Adobe Photoshop CS4 Classroom in a Book 1st Edition

Works

I rated this book 1 star but really its not ALL the fault of the book. The latest version of adobe photoshop CS4 which this book was written for, is so bug ridden that it is virtually useless. But the people who slapped together CS4 must have also have been the ones who slapped together this horrible book. Try walking through the examples that the book takes you through and you'll find that they simply do not work! The book leaves out ESSENTIAL steps that MUST be taken for the example tutorials to work. A beginner would never know about those steps. But to make it all even worse, CS4 is missing items on the menu bar for the various toolbox controls, doesn't perform even the most basic tasks due to the bugs, such as moving text. It copies it instead. Minor things that should be a snap will not work in CS4 such as highlighting text and changing its color, etc. It is a complete mess! Thank goodness I only used the TRIAL version so didn't waste the enormous amount of money that this worthless product costs. But even if the CS4 software worked, this book is so poorly written for a new user to Photoshop, you'll find yourself giving up on it and looking for another software or another book. You'll find yourself wondering why the tutorials won't work and going online constantly for help from forums and such only to learn that yet another important step that must be taken was NOT even mentioned in the book. I would have returned it but because I opened the CD, I couldn't return it.All the sample files, photos, etc., needed for the tutorials are on the CD so you pretty much as stuck with the book if you want to try it and then can't return it. SAVE YOUR MONEY! Adobe seems to be OVERPRICED on everything they offer. This book, at about $35 was yet another overpriced product. It would be one thing if it was helpful, but its quite another when its pretty much useless for its purpose. Its unbelievable how they could leave so many essential steps out of these walkthroughs. Its described as a "Book by Adobe Creative Team". No doubt its the same team that wrote the CS4 software program. Someone should give that team the pink slip.Rae

I usually have trouble finding books that satisfy me when it comes to learning from them. I found this not to be the case with Classroom in a Book. I found it to be just what I was needing to say the least. This book takes you from no Knowledge to quite a bit of knowledge in no time. It has very good lesson files which are located on a disk to be used while you go through this book. I have learned so much thanks to the way the book is designed. If you are like me and need to actually do the work to be able to retain what it is you are trying to learn than this is the book for you. I wish all books, designed to teach, were as well thought out as this one is. Thank You so much Adobe. When you think about it,It just makes sense to use a learning book that has been created by the author of the software itself. You will not be dissapointed in what I consider to be a great tool in and of itself, ( Adobe Photoshop CS4 - Classroom in a Book). One of the GREATS!!!!!

I was able to complete most of the exercises in this book. The directions sometimes were different than on my mac. In the margins, there is additional info, and that cleared up many things. I liked how the book teaches us to use Adobe Bridge to organize photos! Very handy! I love all the things this book teaches you! I used it for a college class. There are lesson files with images to to the exercises on the computer. All you need it a CD ROM player. There are extra credit exercises and quizzes in this book. There is some photo retouching, though Photoshop does much more. Some 3D is in a later chapter. I do not believe I can do this as I am on a Mac.

I am not necessarily a real fan of Adobe's Classroom in a Book series, but they do a fairly good job of getting one into a program.My reason for buying this one on Photoshop CS4 is that it is the required textbook for a class I am taking. So far it seems to be getting me deeper into Photoshop than I have been previously, even though I have used the program, in several versions, for quite a few years.So I would have to say I am pleased with this Adobe Classroom in a Book. It is helping me become a more capable user.

This product isn't so much a tutorial on what things are and how they work, but a step by step project book. While each project so far has been short and simple, there really isn't much explanation of WHAT I'm doing.Its possible that understanding will come with time, but so far it is all click this, point here, click that and you're done!So its good if you just need to dive in and get over using a new program. Its not so good if you have questions about why this over that.

This book arrived in outstanding condition. As for the content, it was worth the money. It takes the beginner through the basics of CS4 step-by-step using the supplied CD with lessons. Learning from this book, I am able to use CS4 and even some of the advanced features of the software. This publication was exactly what I was hoping for. I highly recommend this book if you need to start learning CS4. As with anything, the more time you put into learning CS4 using the lessons, the more you will benefit. If you are looking for a "quick-down-and-dirty-method" using shortcuts to learn CS4, then this is not the book for you.

The book arrived earlier than expected and was in perfect condition. I'm using it for a class, and it's been very easy to understand and interesting! I received it before I received the software, and even though it helps to follow along with Photoshop open on your PC, it was easy to grasp just by reading also. Good price too. I'm using the book Adobe Photoshop CS4 Classroom in a Book with Adobe Photoshop CS5 software. I'm into the first 100 pages, and so far there have only been very few minor differences between the CS5 software I'm using, and the processes described with the CS4 book.

I am three quarters of the way through this book and totally loving the learning experience. I highly recommend this book to Photoshop CS4 users who have had a play with the software and feel that they are just scraping the surface of something vast. The hints and tips that you pick up are so useful that you will be going back to it again and again. After each chapter there are review questions to see if you have taken it all in.I knew nothing about "Camera Raw" before I read this book and realise now that it is a very important part of digital photography and image manipulation.The "projects" in each chapter are easy and fun to do and there are some web resources throughout the book that are worth checking out.I have three Photoshop CS4 manuals and this is definitely the best one. My reason for not giving it 5 stars is because I would like to use Photoshop for web content design and there is not very much detail for that with this book although it does give you the wherewithall I would like more examples.

I've had a copy of Photoshop since CS3 first came out but shied away from it thinking I didn't really need it as it was part of the Web Premium Suite and I favoured Fireworks. Having stepped my toe into Photoshop with The Digital Classroom CS4 Design Premium book, I was hooked so I dug this book off the bookshelf and delved in. It is written clearly, precisely and leads you through each of the examples really well. It is well paced and although not meant to be read from front to back, it does build up progressively and sows some neat functions which I'd never seen nor knew about!Needless to say I am hooked and about to start the How to Cheat in Photoshop and look forward to developing my skills rapidly.The only downside I found was it'd tell you to select blend mode blah and set x to this, y to that etc but didn't always say why nor explain the options but I guess that comes with time and playing around.Overall a great intro with some nice tutorials.

I work in marketing and had dabbled with most of the CS4 suite, however i never felt that i was utilising much of the potential and was considering working towards becoming a professional designer.this work books have opend my eyes to some of the possibilities of the software and have increased my confidence and ability to the point where i am now teaching others in the office.i throughly recomend these books as a stepping stone into design or as a way of improving your understanding and utilisiation of the software.from these you can then progress to the 'Real world' books from Adobe.

I have not yet completed all the tutorials in the book, but have done about half. I have only played around with Photoshop before and this book does provide a loose start, covering topics and techniques that you would not find by accident. However, as Photoshop is such a huge application, this can only brush the surface and will still leave the beginner wondering how to remember all the features it covers. As these sort of books go, it's not all all bad. It's a start.

I used the book when I was doing an ICT course. Now I have stopped the course and the book is not needed now. I am going to trade it.