This book is the best I have found for help with selections in Photoshop.

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Product Description

Designers, photographers, and artists are using Photoshop to create fantastic and realistic images for illustrations, fine art, and editorial content. Whether they're landscape or portrait photographers, illustrators or fine artists, masking and compositing are essential skills to master for combining images to the extent that it is impossible to tell where one image stops and the other one begins.

Photoshop artist and educator Katrin Eismann takes readers through numerous step-by-step examples, highlighting the tools and techniques used for masking and combining images. Featuring work by leading artists and photographers, this book focuses on the techniques used to create compelling compositions, including making fast and accurate selections, mastering Photoshop's masking tools, and implementing the concept and photography from start to finish. The book addresses working with Photoshop's selection tools; selecting and maintaining fine details and edges; working with difficult image elements, such as cloth, hair, or translucent objects; and green-screen techniques. Katrin also addresses the creative aspects of image compositing, including how to start with a concept, plan and execute the photography, and seamlessly assemble the image. Combining technical direction and inspiration, this book will expand readers' imaginations, so they can fluidly and professionally create images with Photoshop.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #131213 in Books
• Published on: 2004-10-21
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 560 pages

From the Back Cover

Designers, photographers, and artists are using Photoshop to create fantastic and realistic images for illustrations, fine art, and editorial content. Whether they're landscape or portrait photographers, illustrators or fine artists, masking and compositing are essential skills to master for combining images to the extent that it is impossible to tell where one image stops and the other one begins.

Photoshop artist and educator Katrin Eismann takes readers through numerous step-by-step examples, highlighting the tools and techniques used for masking and combining images. Featuring work by leading artists and photographers, this book focuses on the techniques used to create compelling compositions, including making fast and accurate selections, mastering Photoshop's masking tools, and implementing the concept and photography from start to finish. The book addresses working with Photoshop's selection tools; selecting and maintaining fine details and edges; working with difficult image elements, such as cloth, hair, or translucent objects; and green-screen techniques. Katrin also addresses the creative aspects of image compositing, including how to start with a concept, plan and execute the photography, and seamlessly assemble the image. Combining technical direction and inspiration, this book will expand readers' imaginations, so they can fluidly and professionally create images with Photoshop.

About the Author

Katrin Eismann is an internationally respected lecturer and teacher on the subject of imaging, restoration, retouching, and the impact of emerging technologies upon professional photographers, artists, and educators. She is the author of Photoshop Restoration and Retouching 2nd Edition (New Riders),and is the co-author of Real World Digital Photography 2nd Edition(Peachpit Press).

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Customer Reviews

Great
I have always found selecting a tedious job and I was never sure which tool to use for a given job. This book is a blessing, it clearly goes through each selection tool and explains pros and cons for each one and explains how you can use them with Quick mask or use a combination of selection tools to get what you want. I even use Pen now since it has been explained properly in this book.

Masking - though I had grabbed the concepts by reading posts on the web I needed a book that explained the "beast" in greater detail. You should work through all the examples to get the best out of this book - it is well worth the effort.

Overall, I can only agree with the other reviewers - One of the better photoshop books on the market. In fact I can't wait until the updated "restoration" book from the same author is out on the market..

Photoshop heaven!
WOW - this book is absolutely amazing! Yes, it's expensive and no, it doesn't even come with a CD (although you can download most of the images), but it's over 500 pages long and in my opinion it's well worth every penny.

I've been using Photoshop for a few years to edit my photos and thought I had a relatively good grasp of it. However, every chapter of this book has taught me HEAPS of new tips and innovative techniques that I've never seen anywhere else. The fact that there are so many walk-throughs makes it easy to try things out and the book has hundreds of colour photos to illustrate the techniques.

If you want to make life easier for yourself when it comes to photo editing or if you're interested in discovering the best ways to use selections, masks, paths etc you need this book.

Buy it, you won't regret it - you'll be in Photoshop heaven!

Pure Magic
This has to be one of the most useful and comprehensive Photoshop books available.
If you want to discover a multitude of methods to make masks / selections, simply explained, buy this book, download the images, and work through the tutorials. They are pure magic!
I thought I was quite good at Photoshop but Katrin shows you tools and methods I personally had never thought about. Every possible situation is explained, and well illustrated in the most simple and comprehensive way possible. This plus the excellent layout and quality of the book make it a "must buy".
I would possibly add a word of caution as to whether or not it is suitable for beginners as I feel it does assume a knowledge of Photoshop throughout, but I stress this is only my opinion. Others may disagree.