Help with Books...

Unbrok3n

So, I've decided some good books would be a good investment for my hobby, and the learning curve of post processing. I think I want to get "Professional Photoshop" by Dan Marquilis (probably over my head, but its ok) and "Real World Photoshop"
My question is, Pro PS dates back to 2006. Is that OK? And would Real world PS CS2 be good enough? CS# is like $15 more.
Any other suggestions would be good too thanks

Unbrok3n

What do people think of scott kelby's stuff? Im also looking at his "7 point system for CS3" book

darkdragon

My suggestion is to subscribe to www.safaribooksonline.com You can read a LOT of books if you get the unlimited subscription. They have most of Kelby's books, so you could decide for yourself. They get new books up almost every day and some books you can even start reading before they are released for print.

I have the top plan there and it runs $50/mo but I was spending around $100+ on books because I was reading them at about 3/wk last year.

There are books on everything, not just photo stuff. They are not novels, it is all non-fiction stuff.

As for kelby books, I find they are decent but usually have more images than words and are too simplistic for me.

Kelby book @ Safari : http://my.safaribooksonline.com/0735714118

Unbrok3n

Thats a cool site, but I think Id rather have something in my hand to follow along better...

darkdragon

Unbrok3n wrote:

Thats a cool site, but I think Id rather have something in my hand to follow along better...

Well, you can print out the PDF or copy/paste the HTML version into MSWord or something else. I print stuff out from there all the time.

Mostly just a money and back saver for me though. Sometimes I still end up buying the hardcopy book from Amazon becasue i also like having paper to work with sometimes. But if you are reading a lot for parts that are just "reading", saves trees and monies, so why not.

To each his own, of course. I like it both ways

Unbrok3n

Ya, Ill check it out

Anybody else have any other tips? Or at least let me know if a CS2 book would be adequate?

darkdragon wrote:

Well, you can print out the PDF or copy/paste the HTML version into MSWord or something else. I print stuff out from there all the time.

Mostly just a money and back saver for me though. Sometimes I still end up buying the hardcopy book from Amazon becasue i also like having paper to work with sometimes. But if you are reading a lot for parts that are just "reading", saves trees and monies, so why not.

To each his own, of course. I like it both ways

BinaryFx

The Real World and Professional Photoshop books have very different content and are aimed at different markets.

If you are a beginner/intermediate, you will likely gain more from the general "bible" books that attempt to cover the entire program.

The Margulis books are more targeted and aimed at more advanced users, they expect the reader to be at a certain level as they do not cover the basics (Dan will simply say to add a layer mask in a certain step, but will not go into point by point detail on how to make a layer mask).

You can find free chapter previews and many other articles written by Dan at the following address, which will give you an idea what to expect:

http://www.ledet.com/margulis/articles.html
http://www.ledet.com/margulis/ACT_postings/ACT.htm
http://www.ledet.com/margulis/makeready/ACT_Makeready_descriptions.htm

Dan's latest work is in video form, not printed - and can be found at the Scott Kelby training site. I think the RWPS book is from peachpit.com


Hope this helps,

Stephen Marsh
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~binaryfx/

Unbrok3n

Thanks. Maybe I'll start with something like the PS Bible. I just want something that starts from the beginning and goes in depth...right now, specifically curves...but I guess that isnt possible.

Unbrok3n

OK, I guess, bottom line is I'm looking for something that is step by step. That says "this is what curves (or wahtever) is, do this, this and this, to achieve this, and then gives a broad description so I can try it myself.

The bible seems more like a reference book, which dont get me wrong, would probably help anybody, and im probably going to get it.

But could somebody recommend a more "step by step" type book that specifically goes into file enhancement (eg. curves, color balance, sharpening, etc)

Thanks! And thank you so much for all the input so far, it will not go to waste!

darkdragon

You might want to check out the "Classroom in a book" series from adobe. I have always found the quickest way to learn an overview of an adobe product is to dive into a Classroom In A Book series book for the software. Looking at the table of contents for one of those should tell you if what you want to learn is covered. I'd say check out the newest Photoshop Classroom In A Book and see if what you want is covered.
The series is exactly what you are talking about - step by step. It doesn't explain the why, but just tells you what to do and even gives you screen shots and all the samples to follow along the tutorial. It is a great series.

