Adobe Photoshop CS3 for Photographers: A Professional Image Editor's Guide to the Creative use of Photoshop for the Macintosh and PC

Adobe Photoshop CS3 for Photographers: A Professional Image Editor's Guide to the Creative use of Photoshop for the Macintosh and PC
This book is not for the average person, allthough it is informative the disk and the book proved usless in helping me do a better job at fixing photos. I thought it would be packed with lessons so that I could practice different techniques.

Like the previous edition, this is an excellent, practical book. Coverage of the new Camera Raw is very good, and the included video is very useful too. Some sections of the book I would never use (there's a fair coverage of CMYK for example), but overall it's pretty comprehensive. It could be a little daunting for beginners. Well written but fairly dry.

It is interesting to read the existing reviews of Martin Evening's CS3 book and note the wide disparity in opinion. There can be several reasons for this, including a wide disparity in the needs and level of the readers.

I bought this book because I was looking for additional breadth on the Sharpening book by Bruce Fraser (which I recommend highly also), but what I found was a breadth and depth that I had not expected on virtually every topic in PS CS3 that I have examined. I know of no other book that lays out the whole (almost) picture of the new Photoshop, and does it in such detail and technical depth. There are three authors that I trust to bring me the technical depth I need: Eismann, Fraser, and now Evening.

There are high spots and low spots in the coverage. In some areas the coverage is just that, coverage. But in many, the depth is incredible, perhaps due to his own level of experiences.

Another aspect of the book that is highly valuable is the presentation of the author's opinions and methods. This is incredibly useful information because it overcomes the smooth bland formal treatments available elsewhere and gives you techniques used by (more than one) working professionals. This is exactly what I like about Eismann and Fraser as well.

Another aspect that rings true is that Evening refers to other subjects and authors that I have found very useful, such as for example The DAM Book by Peter Krogh and the issues related to Digital Asset Management.

It is not, however, an introductory book for most people. It goes fast and it goes deep. Other books would probably serve many who are looking for beginning books.

I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting an in depth treatment of Photoshop CS3 at an advanced level and who is willing to work to obtain it.

Some other reviewers say they will wait for a different edition of CS3 to arrive! I need the information now. The Martin Evening book makes compromises on a HUGE subject, but covers in a clear, very helpful and informative way. I am pleased with the book.

I also like: Evening leaves out un-useful/nice-to-know information. He covers useful content, clearly, well illustrated, helpful CD with images to work on included! The subject could have covered 1000 pages, maybe an encyclopedia, but then we would complain of too much detail. Good work, Martin!

Negative: In some areas, Evening gives detailed methods, step by step, but fails to explain the underlying tools used. In 680 pages, one must edit out many details. So, opinion will divide based on how in-depth is one's knowledge of P-shop. If you have previously studied P-shop, this book will satisfy. If not, one may follow along but wonder about many details without explanation. For instance, what are Calculations using Pin-light? I see it creates an Alpha-chanel with red and green, but what is that? If I really want to know, I will look elsewhere.

1. I'm not a photoshop professional, but I've been using it since photoshop 5--> and I've read / looked at a lot of photoshop books, gone to various seminars etc...

2. I unfortunately purchased Martin Evening's book on photoshop and just can't understand how this guy stays in business when there are so many other better alternatives (ex: Kelby, Grey, Eisman etc... etc...).

3. The main criticism I have of Mr. Evening's book / approach is that even though physical appearance of the book looks great (nice type / font, nice pictures, good feel of the paper etc...), when you actually start reading the test and explanation--> there is surprisingly very very little detail or perhaps he has the inability to explain things in a simple manner.

4. Since these photoshop books are relatively expensive--> I would recommend checking out some of the other alternatives.