Rating: 
Summary: An amazing tour-de-force
Review: I've been reading Deke's books for years. And frankly, they vary widely, from fair (especially when he leaves the chore to a coauthor) to extremely good. Sure, Deke's a pioneer. If it wasn't for him, computer books would all be about word processors and operating systems. But he doesn't always deliver like he could or should.This time is different. This book is something special: First, it's completely different than past Photoshop Bibles. ALL the information is new, which is an astounding achievement for an update to a book this size. (I haven't seen the softbound Photoshop 7 Bible, but according to the foreword, the two books share about 300 pages of content, so it doesn't sound like you should get both.) Second, it does more with less. No 1,200-page tome this time. The Pro Edition is a lean 650 pages, and it uses its pages wisely. Third, all 650 pages are printed in full color. The print job and paper quality are very fine, something of a first for the Bible. The figures are exquisitely rendered, so you can see everything Deke is talking about. Fourth and best, the content is extraordinary. It includes information about blend modes, healing, displacement maps, the liquify tool, and much more that I haven't seen anywhere else. (I have nearly a dozen Photoshop 7 books). I don't think I've come across a single page so far that hasn't taught me something I didn't already know. Can't say that about other books. The title doesn't lie, it really is for professionals. But Deke delivers his high-end info in a simple and charming way that is always crystal clear. He promises the world, and then remarkably, he delivers. If you're an intermediate or advanced user, then I'm guessing this is the Photoshop Bible you've been waiting for.
Rating: 
Summary: Just another copy of Adobe User's Guide
Review: If take out all the words which have nothing to do with photoshop, the book will be 1/3, may be less.And since the author do not give you the sample files, so you can only listen to what he said without any testing...
Buy it, waste money, read it, waste time.
Rating:
Summary: Not for Newbies
Review: If you expect to sit down, read this book and learn how to create something all in the same sitting, FORGET ABOUT IT. This is a reference book...enough said!
Rating:
Summary: Content Worthy of its Title
Review: Photoshop is a gem of a program. To extract its maximum editing value for your photos, you will have to dig. For most of us, that entails a book that contains a trove of techniques that use the program's brushes, color correction, effects, masks, filters, layers and distortions. As a novice Photoshop user, this is the first volume I consult when I have a question. More often than not, I find an answer. Plus, I also find an understandable explanation. The result is two fold. First, I accomplish the effect I want with my image. Second, I recover a jewel that can be applied to a future problem. Many of my most daunting challenges are rendered simple after consulting this book. In my mind that is the only book worthy of the appellation "Bible."
Rating:
Summary: Content Worthy of its Title
Review: Photoshop is a gem of a program. To extract its maximum editing value for your photos, you will have to dig. For most of us, that entails a book that contains a trove of techniques that use the program's brushes, color correction, effects, masks, filters, layers and distortions. As a novice Photoshop user, this is the first volume I consult when I have a question. More often than not, I find an answer. Plus, I also find an understandable explanation. The result is two fold. First, I accomplish the effect I want with my image. Second, I recover a jewel that can be applied to a future problem. Many of my most daunting challenges are rendered simple after consulting this book. In my mind that is the only book worthy of the appellation "Bible."
Rating:
Summary: Unique style and coverage
Review: There are a great number of Photoshop books in the market. Yet this is unique. Deke's style and comprehensive coverage can not be beaten. He is a master of Photoshop and of teaching it. You will learn that extra bit that makes all the difference. Also look for the Photoshop TotalTraining CD-ROMs where you can watch Deke in action (his sense of humor and clarity come through and shine there -- no written word could grasp that). Many people avoid these thick books, but this is the one that you can simply not ignore. Not for its size, but for its excellence.
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: This book is a reference book, not for teaching
Review: This book mainly explains the meaning of each function. For example, what does "color" mean? What does "tiff" mean? It goes on and on. In the first several hundreds of pages, the book never introduces any projects. It looks more like a dictionary. Without a project, these explanations do not mean anything. I was given all the definitions. I don't know why the book tells me all these. I think a reader will learn better only when he needs to know.
The book just went through the list of functions. It is not very exciting at all. I read several hundreds of pages, but I still don't know what to do and why I need to know these.
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.
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