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Adobe Photoshop CS5 Digital Classroom Book

RustyHill — Sun, 29 May 2011 00:21:30 +0000

Dive into Digital Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop CS5 Digital Classroom allows beginning to intermediate Photoshop users the opportunity to practice a wide variety of skills learning Adobe Photoshop CS5. Lesson files and tutorial videos allow the reader to learn how to edit, tweak, and enhance digital photographs. Advanced digital photographers familiar with Photoshop CS5 can also pick up interesting tips and techniques in later chapters.

Readers can browse the detailed index that offers subheadings under each chapter, making it easy to find specific points, or techniques. The book’s initial section focuses on getting started (uploading lesson files), setting computer preferences and color correction, and how to play video tutorials (requires Adobe Flash). Learning what’s new in Photoshop CS5 is found in Chapter 14. Each lesson chapter provides step-by-step instructions (no long paragraphs), and numerous lessons are provided on the DVD insert.

Extra screen shots throughout the individual sections point out various tools, or techniques identified in the individual directions. Readers can also refer to the supplemental video tutorials, which are very informative and a bonus to this tutorial package.

Self Study Section
At the end of each chapter there is a self study section, plus topic questions and related answers. The individual chapters do not state their estimated time length, but from practicing a few lessons, I would assume the average user may need 45 minutes to 1.5 hours. Video lessons are short and informative.

If you are interested in learning Adobe Photoshop CS5, then consider this book as an option.

Contact: www.digitalclassroombooks.com Cost: $49.99 US; $59.99 CAN

The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 Book for Digital Photographers

RustyHill — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 04:07:22 +0000

Scott Kelby in The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 Book for Digital Photographers provides a easy to use guide to Lightroom 3 for both the novice and intermediate user. Scott describes how to use Lightroom 3 in simple easy, and easy to follow steps. If you have liked Scott’s other books like the Digital Photography Book, then you won’t be disappointed. Also, if you are looking for a gift for a photographer who recently upgraded to Lightroom 3 and likes step-by-step instruction, I would consider this book as a good gift.

One of the nice touches that Scott uses in this book is at the top of each page he highlights which module he discusses. The photographs and screenshots used for illustrations are clear and easy to read. And they illustrate each step.

Chapters
The chapters in The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 Book for Digital Photographers follow the typical process that a photographer may use when utilizing Lightroom 3.

Importing –getting your photos into light room
Library–how to organize your photos
Customizing–how to set up things your way
Editing essentials–how to develop your photos
Local adjustments–how to edit just part of your images
Problem photo–fixing common problems
Exporting images–saving JPEGS, TIFFS, and more
Jumping to Photoshop–how and when to do it
In black and white– converting from color to black and white
Slideshow–creating presentations of your work
The big print–printing your photos
Web galleries–getting your photos on the web
My portrait workflow–my step-by-step process from the shoot to the final print
7-point system–my seven points in Lightroom

The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 Book for Digital Photographers provides a comprehensive step-by-step learning guide.

Contact: New Riders

Cost: $49.99 USD, $59.99 CAN, £30.99 UK

Adobe Lightroom 2.0

RustyHill — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 22:24:43 +0000

For amateur and professional photographers, Lightroom 2 offers dynamic tools to organize, enhance and download photographs seamlessly in slideshows and websites. Lightroom 2 does not provide the detailed functions present in Adobe Photoshop CS3 and CS4, yet Lightroom 2 seamlessly integrates with Photoshop. For this article, Lightroom 2 easily downloaded and operated on a Mac G5 and MacBook Pro computer. Pictures were imported from Nikon D200 and Nikon D1X .
Lightroom 2 specializes in importing, processing, and managing thousands of digital photographs. For amateur photographers, Lightroom 2’s graphic interface and photo adjustment tools are easy to understand and launch. Photos can be downloaded from camera cards, hard drives, removable discs or tethered system.

Lightroom 2 offers five different modules – Library, Develop, Slideshow, Print and Web. In each module, menus can be hidden to provide a larger work area. In Library, photos can be viewed in multiple displays – either as a grid, single, side-by-side (compare) or survey workspace. One advanced feature allows images to be displayed and edited in one window, while separate images can be opened in a second window.

With the Lightroom 2 Filter bar, photographs can be organized and searched by filenames, titles, captions or keywords. Photographs can also be selected and sorted by flags, star ratings, color labels or type of file. Lightroom 2 always retains raw data, while storing edits on separate files.

Lightroom 2 allows for seamless integration with Photoshop CS3 and CS4. When individual or a set of photos are selected, particular features from Photoshop can be enabled directly in Lightroom 2. Once changes are completed in Photoshop, these edited images can be viewed and further edited in Lightroom 2 without having to import the image. One file can incorporate the total history of photograph adjustments. Adobe reports Lightroom 2 allows editing on JPG, TIFF, PSD and over 190 camera raw file formats.

In the Develop module, Lightroom 2 offers a wide variety of tools to fine-tune individual pictures. Some added features include Spot Removal, Graduated Filter and Adjustment Brush in addition to the various enhancement menus (Basic, Tone Curve, HSL/Curve/Grayscale, Split Toning, Vignettes and Camera Calibration). Pictures can be quickly zoomed by selecting Fit, Fill, 1:1 (100%) up to a 11:1 (1100%) screen. Once enhanced, these dynamic digital pictures can be displayed in Slideshow, printed or uploaded onto the web to share with clients, family and friends.

In Lightroom 2, the Crop feature continues to offers a valuable tool in straightening images, making it easier to align horizon lines, vertical buildings or angled snapshots, and highlighting the rule of thirds. The Print module provides tools designed to sharpen images, select Matte or Glossy print, and allow multiple sizing of images to be printed on one sheet. In the Web Module, a wide variety of features enable a person to quickly design, create, and enhance their own photo web page. Dynamic web galleries based on Adobe Flash or HTML can showcase photos online.

Lightroom 2 is a tool that works well with amateur photographers, but continues to have the power and depth to satisfy professional demands. The standard presets allow excellent imagery to be created with minor adjustments. However, professional features and tools have been expanded to allow photographers ample tools to tweak pictures and beyond. And smooth integration with Photoshop CS3 and CS4 offers advanced pixel-level editing and retouching.

Adobe’s Lightroom 2 offers a free 30-day trial download and online video tutorial. In addition, Adobe provides online access to alternative learning resources through the Lightroom Learning Centers. LIghtroom 2 continues to offer a well-rounded photograph managing and editing tool for amateurs and professional photographers.

Made By: Adobe
Website: adobe.com
Price: $299, Upgrade $99

Pros: Well-designed modules, natural progression, 64-bit native on Macs
Cons: None noted