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Adobe Photoshop CS3 One-on-One

By Deke McClelland
June 2007
Pages: 544
ISBN 10: 0-596-52975-9 | ISBN 13: 9780596529758
(Average of 5 Customer Reviews)

Book description

Pioneering computer graphics author Deke McClelland updates his bestselling hands-on tutorial for Adobe Photoshop CS3, the latest version of this industry-standard image editing and production program. You'll be guided step by step through the program's features and functionality. Once you read about a particular technique, you can see how it's done first hand in the video. The combination is uniquely effective. And hugely popular.
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Cover | Table of Contents | Index | Sample Chapter

Book details

First Edition: June 2007
ISBN: 0-596-52975-9
Pages: 544
Average Customer Reviews: (Based on 5 Reviews)

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Featured customer reviews

Adobe Photoshop CS3 One-on-One,  June 14 2008
Submitted by Mike Yates   [Respond | View]

Adobe Photoshop CS3 One-on-One

By Mike Yates, NOCCC
If you are a beginning to intermediate user of the Photoshop program, Adobe Photoshop CS3 One-on-One by Deke McClelland is a good book for you. Published in 2007, this text addresses the latest raster graphics powerhouse software from Adobe which is available as a standalone program and one of the main elements in the Creative Suite 3 (CS3) clusters of graphics manipulators. I loaded CS3 in the form of the Design Premium package and the Web Premium package, so my version was “Extended 10.0.1.” To run only Photoshop, you need at least 512 MB of RAM or 1 GB for the suite (I upgraded to 2 GB), 2 GB of hard disk, DVD Drive, and at least a 1024x768 monitor.

The book is laid out as 12 tutorial lessons, grouping similar topics together. Lesson 9, for example, discusses Layers, a key element in many graphic programs’ tool bag, starting with both the benefit and the penalties of using layers and how to manage, arrange, modify, import, transform, mask, blend, warp, and align layers. For the faint of heart, rest assured. You would have already worked your way through the basics. The in-depth lessons start at the beginning with what Photoshop is for, how to open a photo (image), how to organize your images for efficient use and a section that taught me a lot on how to use thumbnails and the “metadata” that is in the image.

Even though the mood is light and easy to read, thanks to a good layout and textbook design, the instructions are detailed, starting with a nice touch: precise steps on setting up the preferences, defaults, shortcuts, and tutorial files on the accompanying DVD to match the textbook photos and screenshots as closely as possible. Developed by professional trainers, half of the 500 pages are photos or illustrations or screen shots so that you can see the text topics in action. “Pearls of Wisdom” add highlights to the reading. The book is focused on basic Photoshop, but McClelland is to be applauded for addressing the Interactions in the Suite versions as well.

The instructional approach is to read the introduction to the lessons for an overview, then go to the DVD video for that lesson, then go back to the text. The DVD provides 10-17 minute demonstrations using high resolution formats designed to make the trainer’s action easily viewed on PC displays, using QuickTime. The DVD is a key to the value of this book, providing student files matching the text to read-then-do. At the end of the Lesson are review questions. Those not interested in all program features might read the lesson intro, watch the DVD and skip the parts of the lesson not of interest. I loved the “Extra Credit” sections; some added additional insight, others told you where you could stop this lesson and skip to the next if you had not much interest in that topic.

Some minor gripes: 1) The book covers both MAC and PC command keystrokes which I found slightly disconcerting and confusing as I moved from textbook to screen and back in detailed operations. (Maybe a font difference would help.) 2) This is so close to traditional textbook layout, why isn’t the review followed by “exercises” tasking the avid student into more thought or in combining the topics presented, to ingrain the concepts, based on partially completed files supplied on the DVD? (This gripe might be considered a positive; I left the book wanting more rather than bored.)

Like almost any offering of the O’Reilly Media family, this text-DVD combo is worth its price, $49.99 before the NOCCC user group discount. Advanced users may not find it a suitable reference text, but I suspect they will learn tidbits from it. This neophyte gives a strong "thumbs up" recommendation.
For more information, check out the O’Reilly web site at http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/9780596529758/.




Adobe Photoshop CS3 one-on-one,  June 04 2008
Submitted by Sinthia   [Respond | View]

It sounds like Deke McClelland uses a sound instructional design approach that incorporates step-by-step procedures supported by screen captures. I manage a team of instructional designers and multimedia developers who use Adobe’s Creative Suite to create online training materials for large corporations. I will be purchasing his new book, Adobe Photoshop CS3 One-on-One, for a reference based on this informative and well written review.


