Real World Photoshop 5
Industrial Strength Production Techniques

By Jed Clampett

April 1, 2000

If you want to get your image from your scanner, through Photoshop and produce World Class camera-ready film, then this book is for you! The emphasis is on getting your work to Print, but it also includes a great section on Web production as well. The major correction techniques discussed is the use of levels and curves.

This is a well-rounded book, which concentrates on what is important in Photoshop. You won't find special effects here, but information that you need in a Real Work environment.

You'll get answers to questions such as these:

1. What settings should I use in CMYK setup dialog box?
2. How do I bring out shadow details in my images without blowing away the highlights?
3. What methods are available to neutralize colorcasts?
4. How do I calibrate my monitor? And should I?
5. What problems will I run into with the Dust and scratches filter?
6. What screen angles should I use for duotones?
7. How do I put drop shadow on top of a process-color tint in QuarkXPress or PageMaker
8. What's the best way to silhouette an image for catalog work?

Step-by-Step production techniques such as scanning, tonal correction, sharpening, color separation and drop shadows. You'll learn how to best get your images into Photoshop and then back out again with the best quality possible.

The largest portion of this guide is dedicated to color essentials and color relationships. Blatner and Fraser go into great detail on how to setup your color configurations. I'm sure you've heard a lot of complaints about the new way Photoshop handles color, but these guys don't agree. In fact they say, "without this information you're gonna be one lost puppy." You'll even be introduced to a color space called BruceRGB.

The other section that gets extensive coverage is on making selections and using masks. Do you want to get rid of the jaggies or the color spill around the edges of your selection- No problem! The subject of halftones is covered, but if you really want an extensive coverage of this I would recommend getting the Real world Scanning and Halftones book. David Blatner is also one of the authors for this book.

This book has the most thorough coverage I found in any Photoshop book on Spot Colors in Photoshop 5 as well as duotones, tritons, and quad tones. Although, there is an error or two in this area that Photoshop has documented wrongly and it gets pointed out.

Grayscale images certainly don't get left out, there's plenty on the subject. Also found is how to get your images into page layout programs and the best way to save your work according to how you will be using it. There is just so much here that I am only trying to point out "some" of the major areas covered.

This book is not for the faint of heart; it is for intermediate to advanced users. The complex subject of image correction is dealt with in a way that is understandable. The main tools the authors' use for correction is the Levels and curves. Easy? No way, but they give plenty of reasons why you should do things a certain way, not just "do it this way".

If you are a serious Photoshop user or just want to get more proficient than this is a "Must Have" for your resource library.

*Note* Check out this months review of Scanning & Color Correction in Adobe Photoshop. This CD really compliments this book. Here you can see visually how to set white and black points, use levels and curves. But it is not nearly as comprehensive as Real World Photoshop.

Copyright 2000, Joyce Evans, All Rights Reserved