[mouldy101]

Just wondering if any one out there know of any good books they would recomend on photoshop for photographers??? Whilst I'm getting better and getting some great advice from this site, I could do with a reference book to give me a bit more direction....

So any advice would be gratefully received!!!

Thanks in advance,

Matt

[Dabhand16]

Hi Mouldy. Books are a subjective thing, and some will suit people differently. However, I have three PS books that I find useful. I got mine from Amazon, so the prices quoted can be reduced by around 30%.

1 Photographer's guide to Photoshop, by Barrie Thomas. This is the thinnest and cheapest at £12.99. This is really a list of all of the various tools and settinga with what they do. There are some guides for things to do.
2 The Photoshop CS2 book for Digital Photographers by Scott Kelby, £28.99. This is a really good book crammed full of not only how to's, but also suggestions for settings in (for insatnce) USM. BUT Kelby has a really unfortunate stye of writing that is laced with what he thinks is humour, but in reality is anthing but. If you can live with the writing style it is a very good book.
3 Photoshop CS2 essential skills by Mark Galer and Philip Andrews. £21.99. This is a really well structured book and is easy to live with.

If I were going to recommend just one, I'd have to say #3. However, if you can get into a bookshop to have a look at them, you kmight find the other ones suit you better. Of course, there are others around too that someone else might be able to recommend.

[fionaB]

will second the Scot Kelby book.. its my bible!

Fi

[mouldy101]

Thankyou both, I appreciate the advice, I shall have a look!!

Matt

[danpen]

I really like Real World Photoshop CS2 from Peachpit Press it assumes you know the basics and then takes quite a deep look at some topics that would be close to the photographer's heart. It was written by Bruce Fraser and David Blatner who, like Scott Kelby are recognised experts in this area. (there's a review on my website, not sure if I should mention that here )

I'd also recommend Real World Camera Raw from the same series for anyone who's struggling to get the best from their raw files (it deals with ACR but a lot of the background info is relevant to any raw image / converter). I shall be looking for an updated version of this that covers the new options in ACR3.0 / Lightroom.

Finally, if you've got a stack of old photos from Great Granny that are creased and faded and need fixing up Photographic Restoration and Retouching by Karen Eismann is absolutely excellent. It's got lots of real, practical, detailed and well explained methods for dealing with tears, rips, colour issue etc. well worth a read if that's what you're into.

cheers

Dan

[P-E]

I have two books I use for reference;

Adobe Photoshop CS for Photographers: Martin Evening.

Photoshop CS2 for Dummies.

[namllihs]

50 fast Photoshop CS techniques by Gregory Georges, it includes a CD of before and after images so you can use the techniques described on the images and check them against the authors finished image

ISBN 0-7645-4174-9
list price is £24.50 but I got mine for about £15.00

[mouldy101]

thank you all for your help

[VinnyP]

I like the Scott Kelby book as well. Deke McClelland's Bible has still got it all but his cheeky chappy style is starting to grate. It does even more so in the Total training DVDs but they are surprisingly good.

[Les Meehan]

Good books for photographers? Hmm, let me think, Oh yes, MINE!! Check out Amazon for list.
Sorry, probably shouldn't promote myself here. Admin, delete if you must!

[mouldy101]

Thank you all for your advice. The only problem with asking for advice is that people give it to you, and then you have to decide!!!!

I shall have to spend a couple of hours at the bookshop/amazon leafing through...

Thanks again

Matt

[seawolf]

Scott Kelby has a weekly free video podcast "Adobe Photoshop TV" suscribe through iTunes music store.