<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: Great for Professionals
Review: Do you have a need to create really outstanding graphics? I mean really outstanding. If you do, Photoshop Magic will go a long way toward helping you achieve your goal. This visually-rich book takes the reader through each aspect of truly great design. Learn about changing day to night, creating a fantasy image, using light to set the mood, changing the weather, simulating stained glass or water reflection and much more. Of particular interest to many is the section on photographic restoration. Now, at last, you can scan in all those old photos or great-grandma and great-grampa on their wedding day and bring them back in full glory, even colorize them. There's also information on how to restore a photo. The book is well organized and offers step-by-step, full color examples. It's also chock-full of good ideas-a great starting point for that new fantasy graphic or vignette you need to create. While I wouldn't recommend this book for the beginner, Photoshop Magic is a great tool for those already familiar with Adobe Photoshop and design basics. Mr. Perkins is obviously very experienced, not to mention talented and he imparts that knowledge in an easy-to-follow manner. He'll have you producing fantastic images in no time at all. Forget all that: how do I get my hands on the image on the cover?
Rating: 
Summary: Nice ideas but shame about the presentation
Review: The book shows how to create a number of files, each of which is helpfully provided in part on the comprehensive CD. While the ideas are certainly original, the format, layout and writing of the book let it down substantially, and are points that need to be fixed in later editions, if there are to be any. Partly, it is the awkward prose, but more of a problem is the lack of description about exatly what each stage does and why it is implemented. Instead, while there is plenty of "wow-factor" in getting to the end of each project, much of the journey there remains opaque, and I question how useful the book is in the long term. In addition, the taste of some of the projects is decidedly questionable. Incidentally, I didn't find it foolproof at all; at least one project does not work if you follow the instructions eaxctly as written. Verdict--showed great potential, but careless and clumsy writing and overproduction (why the black page edges?) has seriously limited the impact of this overpriced book. Shame.
Rating: 
Summary: To Specific
Review: This book is part of a GREAT series and has some nice effects, however the tutorials are so specific that I found a hard time using the book for anything besides just following the tutorials step by step. I say spend you money on Photoshop 5 Type Magic instead.
<< 1 >>
| 