Art Scott

Unbrok3n wrote:

OK, I guess, bottom line is I'm looking for something that is step by step. That says "this is what curves (or wahtever) is, do this, this and this, to achieve this, and then gives a broad description so I can try it myself.

The bible seems more like a reference book, which dont get me wrong, would probably help anybody, and im probably going to get it.

But could somebody recommend a more "step by step" type book that specifically goes into file enhancement (eg. curves, color balance, sharpening, etc)

Thanks! And thank you so much for all the input so far, it will not go to waste!

iF YOU WANT STEP BY STEP...THEN IT IS kELBY that you want......PSCS3 for digital Photographers......The Digialtl photography Book1&2....Photoshop Raw for /Digital photographers......just like a receipe book.....lines it all up....do not boter with the introductions he tries to be cute and it has nothing to so with the subject at hand.

speric

Unbrok3n wrote:

So, I've decided some good books would be a good investment for my hobby, and the learning curve of post processing. I think I want to get "Professional Photoshop" by Dan Marquilis (probably over my head, but its ok) and "Real World Photoshop"
My question is, Pro PS dates back to 2006. Is that OK? And would Real world PS CS2 be good enough? CS# is like $15 more.
Any other suggestions would be good too thanks

i'm glad you brought this up. i was just at the bookstore looking at the same things and walked out thinking - maybe i'll ask on the forums, did a search first , and found your thread. so i'm tagging on, if that's ok. seems like you could spend a small fortune on books, and i can't really afford to try them all. any many look like they are more "advanced" and i really would like to start at the beginning for a better foundation.

unbroken wrote:

OK, I guess, bottom line is I'm looking for something that is step by step. That says "this is what curves (or wahtever) is, do this, this and this, to achieve this, and then gives a broad description so I can try it myself.

me too.

darkdragon wrote:

You might want to check out the "Classroom in a book" series from adobe. I have always found the quickest way to learn an overview of an adobe product is to dive into a Classroom In A Book series book for the software. Looking at the table of contents for one of those should tell you if what you want to learn is covered. I'd say check out the newest Photoshop Classroom In A Book and see if what you want is covered.
The series is exactly what you are talking about - step by step. It doesn't explain the why, but just tells you what to do and even gives you screen shots and all the samples to follow along the tutorial. It is a great series.

I was wondering if these were any good, cuz i liked the lay-out. i think this moved to my "short list" of books.

Art Scott wrote:

iF YOU WANT STEP BY STEP...THEN IT IS kELBY that you want......PSCS3 for digital Photographers......The Digialtl photography Book1&2....Photoshop Raw for /Digital photographers......just like a receipe book.....lines it all up....do not boter with the introductions he tries to be cute and it has nothing to so with the subject at hand.

His books looked good too. i've read on other forums of folks who liked his stuff. he has one on LR which looked like something i could follow. there are a couple of his books at the library too, but the waitlist is 5-6 deep.

pyrtek

Be warned that if you ever venture into a Kelby book, you will sooner or later
want to poke your eyes out with something sharp just to avoid ever seeing his
jokes again. You will also learn very little of the whys of Photoshop, so if you
are interested in acquiring a deeper knowledge of it, you are better off looking
elsewhere.

pathfinder

Kelby's humor is certainly not for everyone, but his books are simple, clear, and quite specific as to steps, which is very helpful for Photoshop novices, like myself. He makes no assumptions as to skill level.

Margulis' books are excellent, but much more is expected from the reader, and a basic understanding of Photoshop is needed to really profit from his books. I participated in both reading groups for LAB and Professional Photoshop here on dgrin.

I'll put a recommendation for Katrin Eisman and Sean Duggan's "The Creative Digital Darkroom" as an excellent text for modern Photoshop CS3 and Camera Raw usage. It is excellent.

Diff

Focus on any CS book that pushed non-destructive skills.

pyrtek

Diff wrote:

Focus on any CS book that pushed non-destructive skills.

How is a beginner supposed to ascertain that a specific book pushes
non-destructive skills?