Inside Adobe(R) Photoshop(R) 5 (Limited Edition)

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Summary: This book is NOT about Adobe Photoshop 5 Limited Edition
Review: Beware! The description for this book describes an "Adobe Limited Edition" CD that accompanies the book. Actually there are two CDs included, but neither is what I expected, ie., a copy of Adobe Photoshop, Limited Edition, although both CDs use those words in their titles. Instead, the CDs are a collection of demos and samples.

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Summary: Grogg Think Best Book for Neanderthal Graphic Designers
Review: Grogg is graduate from Paint Shop Pro to Adobe Photoshop. Grogg need start from beginning and Grogg get all help Grogg need with Bouton book. Grogg find text easy to read and easy to follow and Grogg learn much. Grogg recommend book to all beginners and probably advanced users of Adobe Photoshop learn thing or two. Great Book!

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Summary: Excellent Training Material
Review: I am a self-taught Photoshop user. I really felt that I was really missing out on alot of photoshop features and I was right. Until I worked my way through the lessons in this book, I had no idea the power I could have! But seriously folks, I really feel like I can call myself a power user now and its all because of this book. The lessons all come with practice photos on the cd so you get real hands-on experience. I highly recommend this book!

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Summary: There's nothing "limited" about this limited edition!
Review: I am a software instructor, assigned to teach a class on Photoshop. No problem, thought I. I'll simply buy a book and figure it out. Well, I bought three books before I figured out that this wasn't going to be a fast and easy assignment. Thankfully, I had a chance to work through the first half of the Bouton's book before I had to actually teach anything. And thanks to IP5 the class came off without a problem. This is a tutorial book. Each exercise takes you by the hand and walks you through the assignment step by step. As a total beginner, this is what I needed. There may have been one or two errors, but I didn't notice them. I discovered some corrections on the Boutons web site when I visited there. Overall, I've received an excellent Photoshop education through this book and would reccommend it to anyone who is starting out. I would also reccomend the Adobe Classroom in a Book. This book was the other excellent resource I used in my beginner's education. I read that book prior to IP5, and I think that may have made IP5 even easier to use. I should also mention, that even though this book uses a tutorial approach, the authors have done a good job of explaining everything they have us do, thus we're not just jumping though hoops, we're actually learning WHY we do things. I should also mention that I am using Photoshop 5.5. I didn't know that there was going to be a new edition of this book (it's out now at this writing), but I didn't have any trouble with the cross-platform issue. Buy it and enjoy!

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Summary: Best Photoshop Book for the Beginner-Int-Advanced User
Review: I have to say, I shopped quite a bit before I decided on this book. I have NEVER been as happy about a software-related book purchase. The Boutons have created an educational masterpiece, providing tutorial after tutorial to guide us through the process of LEARNING Photoshop. I capitalize because not only do they tell us what buttons to push and when, but WHY to use certain tools and not others that may provide similar, although lesser, results. The accompanying CD's are outstanding, containing all necessary files to complete each project in the book, and NOT a bunch of "here, finish this almost-completed piece" that a lot of other books seem to have in abundance. And there are some great extras, as well, like demos of some outstanding plugins and a fully functiional 15-day trial of Xara 2, an incredibly efficient and effective vector drawing program. Although there's a lot of good useful information here, it doesn't get boring because the Boutons inject their personalities into their writing, as if they were teaching you in person. You will DEFINITELY know what you are doing with Photoshop when you finish this book. I just wish it was longer, it is ONLY 1054 pages. The most enjoyable and productive text I have read.

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Summary: Sits on my bookshelf
Review: I purchased this book a year and half ago while taking a photoshop class to supplement classroom in a book. I am starting to go back to this book and try to learn. However, the pictures and examples are aesthetically repulsive that it is hard to get inspired doing the work or getting ideas to be creative. The book is extremley fat in a bad way that it seems intimdating to pick up and go over. I just sat down and tried to do one exercise and I could not figure out what the other was trying to explain. I think people have different ways of learning and some may be more patient than I. I wish I could sell this book because it doesn't get much use.

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Summary: Excellent!
Review: I purchased this book on sale as I was looking for a good book to tutor me on the use of the complex looking Photoshop program. This book turned out to be a diamond in the sands of a beach because it demystified the program for me. It took awhile to learn the basics of the program, but once I mastered that, I dove into the more challenging projects with relish. It was so much fun completing the projects that I wish the book had more. I highly recommend this book for learning Photoshop 5. And be sure to check out other editions for Photoshop 6 and 7 also the Boutons.

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Summary: Excellent!
Review: I purchased this book on sale as I was looking for a good book to tutor me on the use of the complex looking Photoshop program. This book turned out to be a diamond in the sands of a beach because it demystified the program for me. It took awhile to learn the basics of the program, but once I mastered that, I dove into the more challenging projects with relish. It was so much fun completing the projects that I wish the book had more. I highly recommend this book for learning Photoshop 5. And be sure to check out other editions for Photoshop 6 and 7 also the Boutons.

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Summary: Gary & Barbara, you did it again-better than a 5* hotel!
Review: I wrote a review for their book on version 4, and this one tops it! Just the advice alone, on digital cameras, scanning how to's, monitor calibration (don't you hate it when your printer and monitor go through menopause at the same time), specifics and how to's on Photoshop 5's new features. I've used the "history" undos many times-what a time saver. I'm a hot key freak and Gary just keeps adding to my list. Menu access takes too much time away from creative time. The new effects for layers and editable text is the cat's meow (any cat lover's out there?). I keep learning new uses for each of the tools-Gary, you're a wizard! I don't like sitting, starring at the monitor wondering how to accomplish a task...but with every chapter, of this 740 page+ book, you will learn short cuts, color management, better use of layers and how to clip layers together (like a scene placed inside text), techniques to create the digital image you thought was reserved only for the e! ! soteric masters, and more than I can write about here. Hey, you can even take PDF files into Photoshop and manipulate them. Build a contact sheet if you want. If you can imagine it, Photoshop 5, can image it and with this book on your desk and the lessons from the included CD, your dreams will be realized. Maybe even get paid for it...(now you're talkin')

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Summary: Be forewarned: "Limited Edition" it is NOT
Review: If you buy this book to help you with Photoshop 5.0 LE that came with your printer or scanner; you WILL have trouble following the examples. The text pertains to the FULL version of Photoshop, not the limited edition. Sometimes you can work around that, but many times the advanced features are crucial to the lesson.