|
 |
|
Scott Kelby's 7-Point System for Adobe Photoshop CS3 (Voices)x$28.97
  (80 reviews)
Best Price: $49.99 $28.97
Scott Kelby, the world's #1 bestselling Photoshop author, and the man who changed the Photoshop and digital photography world with his ground-breaking, award-winning "Photoshop Book for Digital Photographers" unveils a exciting, brand new way of thinking, and working in Adobe Photoshop that will not only change the industry again, but it will change the way we all work in Photoshop forever, so we can finally spend less time fixing our images, and more time finishing them.
You're about to become a Photoshop Shark!
Scott has focused in and really narrowed things down to just exactly which Photoshop tools and techniques we absolutely, positively have to know, and he found that there are just seven major tools, seven major features that we have to master to enhance our images like a pro. But then he took it a step further. Out of those seven major tools, he looked at which parts or sections of those tools do we really need to master, and which parts can we pretty much ignore (in other words, he whittled it down so you're not learning parts of the tools that you're probably never going to need). Then, and perhaps most importantly, he determined exactly when and in which order to apply these seven techniques that make up Scott's amazing "Photoshop Seven Point System."
But the magic of this book, is not just listing the seven tools and showing how they work. It's how they're used together, and how Scott teaches them (and makes it stick), that makes this book so unique. You're not going to just learn one technique for fixing shadows, and another technique for adjusting color (every Photoshop book pretty much does that, right?). Instead, you're going start off at square one, from scratch, as each chapter is just one photo—one project—one challenging lifeless image (you'll follow along using his the same images), and you're going to unleash these seven tools, in a very specific way, and you're going to do it again, and again, and again, in order on different photos, in different situations, until they are absolutely second nature. You're finally going to do the FULL fix—from beginning to end—with nothing left out, and once you learn these seven very specific techniques, and apply them in order, there won't be a an image that appears on your screen that you won't be able to enhance, fix, edit, and finish yourself!
Plus, Scott's techniques work across a wide range of photos, and that's exactly what you'll be working on in the book, from landscapes to portraits, to architectural, to nature, from event photography to everything in between—there isn't a photo you won't be able to beat!
This is the book you've been waiting for, the industry's been waiting for, and Scott's "Adobe Photoshop Seven Point System" is so revolutionary that he's officially applied for a patent with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and this new system is only found in this amazing, ground breaking new book. Once you learn these techniques, and start applying them yourself, you'll be the next one to say—"You can't beat 'The System!'
|
Customer Reviews
|
Disappointing
By A1QWCRVV9VNLOK on 2007-11-10
This book is Scott Kelby's typical witty and unpresumptuous style. So if the content suits you, it's a good and worthy read. However, you should be aware that it is really a set of recipes for correcting 'problems'. Some of the problems are 'real' problems, like gross underexposure, best handled by better camera work, and some are 'enhancements'. Granted, all photographers, or cameras, make exposure mistakes so the material is valuable. Some of the 'enhancements' are very distinct departures from reality, also OK if that is what you want, but might violate some of the ethical rules held by nature photographers. These are not serious problems, just issues of choice... serious choice.
Bigger issues for me are the inconsistancies of the methods described. Sometimes color balance is achieved in Camera Raw, sometimes in Photoshop; same for contrast, same for sharpening. In most cases there are no explanations about how that decision is made. Recipes, not instruction.
And the largest issue is that of retaining the ability to manage each step of correction so that intermediate changes can be recovered or changed. So while Scott makes a big deal of the fact that a change to LAB mode and back will not 'damage' the pixels, this requires that the image be flattened, which causes a much bigger problem (the need to start over from scratch if subsequent changes are not satisfactory.) In the very first example, Scott shows a very sophisticated approach to using the Shadow/Highlight filter as a smart object that avoids the issue of irreversibly changing the underlying pixels, yet later flattens the image to make the change to LAB mode. In example 1, the image is flattened 4 times! Geesh! Missing is the discussion of the possibility of managing irreversible change, when necessary, through various file and image management techniques.
Overall, this book is written for the beginner, but uses very sohpisticated techniques more suitable to a more experienced user. The steps are demonstrated, but the reasoning is lost; and the advantages of the technique are lost in subsequent steps.
So this book remains just a set of recipes, useful if you have images that correspond to the examples, but less ueful for generalized work.
May be useful for some; but will drive some users crazy...
By A99YLUGP01SHW on 2007-11-09
This book may be what you need, or it may actually drive you nuts, quite quickly. This depends on your skill level in photoshop, your personality, and your actual needs regarding photos (i.e., what you need them for). Since some of the reviews formerly posted here sound like something a company marketing team may write, a few clarifications may be in order before you purchase this book.
