Much better than expected, 08 Nov 2008
The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2 Book for Digital Photographers (Voices That Matter)
Excellent book that I have learned more from in a week than I did from Rob Sheppard's Lightroom 1 book in several months. I know that some people find Scott's casual style a bit irritating, but it is not at all intrusive in this book. In fact I think it helps me to remember things. Screen shots linked directly to the "stepped" approach, provide both a readable book and a reference work. The practical "real life" approach suits me and I would think many other photographers - Thoroughly recommended!

A lot more to Lightroom than the obvious, 08 Oct 2008
Mr. Kelby always does a good job with all his books, but this is his best yet.Written in a clear, and concise manner, and the screen captures this time are readable without the aid of a magnifying glass. The book follows a good workflow throughout, and proves what a comprehensive programme Lightroom is. This is not evident at first or even second glance, and yet Mr. Kelby makes it all appear so easy, which few writers manage to attain with so called technical books, this is his big secret.
The book is also a valuable reference.

I never knew there was so much in it!, 02 Oct 2008
With the beta release of Lightroom 2, I decided to see what all the fuss was about and try it. Once Adobe released it to manufacturing, I was happy to switch my workflow from CaptureOne + Adobe Bridge + Photoshop to Lightroom 2 + Photoshop. I was up-and-running very quickly, but I knew I was just scratching the surface. Obviously, there's a lot in Lightroom 2 and I wasn't exploiting very much of it.
I was rather pleased, then, to see that Scott Kelby was releasing this new volume and pre-ordering it was a no-brainer. I particularly like Scott's informal, conversational style of writing. I expect some may find it irritating, but for me, it makes his books more pleasant to read. Consequently, it makes it easier to retain the knowledge that he imparts.
I'm reading this one from cover-to-cover, as Scott recommends, and it's certainly working. Within the first few pages, I found useful ways to incorporate Lightroom facilities that I simply hadn't encountered. As I continue to work through, there's more and more that is helping improve my workflow considerably.
I sometimes wonder if Scott's books are a little lightweight. They certainly don't tax your brain too much. I guess that's because most of the books I read tend to be detailed technical references where there's a vast amount of information to impart in a limited space. The way Scott writes, it seems too easy. But then, that's the point, isn't it? When you're working with hundreds or even thousands of photographs at a time, it really does need to be easy. So, thumbs up to Mr Kelby for helping me find new ways to improve the efficiency of my workflow, yet again.

Much better than expected, 08 Nov 2008
The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2 Book for Digital Photographers (Voices That Matter)
Excellent book that I have learned more from in a week than I did from Rob Sheppard's Lightroom 1 book in several months. I know that some people find Scott's casual style a bit irritating, but it is not at all intrusive in this book. In fact I think it helps me to remember things. Screen shots linked directly to the "stepped" approach, provide both a readable book and a reference work. The practical "real life" approach suits me and I would think many other photographers - Thoroughly recommended!

A lot more to Lightroom than the obvious, 08 Oct 2008
Mr. Kelby always does a good job with all his books, but this is his best yet.Written in a clear, and concise manner, and the screen captures this time are readable without the aid of a magnifying glass. The book follows a good workflow throughout, and proves what a comprehensive programme Lightroom is. This is not evident at first or even second glance, and yet Mr. Kelby makes it all appear so easy, which few writers manage to attain with so called technical books, this is his big secret.
The book is also a valuable reference.

I never knew there was so much in it!, 02 Oct 2008
With the beta release of Lightroom 2, I decided to see what all the fuss was about and try it. Once Adobe released it to manufacturing, I was happy to switch my workflow from CaptureOne + Adobe Bridge + Photoshop to Lightroom 2 + Photoshop. I was up-and-running very quickly, but I knew I was just scratching the surface. Obviously, there's a lot in Lightroom 2 and I wasn't exploiting very much of it.
I was rather pleased, then, to see that Scott Kelby was releasing this new volume and pre-ordering it was a no-brainer. I particularly like Scott's informal, conversational style of writing. I expect some may find it irritating, but for me, it makes his books more pleasant to read. Consequently, it makes it easier to retain the knowledge that he imparts.
I'm reading this one from cover-to-cover, as Scott recommends, and it's certainly working. Within the first few pages, I found useful ways to incorporate Lightroom facilities that I simply hadn't encountered. As I continue to work through, there's more and more that is helping improve my workflow considerably.
I sometimes wonder if Scott's books are a little lightweight. They certainly don't tax your brain too much. I guess that's because most of the books I read tend to be detailed technical references where there's a vast amount of information to impart in a limited space. The way Scott writes, it seems too easy. But then, that's the point, isn't it? When you're working with hundreds or even thousands of photographs at a time, it really does need to be easy. So, thumbs up to Mr Kelby for helping me find new ways to improve the efficiency of my workflow, yet again.

Very Comprehensive, 31 Oct 2008
Nice to find a book that strips away the jargon and really lets you get into the gut of the program. Highly recommended

The wrong approach for me, 30 Sep 2008
Having bought and enjoyed the Scott Kelby Lightroom 1 book I thought, variety being the spice of life, that for Lightroom 2 I would buy the Martin Evening book.

Having seen the Evening LR1 book in shops I was surprised to see that the pages in the LR2 book are smaller but to compensate the book is about 50% thicker. For me this has a handling disadvantage but more importantly the screen shots have to be smaller. This means that with many examples I struggle to see what the screen shot is trying to convey. Indeed the text on many of the screenshots is unreadable.

There is also a big difference in styles and approaches between the two authors. Evening tells you at length what every module, button and slider is for. Kelby tells you how to use Lightroom.

So If you want a reference book then this is the book for you. If you want a book that tells you when and how to use the controls to improve your photos then buy Kelby's books. My preference is for the latter.

Note: Although the Evening book purports to offer free online access to the electronic version you will find when you sign up to the offer that access is only free for the first 45 days. Not recommended.


The Best Book on Digital Capture Processing & Workflow, 18 Sep 2008
A fantastic book for Anyone, from serious enthusiasts to Semi-Pro's, or Old Pro's looking to finally go digital and leave the Titanic that Traditional Analogue photography has finally become.

Out of all the books I have checked out, this is the one. It's engaging, transparent, and fun, allowing the reader to dip in and out, or study in depth. It teaches seamlessly.

Buy It!

Just the job, 14 Sep 2008
After a short preamble describing the whys and wherefores of LR the book quickly down to business with importing photos into LR, then on to catloging, correcting and printing following the usual photographers workflow. There's a short (but useful) section on geotagging photos, which actually has little to do with LR2 (at the moment), but it's becoming an important part of a photographers workflow.

It's an approach that works well and Evenings style is both informative and relaxed, but he never strays too far from the business at hand and isn't 'chatty'. The book is printed on good quality paper so the sample photographs and screen prints are clear and clearly illustrate the processes being described. They are almost all there for a purpose, and not just as eye candy.

It's a book you can both use as a reference and sit and read in a spare moment. If you're new to LR and looking for something to get you up and running, then this will be just the job and will probably still be useful in 6 or 12 months time when you're experienced with the UI. If you're an experienced user of LR v1, then it's probably not as useful as it'll be covering V1 features you're familiar with, but there's a lot of new stuff in LR v2 and I doubt you'll find it better described elsewhere.

Much better than expected, 08 Nov 2008
The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2 Book for Digital Photographers (Voices That Matter)
Excellent book that I have learned more from in a week than I did from Rob Sheppard's Lightroom 1 book in several months. I know that some people find Scott's casual style a bit irritating, but it is not at all intrusive in this book. In fact I think it helps me to remember things. Screen shots linked directly to the "stepped" approach, provide both a readable book and a reference work. The practical "real life" approach suits me and I would think many other photographers - Thoroughly recommended!

A lot more to Lightroom than the obvious, 08 Oct 2008
Mr. Kelby always does a good job with all his books, but this is his best yet.Written in a clear, and concise manner, and the screen captures this time are readable without the aid of a magnifying glass. The book follows a good workflow throughout, and proves what a comprehensive programme Lightroom is. This is not evident at first or even second glance, and yet Mr. Kelby makes it all appear so easy, which few writers manage to attain with so called technical books, this is his big secret.
The book is also a valuable reference.

I never knew there was so much in it!, 02 Oct 2008
With the beta release of Lightroom 2, I decided to see what all the fuss was about and try it. Once Adobe released it to manufacturing, I was happy to switch my workflow from CaptureOne + Adobe Bridge + Photoshop to Lightroom 2 + Photoshop. I was up-and-running very quickly, but I knew I was just scratching the surface. Obviously, there's a lot in Lightroom 2 and I wasn't exploiting very much of it.
I was rather pleased, then, to see that Scott Kelby was releasing this new volume and pre-ordering it was a no-brainer. I particularly like Scott's informal, conversational style of writing. I expect some may find it irritating, but for me, it makes his books more pleasant to read. Consequently, it makes it easier to retain the knowledge that he imparts.
I'm reading this one from cover-to-cover, as Scott recommends, and it's certainly working. Within the first few pages, I found useful ways to incorporate Lightroom facilities that I simply hadn't encountered. As I continue to work through, there's more and more that is helping improve my workflow considerably.
I sometimes wonder if Scott's books are a little lightweight. They certainly don't tax your brain too much. I guess that's because most of the books I read tend to be detailed technical references where there's a vast amount of information to impart in a limited space. The way Scott writes, it seems too easy. But then, that's the point, isn't it? When you're working with hundreds or even thousands of photographs at a time, it really does need to be easy. So, thumbs up to Mr Kelby for helping me find new ways to improve the efficiency of my workflow, yet again.

