Inside Photoshop 7 (Inside (New Riders))

If you're looking for a book that just about covers it all and does it in an approachable way (even when tackling nerdy topics like "bilinear interpolation"), you've found it in Inside Photoshop 7. This edition varies from previous ones in that it offers standalone chapters that address the specific needs of photographers, artists, and Web designers, along with a core of "fun, learning-based tutorials" that cover the basics.

An exhaustive array of material is covered here: customizing preferences (including dealing with Scratch Disks and sufficient RAM), learning expert selection skills (including loading selections to the alpha channel), working with layers (including the powerful clipping groups), using channels and paths (with more on alpha channels), and learning the "healing tools" (like the clone stamp, healing brush, and the patch tool). Inside Photoshop 7 does an exemplary job of explaining the realities behind sticky issues like color management and input/output resolution. The task-specific sections cover, among other topics, color correction and retouching ("...for Photographers"), drawing and painting tools ("...for the Artist"), using ImageReady for rollovers and animations ("...for the Web"), and a lot more. There's even a chapter with "recipes" for various effects and tricks like compositing a man with two heads. Despite the small color gallery, the illustrations are all black and white. Not to worry: all the project files are included on the companion CD-ROM, along with clip art, stock photography, demo and freeware/shareware applications and plug-ins, and more.

The authors presume "practically nothing" on the part of the readers. Among other pursuits, the Boutons write textbooks for children, which isn't surprising given the slow and enthusiastically cheerful (sometimes silly) style here. For many people, though, a friendly, painstakingly thorough, handholding approach is the only way they can learn new software. The book seems especially well suited to nonprofessionals who need or want to learn Photoshop. The fact that, unlike most Photoshop books, the screen shots are all from the Windows environment makes it even more accessible. Also, the images used as examples in the book have a homey, cartoon quality about them (alien creatures, the author dressed as a wizard) that may also appeal to newbies. --Angelynn Grant