First, the somewhat misleading title: sure, SEVEN is a nice number with lots of ancient tradition (e.g., from seven deadly sins, and seven virtues to seven habits of highly successful people, etc.) Alas, there aren't just seven "points". It's more like SEVENTY.
Scott Kelby (as always very articulate and mercifully NOT trying to be too humorous this time) uses some very wide, general, and often COMPLEX concepts, and treats them as ONE "point" each. So, for example, one such point (among seven) is "use Adobe Camera RAW to make all appropriate / necessary adjustments" (I am paraphrasing here) - but that is hardly ONE point: it includes setting / adjusting white balance, exposure, white / black point, fussing with shadows, initial sharpening, clarity / vibrance, saturation, etc. Another example of such single "point" (among the seven) would be "painting with light": which sounds good and simple, but actually involves working with multiple adjustment layers, and creating numerous, often quite complex, variable density masks for localized adjustments - so much so, that some images wind up being a sandwich of more than four layers, each with its own masks, individual transparency settings, and blending modes - hardly "one simple point" again.
As a result, fixing many example photos turns out to be a LENGTHY process which often involves more than 20 steps, many of which are in turn complex, multi-step procedures that require both practice and skill (e.g., hand painting precise masks with brushes of progressively diminishing opacity, or using selection drawing tools). Needless to say, such level of precision is best implemented working with a tablet / stylus, and is going to be less-than-pleasant (and successful) using a mouse, a point which needs to be made clearly (and the book doesn't do it). If it is to be done right, it will also be time consuming.
Other issues further add to the above problem: some techniques (such as "faking" water reflections by flipping and blending the actual non-reflected image) will be seen as questionable by many serious photographers. If you ethically don't object to doing this type of "deep-pixel editing", then why not just composit-in a sky or other element taken from another, better-exposed photo altogether? Also, as one reviewer has mentioned previously, some procedures use settings that are arbitrary (7-7-7 for defining a black point when working with curves), and do not include a good explanation of the WHY of the processes involved.
Yet another issue is the fact, that such very heavy reliance on aggressive editing in ACR (especially since Kelby sometimes uses 8-bit jpg files in ACR and not 12-bit RAW) often winds up producing images that are "punchy" (or garish, depending on how you see it), but at the expense of unnatural-looking color shifts, posterization, and artefacts visible EVEN at the very small print sizes used in the book (under 2 inches?) - I encourage you to look at the example of a "before and after" on the p. 31. Would you really want your sunset/sunrise photos to look like that? Perhaps this may be acceptable for saving a one-of-a-kind, 4x6 shot for a family album, but I don't see it having much potential for anything else (e.g., 8x10 or a serious print). Yes, there definitely are many example photos that benefit greatly from the procedures outlined in the book, but that's mostly because many were GOOD (reasonably correctly exposed) photos to start with, and simply needed help to get rid of the characteristic "dull" / "flat" look so typical of baseline RAW files. Most also rely of Kelby's experience and intuition in deciding which steps (of the seven) to implement and which to skip in each case.
There is also a more serious, practical issue here: if you are going to spend several HOURS fixing one, not-very-good-quality photo, and repeat that lengthy (and eventually repetitive and boring) process with some frequency, wouldn't you be better off just spending A FEW hours ONCE to take a workshop with a good photographer, so that your BETTER photos do not need such convoluted and extensive "fixing" in post all the time?
To summarize: the book outlines some useful, if excessively complex techniques to fix (smaller) photos. Many of these techniques will not be feasible on photos meant for larger print sizes, unless a stylus, considerable time, patience for trial-and--error, and precision masking skills are used. For remedying of casual snapshots for a family album, many techniques presented here, although potentially useful, will be an overkill for most users. For professional users and serious advanced CS3 photo-amateurs, this book is too formulaic to be useful.
On the plus side, the book is well written, carefully edited, and has a generous amount of well-described screen shots and (small) "before-and-after" photos.
Best Photoshop Book Ever--The One You'll Actually Use
By A2UXGOTJI7OY1N on 2007-10-25
I have a bunch of Photoshop books on my shelf (including Scott Kelby's excellent Photoshop CS3 book). I've never had the time to read them all. Now I don't need to. The 7-point System is revolutionary. Not the techniques themselves, but the way they're put together and taught in this book. You practice the system, over and over, on the same photos that are in the book. By the end, you thoroughly understand the techniques, and the system is second nature.
But here's my favorite part. The last lesson is a refresher course, for those of us who don't use Photoshop every day. If it's been a few weeks or months, the refresher lesson will get you up to speed again in minutes.
