Good Desk Reference and Learning/How-To Book for CS2/CS2 Design Suite

[ShelleyWynn]

Does anyone have any ideas on a good desk reference and a good how-to/tutorial-type book for Photoshop CS2/CS2 Design Suite?
There are several out there, but want to get the best. Getting ready to install "Photoshop CS2 Design Suite".

Thanks!

Shelley

[terrie]

You might take a browse at "The Photoshop CS/CS2 Wow! Book" (http://www.amazon.com/Photoshop-CS2-Wow-Book-WOW/dp/0321213459/ref=sr_1_1/102-7442071-9795335?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186522063&sr=1-1) by Linnea Davis and Cristen Gillespie (isbn: 978-0321213457)...

Terrie

[ktinkel]

You might take a browse at "The Photoshop CS/CS2 Wow! Book" (http://www.amazon.com/Photoshop-CS2-Wow-Book-WOW/dp/0321213459/ref=sr_1_1/102-7442071-9795335?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186522063&sr=1-1) by Linnea Davis and Cristen Gillespie (isbn: 978-0321213457)...I can second that (though I have not seen this edition). Cristen is a forum member, of course. Although Linnea Davis was my editor for 9 years (disclosure), she was also author of many generations of the Photoshop Wow books.

I always learn something useful from Linnea’s books and from Cristen’s messages.

[DTP Guy]

In addition to the Wow! books, Adobe's Classroom books usually give good value. I believe they are published by Peachpit with the Adobe Press stamp.

[terrie]

brian: Adobe's Classroom books usually give good value.I hate the Classroom in a Book series but I will freely admit that may just be me...'-}}

When I'm looking for a technical book, I always do it hands-on and if I know how to do anything in the software, I look in the book's index to find the author's explanation for what I already know how to do and if I find the explanation clear, then I figure that I will find the book to be helpful but if I find the explanation is not clear, then I don't buy the book--which is not to say that the book is "bad" but just that the approach is not one that is useful to me, personally...

Terrie

[ktinkel]

I hate the Classroom in a Book series but I will freely admit that may just be me...'-}}And me.

I wouldn’t say I hate the Classroom series, but I have never found one of them to be useful to me. I do much better with Peachpit’s Real World, Visual Quickstart, and WOW! books.

[terrie]

kt: I do much better with Peachpit’s Real World, Visual Quickstart, and WOW! books.Me too...

It's nice to know I'm not the only one who dislikes the CIB books...'-}}

Terrie

[Andrew B.]

Does anyone have any ideas on a good desk reference and a good how-to/tutorial-type book for Photoshop CS2/CS2 Design Suite?When you say Photoshop Design Suite, do you really mean Creative Suite Design Edition? Because that includes more than Photoshop.

Anyway, I have some books here but they have not been my best source of learning for me. I prefer lessons in movie form where the teacher demonstrates and explains the technique -- and provides the same files used in the movies so I can work along.

You can purchase CDs with these lessons, or you can subscribe to a website that gives you unlimited access to many kinds of lessons. Three I have used are Total Training (http://www.totaltraining.com/), VTC (http://vtc.com/), and lynda.com (http://lynda.com/)

For learning Photoshop, Deke McClelland's is a well-respected teacher. I find his presentation style to be tedious because he uses too many words to make a simple point. But I'm glad I endured his Photoshop training, because he is comprehensive in his coverage of tools. You can find his lessons at Total Training.

Also, for advanced Photoshop tips, I like Russell Brown's Site (http://www.russellbrown.com/tips_tech.html)

[ShelleyWynn]

Yeah, I got the whole bag of tricks. Installed it yesterday and fiddled around with it for a while. Photoshop has alot of the same functions of MS Image Photo Suite that I'v been using, but much more. Then I have Illustrator, InDesign, etc. So much to learn!!!
I also installed Corel Painter X. I should have alot of fun (frustration??). Oh well, I'm looking forward it all.

Thanks for the advice!

Shelley

[terrie]

shelly: I also installed Corel Painter X. I should have alot of fun (frustration??).LOL!!! Do let me know if you have any Painter questions (or Photoshop for that matter although I'm still running Photoshop7 and my CS2 is deskware as in hasn't been installed yet). Painter has almost as steep a learning curve as Photoshop but it's worth the effort as Painter's brushes are really quite cool...

Terrie