Rick Miller
10-11-2001, 11:54 AM
As an instructor of Photoshop I try to stay on top of what books offer the most net advantage to my students, and until Greg's book comes out (super-big hint!), here are some books that I've found exceedingly useful. Maybe others would like to share books that they've found helpful and possibly offer some commentary?
Rick Miller
RickMiller@Bigvalley.net
Beginning to Intermediate:
1. Classroom in a Book:
Adobe has done a really good job of setting up the lessons in a manner that makes it easy for the student to follow along and build their photoshop self confidence by completing projects. Comes with a CD
Advanced/Specialty areas:
1. Real World Photoshop 6:
If you have any thoughts on becoming an expert in Photoshop, this is the book you'll need. As an Adobe Certified Expert in Photoshop I was blown away by the amount of information I picked up from this book - the chapter on Color settings alone was almost 100 pages. Real World Photoshop 6 is 787 pages of content, not filler! Now while no CD comes with this book (and I'm a sucker for books with CD's), I'll have to admit - this book is not about that and doesn't need one (did I just say that?).
This book explains the science behind the techniques so you understand WHY you're doing something and HOW Photoshop is calculating that. Author's Bruce Fraser and David Blatner have written one of the best overall Production Techniqes book. Doesn't come with a CD
2. Professional Photoshop 6 - The Classic Guide To Color Correction:
Um...what do you say about a Color Correction book written by Dan Margulis, one of the first group of inductees into the Photoshop Hall of Fame other than buy it now? Dan Margulis is the god of Color Correction and Curves.
Now while Dan privileges a CMYK workflow, this book is a must have for anyone serious about color correction - RGB or CMYK. Dan advocates a "By the numbers" approach ("Use the full range of available tones every time, and don't give the viewers any colors that they will know better than to believe" DM) that will ensure that whatever your workflow, your images will be neutralized of objectionable color casts. Additionally, the book contains excellent chapters on the Unsharp Mask, Managing Separation and Color Settings, as well as Plate Blending as Poetry.
Once you've read the book, reading listserv Color Theory discussions/arguments between Dan and other Color gods: Andrew Rodney (digitaldog.net) and Chris Murphy (colorremedies.com), become quite hilarious with both sides making the opposite, yet both quite compelling arguments as to color managementand 8bit vs. 16bit workflow. So much fun!
Comes with a CD
3. Adobe Photoshop 6 for Photographers:
If you're a Photographer why don't you already have this book? Even if you're not a photographer, you should have this book. Martin Evening cogently explains the digital imaging process in a style that is both adaptive to the beginner as well as advanced Photoshop user. Don't let the reference to photographers in the title prevent you from buying this book if you don't deal with photography; while the emphasis is on a photographers workflow, the concepts are still the same for digital imagers.
In addition to the lessons on CD that accompany the book, Martin Evening offers a couple of instructional videos on the CD (very cool!).
The book covers topics such as Color Management, Digital Capture, Photo Montage, Coloring Effects, Configuring Photoshop, etc... Comes with a CD
4. Adobe Photoshop Master Class:
Author/Photographer/Fine Artist John Paul Caponigro combines philosophy with Photoshop in a manner not seen before. John Paul Caponigro guides you through Photoshop in a thought provoking manner, exploring the philosophy of art/photoshop and its interaction with the individual. He guides you towards your unique/individual expression of photoshop.
The intro contains the Robert Henri quotation: "Know what the old masters did. Know how they comprised their pictures, but do not fall into the conventions they established. These conventions were right for them, and they are wonderful . They made their language. You make yours. They can help you. All the Past can help you".
This is one of those rare, unique books that allows you to reconceptualize your worldview and its relationship to your creative process. The book is visually stunning, the art and Photography of John Paul Caponigro is beautiful.
Doesn't come with a CD, but then that's not what this book is about.
5. Photoshop 6 Artistry:
Authors Barry Haynes and Wendy Crumpler have put together a book that no advanced Photoshop class should be without. Their well described, step-by-step - hands on sessions are invaluable for one looking to be serious about digital imaging. This book was extremely easy for my students to follow and understand (not just mimic!). While the book is labeled as Intermediate to Advanced, the beginner would have no problem picking up the concepts described as the book is so well written. Photoshop 6 Artistry covers both fundamentals and advanced techniques.
Comes with a CD
6. Any book by Deke McClelland! Serious.
7. Photoshop Restoring and Retouching:
If you want to learn professional restoring and retouching techniques than this is the book you'll need. Forget all the amateur retouching/restoring techniques you've learned, Katrin Eismann shows you what you should be doing in a very easy to follow/understand manner.
Doesn't come with a CD, although you can download the pics used in the lessons from her site.
8. Photoshop 6 Wow! Book:
One word: "Wow". Jack Davis and Linnea Dayton never cease to amaze me. I saw Jack Davis speak at PhotoshopWorld West in Los Angeles, and was picking myself up off the floor after he demonstrated some awesome tips/tricks/techniques. Jack's the man! I couldn't wait until the book was finally released, now that I've got it... Wow!!! I can't say I have a favorite technique as they're all my favorites, it's that good. Buy it now young Jedi Master.
9. Any H.O.T. (Hands On Training) book by Lynda Weinman and Bruce Heavin
Their new photoshop 6/imageReady 3 book should be out by the end of October. Lynda and Bruce specialize in web-centric books.
10. Any Photoshop book by Scott Kelby.
Now this isn't an exhaustive list, just the books that I've encountered and considered good enough to make a recommendation to buy. There are a slew of photoshop books out there, so if others encounter a book they'd like to recommend, please do so. Sharing pertinent information is the way we grow as a community.
