Photoshop Manuals for All Levels

A common question is:
"Which is the best of the Photoshop manuals for beginners?"

A reasonable question; unfortunately there is not a reasonable answer.

With dozens of books on photoshop on the market, very few stand out as being particularly good for beginners.

Many are too elaborate and don't present their information in the most accessible manner. Once you know a fair bit about the programme then there are many useful sources.

Below are a few Photoshop manuals carefully selected to help the building of skills from beginner to advance levels.

These Photoshop manuals are recommended for their clarity and simplicity.

They are suitable for various levels - beginners, intermediates and advanced.

Photoshop In A Day

• Save time and effort with this easy-learning system.
• A complete Photoshop guide for people who hate normal manuals.
• Billed as "The Easiest Way to Learn Photoshop in the Universe".
• Complete beginners can start progressing almost immediately.
• No confusion with the step-by-step instructions.
• Jargon-free and well illustrated to help clarity.
• Clear and concise exercises are easy to follow.
• All CS3 features explained and illustrated.
• Information is introduced gradually for progressive learning.
• Will take the user from beginner to advanced level.
• Many good tips for experienced users as well.
• Sold as an e-book and great value.
  Unfortunately there is no hard copy version, but it can be printed out.

Read More

Photoshop CS3 in Easy Steps

• Probably the most basic of the Photoshop manuals for beginners on the market.
• A modest book which does offer its information in a clear, simple and bright manner.
• Good and solid on basics.
• The tutorials are well laid out and don't get too complicated too soon.
• The reader is given time to absorb facts and methods in a gradual manner.
• A good buy for someone starting from position zero.
• Most people will soon outgrow this book.

By Robert Shufflebotham

Read More

Photoshop CS3 Bible

• Written by Laurie & Robert Fuller and part of the well-established 'Bible' series from wiley.com.
• As with most manuals, it takes a while to get going. Much of the first chapter should be skimmed over and returned to later.
• The style is clear and relaxed.
• A substantial volume of over 1000 pages.
• The order of some of the topics is rather strange, however; for example, creating custom actions (a bit advanced) comes ahead of using the Color Picker (very basic and essential). The basics of Layers doesn't appear until page 643.
• As a whole, it is thorough, comprehensive and expert with good visuals.
• Can be a bit wordy and more use of bulleted tutorials rather than continuous text would help.
• Overall, a good bible but not the best book to start with.

By Laurie & Robert Fuller

Read More

Photoshop Expert

• The same quick-learning format as in the Photoshop In A Day manual.
• Start immediately with hands-on practice and sample images.
• Easier progress with numbered step-by-step instructions.
• Free from jargon, clear and easy to follow.
• Clarity helped by the numerous illustrations.
• The new skills stimulate imagination and boost creativity.
• Full of advanced techniques such as getting accurate skin colour and specialist selection methods.
• Other subjects include Calculations, Indexed Color, Knockout, Camera Raw and creating Fire.
• All the technique and working methods are described as realistic and practical examples.
• Sold as an e-book and good value.

By Duncan Wherrett

Read More

The Photoshop Book for Digital Photographers

• A step-by-step Photoshop manual with a wealth of colour illustrations.
• Designed to deal with particular tasks on a "how-to" basis.
• Functions are described as realistic tasks such as those photographers need to do.
• Not great detail on a lot of topics, such as filters and special effects but practical and easy to follow.
• Clear instructions and images make it a good starting point.
• Other manuals will be necessary to give a comprehensive coverage of Photoshop.

By Scott Kelby

Read More

Photoshop CS3 for Photographers

• The author, Martin Evening, is a Photoshop Alpha tester, which means he knows more than most. He is also a working photographer and this book is geared towards meeting the demands of photographers.
• It's definitely not for the beginner, however, and anyone would be best to have at least a year's Photoshop experience before diving in here.
• The first 90 pages cover tools, palettes, workspaces and layouts. For the newbie, that's far too much information thrown out at once. All those facts and functions can really only be absorbed gradually and as they are applied to their specific purposes.
• The second section of this Photoshop Manual is about configuring Photoshop and colour management, and the explanations are perhaps the best in print. Important stuff certainly, but any newbie will soon get confused and be frightened off.
• Basic image adjustments start at page 133 and then it really gets down to business in a most comprehensive way. Reasonably clear descriptions and illustrations and a wealth of tips and tricks relevant to photographs.
• A good book for anyone who already has a reasonable grounding in the subject.

By Martin Evening

Read More

Home Page