I've been using Adobe PhotoShop ... well it seems like forever ... and I always say "I'm still learning" if anyone asks me if I consider myself an expert. This is because Photoshop is such an extensive tool and I find myself constantly learning new things or accidentally discovering some shortcut or other that I wouldn't even consider using the term "expert". Because of this I will read any book on Photoshop which crosses my path, especially one which offers tutorial style lessons like this one, Photoshop CS - Down & Dirty Tricks!

Scott Kelby, the author, has a great writing style. He is humerous, generous and obviously loves Photoshop with a passion. He calls Adobe (the corporation who produce Photoshop) the mothership. If you don't believe a non-fiction book can be humerous then read Scott's "preamble" to the book. It is not an introduction but a "preamble baby" and includes loads of FAQs and helpful hints on how to get the most out of the book ... with comic aneqdotes to keep you chuckling.

I think the best thing about the book is that you can download from Scott's Website all the images that are used in the book and this definitely helps you to keep pace with what is going on. The book is broken up into eight chapters, most of which have six tutorials. Each page is broken up into the tutorial points with photo cues and "quick tips" running down each side. If you just sit and read you quickly realise you know most of this stuff but Scott is using these old commands and tools in different ways to achieve his "Down and Dirty Tricks".

Lets take a look at those eight chapter titles :

• One Hour Photo
• Photo Finish
• Jealous Type
• The Dirty Dozen
• I want Candy
• Show me the Money
• Special Teams
• Ad Libbing

They look almost like a foreign language don't they? But they are easily recognised if for instance I add in the sub-heading ... for instance Jealous Type's sub-heading is "Cool Type Effects" and Photo Finish's is "Photographic Effects, Part2". Speaking of which the image below is the finished product from one of the Photo Finish tutorials in Chapter 2 of the book. Pretty fabbo huh!.

 

I love learning new things about Photoshop, it makes me go all gooey inside. Seriously though, I would have to say that for me the image above sums up the value of this Book. I knew how to do this, I knew all the commands Scott used, I just hadn't put it together in my head and come up with this. New techniques and new ideas using old commands keeps you on your toes and thinking.

Chapter 8 - Ad Libbing (sub-heading, Advertising effects) had the same effect on me. This section is power packed with design ideas for advertising, which could easily be transported to a Website or just your run of the mill graphic. Take a look at the image below, this is just one example of the nine (yes nine) tutorials in this section. The text copy for this tutorial had me laughing out loud. Oh, and the tutorial only took ten minutes or so to complete.

 

Its obvious I love this book, so I'm not going to carry on any longer with this review. In my opinion Photoshop CS Down & Dirty Tricks deserves two thumbs up and is well worth the asking price. Anyone who uses Photoshop seriously will benefit from having this little tyke in their bookshelf. I'll leave you with one last completed image though (because I just can't resist) from the chapter entitled Show me the Money (sub-heading - Portfolio Effects - I told you this guy was funny). This is a book full of versatile tricks and tips for the discerning Photoshop user.

 

You can visit Scott Kelby's Website and read about other Photoshop books he has written by clicking here.