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Photoshop CS Down & Dirty Tricks DVD & Book bundle:
ISBN 0735714185 $59.95 www.peachpit.com New Riders Publishing -
Voices That Matter Scott Kelby Level –
Intermediate-Advanced Reviewed by
Maureen Shannon, NJPCUG
It’s no secret that I have a passion for learning about
Photoshop from the best books I can find on the subject. It so happens that the
majority of them come from the Peach Pit Press publishing houses, New Rides
being one of the finest I have found. So then it would follow that anyone with a
thirst for learning about Photoshop should have on their list of favorite
authors the name Scott Kelby. Probably at the top of most lists because of his
outstanding way of showing you how to create stunning effects accompanied by
detailed instructions and he makes
it look easy in the process. If you
have a need to feed your creative appetite, you’ll satisfy it with this set
and anything that has the name Scott Kelby on it! I noticed as my collection of Photoshop books grew, he was
the author of many of them. Most of my favorite topics are covered in his books
too and I have learned things that I never thought possible by using Scott
Kelby’s books, then following his step by step tutorials and by watching his
training DVD’s. The best of both worlds is in this bundle… a book full of
ideas that will never cease to amaze you and a DVD with even more effects
demonstrated in friendly and fully detailed instructional training session. His
training DVD’s are very interesting, easy to follow, and keep you awake and
waiting for more. I mentioned in a previous review that I have purchased other
training videos and CD’s that have put me to sleep so fast that I have to try
and force myself to stay awake just to learn a single effect. Not so with this
DVD (or any others from Scott Kelby that I have watched) I’m still awake and
ready for more halfway through it. Now when I see something new with his name on
it, I don’t hesitate to get it. I know that it will be something inspiring and
full of valuable information. The DVD contains 15 chapters complete with the images so that
you can practice the lessons as you go along. The book has many more design
effects covering some 300+ pages and 8 chapters each with several effects.
Together this bundle will show you some of the hottest effects found on TV, the
movies, in print, and on the web. Scott has listened to the requests and
questions he receives and has answered many of them in this bundle. The images
used the book are available for download online. This way you can follow along
with what you see using the exact photos shown in the book (or DVD) – But the intent is for you to learn to apply the effects to
your own images. The photos are free for you to use for your personal learning
not for reproduction in any other manner. The book is listed in the user level of intermediate to
advanced however the instructions are so clear and precise that anyone with a
working knowledge of Photoshop CS and the desire to learn should be able to
follow the steps provided and create the effect. So far, every one I have tried
I have been able to do. Each session begins with a complete explanation of how
to go about each of the steps involved in the effect, including each key command
necessary. This is a great refresher for those of us who don’t use the same
commands over and over and for those more advanced it is only in the first
example and then the following ideas just go through the basic effect steps.
Sometimes I mess up a step but I have always been able to go back and fix what I
did wrong and finish the effect and obtain the look I was trying to achieve.
I only hope that I can retain all that I am seeing and doing but as long
as I have the book and DVD to refer to, I can always go back and look them over
for suggestions when I want to create something that will stand out from the
rest of the crowd. Along with the fantastic amount of effects demonstrated in
the book is Scott’s humor….he makes you laugh while he teaches you how to
get more out of your Photoshop experience. Some
of his remarks/jokes are a riot…..the liberal use of humor makes the learning
(and the reading) an even more enjoyable trip through the tutorials. DVD Chapters:
Wedding Cutout, Product Backdrops, Focus with a Photo, Painted Photographs,
Motivational Poster, Add Natural Light, Hollywood Type Effects, Painting Custom
Edges Ghosting Blur, Applying a Tattoo, Gallery Print (shown below), The Perfect
Cloudless Day, Simulating 3D, and Gradient Map.
Book Chapters &
Effects: include Photographic
Effects. Part 1: Snapshot Focus Effect, Trendy Fashion Blowout Look, The
Shadow Tells The Story, Painted Edges, Popping Out of a Photo, Photo to Sketch
in 60 Seconds Flat; Photographic
Effects, Part 2: Creating a Sense of Motion, Adding Side Lighting After
the Fact, Edge Collage Technique, From Photo to Oil Painting, Instant Stock
Photo Effect, Real Ripped Edges; Type
Effects: Neo Grunge Type Effect, Clear Inline Type Effect, Gothic
Chiseled Type Effect, 3D Back Drop Logo, Black Chrome, Type on a Path and Curled
Ribbons, Hollywood Grunge Effect, Movie Poster Type; Glassy Reflections, New 3D
Curved Video Wall, Attaching a Note to a Photo, 3D Hardcover Book Effect, Photoshop
ICandy: Photo Pin-On Buttons, The Fastest Logo Job in Town, The Star
Trek Look, High-Tech Transparent
Info Boxes, Blurred Backscreen Effect, Portfolio Effects Creating Gallery Prints, Framing Your Work; Photoshop
Special Effects 3D Photo Cubes, Reverse Restoration; Advertising
Effects: Quick Elegant Product Background, Classified Ad Effect, and
many more effects. I highly recommend this Photoshop bundle to one and all.
There’s something for everyone in it and you will see first hand how some of
the special effects that you see everywhere these days are done. From Other examples from the DVD (before & after): Product Backdrops:
Focus With a Photo:
Hollywood Type Effects:
Painted Photographs:
A Perfect Cloudless Sky:
Trendy Ad:
Add Natural Light:
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