Creative Photoshop CS4: Digital Illustration and Art Techniques

This is a must for anyone who wants to work in photoshop and master its tools and functions. Great reference source as well.

I have been using Photoshop for years and I know it pretty well, but I would not say I am a master. This book taught me some new things about Photoshop and a lot about art techniques, in general.The tutorials are pretty detailed, with step by step instructions. Many other books don't walk you through the whole process. They give you some pictures and non specific techniques and you just have to figure out how to replicate the author's art.Some of the art is kind of weird, but still very good. All of the projects are very detailed and include a lot of steps. The author seems to have deliberately put steps in to force you to do something new, throughout the book. You are taught new techniques and tools than previously mentioned in the book. This makes you learn more things.The best thing about this book is that I actually had fun learning by doing the projects!I really wish this guy would make more books with more tutorials. I cannot find any books that have such great art and detailed instructions, too.

I started a project and realized I could not do it with the software I had.I decided to give Photoshop a try. It's been too many years since my last Photoshop project... This version is so far past my experience, I found it to be practically useless. If another person, "fluent in Photoshop" had the book, I'm sure they would find it useful.....I did not. Truethfully...I was lost on page #2. The author explains where to find projects on the Web, and walks you through it and he is very good. Next time I'll start at the beginning and try not to learn it all at once.

While there are a lot of color and imaginative pictures and ideas in this book, I haven't found one idea that would apply in the real world.

This is a required book for my class. I saved a lot of money buying it used and got great service! The book came in the condition as described. As far as the contents go... class hasn't started yet.

I think this book would be good for beginners. Perhaps people who have a basic knowledge of photoshop and want to start learning new techniques would get a lot out of it.I work in photoshop every day at my job and this book was way too basic for me. Also, i agree with the other reviews: be careful, the style of the illustrations that are being taught could heavily dominate the work you create for clients and yourself. in some cases that might be okay in other cases it could be hideous. take the designs with a grain of salt ad don't forget your own designers eye!

A good source for digital painting and photo manipulation techniques, even if the tutorials no longer map to the current version.

This book is well written. If you're the type of learner who does well with written step-by-step tutorials, then you will probably like this book. I was looking for a book that covered Adobe Photoshop CS4 exclusively and that's exactly what this book delivers.

"Creative Photoshop CS4: Digital Illustration and Art Techniques" is a fun way to explore creative uses of Photoshop that are not just limited to digital photomanipulation, as you combine traditional techniques with digital in perfectly structured tutorials.It is a great book for illustrators, graphic artists and photoshop enthousiasts [like myself], but if you are looking for a photography related photoshop book then this one is not for you.

I expected more things like the front cover, but sadly that is the last chapter. Preceeding chapters, though well written and presented are definitely more for graphic artists and freehand drawings basically.If that's what you want, then perfect, but it wasn't really for me and what I wanted.

very poor for a beginner

Well written guide

Great