This is not a huge book covering every little bit of Photoshop (I've got those sitting on my shelf). It's a book for most of us, who want to learn how to use Photoshop to make our photos look better. As always with Scott's books, it's well-written, easy to follow and fun.
Good, but still lacking
By A1NYUEVWDD2ELY on 2007-11-09
I own many of Kelby's books and I was really looking forward to his 7-point system book. It sounded like the target audience was ME. I can tell that a photo needs work but I don't know what to do. I have a fortune invested in Photoshop books and they tell me what all the controls do - but not when to apply them.
I with I could give this book a 5-star, but what's missing for me is the *why* in each step. For example, in the first lesson he says to go to curves and to double click on the shadow eyedropper and enter 7's for the RGB values. Why? At the end of this adjustment he says to flatten the layers. Why?
What would be great would be if the publisher had a forum where people could discuss the book and ask questions.
THIS Is The Photoshop Book You Need
By A289MTFB4XPJV6 on 2007-10-26
I've invested a small fortune over the years in Photoshop books, some good...some not so good. Photoshop guru and prolific author Scott Kelby's latest-the 7-Point System-is in a category by itself...absolutely essential. The concept he uses is to guide you in each lesson from original photo to finished using the same adjustments, tools, and techniques...seven points that are easy to learn for a beginner, and already well-known for more experienced Photoshop users. The beauty of the book lies in seeing not just a curves adjustment or a layer mask in use, but actually working on the same photos (downloaded)Scott used and step-by-step bringing it from bland to beautiful.
I consider myself fairly knowledgeable about Photoshop techniques, but this book has done more to improve my workflow and overall approach to what to look for in a photo that I'm editing than anything before it. And using only 7-points to boot! Lesson 1 alone is an eye-opener as you take a barely viewable photo and using those 7 points, end up with a photo anyone would be proud of. There is a huge Wow factor at work in each lesson.
Written in Scott's familiar breezy style, this should be on every Photoshop user's holiday wish list...if you can wait that long. Two thumbs up and a pat on the back to Mr. Kelby for delivering the goods with this one.
- A great book for photographers, one of the best
By AWBR7LDOKTBPI on 2007-11-12
I just finished Scott Kelby's "7-Point System" on photoshop techniques. I have been using Photoshop since version 4, now on CS3. I've been to Photoshop World, and have purchased many books on photoshop. I am a landscape photographer, and have a well-established work-flow, but I'm always willing to learn new techniques. I frequently post on Fred Miranda's website. I think Scott Kelby's book is the best and most useful overall Photoshop Book I have read. The workflow is a very good one, well explained, and it implements Photoshop tricks and techniques that I have found hard to master. It is well written and easy to follow. I am very happy to see it incorporates LAB processing as well (I think critical to landscape work; and there's something you wouldn't want to tackle on your own -- be sure to remember the LAB tip in Chapter 21; make the highlight/shadow adjustment in the Lightness channel.) I've already adjusted my workflow; I now use new techniques with confidence thanks to this great book. I give it ALL the stars.
- Good but needs more explanations as why an action is chosen
By A1ITY8WKV31MHR on 2007-11-09
I whole heartily agree with "Photoshop Wannabe". I am the WHY type of person too. Photoshop UI is non-intuitive. I was following Lesson 1, and stumped on step 15. No where I can find a "Gradient Thumbnail" to click. I spent the next 10 minutes searching for help and other source to no avail. In desperation, I started clicking everywhere on Gradient Fill pop-up window and accidentally activated "Gradient Editor" window. Who in the right mind would call the Gradient drop-down box "Gradient Thumbnail". And Photoshop basically breaks UI rules in every book to use a drop-down box to activate a dialog window.
A suggestion for next revision is to add more descriptions perhaps in later lessons to explain why an action is chosen and what other actions may also do the trick but not as well as the chosen action in a given situation.
- The 7-Point System is AMAZING!
By A137COWTL0ZU34 on 2007-10-26
I am new to Adobe Photoshop, about 3 weeks new to be exact. Photoshop scared me to death...then Scott Kelby's 7 Point System for Photoshop book arrived yesterday and in a matter of 20 minutes I had transformed my first image. An hour later, I had taken one of my favorite shots that I thought was "pretty perfect" and applied Kelby's 7 Point System to it...and BAM; AMAZING Shot!
Kelby takes the step by step approach and turns it upside down. If you have his Lightroom book, it is a similar theory of creating a fool-proof work flow, only in Photoshop.
