Adobe(R) Photoshop(R) 6.0 Web Design

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 344 pages
• Published by: Pearson Education
• Edition: 1st Edition March 5, 2001
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0201721465
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0201721461
• Book Dimensions: 9 x 7 x 0.8 inches
• Weighs: 1.6 pounds

Product Review
While it may not show 100 ways of creating buttons, or how to get slick chrome effects, Adobe Photoshop 6.0 Web Design does offer a thoughtful and image-packed look at using Photoshop to design for the Web.

The first of four sections gives an overview of Web basics--how all the elements work and what the main issues are (e.g., browser problems; Web palettes; the differences between image formats like GIFs, JPEGs, and PNGs). The second section covers the basics of Photoshop with a focus on creating Web content (for example, fixing digital photographs for Web display or making smooth GIF animations). There's also a section on when it might be better to use ImageReady. (This coverage has been beefed up since the previous edition.)

Anyone can make GIFs and JPEGs, but the real pros know how make images look good with not much bandwidth. So, the third section details optimizing image sizes, for which both Photoshop and ImageReady offer ample tools. The last section deals with basic GoLive tools--fitting the pieces together to create Web pages. Little tutorials appear throughout to walk readers through pivotal scenarios like "Creating Slices and Rollovers" and "HTML Authoring."

It's appropriate that this book, aimed at visually inclined designers, is filled with images: each page features full-color illustrations and screen shots--it's gorgeously designed. The opening chapters make this an great choice for readers new to the topic (defining terms, exploring the design concepts behind planning a good site, and interviews with successful Web designers). Later sections, which discuss compression algorithms, cascading style sheets (CSS), and preparing and embedding video and audio, make this a good choice for intermediate users. But the main audience will be designers who have used Photoshop in their print work and now want to start designing Web sites.

Besides Photoshop, ImageReady, and GoLive, the book also touches on other useful applications, like Alien Skin's Xenofex and Eye Candy 4000; Apple's QuickTime VR and Final Cut Pro; RealProducer; and SoundJam. Here, as throughout, the author may not show all the details, but he does provide the fundamental principles that ensure a sound foundation of knowledge to build on. --Angelynn Grant

Topics covered: Introduction to Web design using the tools of Adobe Photoshop 6, ImageReady 3, and GoLive 5, including

• An overview of Web design-related issues
• Creating images for the Web
• Working with layers, actions and filters
• Comparing image formats and discussing compression algorithms
• Optimizing file sizes
• Creating rollovers, animations, and background images
• Going from ImageReady to GoLive to assemble elements into a Web page

Book Description
As Web designers become more HTML savvy, many turn to Photoshop as their main design tool. And if you're like most other designers who use multiple products to create a finished site, Adobe Photoshop 6.0 Web Design is written just for you. In this gorgeous four-color book, Web designer Michael Baumgardt shows you how to use Adobe's suite of tools for professional Web design. Covering Photoshop, GoLive and ImageReady, this new edition is fully updated to reflect the changes in GoLive 5, Photoshop 6, and ImageReady 3.

The book starts out with the basics of using Adobe tools to create the most important elements of a Web site. Then it demonstrates how to use the newest features, including image compression, creating GIF animations, building dynamic Web content, designing navigational elements, managing Web-safe colors and more.

Reader Reviews
The best books that I have seen for Photoshop are ones that are written by designers who are well versed in computer technology, rather than the other way round - web programmers who knows computers/software very well but are amateurs to design. This book is definately one of the former. I have been creating web contents (using Photoshop :-) for 6 years yet I still find the book immensely helpful and interesting to read. The books covers a wide variety of subjects from concrete issues such as the compression algorithms of the graphics formats and its real life relevance to with regard to color management, down to the intricacies of web design through interviews with top class web designers and looking at other people's work. While this book may not be for you if you're new to Web design and Photoshop you definately must take a look if you know about the subject already and are looking for professional ideas as well as answers, or you're familier with Photoshop and ready to explore the new capabilities with the latest version of PS/ ImageReady/GoLive. Comment | | (Report this)