Photoshop 6 Effects Magic

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 368 pages
• Published by: New Riders Press February 25, 2001
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 073571035X
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0735710351
• Book Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.1 x 0.8 inches
• Weighs: 2.2 pounds

Product Review
In Photoshop 6 Effects Magic, a array of professionals illustrate the use of many of Photoshop 6's new features as well as basic techniques in a collection of over twenty tutorials. This book is not for freshmen Photoshop artists. It requires that you have a working knowledge of basic Photoshop tools, getting around the interface, and creating and editing Photoshop images.

Spanning four sections, the book covers painting techniques, photographic techniques, image manipulation, and compositing techniques. Each section contains at least five tutorials, and all are in full color and richly illustrated. While the book is not platform-specific, many of the techniques described in the "Painting Techniques" section, for example, are dependent on a graphics tablet. If you use Photoshop for freehand illustration, you're probably already using one. If not, you can still use many of the techniques described with a mouse, albeit with less control.

Creating painterly illustrations from photographs in a sketch or watercolor style is well covered, as are manipulating and retouching photographs to change atmosphere, create multilayered compositions, or add depth or style. Compositing techniques using Photoshop's live effects give a designer great latitude, and the tutorials using text and live effects are especially worthwhile.

The Magic series of books from New Riders Publishing is an outstanding collection, with no expense spared in layout or production. Photoshop 6 Effects Magic holds its own in this distinguished series, and is a valuable handbook to have at your fingertips. --Mike Caputo

Product Description


Contributors provide instruction on how to create a variety of exciting new effects using the techniques available in Photoshop 6. Each project will be from 3 to ten pages in length and be designed in a 2-column format with step-by-step instructions on the left and corresponding graphics (or code) on the right. In addition, sidebars will be used to provide additional tips and tricks. Any effect, technique, or tip can easily be customized to fit a reader¿s own design needs.

Reader Reviews
Let me start by saying I loved this book. If I had to say something negative, the cover is odd, but beyond that, the book is perfection and well worth buying! This book is set up as a series of projects or lessons. Each one provides pictures of what the final version is and how it will look as you progress. An expert in the field authors each project or lesson. All of the directions are clear and easy to follow. If you are at a intermediate to advanced level, you will love this book. I have listed below the 35 major categories for the lessons with the number of lessons in each category appearing in parentheses: Airbrushing (1), Art History Brush (1), Blending Modes (4), Borders (2), Channels (5), Clipping Groups (1), Colorizing (3), Compositing (3), Custom Brushes (1), Custom Colors (1), Filters (4), Gradients (4), History Brush (2), Layer Effects (2), Layer Masks (9), Layer Modes (1), Levels (2), Lighting Effects (5), Liquify Tool (1), Masking (2), Painting (3), Paths (1), Patterns (4), Perspective & Depth (2), Posterizing (2), Quick Mask Mode (1), Restoration (1), Retouching (3), Selections (2), Sepia Tones (1), Shape Tool (1), Texturing (5), Tiling (2), Type (3) and Warp Text (1).