Very Comprehensive, 31 Oct 2008
Nice to find a book that strips away the jargon and really lets you get into the gut of the program. Highly recommended

The wrong approach for me, 30 Sep 2008
Having bought and enjoyed the Scott Kelby Lightroom 1 book I thought, variety being the spice of life, that for Lightroom 2 I would buy the Martin Evening book.

Having seen the Evening LR1 book in shops I was surprised to see that the pages in the LR2 book are smaller but to compensate the book is about 50% thicker. For me this has a handling disadvantage but more importantly the screen shots have to be smaller. This means that with many examples I struggle to see what the screen shot is trying to convey. Indeed the text on many of the screenshots is unreadable.

There is also a big difference in styles and approaches between the two authors. Evening tells you at length what every module, button and slider is for. Kelby tells you how to use Lightroom.

So If you want a reference book then this is the book for you. If you want a book that tells you when and how to use the controls to improve your photos then buy Kelby's books. My preference is for the latter.

Note: Although the Evening book purports to offer free online access to the electronic version you will find when you sign up to the offer that access is only free for the first 45 days. Not recommended.


The Best Book on Digital Capture Processing & Workflow, 18 Sep 2008
A fantastic book for Anyone, from serious enthusiasts to Semi-Pro's, or Old Pro's looking to finally go digital and leave the Titanic that Traditional Analogue photography has finally become.

Out of all the books I have checked out, this is the one. It's engaging, transparent, and fun, allowing the reader to dip in and out, or study in depth. It teaches seamlessly.

Buy It!

Just the job, 14 Sep 2008
After a short preamble describing the whys and wherefores of LR the book quickly down to business with importing photos into LR, then on to catloging, correcting and printing following the usual photographers workflow. There's a short (but useful) section on geotagging photos, which actually has little to do with LR2 (at the moment), but it's becoming an important part of a photographers workflow.

It's an approach that works well and Evenings style is both informative and relaxed, but he never strays too far from the business at hand and isn't 'chatty'. The book is printed on good quality paper so the sample photographs and screen prints are clear and clearly illustrate the processes being described. They are almost all there for a purpose, and not just as eye candy.

It's a book you can both use as a reference and sit and read in a spare moment. If you're new to LR and looking for something to get you up and running, then this will be just the job and will probably still be useful in 6 or 12 months time when you're experienced with the UI. If you're an experienced user of LR v1, then it's probably not as useful as it'll be covering V1 features you're familiar with, but there's a lot of new stuff in LR v2 and I doubt you'll find it better described elsewhere.

Photoshop CS3 for photographers, 24 Oct 2008
This is quite a big book, and comes with a very informative DVD. It goes into a lot of detail and this sometimes makes it hard reading, it probably best to not try and read it "cover to cover", but rather use it like I do as a "reference" book. Some excellent techniques are shown, and the book is very well laid out and it is normally easy to find the information you require.

The Next Level, 18 Sep 2008
A Professional photographer shares his knowledge with honesty and clarity. I recommend this book 100 % for digital photographers of all levels.

Simple to understand, so you can learn with dexterity.

Excellent resource, 10 Aug 2008
As a graphic designer and an amateur photographer, I find this book one of my most useful resources. If I'm looking learn a new technique or improve an old one this is the first place I turn to for help. The way the book is written allows me to either see quickly how to do something or, go in to some real depth. This is the third of Martin Evenings books I own and all of them have proved invaluable, and now doubt once CS4 is available, Martins book (which I'm sure will appear), will be where I go to learn new skills and techniques.

Deeeeeeelighted, 04 Aug 2008
In a moment of extravagance I bought both Scott Kelby's and Martin Evening's books on Photoshop CS3. I have since sold the Scott Kelby book after giving up halfway through ! If you want to make friends with a needy, middle aged man, then his is the book for you. I just got sick of the corny jokes and the lack of focus. In contrast Martin Evening's book is up to his usual high standard. It's beautifully organised and has a clear focus on each aspect of the program in turn.

Easily the best, and not only for professional Editors, 10 Jul 2008
I am finding this CS3 guide extremely helpful. I'm not a professional photographer, but working with graphics from camera to finished publications in the charity sector made a clear and concise guide to CS3 essential when I upgraded. I won't need all of the chapters but those which do relate my needs provide expert advice with a clarity and precision that is often lacking in user guides of this kind. The DVD which comes with the book is an absolute bonus and really accelerates the learning process. The photo samples provided support the explanations of new CS3 features admirably and many of the images are simply stunning. I also like the author's detached frankness when explaining occasional CS3 features which disappoint. I am similarly reassured by the same, detached comments when the writer draws attention to competing products.
An excellent guide. I just wish I'd purchased it from Amazon on line and saved myself ten quid!

Much better than expected, 08 Nov 2008
The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2 Book for Digital Photographers (Voices That Matter)
Excellent book that I have learned more from in a week than I did from Rob Sheppard's Lightroom 1 book in several months. I know that some people find Scott's casual style a bit irritating, but it is not at all intrusive in this book. In fact I think it helps me to remember things. Screen shots linked directly to the "stepped" approach, provide both a readable book and a reference work. The practical "real life" approach suits me and I would think many other photographers - Thoroughly recommended!

A lot more to Lightroom than the obvious, 08 Oct 2008
Mr. Kelby always does a good job with all his books, but this is his best yet.Written in a clear, and concise manner, and the screen captures this time are readable without the aid of a magnifying glass. The book follows a good workflow throughout, and proves what a comprehensive programme Lightroom is. This is not evident at first or even second glance, and yet Mr. Kelby makes it all appear so easy, which few writers manage to attain with so called technical books, this is his big secret.
The book is also a valuable reference.

I never knew there was so much in it!, 02 Oct 2008
With the beta release of Lightroom 2, I decided to see what all the fuss was about and try it. Once Adobe released it to manufacturing, I was happy to switch my workflow from CaptureOne + Adobe Bridge + Photoshop to Lightroom 2 + Photoshop. I was up-and-running very quickly, but I knew I was just scratching the surface. Obviously, there's a lot in Lightroom 2 and I wasn't exploiting very much of it.
I was rather pleased, then, to see that Scott Kelby was releasing this new volume and pre-ordering it was a no-brainer. I particularly like Scott's informal, conversational style of writing. I expect some may find it irritating, but for me, it makes his books more pleasant to read. Consequently, it makes it easier to retain the knowledge that he imparts.
I'm reading this one from cover-to-cover, as Scott recommends, and it's certainly working. Within the first few pages, I found useful ways to incorporate Lightroom facilities that I simply hadn't encountered. As I continue to work through, there's more and more that is helping improve my workflow considerably.
I sometimes wonder if Scott's books are a little lightweight. They certainly don't tax your brain too much. I guess that's because most of the books I read tend to be detailed technical references where there's a vast amount of information to impart in a limited space. The way Scott writes, it seems too easy. But then, that's the point, isn't it? When you're working with hundreds or even thousands of photographs at a time, it really does need to be easy. So, thumbs up to Mr Kelby for helping me find new ways to improve the efficiency of my workflow, yet again.

Very Comprehensive, 31 Oct 2008
Nice to find a book that strips away the jargon and really lets you get into the gut of the program. Highly recommended

The wrong approach for me, 30 Sep 2008
Having bought and enjoyed the Scott Kelby Lightroom 1 book I thought, variety being the spice of life, that for Lightroom 2 I would buy the Martin Evening book.

Having seen the Evening LR1 book in shops I was surprised to see that the pages in the LR2 book are smaller but to compensate the book is about 50% thicker. For me this has a handling disadvantage but more importantly the screen shots have to be smaller. This means that with many examples I struggle to see what the screen shot is trying to convey. Indeed the text on many of the screenshots is unreadable.

There is also a big difference in styles and approaches between the two authors. Evening tells you at length what every module, button and slider is for. Kelby tells you how to use Lightroom.

So If you want a reference book then this is the book for you. If you want a book that tells you when and how to use the controls to improve your photos then buy Kelby's books. My preference is for the latter.

Note: Although the Evening book purports to offer free online access to the electronic version you will find when you sign up to the offer that access is only free for the first 45 days. Not recommended.


The Best Book on Digital Capture Processing & Workflow, 18 Sep 2008
A fantastic book for Anyone, from serious enthusiasts to Semi-Pro's, or Old Pro's looking to finally go digital and leave the Titanic that Traditional Analogue photography has finally become.

Out of all the books I have checked out, this is the one. It's engaging, transparent, and fun, allowing the reader to dip in and out, or study in depth. It teaches seamlessly.