Adobe Photoshop CS3 one-on-one,  June 02 2008
Submitted by locavore   [Respond | View]

Of all the applications in Adobe’s Creative Suite, Photoshop is easily the most popular and widely used. Photoshop users vary from professional photographers to graphic designers to chroniclers of the lives and exploits of family and friends. And so, any Photoshop tutorial needs to specifically address either one or all of these audiences.

As a member of all 3 of these audiences at one time or another over the past 30 years, I greatly admire and appreciate the task of the author who undertakes the creation of a tutorial that simultaneously addresses the needs of these varied audiences. Deke McClelland does this admirably with Adobe Photoshop CS3 one-on-one, though with less emphasis on the advanced needs of professional photographers. The various file formats that come under the umbrella of digital raw capture, for example, are given only cursory attention.

I am currently using Photoshop in yet another category, that of instructor. I teach the Creative Suite applications to marketing students at the college level as part of a class in creativity. The idea here is that in about 6 weeks they will understand enough about these applications to not necessarily be able to make a living using them, but at least to be able to create basic ads, brochures, and web sites that will satisfy client needs. And, more importantly, they will need to be able to participate as members of creative and content management teams that include photographers and graphic designers. Part of the beauty of McClelland’s book is that it provides enough hands-on instruction to get mostly novice students up and working immediately while also providing an encyclopedia for in-depth expansions into most of the tools necessary for the reader to advance to the professional level in either photography or graphic design.

The text is accompanied by video on a CD. The video instruction effectively follows the step-by-step instruction in the text, which is helpfully presented with color photos and easy-to-follow screen captures, all artfully laid out in this well-organized book. Thankfully, the video is not redundant; rather, the video instruction artfully demonstrates the particular steps explained in the text. Once under way, the reader progresses with ease through the tutorials. Any complicated application of this nature naturally gives pause, especially to the novice, but no one will feel intimidated with Photoshop once under way with this book. With Photoshop, there are usually several ways to achieve desired results, and McClelland, with his easy to read and follow writing style, frequently points out the most expeditious way, to my great appreciation.

The text and tutorials are punctuated with paragraphs entitled Pearls of Wisdom, call out sidebars named Extra Credit, and the sections end with lists of Key Concepts and quiz questions that also serve as chapter summations. These break up the lessons and provide for an overall effective flow to the instruction.

Included with the book and video is also a trial membership to Lynda.com. I have enjoyed this excellent Web site for many years, though it is an expensive habit. It’s hard to imagine anyone going into more detail with application explanations than Lynda.com, and so the tutorials do tend to be time-consuming. And herein lays a quandary with the trial subscription: it’s sort of like a teaser, introductory rate for a credit card application.

In addition to being somewhat shallow on instruction for professional photographers, another drawback to this all-encompassing Photoshop instruction book is that it is all-encompassing. I am always on the lookout for effective, efficient tutorials for beginners and have always been forced to accept the very long and detailed ones. Maybe someone can create a shorter book that would get the reader up and working with Photoshop, and confident to then begin exploring it more in-depth with a book that focuses on photography or graphic design.

Adobe Photoshop CS3 one-on-one is an excellent tutorial for instructors looking for tutorials to showcase essential functions of Photoshop. However, this book is probably not one that I would put on the required list for my students, though I probably will list it as essential for those among them who plan to continue learning Photoshop.

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Media reviews
"If there's a better way to learn the power of Photoshop CS3 I surely don't know what it is. Short of the Vulcan Mind Meld this has to be one of the easiest and quickest ways to learn what at first seems to be an intimidating subject. The way this author breaks the steps down and then leads us into the future is brilliant. Go ahead. Check out the myriad of Photoshop books out there. I know that when you compare this set with any of the others, and there are some good ones to be sure, you will put this one at the top of your list. And rightfully so."
-- Artie Alinikoff, myMac.com


"Deke will entertain you as much as teach you. If you are looking to learn Photoshop CS3 from the master, get this book!"
-- Tim Grey, Photoshop CS2 Workflow


"As a Photoshop author, I hate picking up a book and learning things I didn’t already know. But Deke’s done it to me again! If you want to learn Photoshop CS3 from the ground up, look no further."
-- Scott Kelby, President, National Association of Photoshop Professionals