For first time users or those who have been beaten down by the complexity of this powerful program, the 7 Point System for Photoshop removes the mystique and within minutes puts the power in your hands. Additionally, Kelby explains the why's to each point. Seriously, I woke up this morning with a greater understanding of light within the digital photography world...which I know will help me be a better shooter with my camera.
Whether you are a novice like me, or an old pro at Photoshop this book is a must!!!
- It Really Works
By AQJT8OPE1GN8J on 2007-11-02
Scott Kelby's 7-Point System for Adobe Photoshop CS?Author: Scott Kelby, Editor Photoshop User Magazine?Publisher Peachpit Press?268 pages .... $49.99?ISBN-13 978-0-321-50192-9?The seven key techniques for taking your images from flat to fantastic!
Scott Kelby discovered that he was using the same seven processes in pretty much the same order when editing all kinds of photos in Photoshop. His brother asked him how he started with this image
?(His own flat difficult to see image
and was able to create this image
(A beautiful clear dark picture with a glow)
?
Scott showed his brother how he did it, and his brother suggested this book.
In Scott Kelby's 7-Point System for Adobe Photoshop shows you exactly what to do first, and what to do next, to get professional results every time. He does this beginning with 20 photographs that need work. By the time you are done following his instructions with these 20 photographs, you are ready to apply these steps to your own images.
Then Scott includes a twenty-first lesson for you to use much later when you need a review.
Scott is the author of many books including The Photoshop CS3 Book for Digital Photographers. He has been the world's best selling author of all computer and technology books for the past three years. He has applied for a patent from the U.S. Trademark and Patent Office for his revolutionary educational and learning 7-Point System.
This is my own original image taken with a Nikon Coolpix 5900 hand held automatic setting at f2/8 1/13 second ISO 64.
?
(an underexpoed flat dark image)
And this is my final version a month later after doing the 20 lessons in Scott Kelby's 7-Point System for Adobe Photoshop CS3.
(A beautiful image I was proud to send to my friends and post in our NVMUG Mac user group review.)
?
Enough said.
- A Breakthrough
By AI0VK59SRDG9R on 2007-10-27
Scott, once again has outdone himself. Photoshop information has become so voluminous its almost impossible to find something you need to know quickly. As an advanced amateur photographer, with Scott's book I can now feel assured if I need to fix a photograph and I've forgotten crucial steps, going to this book I can easily find what I need. This is a book that people will keep next to the computer everytime photoshop is used.
- Scott Kelby's 7-Point System for Adobe Photoshop CS3
By A3FA0IX3K87I5J on 2007-11-21
Although most of the steps might be familiar to a regular photoshop user, the 7 point system is a concise method for applying the various tools found in photoshop. I found the lessons very well written. I downloaded the photos used in the lessons so I was able to follow along very well. I have used these tips on several of my own photos with fantastic results. Well worth the money.
- Finally, an organized and concise system for Photoshop3 !
By ARTIM7OC8DWI3 on 2007-11-02
Scott - just a quick note on your new 7-Point System for Adobe Photoshop3 ... I can only say THANK YOU... I am the guy you describe in your introduction - knowing that my photo needs fixing, but not knowing where to start in Photoshop3 to fix it... I have bought many Photoshop books (even some of yours), but still have not had a consistent workflow to use every time I look at a photo. Attending various workshops only confused the issue more, as each photographer or instructor has their own way of doing things. FINALLY, you have provided a roadmap to use each and every time I open a photo where I will not have to rifle through hundreds of pages in multple books to figure out where to start and what to do. And when I come back 3 weeks later, as you describe, I know I will start in exactly the same place. Thanks again.
-Bob
- Beg to differ with the naysayers
By A2MPPC0H61B2PL on 2007-11-11
After many years of professional graphics work (mostly vector graphics) with programs other than Photoshop, I bit the bullet in my retirement years and bought Photoshop determined to learn it (hopefully) as well as my previous programs. I soon found the learning curve to be very steep indeed. I learned bits and pieces, was able to get around in the program pretty well, make adequate adjustments, even learned some surprisingly effective "arty" techniques. In short, I thought I was getting a pretty good handle on the program in general.
As long as I had invested that many dollars in a computer program, I figured a few more dollars for a promising sounding book couldn't hurt. After going through only the first part of the book, I figure the book is totally paid for and then some. As comfortable as I was working with layers and some of the other Photoshop tricks learned previously, I simply didn't have a clue about the real power "hidden" in the program. The first "lesson" takes a downloaded photo (which probably wouldn't have made it out of my camera) and step by step turns into a fairly decent shot. Along the way I probably doubled or tripled my knowledge of some of Photoshop's capabilities.