Buy It!

Just the job, 14 Sep 2008
After a short preamble describing the whys and wherefores of LR the book quickly down to business with importing photos into LR, then on to catloging, correcting and printing following the usual photographers workflow. There's a short (but useful) section on geotagging photos, which actually has little to do with LR2 (at the moment), but it's becoming an important part of a photographers workflow.

It's an approach that works well and Evenings style is both informative and relaxed, but he never strays too far from the business at hand and isn't 'chatty'. The book is printed on good quality paper so the sample photographs and screen prints are clear and clearly illustrate the processes being described. They are almost all there for a purpose, and not just as eye candy.

It's a book you can both use as a reference and sit and read in a spare moment. If you're new to LR and looking for something to get you up and running, then this will be just the job and will probably still be useful in 6 or 12 months time when you're experienced with the UI. If you're an experienced user of LR v1, then it's probably not as useful as it'll be covering V1 features you're familiar with, but there's a lot of new stuff in LR v2 and I doubt you'll find it better described elsewhere.

Photoshop CS3 for photographers, 24 Oct 2008
This is quite a big book, and comes with a very informative DVD. It goes into a lot of detail and this sometimes makes it hard reading, it probably best to not try and read it "cover to cover", but rather use it like I do as a "reference" book. Some excellent techniques are shown, and the book is very well laid out and it is normally easy to find the information you require.

The Next Level, 18 Sep 2008
A Professional photographer shares his knowledge with honesty and clarity. I recommend this book 100 % for digital photographers of all levels.

Simple to understand, so you can learn with dexterity.

Excellent resource, 10 Aug 2008
As a graphic designer and an amateur photographer, I find this book one of my most useful resources. If I'm looking learn a new technique or improve an old one this is the first place I turn to for help. The way the book is written allows me to either see quickly how to do something or, go in to some real depth. This is the third of Martin Evenings books I own and all of them have proved invaluable, and now doubt once CS4 is available, Martins book (which I'm sure will appear), will be where I go to learn new skills and techniques.

Deeeeeeelighted, 04 Aug 2008
In a moment of extravagance I bought both Scott Kelby's and Martin Evening's books on Photoshop CS3. I have since sold the Scott Kelby book after giving up halfway through ! If you want to make friends with a needy, middle aged man, then his is the book for you. I just got sick of the corny jokes and the lack of focus. In contrast Martin Evening's book is up to his usual high standard. It's beautifully organised and has a clear focus on each aspect of the program in turn.

Easily the best, and not only for professional Editors, 10 Jul 2008
I am finding this CS3 guide extremely helpful. I'm not a professional photographer, but working with graphics from camera to finished publications in the charity sector made a clear and concise guide to CS3 essential when I upgraded. I won't need all of the chapters but those which do relate my needs provide expert advice with a clarity and precision that is often lacking in user guides of this kind. The DVD which comes with the book is an absolute bonus and really accelerates the learning process. The photo samples provided support the explanations of new CS3 features admirably and many of the images are simply stunning. I also like the author's detached frankness when explaining occasional CS3 features which disappoint. I am similarly reassured by the same, detached comments when the writer draws attention to competing products.
An excellent guide. I just wish I'd purchased it from Amazon on line and saved myself ten quid!

Yes the humour is bad... , 01 Dec 2008
After reading some of the previous reviews, I thought I would buy this book as surely some of the comments about the humour being awful must've been exaggerated!? Well, sadly not - the humour is truly awful. But don't let this put you off - the book in itself is amazing. I read it cover to cover in one sitting and had to get up to try all the techniques, despite it being way past my bedtime. I find the book easy to follow, the techniques are brilliant and will have anyone making the most of CS3 in no time! Highly recommended. (although I would agree that while the book tells you "how", it will not give you understanding of "why")

Good for Photographers, 07 Sep 2008
Firstly don't let the humour comments put you off - it' not that bad. What the book does for digital photographers is tell you how to post process for great results and how to do some neat effects; what it doesn't do is explain why or what some of the steps are for. If you are creative or want to understand the workings of CS3 then look elsewhere. I got the CS3 Bible as well (which does the opposite - give the how and why but not much about what you can achieve) and between the two I got what I needed.

The book is nicely illustrated and all the steps to get the effects are clear and easy to follow.

Buy it and start USING Photoshop, 06 Sep 2008
If you have Photoshop, this book will simply help you understand it and start making it work for you.
Forget all the comments about Scott Kelby's humour, its an easy to read book that explains things well.
I also bought the Dummies book for CS3, it really isn't a patch on this one and just doesn't explain anything clearly.
Buy this book and you will be a Kelby fan for life (even if he is an American!)

Fighting through Photoshop CS3, 13 Aug 2008
I have been amateur photographer for years and have long since left my darkroom behind.
In recent times my interest has been revived by the new high quality digital pocket camera. In my case a Panasonic TZ3
Having played about with Photoshop I soon found I was getting nowhere fast until that is I purchased Scott Kebly's The Adobe Photoshop CS3 book.
I truly love this book; its step by step guide is a dream to use. Full of colour photos to accompany the instruction is great.
I used my own photos whilst going following the instructions which truly change the quality of the finished image.
I agree with other reviewers that Scott's humour is very American but don't let this put you off buying a truly great book. I would say the book is for the beginner to intermediate Photoshop user but has something for everyone.
The only down side is that I have hundreds of digital photos waiting for some Photoshop treatment.
Good luck any enjoy your copy.


Dissapointed, 26 Jul 2008
In a moment of extravagance I bought both Scott Kelby's and Martin Evening's books on Photoshop CS3. I have since sold the Scott Kelby book after giving up halfway through ! If you want to make friends with a needy, middle aged man, then this is the book for you. I just got sick of the corny jokes and the lack of focus. On too many occasions I found myself skipping pages and paragraphs of irrelevant "chat". In contrast Martin Evening's book is up to his usual high standard. It,s beautifully organised and has a clear focus on each aspect of the program in turn. guess which "Lightroom" book I bought?

Much better than expected, 08 Nov 2008
The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2 Book for Digital Photographers (Voices That Matter)
Excellent book that I have learned more from in a week than I did from Rob Sheppard's Lightroom 1 book in several months. I know that some people find Scott's casual style a bit irritating, but it is not at all intrusive in this book. In fact I think it helps me to remember things. Screen shots linked directly to the "stepped" approach, provide both a readable book and a reference work. The practical "real life" approach suits me and I would think many other photographers - Thoroughly recommended!

A lot more to Lightroom than the obvious, 08 Oct 2008
Mr. Kelby always does a good job with all his books, but this is his best yet.Written in a clear, and concise manner, and the screen captures this time are readable without the aid of a magnifying glass. The book follows a good workflow throughout, and proves what a comprehensive programme Lightroom is. This is not evident at first or even second glance, and yet Mr. Kelby makes it all appear so easy, which few writers manage to attain with so called technical books, this is his big secret.
The book is also a valuable reference.

I never knew there was so much in it!, 02 Oct 2008
With the beta release of Lightroom 2, I decided to see what all the fuss was about and try it. Once Adobe released it to manufacturing, I was happy to switch my workflow from CaptureOne + Adobe Bridge + Photoshop to Lightroom 2 + Photoshop. I was up-and-running very quickly, but I knew I was just scratching the surface. Obviously, there's a lot in Lightroom 2 and I wasn't exploiting very much of it.
I was rather pleased, then, to see that Scott Kelby was releasing this new volume and pre-ordering it was a no-brainer. I particularly like Scott's informal, conversational style of writing. I expect some may find it irritating, but for me, it makes his books more pleasant to read. Consequently, it makes it easier to retain the knowledge that he imparts.
I'm reading this one from cover-to-cover, as Scott recommends, and it's certainly working. Within the first few pages, I found useful ways to incorporate Lightroom facilities that I simply hadn't encountered. As I continue to work through, there's more and more that is helping improve my workflow considerably.
I sometimes wonder if Scott's books are a little lightweight. They certainly don't tax your brain too much. I guess that's because most of the books I read tend to be detailed technical references where there's a vast amount of information to impart in a limited space. The way Scott writes, it seems too easy. But then, that's the point, isn't it? When you're working with hundreds or even thousands of photographs at a time, it really does need to be easy. So, thumbs up to Mr Kelby for helping me find new ways to improve the efficiency of my workflow, yet again.

Very Comprehensive, 31 Oct 2008
Nice to find a book that strips away the jargon and really lets you get into the gut of the program. Highly recommended

The wrong approach for me, 30 Sep 2008
Having bought and enjoyed the Scott Kelby Lightroom 1 book I thought, variety being the spice of life, that for Lightroom 2 I would buy the Martin Evening book.

Having seen the Evening LR1 book in shops I was surprised to see that the pages in the LR2 book are smaller but to compensate the book is about 50% thicker. For me this has a handling disadvantage but more importantly the screen shots have to be smaller. This means that with many examples I struggle to see what the screen shot is trying to convey. Indeed the text on many of the screenshots is unreadable.

