Rating: 
Summary: Keep this Book On your Desk
Review: I loved the quick tricks in this book and since my memory is horrendous, I kept it by the computer to flip to when I was at my wits end. From fixing wrinkles to fixing nose, the chapter on digital plastic surgery was worth the price and now my relatives are better looking than ever.
Rating:
Summary: Great Photoshop resource!
Review: I really liked Scott Kelby's "Down and Dirty" Photoshop book, so I thought I'd better get this. It's excellent as well. It's rather a slim book, but packed full of good information.It does have some very basic stuff in it (like using the clone stamp) but it has more advanced/intermediate information in it as well. I learned some exciting new Photoshop techniques the first time I opened the book! It is an excellent book to thumb through while you are in front of your computer. Lots of good advice, and fun easy tips! This book would be *excellent* for the beginner/intermediate Photoshop user, who wants some "instant results" to some common problems and challenges. (I cannot speak for the more advanced Photoshop user, since I'm not one!) But certainly, a less experienced user will find MUCH to help them in this book. I consider it to be a great companion book to one of the larger, more comprehensive "Bible"-type Photoshop books. I don't feel it would in any way replace one of those kind of books, though. But it will give many people some great new ideas, and give them a "jump start" if they feel they are stagnating in their Photoshop knowledge! Another great thing about this book (as well as the "Dirty Secrets" book) is that it introduces the user to new tools, techniques, keyboard shortcuts, etc., while in the process of going through the tutorials. You may *think* you are just learning one specific "trick" or technique, but you end up taking away some fabulous new Photoshop techniques that you will use in other areas. You will find that this book will expand your understandng of Photoshop in ways you didn't expect! The instructions are easy to understand, and the illustrations helpful. The writing is written in an easy, friendly manner, which makes it an accessable book for any user.
Rating: 
Summary: More for the amateur than the pro. Flawed but useful.
Review: I think I can simply sum this one up like this: If you think the Photoshop "wow" books are absolutely your cup of tea and are great, then this book is a clear sure-fire winner for you. If you think the Photoshop "wow" books are trickery and contain a few things worth picking out of a bunch of stuff you'll never use, and maybe you think you'd like to get deeper into the art of retouching instead of a quick-tip book, then skip this one entirely. Personally, I got a few good pointers out of here, but I'd take Katrin Eismans book on PS Restoration & Retouching over this one. But again, I prefer that type of approach, some of you might prefer Scott Kelbys, especially is you are more the amateur to advanced amateur and not really interested in the finer points of this subject. It really does depend on what exactly your intent is (whether to just get quick tips or actually learn how to retouch.) Somewhat recommended, dependent on goals.
Rating:
Summary: More for the amateur than the pro. Flawed but useful.
Review: I think I can simply sum this one up like this: If you think the Photoshop "wow" books are absolutely your cup of tea and are great, then this book is a clear sure-fire winner for you. If you think the Photoshop "wow" books are trickery and contain a few things worth picking out of a bunch of stuff you'll never use, and maybe you think you'd like to get deeper into the art of retouching instead of a quick-tip book, then skip this one entirely. Personally, I got a few good pointers out of here, but I'd take Katrin Eismans book on PS Restoration & Retouching over this one. But again, I prefer that type of approach, some of you might prefer Scott Kelbys, especially is you are more the amateur to advanced amateur and not really interested in the finer points of this subject. It really does depend on what exactly your intent is (whether to just get quick tips or actually learn how to retouch.) Somewhat recommended, dependent on goals.
Rating:
Summary: a must-have book
Review: I think this is a must-have book for every PS user.... this guy Scott Kelby is the best... I have read all his books... and they were the best in the market. This book will improve you deramaticly in photo-retouching
Rating: 
Summary: disappointed
Review: I want to start off by saying that Scott Kelby's Seminars, NAPP organization, MacDesign & PhotoshopUser magazines are FABULOUS. After waiting months in anticipation of receiving his new book on Photo-Retouching, I finally got it and I'm sorry to say-I was disappointed. While the cover and divider pages are beautifully printed, it is so unfortunate that the print quality is so poor for the examples used. All of the flesh images look sunburned, which I found ironic, since this is one of the issues he discusses at length at the seminars and in issues of his magazine. It was extremely difficult to discern the before and after representations. I was also disapponted that he did not emphasize "not working directly on the images." I know there are a dozen ways to do a thing in Photoshop, but from my experience--my preference is using adjustment layers for color adjustments and blank layers for cloning with the "use all layers" box checked. These methods were first introduced to me by Helene Delillo at one of Scott's seminars. So I was disappointed that these safe methods were not emphasized throughout Scott's book. He still has a few good tricks in the book but I can't give it more than a 2 star rating as opposed to his other "Down & Dirty Tricks" book, which is a 5 star plus!
Rating:
Summary: disappointed
Review: I want to start off by saying that Scott Kelby's Seminars, NAPP organization, MacDesign & PhotoshopUser magazines are FABULOUS. After waiting months in anticipation of receiving his new book on Photo-Retouching, I finally got it and I'm sorry to say-I was disappointed. While the cover and divider pages are beautifully printed, it is so unfortunate that the print quality is so poor for the examples used. All of the flesh images look sunburned, which I found ironic, since this is one of the issues he discusses at length at the seminars and in issues of his magazine. It was extremely difficult to discern the before and after representations. I was also disapponted that he did not emphasize "not working directly on the images." I know there are a dozen ways to do a thing in Photoshop, but from my experience--my preference is using adjustment layers for color adjustments and blank layers for cloning with the "use all layers" box checked. These methods were first introduced to me by Helene Delillo at one of Scott's seminars. So I was disappointed that these safe methods were not emphasized throughout Scott's book. He still has a few good tricks in the book but I can't give it more than a 2 star rating as opposed to his other "Down & Dirty Tricks" book, which is a 5 star plus!
Rating:
Summary: Quick learning techniques in mastering retouching
Review: I was really amazed on how this book cuts right to the chase of retouching, restoring and enhancing photos. I followed Scott Kelby's examples on applying techniques to some of the images and all I could say was "WOW". The book contains no techno babble. Just straightforward tutorial for retouching images. Although this book is so easy and straightforward, it is not for the absolute beginner. The book is for people who already know Photoshop basics. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Quick learning techniques in mastering retouching
Review: I was really amazed on how this book cuts right to the chase of retouching, restoring and enhancing photos. I followed Scott Kelby's examples on applying techniques to some of the images and all I could say was "WOW". The book contains no techno babble. Just straightforward tutorial for retouching images. Although this book is so easy and straightforward, it is not for the absolute beginner. The book is for people who already know Photoshop basics. Highly recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: Great contents, bad edition
Review: I've watched 6 of Scott Kelby's videos, and he is absolutely great as a photoshop teacher. I could not wait to get this book, and the tips and tricks and contents of the book are great, and exactly on the level that was expected. The problem is with the book itself. Something went wrong in the production, and most of the images are dark and very hard to see. If it would not be for this fact, I would give it 5 stars. If you are looking for the best book on photo retouching, this is it.
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