I would agree that some of the steps outlined in the book are complex, and perhaps difficult to understand, and most of all, probably not even required for a well exposed, perfectly composed photo. But then, if all photos fit that description, why do we need Photoshop at all? This book may well be for "beginners" in Photoshop, but my guess is that if a "beginner" took this book seriously and mastered it, by the end the beginner would be as competent as many self described "experts".
- Highly Recommend!
By A1MPDQMWXOQGXI on 2007-11-12
Mr. Kelby, you have done it again. You have taken my inner most thoughts and written a book about them... well, the photography ones anyway.
I wasn't going to buy this book. I have a Kelby shrine at home and some books are outdated due to Photoshop versions changing. But, I had a $5 off Amazon purchase.
So, I opened the book and as always, was very impressed with the layout and clear table of contents. Plus I'm always impressed that Scott gives credit, including the always touching wife mention. Then I started reading the FAQs, which, by the way, I like about his books. I also like the quirky humor. Then I started looking at the pictures.
I consider myself to have a good eye and to take a great shot. But it never seems to live up to other photographers. And this book had my common problems and answers on how to fix them. And the end results looked like the end result that I was (hopefully) going for. And, there was everything that I needed to do to make my pictures look better. Right there in clear, easy to understand, steps. Now instead of bugging people - how did you get the shot to look like that? - I have it all right here.
Some other posts about the book remark that people should spend more time on their pre-processing photography and I fully agree. And other posts mention that this is just a recipe book with tons of extra steps, not just 7. But this book does an amazing thing - it gives all aspects (beginners mistakes to enhancing expert shots) of a picture and gives the reader the tools to fix and tweak and enhance their photo to their tastes.
I highly recommend this book and congratulate Scott on another fabulous book!
- Its No Bull!
By on 2007-11-08
Scott Kelby's 7 Point System works! I have 2,500+ hours experience with Photoshop, and the book still completely changed my workflow! It is by far the Best Photoshop Book I have ever read. You think you know photoshop, but you don't, at least not like Scott Kelby knows photoshop. (CS2 users - you can get by using only CS2, but for the full effect of the book, use CS3)
- I would definitely recommend this book
By A2AZ86KOQLGN6V on 2007-11-11
Finally, a book that you can actually use and not have sitting on the shelf collecting dust! I enjoyed working on the photos right along with the book. Scott Kelby puts his spin on this book, like his other best selling ones, and makes this enjoyable in his" teaching stlye" way!
I now go about editing in a completly different way and with fantastic results!!! With this "7-Point System", I plan on editing previous photos for a better result than before. Especially, when it comes to a backlit sky and underexposed foreground!
What is so great about this book, is that Scott takes you right from the beginning to the end! Everything is covered! With each lesson, you know what Scott will do next and why he is doing it that way.
So go out, get this book and I assure you, it won't be collecting dust!
Thank you Scott Kelby on a job well done!!!
- Best Book Ever for ANY Expertise Level of Photographer!
By A2PDZS3XKNH7TW on 2007-11-16
Once I received the book, it was hard to stop with the lessons until I was finished. I never thought my so-so images could become so breathtaking. I really believe that anyone using Scott's system would better their photography results more than ten fold instantly. Mr. Kelby teaches real-world ideas with easy-to-understand language.
IF YOU WANT TO IMPROVE THE RESULTS OF YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY, BUY THIS BOOK AS SOON AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN!!
- Results are the bottom line!
By A2EPXK6S96UETV on 2007-12-07
I loved this book. Scott Kelby's teaching style is humorous and easy to read. And the best part about this book is I get great results with his techniques. And in the end, that is what counts most to me.
Besides the great techniques taught in this book, it uses a system of teaching that is usually not found in other books. The key word here is "repetition". I admit, that the best way I learn is through repetition. If you go through this book with that in mind, you will learn a fast and easy workflow with enough variations to work with many of the common day problems we find while processing our photos.
I know that some people will say that you "should get it right in the camera to begin with" My feeling is that, yes, get it as right as you can in the camera. But remember, it doesn't matter if you are shooting with digital or film, the camera never records an image the way the eye actually sees it. It is the nature of the beast. Until Camera manufacturers work out ways to deal with dynamic range in the camera, it just isn't going to happen.
So it is our job as photographers to optimize the photo during processing. For me, this means processing from a RAW format. Not only do I want it to look like my mind visualized it, but I want creative freedom to go beyond that. And that is why I found this book so useful. Results are the bottom line.
