Photoshop 7 Learning Studio

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic new learning concept
Review: Photoshop 7 Learning Studio
Steve Romaniello

Overview.

I really think that this author has a good handle on the teaching of Photoshop as I said in my review of his book, "Photoshop 7 Savvy" which can be found ... I am not going to repeat the book review here, this is about a package that seems to be a new concept.

Do not be fooled into thinking that the CDROM is just a re-hash of the one included with the book. It is a whole new approach. This Learning Studio edition incorporates a brand new way of learning, by way of CDROM, and also includes the 600 page book as a bonus as well.

Sure, it covers the information in the book, but some people have difficulty in reading and relaying that information into a useful process. I found that seeing on screen, what I wanted to do was really beneficial. It turns cold words into colourful, easy to understand images.

The CDROM works well by itself and the inclusion of the book is definitely an added bonus. Of course you could look at it the other way and accept that you get a bonus CDROM with a really useful book.

You can work your way around the index on the CDROM to isolate the area you are interested in and then you are offered even more menus to further pinpoint your search. These menus have even more sections so you don't have to go through the whole lesson again to reach the part you are wanting.

A lot of the lessons have a video presentation as well, so if written English is not your first language, you can learn by listening and watching. You set the pace which governs your learning speed.

The lessons are done using a simulated Photoshop 7 desktop and you will find that there are similarities with the lessons in the book, but somehow, it is easier to grasp concepts which are demonstrated.

This is really well demonstrated when viewing the blend modes, something that is hard to explain in print, and also the shortcuts are easier to learn when shown on a simulated keyboard as you click through them. This CDROM can be running in the background while you work on your images and is then readily available as a help program when needed.

The reference section is really good and you can see at a glance what sort of information you want either as a video presentation or a slide show.

The slide shows all have a voice over which can be turned off, depending on your method of learning. I found that it helps to have the voice on as you follow the instructions.

The CDROM duplicates much of what is in the book, after all, the program is the same, but by following a simulated desktop you get a really good feel for the lessons, contained there, plus, it goes even further. This means that your learning curve is greatly reduced, and when dealing with Photoshop that is a definite advantage.

The Learning Studio is broken up into five sections comprising;

1. Photoshop Core which takes you through Photoshop from it's beginnings and how to set up your monitor and what the tools are, as well as how to use the basic functions.

2. Is all about colour. What it is, how it works with your computer and the differences between CMYK for print, or RGB for net or computer viewing.

3. Relates to the use of Photoshop to correct images use Image Ready to prepare for the web, using filters and also making difficult selections, something that can cause real frustration. The author takes you through some tricky images and because you must participate in the interactive slide show, it gives a better feel for what you are doing.

4.This is the reference section and is really large and easy to use. A row of alphabetical buttons are arranged to make it easy and quick to find just what you need. Once you have found your query, you are offered options on how to perform the steps needed to complete your goal.

5. Is the Hands On section where you get to use the CDROM from the book Photoshop 7 Savvy and go through some of the lessons contained in there. This covers things like painting in Photoshop and also fixing an old and damaged photo. While you can't participate in the simulated lesson, you can have your own image to work on while the short movie is playing.

These movies are all broken into small sections so you get a chance to keep up with the important steps that are being explained. Most of the lessons do require a lot of concentration and the short segments mean that if you need to stop, it is easy to re-start where you left off when you return.

Bottom Line.

It helps that the author is an Adobe Certified Instructor, which means that the knowledge base is very large. If you can't find the answer to problems, or learn from these lessons I would be very surprised.

This is a really good way to learn, and with this suite, you probably don't need extra books. ...