Photoshop Studio with Bert Monroy: Digital Painting (Voices That Matter) Reviews

• Inspiring

  
  By A2RHBCOUX285V6 on 2008-04-23
  Photoshop Studio with Bert Monroy: Digital Painting is another hit. I am a big fan of Bert Monroy. He consistently presents information about digital subjects that are focused, and simplified. I found the first chapter workflow very informative and the rest of the book to be inspiring. This book belongs on your book shelf. Although beginners can learn from this book it is geared for the intermediate to advance user. I give it four out of five stars.
  
  

• Disappointing rehash with only a few new tricks, phoned in.

  
  By A2JVBL7O800L5 on 2008-04-26
  I sorry Monroy fans. Although Bert's books have certainly been influential. This one, is a rehash of old tricks and just a few new ideas to pepper the pages with incongruent images. The tips and tricks are enough for the uninitiated but can be found in backdated pages of Photoshop magazine and other adobe branded periodicals. Save you time, save your money. That is unless you would like to buy my copy...
  
  T.
  
  

• Donny Yankellow's MyMac.com Review

  
  By A1VLVWTLV3LVHR on 2008-05-08
  When TechTV and the Screen Savers were around I always looked forward to the segments with Bert Monroy doing a Photoshop tutorial. So, when I had the opportunity to review his new book, Photoshop Studio with Bert Monroy: Digital Painting, I jumped at it.
  
  The book may not be what you'd expect. It was not what I expected. It is not a book of traditional how-to lessons, although you will learn how to improve your Photoshop skills. Instead, it is a book by an artist describing the process he goes through in creating his digital paintings. This process not only includes how he made a table cloth with a particular pattern on it, but also going out and taking the right photographs for reference.
  
  In his Introduction Monroy explains how the book started as the traditional how-to book, but he was encouraged by several people to make it about how he paints and works. This decision was made after he started writing the book. As a result, the how-to chapters are available online as a downloadable bonus. Directions for accessing these chapters are in the book.
  
  The beginning of the book describes Bert's process for starting a painting, finding reference materials, and how he determines lighting in a painting.
  The book then moves on to its heart, the paintings. There are seven chapters describing the process of creating seven different paintings. Each chapter contains descriptions of how to achieve the same effects in your paintings.
  
  The end of the book contains a chapter full of tutorials. These tutorials might be considered your traditional how-to section of the book.
  Overall, this is a fantastic book that presents digital painting in Photoshop in a very creative way. As an artist and an art teacher, I really enjoyed reading the process and thinking that went into these paintings and other painting Monroy works on.
  
  The book is not for the Photoshop beginner. It will not teach you how to use Photoshop. In fact, it assumes that the reader is familiar with Photoshop and many of the tools.
  
  At a price of $[...] (U.S.) it does seem a bit pricey. I would be more inclined to purchase a book like this at the $[...] range. However, if you are a digital artist and a Bert Monroy fan, and you want to drop $[...] down on a book; you won't be disappointed.
  
  MyMac.com rating: 4.5 out of 5
  Originally Published at: [...]
  
  

• Amazing

  
  By A2YIAPIFYR3OAB on 2008-05-21
  If one word sums this book up its "Amazing". Some other reviews say it is a rehash and I can't address that, but if this is the first of his books you have read it is very well done. His work is unbelievable. You swear you are looking at a photograph. His techniques are easily explained and the reference pictures are perfect for the material. It is a quick read. There are also downloadable pdf files that go into more detail but the book stands on its own to me. Great Work!!!
  
  

• Solid compilation of Photoshop digital painting techniques.

  
  By A2UWPPU5GZLMQZ on 2008-05-23
  As T. J. Riley said, some of the material in this book does look a lot like what's been presented in past issues of Photoshop User, and for a long time subscriber, this book may not be anything special. I do seem to recognize some of the techniques. Yet, it's still a useful compilation. The wonderful examples are inspiring. The example workflow is solid. And, it doesn't hurt to have a series of disconnected tutorials compiled, and coordinated along a theme. As a long time NAPP member and consequently a subscriber to Photoshop User, I wouldn't say that the book is a revelation but it is useful and it never hurts to go over a technique or two that I don't use often again. It also never hurts to feel like I'm looking over the shoulder of a master displaying his craft, and Bert Monroy is a master, not only of Photoshop but also at teaching it. If you're interested in Photoshop as a painting tool, you could do a lot worse than getting this book.
  
  

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