Adobe Photoshop CS/CS2 Breakthroughs

Adobe Photoshop is industry standard digital image software and users are hungry for solutions to their myriad concerns--from how best to manage the program's sometimes unwieldy interface to how to use the new Vanishing Point tool. Photoshop guru David Blatner has scoured the online forums, interviewed Adobe engineers, and gathered together answers to over 200 of the most-commonly asked questions. Written in a sassy, fun-to-read style, this book tackles every major Photoshop problem with a lay-it-on-the-line solution. Adobe Photoshop CS/CS2 Breakthroughs is for anyone who has been using Photoshop long enough to realize that the solution to their problems isn't always as obvious as one would expect.

User review
Interesting, little known facts about Photoshop
I found this book to contain some little known interesting facts, and new ways to utilize the new photoshop tools. It was easy to find exactly the subject I was looking for, along with finding little known shortcuts.

User review
Adobe Photoshop CS/CS2 Breakthroughs
I confess. My library (ok the bathroom) is stacked with Archie comics for the occasional pastime while taking care of things. My latest edition is this book for the sole reason that there is just too much to absorb at one sitting. Nor will I use this book as a desktop reference tool while working on a deadline. I need to absorb all this great information over time, like the multipication table.

The book have something that usually is loathly missing in most. It give you paths to the command that is speaks of in the relevant question/answer sections regarding particular needs (Q. How do I resized a batch of various sized images. A. Use Fit Image (File > Automate > Fit Image - course there is more to this than that, but you get the drift).

Great guns. A keeper for me and other professionals who count on Photoshop to make the mortgage. BTW the Archies stay as well.

User review
An extremely good time saver!!!
Unlike Blatner&Frasers Real World book on Photoshop CS this one is set up for the intermediate or even the beginning photoshopper.Where the Real World Books gets in depth information on each item this well explained book gives you the opportunity to learn easy-to-follow answers on a lot of beginners questions:
-page 1-28:all about photoshop essentials(upgrading smoothly,control&menus,windows&palettes,monitors,tools,editing objects and handling documents.
-page 29-48: getting the picture:creating and opening files,exploring camera raw,scanning
-page 49-84:image editing basics(resolution,cropping,selection strategies,amazing transformations,duplicating)
-page 87-123:correcting images(evaluating an image,making global corrections,making local corrections,maintaining image quality,productivity perks,sharpening,actions&batches)
-page 125-139:working with layers(managing layers,aligning layers,layer masks,combining images)
-page 141-154: working with type(creating &editing type,get set with type)
-page 155-179:enhancing creativity(brushes,filter fun,perspective&distortion,darkroom adventures,paths&the pen)
-page 181-194: keeping color consistent(setting up color,previewing color output,color space conversions)
-page 195-212:organizing&finding images(building your bridge,annotating&organizing,fast file finding,production practices)
-page 215-244:printing,saving&exporting(printing,images for other programs,store multiple variations in one file,images for the internet,it's showtime)
-index page 245-253
David Blatner& Conrad Chavez did a tremendous job grouping hundreds of tips in 244 pages.Each chapter starts with a red question mark next to an individual question like ,,.?Is it true you can actually use the Crop Tool to correct perspective in an image or,,.?Tell me about the new Smart Sharpen command.How is it different than Unsharp Mask?Do I use it with Unsharp Mask or instead of it? or,,.?Infrared images look realy cool.How can I simulate that effect in Photoshop?
The book is in a handy format and each item is a small tutorial with the necessary examples illustrated on the page.
Don't read it from cover to flap(your choice!) because it's no covering `every feature` in PS but use it as a reminder for practical problems you encounter daily.
I put it on my night table and when I dream about PS(i'm insane!)and don't find THAT solution according my dreams it still lays on my side and I can dream further without worrying that my dreampicture would'nt achieve.
By the way this book is applicable for problems with CS and CS2;the content is worth the price.Well done gurus!