"Adobe Photoshop CS3 One-on-One is like having Deke next to you while you learn how to organize, correct, retouch, and sharpen your photos. To me it’s crystal clear! Deke loves exploring software to find the best techniques for improving images. And his easy-to-understand, cut-to-the-chase explanations are invaluable."
-- Katrin Eismann, Chair, Digital Photography, School of Visual Arts


"Any book from Deke is always an asset to a professional's library. To a hobbyist, its a must!"
-- Bert Monroy, artist, Photoshop author, 2004 inductee of The Photoshop Hall of Fame


"Adobe Photoshop CS3 One-on-One is a must-have book. Its author, Deke McClelland, is a treasure, and a rare master who beautifully shares his wisdom and experience with us all."
-- Mikkel Aaland, photographer, author of Photoshop RAW


"It's like having Deke right there with you, with all his friendly insights, sharp skills, and vast experience. Only you don't have to feed him."
-- Michael Ninness, Director of Product Management, lynda.com


"It’s obvious why Deke is one of the most popular teachers of Photoshop. Throughout the book, he blends humor and authority in a way that makes simple work of Photoshop’s most complex features. You feel like he’s right there with you. It really is one-on-one!"
-- Julieanne Kost, Photoshop Evangelist, Adobe Systems


"What an awesome way to get deep inside Photoshop CS3: with lessons and techniques that are easy to follow and bring a new insight! Thanks Deke, for the pearls of wisdom and wonderfully illustrated lessons and references. This book helps us develop techniques to bring image quality to a new level. A great source of learning, one on one!"
-- Eddie Tapp, M.Photog.,Cr.,MEI,API,CPP, imaging and workflow consultant, educator, photographer, author


"Once again Deke pushes Photoshop training to the next level. His new book is a giant leap forward in the evolution of teaching Photoshop in easy-to-learn and understandable steps. Adobe Photoshop CS3 One-on-One is the next generation of how to learn Photoshop!"
-- Kevin Ames, photographer, author of Adobe Photoshop CS: The Art of Photographing Women


"Adobe Photoshop CS3 One-on-One provides more bang-for-the-buck than any Photoshop book I’ve seen. With the very readable full-color pages and the incredible video training, Deke gives you a multi-media package, rather than just a Photoshop book. Informative and entertaining, instructional and engaging, One-on-One is appropriate both for self-study and classroom use. It’s the fundamentals of Photoshop taught by one of the most accomplished Photoshop instructors of all time!"
-- Pete Bauer, Help Desk Director, National Association of Photoshop Professionals


"With his One-on-One series, Deke McClelland has created what might just be the best all-around way to learn Photoshop. The combination of video material, which is created specifically for the book, along with the project-based lessons in each chapter, is unbeatably effective. Highly recommended!"
-- Colin Smith, Proprietor, photoshopCAFE.com


"Loading and playing the almost three hours of Deke McClelland’s training videos is as plain and concise an introduction to each of Photoshop’s tools and techniques as you can get. Then the book takes over after each introductory lesson of video and explains, elaborates, and clarifies each tool and concept. It is a one-on-one, work-at-your-own-pace, set of logically organized and step-by-step procedures…Deke McClelland brought me up to speed on the latest version, CS3, and dropped a lot of personal comments, anecdotes, and insights into the process. I think that both the beginning Photoshop user and the experienced Photoshop devotee will have things to learn from this package."
-- Dr. Michael Roach, AppleLust.com: Bite Into the Apple


"The author acknowledges that Photoshop is a complicated program, difficult to learn, and can be intimidating, nevertheless, he does a fine job motivating the reader to continue through the instruction (even though a particular process may have up to 23 steps to complete!) I think this book is a standout among the many Photoshop guides available. Certainly, it's production values equal or exceed those of any competitor."
-- John Suda, Amazon.com


"I am always curious to pick up any Adobe reference books that come in so I picked this one up and was overwhelmingly suprised at the quality and format of this book. Reknowned Authour Deke McClelland has outdone himself with this beauty! It would be hard to find a Photoshop user that at one time hasn't said 'Man, I wish I could find a good course on Photoshop!'. Forget a course, this gem of a book is a one-on-one training/reference manual that goes into teaching you everything you need to know to become familiar with the basics and well into the most common advanced features...Seems to me a rating of 10 out of 10 is not enough for this book. Its simply the best I have seen to date. Highly recommended!"
-- Brad Lawryk, Cariboo Computer Magazine


