Photoshop 6 Down & Dirty Tricks is packed cover to cover with step-by-step tutorials on how to create the coolest Photoshop 6 effects. Next to every tutorial, on every single page, there's a sidebar with a timesaving Photoshop 6 tip, trick, shortcut, or real-world technique to save readers time, money, and make them more efficient. Written in plain English, readers can jump in anywhere; simply open the book to the effect they want to create and follow along. In Photoshop 6 Down & Dirty Tricks, Photoshop guru Scott Kelby teaches the reader how to maximize their productivity and create the most sought after effects. Not another user manual, Graphically Speaking's Dave Huss has called the book "The mother of all Photoshop books!"
"Valuable tips infest this book like locusts from some biblical plague! A must for any Photoshop hack."
I used to think I was a fairly good Photoshop user, but after reading this book, I've come to the conclusion that I'm a moron. This Scott Kelby guy is a genius. He knows Photoshop like a vampire knows a neck, and he attacks his subject with the same gusto. The information, nay, wisdom gushes out of this book like water through a fire hydrant. It's just good!
The best part about all this is that Kelby doesn't ever put on airs. He never says, "Oh, I am the Photoshop Lord, so let me tell you the sordid history of Photoshop and pontificate at length about my many graphics arts achievements" or any of that other malarkey that a lot of those so-called expert books regurgitate. Kelby is the humble master, offering the most amazing tricks and suggestions you would never think up yourself, and doing so in a tight, well-written manner. I mean, this book reads so well that it actually made me want to subscribe to the Photoshop User magazine he edits just to read more of his stuff.
This is not a beginner's book. Don't pick it up if you're just learning Photoshop or are utterly unfamiliar with the terms. There is no handholding. There are no tedious explanations or goofy icons. It's just knowledge and wisdom written and illustrated in an appropriate and easy-to-follow manner. Even a Photoshop moron such as myself could follow the instructions and do amazing things.
The cover price may pinch you, but the information is worth it--even without the four-color illustrations on practically every page. (And the illustrations are necessary and important, not like the eye candy or silly graphics of many other four-color books.) This book reminds me of the heyday of computer book publishing way back in the late '80s: it's good, well-presented information, and it makes you a better computer user after reading it. I can't recommend it enough. --Dan Gookin
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
Best book for learning Photoshop quickly!:
I love this book!!! I wasn't familiar with Photoshop at all and didn't have time to read a bunch of tedious text to learn what I wanted to know and with this book I had so much fun that I ended up learning much, much more and the exercises in the book are so well explained with pictures and keyboard shortcuts that you quickly become a real pro at making professional graphic designs and cool effects.
I'm a web designer and I use Photoshop on a daily basis and it has pushed my career forward in leaps... more info
Just say "NO" Newer editions - 'Maybe':
Great tricks. But my really old Adobe Photoshop 3 Wow book had double the tricks and thorough explanations on how to achieve them. My biggest complaint: The book gives you few clues on how they made the trick. I tried the first trick. Because the book fails to give much explanation, you have to hunt and peck on your own. After a few days of this, you have your friends try it. Over the weeks, the two of you finally figure out what the hell they did! And it has little to do with what the book said.... more info
Thanks Scott!:
Using this book I learned how to create impressive metal and liquid lettering effects to enhance stunning ads for my archery manufacturing company!
Kelby provides simple instructions that teach you the keyboard shortcuts that will speed your graphic design. His ideas are great for magazine and web design.
Thanks for the help!
You don't have to know the whole program:
This book allowed me to make things with Photoshop 6 even though I did not understand the whole program. Also introduced me to some of the features so I could use them later.
