Education Advice

Hello everyone,

I have just finished the book Down&DirtyTrick7. It was a wonderful book in regards to helping me step up my Photoshop skills and providing a deeper understanding of Photoshop.

Prior books include:
Photoshop 7 Classroom In a Book
Photoshop 7 Web Design with Golive.

Here is were I need some seasoned Photoshop users advice.

I'm ready for my next book.

I don't want just any Photoshop book, I want a book that is very advanced in design techniques, perhaps something that deconstructs complex projects and teaches amazing combinations of effect etc.

I'm considering 1 or 2 of the following :

The Photoshop CS WoW! Book
New Masters Of Photoshop & Foundation Photoshop
4x4 Photoshop and 3D: Geometry/Chaos
Adobe Photoshop Master Class (deconstructs projects)
Photoshop Secrets of the Pros: 20 Top Artists and Designers Face Off
Photoshop Most Wanted: Effects and Design Tips (Don't know if this is like Down&DirtyTricks, is this book categorized as beginner/intermediate/advanced?)
Photoshop Most Wanted 2: More Effects and Design Tips (Don't know if this is like Down&DirtyTricks, is this book categorized as beginner/intermediate/advanced?)


I would appreciate any comments and suggestion on my selections or any that I have missed.

I need to get a book that will take me to another level in Photoshop, with all the other subjects I'm studying at the moment, I'm hoping your advice will help me choose the book that's right for my level as I don't have time to waste on basic Photoshop technique books.

Thanks
Fess

I would get a good book on Photo Retouching, myself. Or a good general design book. Photoshop mastery can only take you so far, and knowing how to make "cool effects" with 50 different filters will be even less useful many of the times. Photo retouching books are usually really help though, and show you a lot of good ways to make selections and touchup photos.

I agree with dek. "effects & tricks & secrets" (etc)....is just going to be a more structured filter tutorial (than the ones found on the net). Retouching though will teach you a lot....things like

-cloning
-adjustments
-masking
-selecting
-color-correcting
-light matching
-the proper way to use filters & which filters to use
(ex: noise, unsharp mask, guassian blur w/ masks or feathered selections etc)

and probably more. Once you master that......there will be just about nothing you cant do in PS (or to rephrase.....you'll have a solid set of skills to take on any task/project)

- - - - - -

Also flash is...well aside from learning a whole new scripting language....flash itself is not hard. Its actually less advanced than PS (way less actually). If you do buy a book on flash......get a book on "actionscript" (look for one by Colin Moock...thats bout the best book)

If you want to go the way of the retouching, there is no better author than Katrin Eismann. She is pretty well regarded for her approachable manner and thorough knowledge. As some people know I come from a retouching background and I can honestly say that her book taught me methods that I had not previously considered.

(hope she sends my cheque soon;))

deker, slimjimer, Rodder454...

Thanks for the advice.

Seems you guys are knowledge on the advantages of retouching.

I really did not see any area in retouching I needed to learn, as I have been doing retouching for about 4 years. Although some points made sound interesting:

-adjustments
-color-correcting
-light matching
-the proper way to use filters & which filters to use
(ex: noise, unsharp mask, guassian blur w/ masks or feathered selections etc)


I need to learn color correcting, light matching, especially the Curves feature and Unsharp Mask filter.

So much to learn, I really have to be cautious about what I learn because I can't afford to waste any time.

Right now, I'm learn Photoshop... but I think it will never stop. And I'm also studying Maya.

I'll purchase Flash soon enough, not to worried about its difficulty. If I can do PS & Maya, Flash should be smooth ride.

Thanks again....

Regards
Fess