There is also a big difference in styles and approaches between the two authors. Evening tells you at length what every module, button and slider is for. Kelby tells you how to use Lightroom.

So If you want a reference book then this is the book for you. If you want a book that tells you when and how to use the controls to improve your photos then buy Kelby's books. My preference is for the latter.

Note: Although the Evening book purports to offer free online access to the electronic version you will find when you sign up to the offer that access is only free for the first 45 days. Not recommended.


The Best Book on Digital Capture Processing & Workflow, 18 Sep 2008
A fantastic book for Anyone, from serious enthusiasts to Semi-Pro's, or Old Pro's looking to finally go digital and leave the Titanic that Traditional Analogue photography has finally become.

Out of all the books I have checked out, this is the one. It's engaging, transparent, and fun, allowing the reader to dip in and out, or study in depth. It teaches seamlessly.

Buy It!

Just the job, 14 Sep 2008
After a short preamble describing the whys and wherefores of LR the book quickly down to business with importing photos into LR, then on to catloging, correcting and printing following the usual photographers workflow. There's a short (but useful) section on geotagging photos, which actually has little to do with LR2 (at the moment), but it's becoming an important part of a photographers workflow.

It's an approach that works well and Evenings style is both informative and relaxed, but he never strays too far from the business at hand and isn't 'chatty'. The book is printed on good quality paper so the sample photographs and screen prints are clear and clearly illustrate the processes being described. They are almost all there for a purpose, and not just as eye candy.

It's a book you can both use as a reference and sit and read in a spare moment. If you're new to LR and looking for something to get you up and running, then this will be just the job and will probably still be useful in 6 or 12 months time when you're experienced with the UI. If you're an experienced user of LR v1, then it's probably not as useful as it'll be covering V1 features you're familiar with, but there's a lot of new stuff in LR v2 and I doubt you'll find it better described elsewhere.

Photoshop CS3 for photographers, 24 Oct 2008
This is quite a big book, and comes with a very informative DVD. It goes into a lot of detail and this sometimes makes it hard reading, it probably best to not try and read it "cover to cover", but rather use it like I do as a "reference" book. Some excellent techniques are shown, and the book is very well laid out and it is normally easy to find the information you require.

The Next Level, 18 Sep 2008
A Professional photographer shares his knowledge with honesty and clarity. I recommend this book 100 % for digital photographers of all levels.

Simple to understand, so you can learn with dexterity.

Excellent resource, 10 Aug 2008
As a graphic designer and an amateur photographer, I find this book one of my most useful resources. If I'm looking learn a new technique or improve an old one this is the first place I turn to for help. The way the book is written allows me to either see quickly how to do something or, go in to some real depth. This is the third of Martin Evenings books I own and all of them have proved invaluable, and now doubt once CS4 is available, Martins book (which I'm sure will appear), will be where I go to learn new skills and techniques.

Deeeeeeelighted, 04 Aug 2008
In a moment of extravagance I bought both Scott Kelby's and Martin Evening's books on Photoshop CS3. I have since sold the Scott Kelby book after giving up halfway through ! If you want to make friends with a needy, middle aged man, then his is the book for you. I just got sick of the corny jokes and the lack of focus. In contrast Martin Evening's book is up to his usual high standard. It's beautifully organised and has a clear focus on each aspect of the program in turn.

Easily the best, and not only for professional Editors, 10 Jul 2008
I am finding this CS3 guide extremely helpful. I'm not a professional photographer, but working with graphics from camera to finished publications in the charity sector made a clear and concise guide to CS3 essential when I upgraded. I won't need all of the chapters but those which do relate my needs provide expert advice with a clarity and precision that is often lacking in user guides of this kind. The DVD which comes with the book is an absolute bonus and really accelerates the learning process. The photo samples provided support the explanations of new CS3 features admirably and many of the images are simply stunning. I also like the author's detached frankness when explaining occasional CS3 features which disappoint. I am similarly reassured by the same, detached comments when the writer draws attention to competing products.
An excellent guide. I just wish I'd purchased it from Amazon on line and saved myself ten quid!

Yes the humour is bad... , 01 Dec 2008
After reading some of the previous reviews, I thought I would buy this book as surely some of the comments about the humour being awful must've been exaggerated!? Well, sadly not - the humour is truly awful. But don't let this put you off - the book in itself is amazing. I read it cover to cover in one sitting and had to get up to try all the techniques, despite it being way past my bedtime. I find the book easy to follow, the techniques are brilliant and will have anyone making the most of CS3 in no time! Highly recommended. (although I would agree that while the book tells you "how", it will not give you understanding of "why")

Good for Photographers, 07 Sep 2008
Firstly don't let the humour comments put you off - it' not that bad. What the book does for digital photographers is tell you how to post process for great results and how to do some neat effects; what it doesn't do is explain why or what some of the steps are for. If you are creative or want to understand the workings of CS3 then look elsewhere. I got the CS3 Bible as well (which does the opposite - give the how and why but not much about what you can achieve) and between the two I got what I needed.

The book is nicely illustrated and all the steps to get the effects are clear and easy to follow.

Buy it and start USING Photoshop, 06 Sep 2008
If you have Photoshop, this book will simply help you understand it and start making it work for you.
Forget all the comments about Scott Kelby's humour, its an easy to read book that explains things well.
I also bought the Dummies book for CS3, it really isn't a patch on this one and just doesn't explain anything clearly.
Buy this book and you will be a Kelby fan for life (even if he is an American!)

Fighting through Photoshop CS3, 13 Aug 2008
I have been amateur photographer for years and have long since left my darkroom behind.
In recent times my interest has been revived by the new high quality digital pocket camera. In my case a Panasonic TZ3
Having played about with Photoshop I soon found I was getting nowhere fast until that is I purchased Scott Kebly's The Adobe Photoshop CS3 book.
I truly love this book; its step by step guide is a dream to use. Full of colour photos to accompany the instruction is great.
I used my own photos whilst going following the instructions which truly change the quality of the finished image.
I agree with other reviewers that Scott's humour is very American but don't let this put you off buying a truly great book. I would say the book is for the beginner to intermediate Photoshop user but has something for everyone.
The only down side is that I have hundreds of digital photos waiting for some Photoshop treatment.
Good luck any enjoy your copy.


Dissapointed, 26 Jul 2008
In a moment of extravagance I bought both Scott Kelby's and Martin Evening's books on Photoshop CS3. I have since sold the Scott Kelby book after giving up halfway through ! If you want to make friends with a needy, middle aged man, then this is the book for you. I just got sick of the corny jokes and the lack of focus. On too many occasions I found myself skipping pages and paragraphs of irrelevant "chat". In contrast Martin Evening's book is up to his usual high standard. It,s beautifully organised and has a clear focus on each aspect of the program in turn. guess which "Lightroom" book I bought?

Layers. Made Easy., 03 Aug 2008
I've used Photoshop for a number of years now, and even teach it on a regular basis, but this book blew me away! It wasn't so much that all the information in it was new to me (though a lot was), but the way that Matt explains things is fantastic!

I think I managed to get as far as about page 10 before I went "wow, that's brilliant!".

Highly recommended. Thanks Matt!

A Reference Book for Serious Adobe-Addicts, 28 May 2008
I never could understand Layers in depth - now I do.
Sometimes throws you in the deep end - but always takes you back to the shore safely.
I am ready to explore the full might of Layers with confidence both in Photoshop 7 as well as CS3

Not the best, 15 May 2008
I have several "how to" photoshop books but most of them tend to be of the "now click this..then click that " type. What I needed was a book that told me "why" I clicked that, so I though that being devoted completely to the "layers" tool it would be give me a more in-depth explanation of the tool. Things start off well enough with an overview of exactly what a "layer" is, but then jumps straight into creating "gimicks". There are plenty of better books on the market for creating gimicks in photoshop ( try one of the excellent Katrin Eismann books )but that wasn't what I needed. This author is from the same stable as Scott Kelby who writes excellent books on this subject ,and it shows through as he tries to write in the same style (love it or hate it). Unfortunately he is not Kelby and the book is actually short on useful techniques that you will want to use every day. (incidentally, the useful stuff has already been covered elsewhere ) This book, after my initial flick through will no doubt end up at the bottom of my pile..while my search goes on for a real-world sugar-free explanation of this powerful tool.



Layers - for the rest of us, 21 Apr 2008
I do a fair amount of PhotoShop Image Editing, and tho' I say it myself, have become reasonably proficient at it, but one aspect I haven't really come to grips with, and which I know to be a failing, is understanding how to use Layers. Now I do know what Layers are, and I also understand that there's something quite magical about using Layers in PS, but somehow, although I do indeed understand the "Why", I've never really got to grips with the "How To". Then Amazon, as they do, mailed me about Matt Kloskowski's brand new PS Manual, strangely enough called "LAYERS"

And I have to say that it really has been an eye-opener, virtually from page one. Obviously inspired by Scott Kelby's eclectic style of writing, the book is laid out throughout as a series of step by step tutorials, including a complete on-line download of all the stock images used, which is many times easier to understand than Adobe's admittedly comprehensive User Guide's, and Classroom in a Book series, which in the main, flew right above my head. Some of the adjustment Layer Tutorials are little short of stunning, almost blindingly Damascene in their revelation of technique. If I had one criticism it would be of the sometimes facile chattiness of the writing which does begin to jar a little after the tenth or fifteenth jokey comment, but let that not distract from what is a tour de force of a book, enabling Layer novices such as myself to effortlessly move up a level, or should I say Layer, in my comprehension of an area of PhotoShop which I have been too uneducated - read nervous - to previously take on board.

