Description:
Rather than a barebones, step-by-step how-to, Adobe Photoshop 5.5 Fundamentals with ImageReady 2 is more of a tutorial, with the author acting as instructor. Gary David Bouton approaches teaching Photoshop 5.5 as though it's an easygoing seminar, with lots of humor, personal touches, and discoveries thrown in. The text is lengthy but enjoyable, and there are many illustrations, often with funny captions (e.g., "JPEG wins!" or "Pathetic!"). Readers can use the artwork on the companion CD-ROM while following along; the sample images sport flashy and detailed 3-D effects (plenty of neon, highlights, and airbrush). The fundamentals start with basics like adjusting your monitor, memory allotment, Photoshop's preferences, and other factors affecting efficiency. There are two chapters devoted to making "selections." Selecting out part of a complicated photo can be very challenging, and there are many ways to go about it. The lessons in these chapters are particularly well done. The book is also effective in showing how to use masks and layers and discussing output issues like interpolation, resolution, and halftone. Because this book covers version 5.5, there are four chapters devoted to ImageReady, surveying topics such as choosing formats; optimizing GIFs; and creating GIF animations, image maps, and rollovers. And the final chapter, "If You Read Only One Chapter," uses many of the topics in the book on one project, acting as a quick review. The companion CD-ROM includes trial versions of plug-ins Bouton particularly likes, a demo version of Photoshop 5.5, and fonts and clip art he and his wife created. (It's CharityWare; to register you donate to some charities they've chosen.) Novices will benefit from this book by starting out with a solid foundation, and more experienced users can learn those important "fundamentals" they never had time for. --Angelynn Grant Topics covered: Photoshop 5.5 instruction, including adjusting the workspace (monitor, Photoshop preferences, and palettes), selection methods, working with masks, layers, channels, type, images, and effects; and ImageReady 2 instruction, including choosing image formats, optimizing GIFs, creating GIF animations, image maps, and rollovers. CD-ROM includes trial versions of Photoshop 5.5 as well as several plug-ins from Andromeda, Xaos Tools and Alien Skin, CharityWare fonts and clip art, and all artwork used in the lessons.
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