to Photoshop's newest selection utility: the Quick Selection Tool. In fact, only a few paragraphs are devoted to this excellent addition to the Photoshop tool arsenal. Since selections run concomitantly with the the use of masks and channels, how can this important time saver be so lightly regarded? With all of that said, the book does at least afford the reader some useful instruction on leveraging the power of layer masks, alpha channels, and color channels. The author explains the basics -- saving selections, for example -- and eventually moves on to displacement maps, advanced sharpening, fly-away hair masking, etc. Personally, I find Kelby's book on channels to be a better bet for the money. But if you want some guidance on more than just channels and masks and prefer to avoid Kelby's humorous delivery (which I like!), then this just might be the alternative perspective for which you've been waiting.