Adobe Photoshop CS3: Up to Speed

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 168 pages
• Published by: Peachpit Press; 2Rev Ed edition May 28, 2007
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0321514297
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0321514295
• Book Dimensions: 9 x 6.9 x 0.5 inches
• Weighs: 4 ounces

Product Review
 “Ben Wilmore is the clearest and most concise Photoshop teacher I know. His book is on the top ten list of Photoshop books I recommend to every beginning Photoshop student.”
—George DeWolfe  Senior Editor: ViewCamera and Camera Art Magazines  (www.georgedewolfe.com)

“Ben’s sessions at PhotoshopWorld are always standing room only. His latest book provides ample reason as to why he’s so popular. He breaks down the complex and arcane side of Photoshop into something that is understandable. And few things are more fun than becoming better at Photoshop. It’s a great book.”
-Jim Workman  
Publisher, PhotoshopUser Magazine  
(www.photoshopuser.com)

“Thanks to Ben Willmore’s Up to Speed, the journey from one Photoshop version to another has never been faster or easier. Adobe should give this book to every user who buys a copy of Photoshop.”
-George Lepp
Columnist Outdoor Photographer Magazine
Owner The Lepp Institute  
(www.theleppinstitute.com)

“Ben has a real gift for teaching Photoshop, and the uncanny ability to make difficult concepts seems absolutely simple. I have every book Ben’s ever written, and when he comes out with a book, I buy it! Ben has a way of cutting to the chase and explaining things in a way that just make sense. His approach to training has won him legions of fans, and this book continues his tradition of making Photoshop easy and understandable. If you want to really dig under the skin of Photoshop’s amazing new features, this is the book to buy! Highly recommended!”
—Scott Kelby
President, National Association of Photoshop Professionals  (www.photoshopuser.com)



Book Description
We’ve received some complaints about the binding of this book, Adobe Photoshop CS3: Up to Speed, falling apart and investigated the issue with our printer.  We’ve inspected the remaining inventory in our warehouse and as far as we can determine the bindings are fine.  If you have a defective copy please contact us at: http://www.peachpit.com/about/contact_us/  and choose “defective” from the drop down menu.  We would be happy to send you a replacement copy if the binding of the book you purchased is no longer intact.  - Glenn Bisignani, Product Marketing Manager

This must-have guide goes right to the heart of Photoshop CS3--what has changed, what is new, and how you can get the most out of the features as quickly as possible. Rather than sift through hundreds of pages detailing every last Photoshop feature and function (both old and new), you can go directly to the new features that interest you the most and get the explanations you desire in the classic Ben Willmore style--intuitive, crystal clear, and in-depth. By focusing on a single topic--what's new in this version--the award-winning author provides precisely what experienced Photoshop users have been clamoring for, in exactly the depth they demand. After reading this book--even if you've been using CS3 for a while--don't be surprised to hear yourself say, 'I didn't know CS3 did that!' In addition to learning the new features in no time flat, a welcome side effect of learning from Ben is that you can expect to become a better, faster and more efficient Photoshop user.

Reader Reviews
There are a lot of good books becoming available on Photoshop CS3, but if you are an experienced user of PS CS2 who has switched to CS3, you probably don't want to spend your time wading through information on PS that you already know. "Up to Speed" is aimed at you. Ben Willmore covers just the features that have been added (and deleted) between PS CS2 and PS CS3. Moreover, he usually doesn't spend a lot of time telling you how to apply a feature if it's one whose application will be obvious to an experienced user. On the other hand, some of the new functions may not be so intuitively obvious and in that case he provides examples of the possible applications. Willmore's writing is clear, concise, and understandable. That means the busy photographer will not have to spend a lot of time learning what the new features do, although most readers will benefit from reading everything the author writes. I thought that I understood everything about the new features from what I had read on the web or in general books about CS3, but there were several points I either never saw or missed. For example, selecting a group of pictures in Bridge by control-dragging a box around them isn't the only way to select adjacent pictures, but it does save a couple of seconds, and I had missed it. Occasionally, Wilmore will pause to review a fundamental concept to clarify how a new feature will work. His short explanation of how curves adjustments work was one of the most lucid I ever read. Even though Willmore suggests that people comfortable with curves can skip his introductory section, don't skip it unless you are really comfortable. (It's only five pages!) Willmore is not afraid to criticize Adobe for features that he thinks make no sense or are confusing. For example he says about Camera Raw's ability to process JPEG's, "I can't believe Adobe has released a feature with such a poorly thought out workflow." I've heard a reader's complaint about the fact that the book has fallen apart. At just over 150 pages, the book is too thick to saddle stitch and too thin to use better binding methods. Despite that, readers should expect a book to hold together, but experienced users should not be deterred from reading this book, even if it falls apart. It's still the best book to help make the transition to PS CS3 for the experienced user. The audience for this book doesn't want something thicker. On the other hand, one might be tempted to say that a book this thin shouldn't have a cover price of almost thirty bucks. But the time experienced users will save by not having to sort through familiar material may make it a bargain. Unfortunately, Adobe has already issued an update to CS3 that adds other features to CS3 that aren't covered in this book. Hopefully, Peachpit Press will provide protected content on their website explaining the new features the same way that they have provided a PDF update for Scott Kelby's Lightroom book. Comments (5) | | (Report this)