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Book:   Photoshop CS3 Photo Effects Cookbook
Subject:   Photoshop AWAKENED - Finally the BOOK I've been waiting for!!!
Date:   2008-09-09 18:08:00
From:   Brian D. Watters
Rating:  StarStarStarStarStar

I noticed this new book on the shelf at my favorite book store, and flipped it open to find an amazing selection of visual and verbose tutorials in an easy to understand style of teaching which covers many of the classic effects I have painstakingly attempted to create through trial and error in my 11 years of using Photoshop.

Creating realistic fire using only elements shipped with Photoshop, such as Blending Layers, Cloud Filters and eraser brushes, explained in such a fashion that I felt silly for not having considered this before.

Although the book gives a web site address where I can download the practice files used in the tutorials, I felt the true test would be to use my own images, and I was not disappointed in the lease.


Changing a sunny daytime scene to surreal night time scene, or snow covered winter storm scene, or rainy lightening scene were too much to pass up. So with camera in hand here are my before and after images:


<url>http://www.new.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1804046&l=eacba&id=744126279</url>


<url>http://www.new.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1804043&l=ffb62&id=744126279</url>


<url>http://www.new.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1804044&l=a2fe5&id=744126279</url>


<url>http://www.new.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1804045&l=6df0c&id=744126279</url>


and all four in one:

<url>http://www.new.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1804042&l=6a77f&id=744126279</url>

There's allot of exceptional tutorials here, 53 to be exact, and simulating natural phenomena are just a few.


The price is what got me. Most books of this caliber are double the price.
I'm giving this puppy 5 stars, and will definitely be looking for more titles once I'm done.
- Brian D. Watters
Here's my public portfolio for the Realistic Fire Sample and some of my other works:

<url>http://www.photoshopuser.com/members/portfolios/view/gallery/1164901</url>
<img>http://www.photoshopuser.com/members/portfolios/files/uploads/1164901/full/oops.jpg</img>



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Recent Forum Posts

"Packed with hundreds of full-color images, step-by-step instructions, and many practical tips, this book — and Adobe Photoshop CS3 — are all you need to create professional graphic art effects from almost any image source."
--Jennifer Apple, PhotoshopSupport.com