Rating: 
Summary: Use this as a reference book once you already know PS
Review: This book describes the fine intricacies of all the tools, the filters and the features of Photoshop. Where other books lead you through lessons and tell you to set X tool preference to Y, and you may happily use the Y preference for years without even knowing there is also a Z preference, this book explains all the preferences for all the tools and gives illustrated examples of what the various settings produce.
I wanted to force myself to sit down and read this thing cover to cover to get an in-depth knowledge of everything Photoshop, but after 2 chapters of reading I just couldn't go on in this manner. For me, the best use of this book is as a reference when I have a question about a particular tool or technique. I'll read a few pages to get the particulars, then I put the book back up on the shelf until the next question arises.
This version has lots of nice color plates and paging through it can be inspirational when I'm stuck for a design idea. Especially if I'm burned out on surfing online for ideas.
The one irritating factor about this book is the author's sense of humor interspersed throughout. I understand that he's trying to make a technical subject friendly, approachable and enjoyable, but the humor just comes across as extremely corny. This is a plague I've noticed infecting many of today's authors of software books.
Dear Authors,unless you are absolutely certain that people other than family and close friends consider you funny, please leave the humor out or hire a professional to help. Thank you.
I still give this book highest marks because
1)it is so absolutely thorough
2)the author knows his stuff and can communicate it well (even if there is a bit of dorky humor in it) and
3)since I use it as a reference book, the humor only comes in small, managable chunks.
Rating: 
Summary: Think of it as an advanced version of the softcover
Review: This version of the Photoshop 7 Bible is significanly smaller and shorter, but in full color. It is not as comprehensive as the paperback version and it covers advanced material with some overlapping. If you're looking for a comprehensive guide to Photoshop, skip this one. You're better off with the softcover version. If you're not sure which one is suited for you, I suggest you actually pick up a copy of this book at a local bookstore and read the author's notes on the 2 different versions of the book and decide for yourself. While it is still a nice guide, it's more advanced material and things professional Photoshop users would use (hence the edition title.) This might not be what you think it is.
Rating:
Summary: I'm still a beginner but I love this book
Review: Those who criticized this book as being a poor choice for beginners were unfair. (Why did they buy the Professional Version anyway?) Teaching those first steps to people who are not too familiar with computers in general is a book in itself. This book is perfect for anyone who has mastered even the most basic steps and wants to move far, far beyond.I was first exposed to Photoshop only a few weeks ago and after about 2 days of learning the basics using a popular beginner's manual found that the "how to" book had taken me as far as it could go. It was just enough to get me addicted but left me with too many questions. I thought that I might have been a bit presumptuous in purchasing the "Professional Version" of the Bible, but as soon as I started reading it quickly discovered that it answered all my questions. I went from page to page saying to myself "oh, so that's how..." and "hey, I was having trouble with this". Amazing! And it is written in language that even a newbie like myself can understand and follow. I am still a beginner but I love this book. I can see myself referring to it for years to come.
| 