- There's no A-B-C for digital photo processing
By A2JZUIAF8TM15U on 2007-12-17
This book is hyped as being the final say in digital photo development and Photoshop workflow, and gives the impression that once you read this book you'll know exactly what and how to make all your photos "picture perfect". The fact is, there's not getting away from the fact that even if you follow the workflow detailed in Kelby's book, it's up to your own personal judgment and opinion. This is borne out by the fact that Kelby has a 7-step methodology, but in many of the examples not all the steps are used. That's because he made the judgment that certain steps were not needed. There's no comment as to why some steps are used sometimes, but not others. So you are going to be left hanging and left with having to make your own judgment calls when it comes to your own work.
The book is nice and easy to use with step-by-step instructions. It's relies on the principle of learning by repetition and example. Even when you get to the end of the book and start working on your own photos, you are still going to be faced with the same questions as always: what do I do to improve this photo, what do I do first, what do I do next.
It is good to get a professional opinion of what is an appropriate workflow for developing your digital files in Photoshop. And I do feel that I learned a lot from working through the examples, but if the marketing hype around the book gives you the feeling that this book will take away the need to exercise any judgment, then you will be disappointed.
- Good direction, sometimes questionable results
By A1SFP0RU7W60G7 on 2007-12-03
Mr. Kelby's book is clearly written, well-illustrated, and is filled with useful techniques. You can rest assured that after completing the exercises that you will have a firm understanding on how to achieve the particular look evangelized within.
It's your call whether or not that look is what you'd like.
Personally, I find some of his results to have an over-processed look. This is most likely due to the fact that his work is destined for print. What oftentimes looks good on screen comes out flat or drab once on paper. I found myself lowering the effects about 10% or so.
I have lots of 1- and 2-star images, those without any chance of redemption. I have far fewer 4-stars or 5-stars. This book isn't for those.
This book is for your 3-star photographs, your C+ photographs. The ones that you keep coming back to, again and again. They're not yet great and perhaps you don't consciously recognize their potential, but there's something that draws you to them.
- Not what I was expecting
By A2UO17Y0ICGEPH on 2007-11-22
I have many Kelby's book. I bought this one expecting more of an advanced yet detailed explanations about the system. Not mucho of that.
Besides, thera are some photos that for me look better before the changes made with the 7 point system.
Good if you are the recipe kind of person.
- Conceptually a great idea but difficult to capitalize on
By A2F1LNEAIC36WO on 2008-01-27
The concept of having acutal photographs to work on using the instructions of the book is great. That is, only if you can get the photos onto your computer and opened in Photoshop/Bridge CS3. The book gives you one unhighlighted reference buried in the introduction to the web site to obtain the files containing the photos. This should not be a secret. No where is there any information as to what programs/plugins you must have on your computer in order to access these photos and therefore be able to use the book. This information should be available to a person considering buying the book. Not all of us have state of the art computers.
I went to the web site given by Mr. Kelby only to find that it lists other web sites not directly concerned with providing information on this book or others written by him and more importantly the web site was advertised as "for sale". Calling the 800 number listed on the cover of the book only got you to a sales office that was polite but had no knowledge of computers and had no recomendations as to where one could get information on how to open the photos and thereby use the book.
This was a waste of time and I have returned the book.
- Amazing Book!
By ARST9XW94FN7L on 2007-11-17
Hello,
I've just completed the first few chapters to this booka nd am already amazed by what I'm seeing. This is the best photo-retouching book ever! Mr Kelby you have done a fantastic job!
I've never written a review before but had to after starting this book!
If you want to snaz up your photos', or fix some problematic shots, this is the book for you. The step by step apporach is easy to follow along, and after only just the first few chapters I'm already seeing the potential for my own work (still gonna complete the book, tho!).
I was specifically wanting something on photo retouching and this book was what I wanted and more! Gives you follow along examples and will make you a retouching NINJA!
Extra highly recomended!
Man, I used a lot of exclamation points in this review.
- As Good as its Hype
By ASEZTJV89KAYN on 2007-12-23
This book was advertised on nearly every photographic website when it was released. I expected Scott Kelby to edge out Al Gore for a Nobel prize given the publisher's hype. But the book /is/ very good. Kelby gives a link to the files he works on and critiques each photo and then proceeds to correct each using his system. One can follow along step by step and duplicate his work using the same files.
Along the way he throws in nuggets like actions he uses to speed up his work flow. If you shoot raw and use PS it's one of the best (if not /the/ best) book of its type.
Maybe Mr. Gore should have been worried.
- A Must Have for Digital Photographer
By A226CT5SJQ8NQC on 2007-12-31
I was a bit skeptical about this book when Scott first announced it, since I feel comfortable with Adobe Photoshop, and with so much information out there about it already, do I really need one more Photoshop book on my shelf? But I am a fan of Scott Kelby, and I decided to get it anyway. After going through it, here are my pros and cons.