Rick Miller
RickMiller@bigvalley.net
Rick Miller
RickMiller@Bigvalley.net
Beginning to Intermediate:
1. Classroom in a Book:
Adobe has done a really good job of setting up the lessons in a manner that makes it easy for the student to follow along and build their photoshop self confidence by completing projects. Comes with a CD
Advanced/Specialty areas:
1. Real World Photoshop 6:
If you have any thoughts on becoming an expert in Photoshop, this is the book you'll need. As an Adobe Certified Expert in Photoshop I was blown away by the amount of information I picked up from this book - the chapter on Color settings alone was almost 100 pages. Real World Photoshop 6 is 787 pages of content, not filler! Now while no CD comes with this book (and I'm a sucker for books with CD's), I'll have to admit - this book is not about that and doesn't need one (did I just say that?).
This book explains the science behind the techniques so you understand WHY you're doing something and HOW Photoshop is calculating that. Author's Bruce Fraser and David Blatner have written one of the best overall Production Techniqes book. Doesn't come with a CD
2. Professional Photoshop 6 - The Classic Guide To Color Correction:
Um...what do you say about a Color Correction book written by Dan Margulis, one of the first group of inductees into the Photoshop Hall of Fame other than buy it now? Dan Margulis is the god of Color Correction and Curves.
Now while Dan privileges a CMYK workflow, this book is a must have for anyone serious about color correction - RGB or CMYK. Dan advocates a "By the numbers" approach ("Use the full range of available tones every time, and don't give the viewers any colors that they will know better than to believe" DM) that will ensure that whatever your workflow, your images will be neutralized of objectionable color casts. Additionally, the book contains excellent chapters on the Unsharp Mask, Managing Separation and Color Settings, as well as Plate Blending as Poetry.
Once you've read the book, reading listserv Color Theory discussions/arguments between Dan and other Color gods: Andrew Rodney (digitaldog.net) and Chris Murphy (colorremedies.com), become quite hilarious with both sides making the opposite, yet both quite compelling arguments as to color managementand 8bit vs. 16bit workflow. So much fun!
Comes with a CD
3. Adobe Photoshop 6 for Photographers:
If you're a Photographer why don't you already have this book? Even if you're not a photographer, you should have this book. Martin Evening cogently explains the digital imaging process in a style that is both adaptive to the beginner as well as advanced Photoshop user. Don't let the reference to photographers in the title prevent you from buying this book if you don't deal with photography; while the emphasis is on a photographers workflow, the concepts are still the same for digital imagers.
In addition to the lessons on CD that accompany the book, Martin Evening offers a couple of instructional videos on the CD (very cool!).
The book covers topics such as Color Management, Digital Capture, Photo Montage, Coloring Effects, Configuring Photoshop, etc... Comes with a CD
4. Adobe Photoshop Master Class:
Author/Photographer/Fine Artist John Paul Caponigro combines philosophy with Photoshop in a manner not seen before. John Paul Caponigro guides you through Photoshop in a thought provoking manner, exploring the philosophy of art/photoshop and its interaction with the individual. He guides you towards your unique/individual expression of photoshop.
The intro contains the Robert Henri quotation: "Know what the old masters did. Know how they comprised their pictures, but do not fall into the conventions they established. These conventions were right for them, and they are wonderful . They made their language. You make yours. They can help you. All the Past can help you".
This is one of those rare, unique books that allows you to reconceptualize your worldview and its relationship to your creative process. The book is visually stunning, the art and Photography of John Paul Caponigro is beautiful.
Doesn't come with a CD, but then that's not what this book is about.
5. Photoshop 6 Artistry:
Authors Barry Haynes and Wendy Crumpler have put together a book that no advanced Photoshop class should be without. Their well described, step-by-step - hands on sessions are invaluable for one looking to be serious about digital imaging. This book was extremely easy for my students to follow and understand (not just mimic!). While the book is labeled as Intermediate to Advanced, the beginner would have no problem picking up the concepts described as the book is so well written. Photoshop 6 Artistry covers both fundamentals and advanced techniques.
Comes with a CD
6. Any book by Deke McClelland! Serious.
7. Photoshop Restoring and Retouching:
If you want to learn professional restoring and retouching techniques than this is the book you'll need. Forget all the amateur retouching/restoring techniques you've learned, Katrin Eismann shows you what you should be doing in a very easy to follow/understand manner.
Doesn't come with a CD, although you can download the pics used in the lessons from her site.
8. Photoshop 6 Wow! Book:
One word: "Wow". Jack Davis and Linnea Dayton never cease to amaze me. I saw Jack Davis speak at PhotoshopWorld West in Los Angeles, and was picking myself up off the floor after he demonstrated some awesome tips/tricks/techniques. Jack's the man! I couldn't wait until the book was finally released, now that I've got it... Wow!!! I can't say I have a favorite technique as they're all my favorites, it's that good. Buy it now young Jedi Master.
9. Any H.O.T. (Hands On Training) book by Lynda Weinman and Bruce Heavin
Their new photoshop 6/imageReady 3 book should be out by the end of October. Lynda and Bruce specialize in web-centric books.
10. Any Photoshop book by Scott Kelby.
Now this isn't an exhaustive list, just the books that I've encountered and considered good enough to make a recommendation to buy. There are a slew of photoshop books out there, so if others encounter a book they'd like to recommend, please do so. Sharing pertinent information is the way we grow as a community.
Rick Miller
RickMiller@bigvalley.net