Obviously, I have no connection with the Author, or the Publisher, but if you enjoy, if that's the right word, playing around with PhotoShop, then I can thoroughly recommend "Layers" as one of the best PhotoShop guides I've yet worked with.

Neil Carter
Oxford UK

Outstanding Photoshop Book, 28 Mar 2008
Anybody who has listened to Matt Kloskowski teaching about Photoshop will know that he is a natural teacher. Everything he teaches is presented in a simple and very understandable manner, even if the subject is highly complicated.

Many of the subjects covered in this book are not huge secrets which the pros have kept carefully hidden from the general public. Rather many of the early lessons are simple and slowly build to the more complicated stuff. Matt Kloskowski has arranged the lessons in his Layers book to ensure that it is easy to follow and also in a way you will remember. If you are new to Photoshop and layers you will a thorough grasp of these subjects. The easy to follow tutorials are accompanied by colour images, which lead you through each step and you can even follow along yourself with the provided downloadable lesson files.

In short this is a really outstanding Photoshop book.

Much better than expected, 08 Nov 2008
The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2 Book for Digital Photographers (Voices That Matter)
Excellent book that I have learned more from in a week than I did from Rob Sheppard's Lightroom 1 book in several months. I know that some people find Scott's casual style a bit irritating, but it is not at all intrusive in this book. In fact I think it helps me to remember things. Screen shots linked directly to the "stepped" approach, provide both a readable book and a reference work. The practical "real life" approach suits me and I would think many other photographers - Thoroughly recommended!

A lot more to Lightroom than the obvious, 08 Oct 2008
Mr. Kelby always does a good job with all his books, but this is his best yet.Written in a clear, and concise manner, and the screen captures this time are readable without the aid of a magnifying glass. The book follows a good workflow throughout, and proves what a comprehensive programme Lightroom is. This is not evident at first or even second glance, and yet Mr. Kelby makes it all appear so easy, which few writers manage to attain with so called technical books, this is his big secret.
The book is also a valuable reference.

I never knew there was so much in it!, 02 Oct 2008
With the beta release of Lightroom 2, I decided to see what all the fuss was about and try it. Once Adobe released it to manufacturing, I was happy to switch my workflow from CaptureOne + Adobe Bridge + Photoshop to Lightroom 2 + Photoshop. I was up-and-running very quickly, but I knew I was just scratching the surface. Obviously, there's a lot in Lightroom 2 and I wasn't exploiting very much of it.
I was rather pleased, then, to see that Scott Kelby was releasing this new volume and pre-ordering it was a no-brainer. I particularly like Scott's informal, conversational style of writing. I expect some may find it irritating, but for me, it makes his books more pleasant to read. Consequently, it makes it easier to retain the knowledge that he imparts.
I'm reading this one from cover-to-cover, as Scott recommends, and it's certainly working. Within the first few pages, I found useful ways to incorporate Lightroom facilities that I simply hadn't encountered. As I continue to work through, there's more and more that is helping improve my workflow considerably.
I sometimes wonder if Scott's books are a little lightweight. They certainly don't tax your brain too much. I guess that's because most of the books I read tend to be detailed technical references where there's a vast amount of information to impart in a limited space. The way Scott writes, it seems too easy. But then, that's the point, isn't it? When you're working with hundreds or even thousands of photographs at a time, it really does need to be easy. So, thumbs up to Mr Kelby for helping me find new ways to improve the efficiency of my workflow, yet again.

Very Comprehensive, 31 Oct 2008
Nice to find a book that strips away the jargon and really lets you get into the gut of the program. Highly recommended

The wrong approach for me, 30 Sep 2008
Having bought and enjoyed the Scott Kelby Lightroom 1 book I thought, variety being the spice of life, that for Lightroom 2 I would buy the Martin Evening book.

Having seen the Evening LR1 book in shops I was surprised to see that the pages in the LR2 book are smaller but to compensate the book is about 50% thicker. For me this has a handling disadvantage but more importantly the screen shots have to be smaller. This means that with many examples I struggle to see what the screen shot is trying to convey. Indeed the text on many of the screenshots is unreadable.

There is also a big difference in styles and approaches between the two authors. Evening tells you at length what every module, button and slider is for. Kelby tells you how to use Lightroom.

So If you want a reference book then this is the book for you. If you want a book that tells you when and how to use the controls to improve your photos then buy Kelby's books. My preference is for the latter.

Note: Although the Evening book purports to offer free online access to the electronic version you will find when you sign up to the offer that access is only free for the first 45 days. Not recommended.


The Best Book on Digital Capture Processing & Workflow, 18 Sep 2008
A fantastic book for Anyone, from serious enthusiasts to Semi-Pro's, or Old Pro's looking to finally go digital and leave the Titanic that Traditional Analogue photography has finally become.

Out of all the books I have checked out, this is the one. It's engaging, transparent, and fun, allowing the reader to dip in and out, or study in depth. It teaches seamlessly.

Buy It!

Just the job, 14 Sep 2008
After a short preamble describing the whys and wherefores of LR the book quickly down to business with importing photos into LR, then on to catloging, correcting and printing following the usual photographers workflow. There's a short (but useful) section on geotagging photos, which actually has little to do with LR2 (at the moment), but it's becoming an important part of a photographers workflow.

It's an approach that works well and Evenings style is both informative and relaxed, but he never strays too far from the business at hand and isn't 'chatty'. The book is printed on good quality paper so the sample photographs and screen prints are clear and clearly illustrate the processes being described. They are almost all there for a purpose, and not just as eye candy.

It's a book you can both use as a reference and sit and read in a spare moment. If you're new to LR and looking for something to get you up and running, then this will be just the job and will probably still be useful in 6 or 12 months time when you're experienced with the UI. If you're an experienced user of LR v1, then it's probably not as useful as it'll be covering V1 features you're familiar with, but there's a lot of new stuff in LR v2 and I doubt you'll find it better described elsewhere.

Photoshop CS3 for photographers, 24 Oct 2008
This is quite a big book, and comes with a very informative DVD. It goes into a lot of detail and this sometimes makes it hard reading, it probably best to not try and read it "cover to cover", but rather use it like I do as a "reference" book. Some excellent techniques are shown, and the book is very well laid out and it is normally easy to find the information you require.

The Next Level, 18 Sep 2008
A Professional photographer shares his knowledge with honesty and clarity. I recommend this book 100 % for digital photographers of all levels.

Simple to understand, so you can learn with dexterity.

Excellent resource, 10 Aug 2008
As a graphic designer and an amateur photographer, I find this book one of my most useful resources. If I'm looking learn a new technique or improve an old one this is the first place I turn to for help. The way the book is written allows me to either see quickly how to do something or, go in to some real depth. This is the third of Martin Evenings books I own and all of them have proved invaluable, and now doubt once CS4 is available, Martins book (which I'm sure will appear), will be where I go to learn new skills and techniques.

Deeeeeeelighted, 04 Aug 2008
In a moment of extravagance I bought both Scott Kelby's and Martin Evening's books on Photoshop CS3. I have since sold the Scott Kelby book after giving up halfway through ! If you want to make friends with a needy, middle aged man, then his is the book for you. I just got sick of the corny jokes and the lack of focus. In contrast Martin Evening's book is up to his usual high standard. It's beautifully organised and has a clear focus on each aspect of the program in turn.

Easily the best, and not only for professional Editors, 10 Jul 2008
I am finding this CS3 guide extremely helpful. I'm not a professional photographer, but working with graphics from camera to finished publications in the charity sector made a clear and concise guide to CS3 essential when I upgraded. I won't need all of the chapters but those which do relate my needs provide expert advice with a clarity and precision that is often lacking in user guides of this kind. The DVD which comes with the book is an absolute bonus and really accelerates the learning process. The photo samples provided support the explanations of new CS3 features admirably and many of the images are simply stunning. I also like the author's detached frankness when explaining occasional CS3 features which disappoint. I am similarly reassured by the same, detached comments when the writer draws attention to competing products.
An excellent guide. I just wish I'd purchased it from Amazon on line and saved myself ten quid!

Yes the humour is bad... , 01 Dec 2008
After reading some of the previous reviews, I thought I would buy this book as surely some of the comments about the humour being awful must've been exaggerated!? Well, sadly not - the humour is truly awful. But don't let this put you off - the book in itself is amazing. I read it cover to cover in one sitting and had to get up to try all the techniques, despite it being way past my bedtime. I find the book easy to follow, the techniques are brilliant and will have anyone making the most of CS3 in no time! Highly recommended. (although I would agree that while the book tells you "how", it will not give you understanding of "why")

Good for Photographers, 07 Sep 2008
Firstly don't let the humour comments put you off - it' not that bad. What the book does for digital photographers is tell you how to post process for great results and how to do some neat effects; what it doesn't do is explain why or what some of the steps are for. If you are creative or want to understand the workings of CS3 then look elsewhere. I got the CS3 Bible as well (which does the opposite - give the how and why but not much about what you can achieve) and between the two I got what I needed.

The book is nicely illustrated and all the steps to get the effects are clear and easy to follow.

Buy it and start USING Photoshop, 06 Sep 2008
If you have Photoshop, this book will simply help you understand it and start making it work for you.
Forget all the comments about Scott Kelby's humour, its an easy to read book that explains things well.
I also bought the Dummies book for CS3, it really isn't a patch on this one and just doesn't explain anything clearly.
Buy this book and you will be a Kelby fan for life (even if he is an American!)

Fighting through Photoshop CS3, 13 Aug 2008
I have been amateur photographer for years and have long since left my darkroom behind.
In recent times my interest has been revived by the new high quality digital pocket camera. In my case a Panasonic TZ3
Having played about with Photoshop I soon found I was getting nowhere fast until that is I purchased Scott Kebly's The Adobe Photoshop CS3 book.
I truly love this book; its step by step guide is a dream to use. Full of colour photos to accompany the instruction is great.
I used my own photos whilst going following the instructions which truly change the quality of the finished image.
I agree with other reviewers that Scott's humour is very American but don't let this put you off buying a truly great book. I would say the book is for the beginner to intermediate Photoshop user but has something for everyone.
The only down side is that I have hundreds of digital photos waiting for some Photoshop treatment.
Good luck any enjoy your copy.


Dissapointed, 26 Jul 2008
In a moment of extravagance I bought both Scott Kelby's and Martin Evening's books on Photoshop CS3. I have since sold the Scott Kelby book after giving up halfway through ! If you want to make friends with a needy, middle aged man, then this is the book for you. I just got sick of the corny jokes and the lack of focus. On too many occasions I found myself skipping pages and paragraphs of irrelevant "chat". In contrast Martin Evening's book is up to his usual high standard. It,s beautifully organised and has a clear focus on each aspect of the program in turn. guess which "Lightroom" book I bought?

Layers. Made Easy., 03 Aug 2008
I've used Photoshop for a number of years now, and even teach it on a regular basis, but this book blew me away! It wasn't so much that all the information in it was new to me (though a lot was), but the way that Matt explains things is fantastic!

I think I managed to get as far as about page 10 before I went "wow, that's brilliant!".

Highly recommended. Thanks Matt!

A Reference Book for Serious Adobe-Addicts, 28 May 2008
I never could understand Layers in depth - now I do.
Sometimes throws you in the deep end - but always takes you back to the shore safely.
I am ready to explore the full might of Layers with confidence both in Photoshop 7 as well as CS3

Not the best, 15 May 2008
I have several "how to" photoshop books but most of them tend to be of the "now click this..then click that " type. What I needed was a book that told me "why" I clicked that, so I though that being devoted completely to the "layers" tool it would be give me a more in-depth explanation of the tool. Things start off well enough with an overview of exactly what a "layer" is, but then jumps straight into creating "gimicks". There are plenty of better books on the market for creating gimicks in photoshop ( try one of the excellent Katrin Eismann books )but that wasn't what I needed. This author is from the same stable as Scott Kelby who writes excellent books on this subject ,and it shows through as he tries to write in the same style (love it or hate it). Unfortunately he is not Kelby and the book is actually short on useful techniques that you will want to use every day. (incidentally, the useful stuff has already been covered elsewhere ) This book, after my initial flick through will no doubt end up at the bottom of my pile..while my search goes on for a real-world sugar-free explanation of this powerful tool.



Layers - for the rest of us, 21 Apr 2008
I do a fair amount of PhotoShop Image Editing, and tho' I say it myself, have become reasonably proficient at it, but one aspect I haven't really come to grips with, and which I know to be a failing, is understanding how to use Layers. Now I do know what Layers are, and I also understand that there's something quite magical about using Layers in PS, but somehow, although I do indeed understand the "Why", I've never really got to grips with the "How To". Then Amazon, as they do, mailed me about Matt Kloskowski's brand new PS Manual, strangely enough called "LAYERS"

And I have to say that it really has been an eye-opener, virtually from page one. Obviously inspired by Scott Kelby's eclectic style of writing, the book is laid out throughout as a series of step by step tutorials, including a complete on-line download of all the stock images used, which is many times easier to understand than Adobe's admittedly comprehensive User Guide's, and Classroom in a Book series, which in the main, flew right above my head. Some of the adjustment Layer Tutorials are little short of stunning, almost blindingly Damascene in their revelation of technique. If I had one criticism it would be of the sometimes facile chattiness of the writing which does begin to jar a little after the tenth or fifteenth jokey comment, but let that not distract from what is a tour de force of a book, enabling Layer novices such as myself to effortlessly move up a level, or should I say Layer, in my comprehension of an area of PhotoShop which I have been too uneducated - read nervous - to previously take on board.

Obviously, I have no connection with the Author, or the Publisher, but if you enjoy, if that's the right word, playing around with PhotoShop, then I can thoroughly recommend "Layers" as one of the best PhotoShop guides I've yet worked with.

Neil Carter
Oxford UK

Outstanding Photoshop Book, 28 Mar 2008
Anybody who has listened to Matt Kloskowski teaching about Photoshop will know that he is a natural teacher. Everything he teaches is presented in a simple and very understandable manner, even if the subject is highly complicated.

Many of the subjects covered in this book are not huge secrets which the pros have kept carefully hidden from the general public. Rather many of the early lessons are simple and slowly build to the more complicated stuff. Matt Kloskowski has arranged the lessons in his Layers book to ensure that it is easy to follow and also in a way you will remember. If you are new to Photoshop and layers you will a thorough grasp of these subjects. The easy to follow tutorials are accompanied by colour images, which lead you through each step and you can even follow along yourself with the provided downloadable lesson files.

In short this is a really outstanding Photoshop book.


So-so..., 06 Sep 2008
Quality book? Very much so.

Easy to read? Well, yeah, but seems more formal than other Dummies somehow.

Cover all the right stuff? Yeah, suppose, but spends a huge amount of the book going on about the Organiser (not interesting!!!!).

Best book on Elements? No... though I don't know what is, but this isn't it.

Disappointed Dummy, 28 Aug 2008
I found Elements 6 for Dummies to be a confusing and unhelpful guide to a great software programme. It appears to have been written more to impress readers with the skills and knowledge of the authors rather than as suggested in the title as a simple vehicle to understand and use this feature rich ( is that too feature rich ?)programme. Does it really need 400 pages to explain the major features of Elements 6, I don't think so. Any number of photographic journals have shorter simpler guides to using photo enhancement software and you'll get lots of other photographic tips for your money.


User Friendly, 20 May 2008
What makes this book easy to use? Its user friendly, with clear easy to follow instructions. The colour pictures are of a good quality for each task in Elements. What you see in the book, you see on the monitor screen. Page layouts are consistent and the print clear. Getting started with Elements 6 couldn't be smoother. The book is basic and more advanced. For anyone new to Elements 6 or upgrading from older versions, this is the book to buy.

Elements 6 is no longer the cut down version of Photoshop that it once was. Adobe have included more of the best features from their new Photoshop, without compromising the enjoyment of using Elements. Photoshop Elements for Dummies, successfully addresses the changes in this new Elements version.

Much better than expected, 08 Nov 2008
The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2 Book for Digital Photographers (Voices That Matter)
Excellent book that I have learned more from in a week than I did from Rob Sheppard's Lightroom 1 book in several months. I know that some people find Scott's casual style a bit irritating, but it is not at all intrusive in this book. In fact I think it helps me to remember things. Screen shots linked directly to the "stepped" approach, provide both a readable book and a reference work. The practical "real life" approach suits me and I would think many other photographers - Thoroughly recommended!

A lot more to Lightroom than the obvious, 08 Oct 2008
Mr. Kelby always does a good job with all his books, but this is his best yet.Written in a clear, and concise manner, and the screen captures this time are readable without the aid of a magnifying glass. The book follows a good workflow throughout, and proves what a comprehensive programme Lightroom is. This is not evident at first or even second glance, and yet Mr. Kelby makes it all appear so easy, which few writers manage to attain with so called technical books, this is his big secret.
The book is also a valuable reference.

I never knew there was so much in it!, 02 Oct 2008
With the beta release of Lightroom 2, I decided to see what all the fuss was about and try it. Once Adobe released it to manufacturing, I was happy to switch my workflow from CaptureOne + Adobe Bridge + Photoshop to Lightroom 2 + Photoshop. I was up-and-running very quickly, but I knew I was just scratching the surface. Obviously, there's a lot in Lightroom 2 and I wasn't exploiting very much of it.
I was rather pleased, then, to see that Scott Kelby was releasing this new volume and pre-ordering it was a no-brainer. I particularly like Scott's informal, conversational style of writing. I expect some may find it irritating, but for me, it makes his books more pleasant to read. Consequently, it makes it easier to retain the knowledge that he imparts.
I'm reading this one from cover-to-cover, as Scott recommends, and it's certainly working. Within the first few pages, I found useful ways to incorporate Lightroom facilities that I simply hadn't encountered. As I continue to work through, there's more and more that is helping improve my workflow considerably.
I sometimes wonder if Scott's books are a little lightweight. They certainly don't tax your brain too much. I guess that's because most of the books I read tend to be detailed technical references where there's a vast amount of information to impart in a limited space. The way Scott writes, it seems too easy. But then, that's the point, isn't it? When you're working with hundreds or even thousands of photographs at a time, it really does need to be easy. So, thumbs up to Mr Kelby for helping me find new ways to improve the efficiency of my workflow, yet again.

Very Comprehensive, 31 Oct 2008
Nice to find a book that strips away the jargon and really lets you get into the gut of the program. Highly recommended

The wrong approach for me, 30 Sep 2008
Having bought and enjoyed the Scott Kelby Lightroom 1 book I thought, variety being the spice of life, that for Lightroom 2 I would buy the Martin Evening book.

Having seen the Evening LR1 book in shops I was surprised to see that the pages in the LR2 book are smaller but to compensate the book is about 50% thicker. For me this has a handling disadvantage but more importantly the screen shots have to be smaller. This means that with many examples I struggle to see what the screen shot is trying to convey. Indeed the text on many of the screenshots is unreadable.

There is also a big difference in styles and approaches between the two authors. Evening tells you at length what every module, button and slider is for. Kelby tells you how to use Lightroom.

So If you want a reference book then this is the book for you. If you want a book that tells you when and how to use the controls to improve your photos then buy Kelby's books. My preference is for the latter.

Note: Although the Evening book purports to offer free online access to the electronic version you will find when you sign up to the offer that access is only free for the first 45 days. Not recommended.


The Best Book on Digital Capture Processing & Workflow, 18 Sep 2008
A fantastic book for Anyone, from serious enthusiasts to Semi-Pro's, or Old Pro's looking to finally go digital and leave the Titanic that Traditional Analogue photography has finally become.

Out of all the books I have checked out, this is the one. It's engaging, transparent, and fun, allowing the reader to dip in and out, or study in depth. It teaches seamlessly.

Buy It!

Just the job, 14 Sep 2008
After a short preamble describing the whys and wherefores of LR the book quickly down to business with importing photos into LR, then on to catloging, correcting and printing following the usual photographers workflow. There's a short (but useful) section on geotagging photos, which actually has little to do with LR2 (at the moment), but it's becoming an important part of a photographers workflow.

It's an approach that works well and Evenings style is both informative and relaxed, but he never strays too far from the business at hand and isn't 'chatty'. The book is printed on good quality paper so the sample photographs and screen prints are clear and clearly illustrate the processes being described. They are almost all there for a purpose, and not just as eye candy.

It's a book you can both use as a reference and sit and read in a spare moment. If you're new to LR and looking for something to get you up and running, then this will be just the job and will probably still be useful in 6 or 12 months time when you're experienced with the UI. If you're an experienced user of LR v1, then it's probably not as useful as it'll be covering V1 features you're familiar with, but there's a lot of new stuff in LR v2 and I doubt you'll find it better described elsewhere.

Photoshop CS3 for photographers, 24 Oct 2008
This is quite a big book, and comes with a very informative DVD. It goes into a lot of detail and this sometimes makes it hard reading, it probably best to not try and read it "cover to cover", but rather use it like I do as a "reference" book. Some excellent techniques are shown, and the book is very well laid out and it is normally easy to find the information you require.

The Next Level, 18 Sep 2008
A Professional photographer shares his knowledge with honesty and clarity. I recommend this book 100 % for digital photographers of all levels.

Simple to understand, so you can learn with dexterity.

Excellent resource, 10 Aug 2008
As a graphic designer and an amateur photographer, I find this book one of my most useful resources. If I'm looking learn a new technique or improve an old one this is the first place I turn to for help. The way the book is written allows me to either see quickly how to do something or, go in to some real depth. This is the third of Martin Evenings books I own and all of them have proved invaluable, and now doubt once CS4 is available, Martins book (which I'm sure will appear), will be where I go to learn new skills and techniques.

Deeeeeeelighted, 04 Aug 2008
In a moment of extravagance I bought both Scott Kelby's and Martin Evening's books on Photoshop CS3. I have since sold the Scott Kelby book after giving up halfway through ! If you want to make friends with a needy, middle aged man, then his is the book for you. I just got sick of the corny jokes and the lack of focus. In contrast Martin Evening's book is up to his usual high standard. It's beautifully organised and has a clear focus on each aspect of the program in turn.

Easily the best, and not only for professional Editors, 10 Jul 2008
I am finding this CS3 guide extremely helpful. I'm not a professional photographer, but working with graphics from camera to finished publications in the charity sector made a clear and concise guide to CS3 essential when I upgraded. I won't need all of the chapters but those which do relate my needs provide expert advice with a clarity and precision that is often lacking in user guides of this kind. The DVD which comes with the book is an absolute bonus and really accelerates the learning process. The photo samples provided support the explanations of new CS3 features admirably and many of the images are simply stunning. I also like the author's detached frankness when explaining occasional CS3 features which disappoint. I am similarly reassured by the same, detached comments when the writer draws attention to competing products.
An excellent guide. I just wish I'd purchased it from Amazon on line and saved myself ten quid!

Yes the humour is bad... , 01 Dec 2008
After reading some of the previous reviews, I thought I would buy this book as surely some of the comments about the humour being awful must've been exaggerated!? Well, sadly not - the humour is truly awful. But don't let this put you off - the book in itself is amazing. I read it cover to cover in one sitting and had to get up to try all the techniques, despite it being way past my bedtime. I find the book easy to follow, the techniques are brilliant and will have anyone making the most of CS3 in no time! Highly recommended. (although I would agree that while the book tells you "how", it will not give you understanding of "why")

Good for Photographers, 07 Sep 2008
Firstly don't let the humour comments put you off - it' not that bad. What the book does for digital photographers is tell you how to post process for great results and how to do some neat effects; what it doesn't do is explain why or what some of the steps are for. If you are creative or want to understand the workings of CS3 then look elsewhere. I got the CS3 Bible as well (which does the opposite - give the how and why but not much about what you can achieve) and between the two I got what I needed.

The book is nicely illustrated and all the steps to get the effects are clear and easy to follow.

Buy it and start USING Photoshop, 06 Sep 2008
If you have Photoshop, this book will simply help you understand it and start making it work for you.
Forget all the comments about Scott Kelby's humour, its an easy to read book that explains things well.
I also bought the Dummies book for CS3, it really isn't a patch on this one and just doesn't explain anything clearly.
Buy this book and you will be a Kelby fan for life (even if he is an American!)

Fighting through Photoshop CS3, 13 Aug 2008
I have been amateur photographer for years and have long since left my darkroom behind.
In recent times my interest has been revived by the new high quality digital pocket camera. In my case a Panasonic TZ3
Having played about with Photoshop I soon found I was getting nowhere fast until that is I purchased Scott Kebly's The Adobe Photoshop CS3 book.
I truly love this book; its step by step guide is a dream to use. Full of colour photos to accompany the instruction is great.
I used my own photos whilst going following the instructions which truly change the quality of the finished image.
I agree with other reviewers that Scott's humour is very American but don't let this put you off buying a truly great book. I would say the book is for the beginner to intermediate Photoshop user but has something for everyone.
The only down side is that I have hundreds of digital photos waiting for some Photoshop treatment.
Good luck any enjoy your copy.


Dissapointed, 26 Jul 2008
In a moment of extravagance I bought both Scott Kelby's and Martin Evening's books on Photoshop CS3. I have since sold the Scott Kelby book after giving up halfway through ! If you want to make friends with a needy, middle aged man, then this is the book for you. I just got sick of the corny jokes and the lack of focus. On too many occasions I found myself skipping pages and paragraphs of irrelevant "chat". In contrast Martin Evening's book is up to his usual high standard. It,s beautifully organised and has a clear focus on each aspect of the program in turn. guess which "Lightroom" book I bought?

Layers. Made Easy., 03 Aug 2008
I've used Photoshop for a number of years now, and even teach it on a regular basis, but this book blew me away! It wasn't so much that all the information in it was new to me (though a lot was), but the way that Matt explains things is fantastic!

I think I managed to get as far as about page 10 before I went "wow, that's brilliant!".

Highly recommended. Thanks Matt!