Pros-
Scott's teaching style. I like how Scott teaches. Anybody, including someone who barely started using Adobe Photoshop, can pick up any of his books, and immediately see improvement in his or her images. The 7-point System is written in chronological order, so you really should begin with chapter 1 and proceed accordingly, but his explanations are straightforward from the beginning, and if you already know how to add new layer, well, you'll move faster at the beginning.
Reasons Why. Scott is a excellent teacher when it comes to giving you tips, but what I found is that he doesn't always explain why he uses certain tools, whether he's doing that in his other books or on Photoshop User TV. However, in this book he often pauses and explains why we should use a gradient settings of this kind, or why the layer should be turned off before creating another copy of the background layer. I learn a lot this way.
Lessons You Commit to. I'm about half way through the book, but I'm making constant progress, as it's broken down by lessons and I tackle 1-2 chapters a day. All the images are available for download, and you're working through on them together with Scott. So it's more of a course than it is a book, which is approach I actually prefer.
Variety of Images. Scott takes turns processing all kinds of images, from macros to portraits to landscape, so his System applies to any kind of photography.
His Creative Thinking. Besides reading about Adobe Photoshop technique, I enjoy learning why Scott did what he did on particular image. It gives you a glimpse of his creative process and thinking, a part that is the hardest to develop when it comes to Photography, and to me that's as big of a value than any other aspect of his new book.
Cons-
Incompatibility with other versions of Photoshop. I don't care about this one, since I use Adobe Photoshop CS3, but users of other versions of Photoshop will be disappointed. Scott often uses smart object, smart filters, opens Jpeg's in Adobe RAW, etc., so you won't be able to follow this book unless you have Adobe Photoshop CS3.
Destructive Workflow. Scott flattens his images at least twice before he arrives at a final version. I started doing it more often now, as some changes I don't care about reversing, but I prefer to keep layers in case I want to adjust something later. But this one is easy to overcome - Sft+Ctrl/Cmd+Alt/Opt+E and you have the flattened version of the image on top of all you other layers, so this issue is minor.
Using ACR Instead of Lightroom. Scott is a faithful user of Adobe Lightroom, and published a great book about it. However, he uses Adobe Camera RAW for the beginning stages of his 7-steps workflow. Sometimes it creates problems if you're a heavy Lightroom user as I am. For example, it's not as easy to open the same RAW file twice and stack them on top of each other if you're using Lightroom. Others have found a work around it, but it's not as straight forward. Perhaps Scott could have included a chapter on this issue.
Bottom Line-
It's certainly a great purchase I made, and I highly recommend it. The pros far outweigh the cons. My work flow has improved, and I keep adding knowledge and tools that help my own creative process with each chapter I read.
- Scott Kelby's Lucky 7 (Photoshop 7-Point System)
By A1SUABPLMXZXCK on 2008-02-16
Scott Kelby's 7-Point System for Adobe Photoshop CS3: The seven key techniques for taking your images from flat to fantastic.
Ok, the alliteration aside, Scott Kelby has thrown down the gauntlet by challenging his readers to go through his new book, ... The 7-Point system, from cover to cover, and leave the experience able to transform any reasonable image into something they'd be proud to show their mother, friends and fellow photographers. And, yes, Scott says, right up front, that for this book to work--that to be able to develop the skills and confidence to rescue photos previously doomed to the digital trash bin--readers are going to have to go through all of the book's 21 lessons, download the corresponding photos from the book's Web site and actually do each recommended step in the lesson exercises.
Now remember, we're nominally talking about learning just seven Photoshop skills over the book's 263 pages; so the real question becomes not can Scott fulfill his promise to make the reader a much better (and faster) Photoshop user, but can he do it without boring the reader out of his or her skull? Having read the book, done the exercises and been very pleased at the results, I feel the answer is definitely "yes."
Fortunately, Scott's sense of humor, his tendency to add significant "extras" to the seven steps and his excellent book illustrations actually may make his readers wish there was a chapter 22 (or 23). I don't think it's giving away too much of the book's value to list the seven areas where Scott helps reader build up their knowledge and skills: Processing in Camera Raw*; Using Curves; Applying the Shadow/Highlight Tool; Painting With Light and Darkness; Using Channels to Make Adjustments; Using Blend Modes and Layer Masks; and Applying Sharpening. Along the way Scott will help the reader build Photoshop actions for repetitive tasks, turn the LAB mode from mysterious to user-friendly and bring the often overlooked (read that as studiously ignored) Apply command into the limelight.
