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In this book, the author shows how to get the best out of the software and exploit the new CS4 functions. He dispenses with the usual beginner introductions to the user interface and gets straight to the essentials, which is very welcome for advanced Photoshop users, who are supposed to save time rather than read familiar material repeatedly.
The tools are not merely presented through a conventional example, but applied immediately in a useful context. This also applies to the Extended functions in the core areas of web, 3D and video. Areas normally treated more as peripheral subjects, such as automation, scripting and the new interface tools, are not omitted either.
Digital photographers receive tips for professional image and beauty retouching, with important subjects such as noise, moiré, blur, pixel defects, chromatic aberration and optical distortion also explained. Advanced tasks such as extraction with different techniques, masks, channels and LAB mode, composites, montages, and colour and tonal-value corrections are naturally included, as are the currently topical areas of HDR, panoramas and colour management.
Contents:
Preparing Digital Photographs Optimally
- Camera Raw, DNG, HDR
- Correcting noise and blur
- Correcting image and lens defects
- Portrait retouching, perspective retouching
- Retouching tools in detail
Colour and Colour Correction
- Black-and-white conversion
- Duotone, spot colours
- Tonal correction, curves
- Correcting skin tones and colour casts
- Correction in LAB mode
- Colour management
Creative Work with Photoshop CS4
- Selections, masks, alpha channels
- Professional extraction, panoramas
- Blending modes, layer styles
- Text effects, filters
- Web design with Photoshop, Fireworks
Perfect Output
- Colour separation, colour structure
- GCR/UCR, resolution, proofing
- Web output, Zoomify, Device Central
Photoshop CS4 in the Workflow
- Video and 3D
- Automation, scripting, panels
- Plug-ins, additional programs
This book actually increases efficiency at work. Faster approaches to old tasks and sensible use of the new CS4 features make this learning and reference book recommendable. The author inspires with many ideas and also looks beyond the immediate subject to possible satellite tools and plug-ins. Criticism is not withheld when a filter or plug-in is of little use, which makes the author appear quite likeable and honest. The conclusion can be stated as follows: there is a great deal in it - the 843 densely filled pages make it clear that there is much to learn and try.
Adobe Photoshop CS4 - Advanced Techniques
Thomas Bredenfeld
Publisher: Galileo Design
843 pages with DVD
ISBN 978-3-8362-1237-3
Further Links:
- Further information and sample chapter:
