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Rating: 
Summary: Mixed feelings
Review: As the title of this review suggests, I have mixed feelings about this book. The book offers step-by-step instructions for creating 40 different effects that range from the simple to the very complex.One the one hand, I appreciated learning numerous keyboard shortcuts. On the other, there were several that they left out. It was nice that the authors make sure to tell you what the shortcut is for, but they often (but not always) left out why you were doing a particular action. I did get some pretty cool results from following the instructions in the book, but I was also frustrated because sometimes, even following the instructions to the letter, my results were so different than theirs I had to improvise. I was happy to learn a few different approaches to different tasks, but I also knew there were easier and more flexible ways to do the exact same things. Sometimes I was glad for the instructions, other times I felt they they were too basic, or (occasionally) flawed. In short, I'm somewhat ambivalent about this book - sometimes it's perfectly exasperating, and sometimes I'm satisfied with it (but never ecstatic.) I am happy I bought the book used, but I wouldn't necessarily advise against buying it - though I do suspect that given what I know now, I might go with a different book if I had to choose again.
Rating:
Summary: Mixed feelings
Review: As the title of this review suggests, I have mixed feelings about this book. The book offers step-by-step instructions for creating 40 different effects that range from the simple to the very complex. One the one hand, I appreciated learning numerous keyboard shortcuts. On the other, there were several that they left out. It was nice that the authors make sure to tell you what the shortcut is for, but they often (but not always) left out why you were doing a particular action. I did get some pretty cool results from following the instructions in the book, but I was also frustrated because sometimes, even following the instructions to the letter, my results were so different than theirs I had to improvise. I was happy to learn a few different approaches to different tasks, but I also knew there were easier and more flexible ways to do the exact same things. Sometimes I was glad for the instructions, other times I felt they they were too basic, or (occasionally) flawed. In short, I'm somewhat ambivalent about this book - sometimes it's perfectly exasperating, and sometimes I'm satisfied with it (but never ecstatic.) I am happy I bought the book used, but I wouldn't necessarily advise against buying it - though I do suspect that given what I know now, I might go with a different book if I had to choose again.
Rating: 
Summary: Suprisingly good
Review: Based on the cover and the name, I wasn't expecting much from this book. But when I flipped through it, I very pleasently suprised... I would say at least 50% of this book is unique. I've never seen anything like the Abstract chapter (which is mainly why I bought the book). Some of the chapters that contain material I've seen before were done better than I've seen in any other book. The buttons chapter, for example, is better than anything in the Wow book or the Down and Dirty book and the Interfaces chapter is more detailed and informative that anything I've sen in another Photoshop book... on the Earth, Text, and Trimmings chapters--which are just more polished versions of tutorials you can find on the Web. Overall, though, I would say it was money well spent. I'm already getting in the habit of using those shortcut keys, to. Another solid Friends of Ed book!
Rating: 
Summary: So much hope - so little delivery
Review: First off - right up front...if you are on a Mac - which the majority of the graphics Photoshop world is - FORGET this book. Written for the arcane world of the PC Microsoft afflicted, it becomes tedious trying to figure out the right keyboard combinations to follow the chapters. They looked so good! They looked like so much fun! They were like flying an airplane blind...How many times does one have to go back and retrace steps to try and make your images look like the authors? How many notes do you have to scribble in the margins to translate this glop? Now, with Photoshop 7 in our machines...using this book becomes an even grander hunt for clarity. Guys - please update this for Photoshop 7 and dump the PC approach. Make it for the real graphics world to use, not just yourselves...Thanks.
Rating: 
Summary: Step-by-Step walk-through is Great!
Review: I am a multimedia developer having used Photoshop since version 3. I make a lot of interfaces for online learning material, and have been frustrated with seeing some neat designs, but not having the slighest idea how these designs are constructed. Scott and Scott's book takes you into the designs and makes it much easier to learn by providing clear instructions and loads of illustrations. Within 30 minutes of reading Section 8: Interfaces, I had completed a design and used it as the shell for one of my tutorials. This book has paid for itself may times over in saved time and impressing my bosses! I also liked that the example files are also available from the publisher's website(friendsofed.com). Jodi Burt
Lead Senior Technical Writer for ADP, Inc.
Rating:
Summary: nothing new
Review: i own a good number of photoshop cookbooks...
there's nothing new here.. so basically, i wasted my time.
even if you don't own any photoshop cookbooks.. it would be smarter and more economical to purchase the WOW! book, the down and dirty book or another.
Rating:
Summary: This book rocks
Review: My photoshop skills took a quantum leap thanks to this book. I took each lesson in order to get the most out of the book and saw a great improvment in my digital art. This book is better for advanced users of photoshop as it does not dwell on the basics. However, the title pretty well implies that. Some of this can be seen in other books, but this book takes it a bit farther and demostrates more advanced techniques. If you don't need the perfect look you can even skip some steps and still have great looking work. I would recomend this book to anyone who wants explore digital art in photoshop.
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