Simply Fabulous

Because I needed to figure out how to layer photos and create a combined image that would include a living room setting and my paintings, I ventured to the local Library to find a book that would make life a little easier and teach me how to do it. I discovered a book that I thought might contain the information I needed.

So, last week on a rather hot day, wearing a pair of shorts and a T-shirt I sat down on my sofa, in the cool living room to read what I predicted to be, a boring book. Imagine being hot and tired from lack of sleep the night before, I planned on being swept into a deep slumber. Alas, I was pleasantly surprised by the pages filled with information and how-to's that make my web site creation so much easier and fun to boot.

The title of the book is "Top 100 Simplified Tips and Tricks for Photoshop CS2" by Lynette Kent. I think you'll agree that it is a boring title. Now you can see why I thought I was going to get caught up on some sleep. But Kent is a native Californian and Parisian, both by birthright and having lived in California and Paris. She completed her Master's degree at Stanford University and has taught art at both the high school and community college levels. She is also a demo artist at trade shows for computer graphics companies.

Ms. Kent has carefully broken down the total top 100 possible questions the reader may have, into one or two pages of clear, concise and picture-filled instructions that answer your very question. Each step is in a numerical sequence instructing you exactly how to perform each task, step by step. Kent has included some time saving insights that "save you time and trouble, cautions you about hazards to avoid and reveal how to do things in Photoshop that you never thought to be possible." She has even included symbols that mark the level of difficulty for each task.

Topics covered in this book begin with "Customizing Photoshop for Your Projects". In this first chapter, Kent shows the step by step process that will assist in changing color settings to fit your projects, designing custom brushes, calibrating and profile your monitor for better editing, to using something called a "digitizing tablet".

Other chapters address the following issues or suggestions:

• Working with Layers, Selections and Masks
• Straightening, Cropping and Resizing Magic
• Retouching Portraits (you'll love this if you're a boomer!)
• Changing and Enhancing Colors and Tone
• Making Magic with Digital Special Effects
• Designing with Text Effects
• Creating Digital Artwork from Photographs
• Giving Your Images a Professional Presentation
• Plugging in to Photoshop CS2

This is a well written, clearly thought out publication that I recommend to anyone who is struggling with figuring out the world of Photoshop on their own. As you can see, I enjoyed the book and gained much needed information. But I didn't get the needed sleep! Ah, the price we pay for information!