A Reference Book for Serious Adobe-Addicts, 28 May 2008
I never could understand Layers in depth - now I do.
Sometimes throws you in the deep end - but always takes you back to the shore safely.
I am ready to explore the full might of Layers with confidence both in Photoshop 7 as well as CS3

Not the best, 15 May 2008
I have several "how to" photoshop books but most of them tend to be of the "now click this..then click that " type. What I needed was a book that told me "why" I clicked that, so I though that being devoted completely to the "layers" tool it would be give me a more in-depth explanation of the tool. Things start off well enough with an overview of exactly what a "layer" is, but then jumps straight into creating "gimicks". There are plenty of better books on the market for creating gimicks in photoshop ( try one of the excellent Katrin Eismann books )but that wasn't what I needed. This author is from the same stable as Scott Kelby who writes excellent books on this subject ,and it shows through as he tries to write in the same style (love it or hate it). Unfortunately he is not Kelby and the book is actually short on useful techniques that you will want to use every day. (incidentally, the useful stuff has already been covered elsewhere ) This book, after my initial flick through will no doubt end up at the bottom of my pile..while my search goes on for a real-world sugar-free explanation of this powerful tool.



Layers - for the rest of us, 21 Apr 2008
I do a fair amount of PhotoShop Image Editing, and tho' I say it myself, have become reasonably proficient at it, but one aspect I haven't really come to grips with, and which I know to be a failing, is understanding how to use Layers. Now I do know what Layers are, and I also understand that there's something quite magical about using Layers in PS, but somehow, although I do indeed understand the "Why", I've never really got to grips with the "How To". Then Amazon, as they do, mailed me about Matt Kloskowski's brand new PS Manual, strangely enough called "LAYERS"

And I have to say that it really has been an eye-opener, virtually from page one. Obviously inspired by Scott Kelby's eclectic style of writing, the book is laid out throughout as a series of step by step tutorials, including a complete on-line download of all the stock images used, which is many times easier to understand than Adobe's admittedly comprehensive User Guide's, and Classroom in a Book series, which in the main, flew right above my head. Some of the adjustment Layer Tutorials are little short of stunning, almost blindingly Damascene in their revelation of technique. If I had one criticism it would be of the sometimes facile chattiness of the writing which does begin to jar a little after the tenth or fifteenth jokey comment, but let that not distract from what is a tour de force of a book, enabling Layer novices such as myself to effortlessly move up a level, or should I say Layer, in my comprehension of an area of PhotoShop which I have been too uneducated - read nervous - to previously take on board.

Obviously, I have no connection with the Author, or the Publisher, but if you enjoy, if that's the right word, playing around with PhotoShop, then I can thoroughly recommend "Layers" as one of the best PhotoShop guides I've yet worked with.

Neil Carter
Oxford UK

Outstanding Photoshop Book, 28 Mar 2008
Anybody who has listened to Matt Kloskowski teaching about Photoshop will know that he is a natural teacher. Everything he teaches is presented in a simple and very understandable manner, even if the subject is highly complicated.

Many of the subjects covered in this book are not huge secrets which the pros have kept carefully hidden from the general public. Rather many of the early lessons are simple and slowly build to the more complicated stuff. Matt Kloskowski has arranged the lessons in his Layers book to ensure that it is easy to follow and also in a way you will remember. If you are new to Photoshop and layers you will a thorough grasp of these subjects. The easy to follow tutorials are accompanied by colour images, which lead you through each step and you can even follow along yourself with the provided downloadable lesson files.

In short this is a really outstanding Photoshop book.


So-so..., 06 Sep 2008
Quality book? Very much so.

Easy to read? Well, yeah, but seems more formal than other Dummies somehow.

Cover all the right stuff? Yeah, suppose, but spends a huge amount of the book going on about the Organiser (not interesting!!!!).

Best book on Elements? No... though I don't know what is, but this isn't it.

Disappointed Dummy, 28 Aug 2008
I found Elements 6 for Dummies to be a confusing and unhelpful guide to a great software programme. It appears to have been written more to impress readers with the skills and knowledge of the authors rather than as suggested in the title as a simple vehicle to understand and use this feature rich ( is that too feature rich ?)programme. Does it really need 400 pages to explain the major features of Elements 6, I don't think so. Any number of photographic journals have shorter simpler guides to using photo enhancement software and you'll get lots of other photographic tips for your money.


User Friendly, 20 May 2008
What makes this book easy to use? Its user friendly, with clear easy to follow instructions. The colour pictures are of a good quality for each task in Elements. What you see in the book, you see on the monitor screen. Page layouts are consistent and the print clear. Getting started with Elements 6 couldn't be smoother. The book is basic and more advanced. For anyone new to Elements 6 or upgrading from older versions, this is the book to buy.

Elements 6 is no longer the cut down version of Photoshop that it once was. Adobe have included more of the best features from their new Photoshop, without compromising the enjoyment of using Elements. Photoshop Elements for Dummies, successfully addresses the changes in this new Elements version.


RedBull ofr Photoshop CS3, 06 Oct 2008
This is the second Photoshop CS3 book I have purchase by Scott Kelby
I bought the 7 point system for Adobe Photoshop CS3 on the strength of how good the previous Adobe Photoshop CS3 Book for Digital Photographers.
The thing about this book it makes you want to take better photos. Whether you have a top of the range SLR or a point and shoot this step by step guides to creating great photos is so addictive.
This book drums into you head the steps you need to create great photos.
For me it made me look through the view finder in a different way, Now I know how to make my pictures look better in Photoshop CS3 I want better results from my camera and that means changing the way it look at the shots I am taking.
If you want to create great photos and maybe change the way you take photos then this book is for you.
Be warned it will wet your appetite for better photos.!!


Useless for beginners, 14 Sep 2008
I purchased this book when i bought CS3 (moving up from CS2). I have dabbled in Photoshop and was keen to learn how to really do something great with my pictures, and Kelbys book appeared to offer the solution...a concise system that is easy to learn.

Problem is, the book assumes you know how to use CS3 and offers no guidance at all as to which files to open, where to click, which menu's to use. It does little more than literally say; "open your picture with tool x and adjust it, then move on to step 2". This assumes you even know where tool x is located, and how to adjust it.

This book is definitely not for anyone new to CS3, it does not provide step by step instructions. Basically, the only time i will be able to use this is when i get seriously into Photoshop CS3 (which was what i bought this book to avoid having to do). Bottom line, the system appears to assume you know where the tools are and how to use them, but have never stripped down your approach or sequenced the tips like Kelby is suggesting. This places the book way beyond the novice photoshopper.

Beyond that, the book fails to address basic questions, such as: If you want me to open your images in CS3 Camera Raw (even though i have no idea how to do that) do i need to use a plug in for the Nikon camera you took the photo's with? (told you i'm unfamiliar with CS3).

So you can see the problem. This book is probably great for someone who knows this software really really well. For the average joe, forget it, you are wasting your money - which is a shame because the concept is sound. It just falls apart on the lack of detail in execution.

Kelby, if you read this, sorry to sound so harsh, but your book lost me completely. The style and intention is great, the instructions are just too vague, and assume way too much knowledge.

At last a structured approach!!, 08 Sep 2008
With so many different ways to edit your photographs in photoshop it can get confusing. Not only do you learn some good stuff from all the books out there but if your like me and you don't use it for a while you forget what you have done. At last Scott Kelby has come up with a book that gives you some structure in what to do and when in editing your photos.
The sessions are repetitive but as Scotts says this is how you remember what to do. You get a link in the book that lets you download and work on the same images that Scott does in the book which is a great bonus.
If you are a photographer and what a book that is relevant to how to edit your photos in a logical and easy way then this is the book for you.

Richie

Buy this one!, 03 Aug 2008
If you`re like me, attention span of a newt, then this is the book for you!

I`ve got SO many books over the years about Photoshop and whilst i`ll get to about the 2nd chapter i get fed up and move on. Unless, that is, a book comes along that is superbly written and incredibly easy to follow, packed full of useful REAL LIFE information that you will and can ACTUALLY use....this is that book.

Its just an awesome piece of writing.

Simplicity its its key to success. You just follow the simple instructions, repeat, practice and tadaah!! You`ve got it!

Maybe this has just set a standard that other books should follow.....in my eyes it certainly has!

Scott Kelby's 7-Point System for Adobe Photoshop CS3, 14 Apr 2008
As a 70 year old,self taught relative new-comer to PC's, the scope and depth of Photoshop has proved to be almost overwhelming - but where do you start to de-mystify the programme's daunting controls and options?

Teach-yourself books generally assume you have at least a good grounding of computer-speak - and I didn't even know what the shift key was, or how to find it!

I had been browsing through Scott Kelby's tuition sites, and although enlightening they seemed to be just one step too far ahead for we old chaps with an attention span/memory grasp - THEN I bought his 7-Point System and a whole new world opened up before me. Undreamed of techniques unfolded that were readily understood, and the hours of pleasure working through the 21 lessons - some of the more basic I can now do with hardly a glance at the pages.

If you are new to PhotoShop , buy this book. I have a grandson who has been grounded in Adobe CS3 and is in his last university year majoring in Film Making, Production & Anomation - he has worked through my book and now buying his own - I guess no fuller praise than this can be offered.

Scott Kelby's approuch to digital imaging is superb, a bright light shining through the dark magic & mystery.

Just three words - BUY THIS BOOK.