"This is without a doubt one of the best books I’ve seen in a long time. It’s big, it’s beautiful, it’s structured well, and best of all, it comes with an instructional DVD that demonstrates some of the lessons...It’s really about time somebody actually put some thought into their audience for a change and actually wrote a book that doesn’t assume you know everything."
-- Sean McCown, ITBookworm


"This book is a great way to learn Photoshop CS3...If you are serious about your image work, yet want to avoid the tedium of endless study, get this book, written by Photoshop expert Deke McClelland."
-- Edward Laskowski, Amazon.com


"If you want to learn PS CS3 in all its variations, this is an excellent book, providing one recognizes that it will require a commitment of time and effort. If that is your goal, this book will do a fine job."
-- Conrad J. Obregon, Amazon.com


"Like the title says, it is like having the author help us one on one...As I flip through the pages of this book, I am inspired to get busy and try out some of the lessons in different chapters."
-- Linda Cameron, The Finder, Mac User Group


"As you utilize this guide in your learn of Photoshop, you will feel like you have a personal tutorial and reference guide wrapped into one. Whether you are learning to improve images or create from scratch, you have it covered. If you are looking to master the essence of Photoshop as working professional, make this book part of your required reading."
-- Jeremy Hall, Amazon.com


"This book is excellent! Not only is the book flat out gorgeous to look at and thumb through, with full color on virtually every page, I found the addition of the DVD tutorials extremely helpful and well done. There are almost 3 hours of video, and for a visual learner such as myself I found it invaluable to watch the video first and then follow along with the book at my own pace. As you likely already know, Photoshop is an extremely complex software and it is not a very intuitive one at that, at least until you get to know your way around. Adobe CS3 one-on-one will help you tremendously if you are new to the program. I found that I learned a ton of new stuff and had a great refresher for things I had already learned in the past. When I'm asked by friends or family what book to use to learn Photoshop, this is the one! You will not be disappointed."
-- O. Dearing, Amazon.com


"I think I may have got more out of this book because of my newness to the Photoshop world, but I have to say that I loved it. Technically it was easy to follow and easy to use. There was a good logic to the flow of the lessons which sort of blend into a natural workflow, and it gave enough insight and ideas as to how to improve not only the post production but the actual taking of the photograph as well, that all in all it was a very impressive and useful book...All in all one-on-one is an excellent tutorial and reference book. I like it a lot!"
-- Chris Marshall


"This is the first book I've used that makes extensive use of video and I like the format, as readers already familiar with Photoshop could pick up a lot of the new functionality just watching the videos. New users, If they take the author's advice, could be a proficient Photoshop user at the end of this book. Recommended."
-- Zoltan Hunt, YYZTech.ca


"One-on-one by Deke McClelland is a fantastic way to not only familiarize yourself with the changes from earlier Photoshop editions if you're a returning customer but to learn all about the important parts of Photoshop CS3 for new users as well...a great step by step guide that will get you working like a pro in Photoshop CS3 in no time...I highly recommend the Adobe Photoshop CS3 One-on-One by Deke McClelland for a great companion to Photoshop CS3."
-- Jeff Gedgaud, AssociatedContent.com


"Deke hits another home run! This book doesn’t just walk you through new stuff, it puts the entire program into perspective. You learn workflow as much as technique. It’s well organized, beautifully illustrated, and intelligent. If you can only get one PS CS3 book, this should be the one."
-- Donna Kamper, eJournal of the Tucson Computer Society


"As for the book, I have never seen a better instruction book, and I was a technical editor for twentyfive years. First, it is beautiful, printed on the high-quality paper and with the brightly-colored illustrations typical of O’Reilly books. Almost every page devotes 3 of its 5 columns to text and 2 of the 5 to illustrations. Step-by-step instructions lead the user through each process. Each process starts with what you want to do, then how you do it and (so important) why you do it. Hints and shortcuts abound. Extra instruction is included lavishly in “Pearls of Wisdom.” Each chapter ends with a test to ensure the user understands all the material covered. All writing in the book is lively and easy to understand...I would not attempt to use Photoshop without the help of this book."
-- Pat Krieger, P*PCompAS

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"If there's a better way to learn the power of Photoshop CS3 I surely don't know what it is...The way this author breaks the steps down and then leads us into the future is brilliant."
--Artie Alinikoff, myMac.com