Although Scott does his usual excellent job of explaining each concept and step along the way, I was glad I already had familiarity with Photoshop tools, layers, masks and channels. It made it much easier for me to jump right into working with the image of Lesson 1.
I do recommend Scott Kelby's 7-Point System for Adobe Photoshop CS3; but with this proviso: This is not a skim-it-and-put-it-on-the-shelf book; it's a hands-on set of detailed lessons that will generously reward anyone who makes the effort to do the work.
* For those readers who already own Adobe Lightroom, the Raw processing steps listed in the book can be done in that program rather than Adobe Camera Raw.
- 7-Point System
By A380CG1XJXLQ3E on 2007-11-26
This is an excellent book. Although it's designated for Intermediate and Advanced Photoshop users, it works well for a beginning user who has first viewed some how-to videos, such as I did.
Although I knew a lot about photography, I had never used any version of Photoshop before CS3. I bought 4 videos from NAPP and learned much about Photoshop CS3, but was having trouble sorting out when to use what method. This book solved that problem for me. Within days of completing the first lessons, I was producing prints to submit to competitions in my camera club.
I highly recommend it for people who have done as I did or for intermediate and advanced users who want to learn Photoshop CS3.
- Excellent book from Scott Kelby
By A680RUE1FDO8B on 2008-06-28
Scott Kelby is a prolific author, but his output is often little more than collections of recycled hints and tips. And all too often it is delivered in a style that Kelby obviously considers as humorous - and I find grating and annoying.
In the 7-Point System, however, Kelby is a reformed man. (Reshaped as well, it seems, since he mentions that he lost 100 pounds in a year and trekked 3 miles in 112 degree heat to capture what becomes a spectacular photograph.)
The 7-Points actually refers to seven very broad capabilities of Photoshop CS3 that permit an infinite range of adjustment, manipulation and alteration. In 21 lessons, using downloadable images, Kelby walks the user through many of the adjustments. Kelby provides only moderate explanation of the "why" of what reader is doing, but focuses on the "how" and "what". It is a quite acceptable approach: the reader gains insight and familiarity with the 7 broad capabilities.
It is, in the final analysis, a "learn by doing" approach and a good one.
All in all, this is an excellent book for the Photoshop beginning through mid-level user.
Jerry
- Scott Kelby's 7-Point System for Adobe Photoshop CS3
By ACHL8J6NDX2Q3 on 2007-12-07
This book is another fine example of Scott Kelby's dedication to assisting people not only to learn and use Photoshop but also to get the very best from Photoshop CS3 in the shortest possible time. Perhaps I am biased as I have purchased several Scott Kelby books, but before I found his books I, like so many others, struggled with Photoshop.
Kelby's 7-Point System yet again simplifies the use of Photoshop CS3 to the point that even if you are new to CS3 you can rescue most of your photographs that did not turn out as you planned.
This book will not disappoint and will be a valuable addition to your library.
Scott Kelby's 7-Point System for Adobe Photoshop CS3 (Voices).
- Also for CS2 users with Lightroom
By A181WBTJZ9DWG6 on 2008-01-19
I think of myself as a mid-level Photoshop user - past the beginner stage, but I only use PS every week or two. I use PS CS2 and Adobe Lightroom, which has the same editing capabilities as Camera Raw in Photoshop CS3. During the past 10 days I've completed 15 of the 21 lessons in the 7-Point System. The book is definitely written for CS3 users and makes no mention of alternatives if you're using CS2. I have been able to do 98% of the manipulations in the lessons using Lightroom and CS2. If I had only CS2, I'd have been stuck. Where Scott calls for using a smart filter on a layer copy, I import a 2nd file copy from Lightroom into PS and apply the filter, then "move" it onto the file I've been working on, etc.
The lessons succeed in pounding in certain things through repetition. If you were at all uncomfortable using adjustment layers, masks, blend modes and gradients, you won't be after completing this book. Every lesson has some elements that are unique (obscure/expert?) and I doubt that I'll have them remembered and available in my toolbox. I love to use keyboard shortcuts and Scott uses them to a fault. Some like D for default colors, Ctrl-J for layer copy are learned through repetition - and Scott almost always says what they're for. But he'll occasionally throw in a keyboard shortcut to make something happen and you have no idea what it's "really" doing.
There are a lot of things in the lessons that are recipe-like and beg for further experimentation / learning by the photographer. But, if you go through the lessons, you're almost certain to take your work to a much higher level and be able to work quickly to achieve those results.
|
|
Scott Kelby's 7-Point System for Adobe Photoshop CS3 (Voices) Accessories
|
|
|
|
You may also be interested in...
|
|
|
|
|
|
