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I am not disappointed, - but I am a little overwhelmed by the examples and the complexity of some of the demos. I did find significant problems with locating some things the writer said he was using - and some things I looked for - in the palette well for example - were so deeply buried under other things, I could not find them. Despite my frustrations, I would never think of returning the book - because it has so much valuable information. The book didn't really explain what he expected the use of those filters to do for the image. But would I buy it again - in a heartbeat. I wished I already had a basic knowledge of how Photoshop Elements 2 worked before going through the book. (the writer says he is applying a specific filter - and I had no idea what he was talking about or why anyone would want to do that, because I had no idea what that filter was designed to do). I would have given up, but fortunately, I had someone already familiar with how the basic program worked to show me how to find all the things the writer talked about in the book.
Some of his adjustments to images will undoubtedly mean a great deal more as I learn the basics of the program. Yet after going through the book once by itself, and then again with the book open - going through the demo images provided by the CD inside the book cover - I am beginning to learn my way around the program. I guess I just wish it had indicated that it was not for beginners who were totally unfamiliar with the basics of how the program worked. It has that much GREAT INFORMATION in it, and I look forward to the day when I reach the point that I can understand much of what the writer demonstrates.
I just couldn't understand how the layers related and applied to each other for the background or how to work on them to get a final finish quality photo. Couldn't go another day without thanking you for this great "Photoshop Elements 2 Solutions" Book. The exercises were easy and understandable and fun to learn. After completing half of the Books Photo Exercises which gives the simplest, precise way to acheive the best professional results, I've finally learned Photoshop. This has evaded me for years spent on other learning programs. Plus all those Plug-Ins on the CD. Thanks,Satisfied Customer.
Excellent book. Gives you step by step instructions on how to do some neat things with your digital photos.
I bought this book expecting the enclosed CD to be a full tutorial. To my sorrow I didn't see this; all I read was "100 before images" and "follow along with the book". It is not. If you read far enough into the fine print it does say it is a trial (read demo) copy. Sounds great, but what you get is software that shows you what the real thing WOULD do if you bought it. Legal but morally reprehensible.
This is a wordy introduction to Elements 2. The photographs supplied on the CD and in the book are of the mundane snapshot variety. (If you are looking for help with this and you are visiting the UK, I recommend you buy a copy of Digital Photo magazine [not Digital Photography or other similarly named magazines] - you will get a lot of clearly, explained advice there).So a mixed bag. Aaland provides a good rationale for improvement with photographs and how they may be accomplished. If you are through the basics and are looking for a deeper explanation of advanced features and artistic management, then I suggest you look elsewhere. This is important - as it is not immediately obvious what improvements need to be made to a photograph when starting out in digital photography.However, his approach is wordy - and you have to plough through a lot of (unnecessary) text to go through the individual steps. Mr. This may be fine if you are simply working on mundane snapshots - however, for me (and I am sure others), I am looking for approaches to improve more artistic photographs.
Some people like wordy explanations, others a more visual guide to a visual medium.Secondly, and this is a personal feeling, it is clear that Mr. Aaland makes his living by writing computer manuals and not in graphics or as a photographer. If you are looking for a reasonable comprehensive 'textbook' on PE2 then consider this. For me, the book falls short of my needs and interests and the CD photographs are disappointing.Hope this helps.
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