Photoshop Elements 5.0?

[Travis550]

Hi Everyone!

I am a rank beginner and decided that I'm going to work with PSE 5.0.

I want to have fun with the program. Would you please tell me if you heard of this book below or any others books for "beginners that focus on the "fun" stuff? (like the book below)

Please read what I want to do to get started.

Thank you all so much for your time.

Travis

About the Book

"Fun with Photoshop Elements 4: Foto Fakery for Everyone "is a fun, cheeky approach to using Photoshop Elements 4 in exactly the way you want to use it - for fun! You'll be able to get your feet wet and your hands dirty while learning the key tools and tricks through objective-based lessons. You'll be able to quickly complete tasks, and by the end of the book, you will be able to combine elements of two photos into one image, perform "head transplants," makeover your clothes or face, edit people into and out of images, and graft images together to create giant, mystical creatures. Plus, you'll find out how to use these images on greeting cards, T-shirts, personalized calendars, fake street sign, and more. You can even gain inspiration at the companion website from posted reader creations! The possibilities are endless. Let us help you reel them

 

[Chief T]

IMHO a person needs to learn to crawl before they can walk. There are tons of books out there on the various versions of Photoshop. I highly recommend Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0 Classroom in a Book by Adobe, available at Amazon for around $26. My first experience with Photoshop (not elements) was version 3.0. I started with the (at that time) two Classroom In A Book books. They gave me a very firm foundation on which to build. For anyone starting with Photoshop and looking for their first book, I don't think you can go wrong with the Classroom In A Book. Finish it, and then move on to other more advanced books.
--
Chief T.

 

[Conchita]

I would definitely go with either the Missing Manual by Brundage or PE 5 for digital photographers by Kelby. Classroom in a book is okay for PS but not for PE (just look at their reviews and sales rankings on amazon.)

The book you reference may be okay for later on, but everyone likes the Brundage and Kelby books and they'll teach you what you need to know. Brundage is very complete, Kelby is more like recipes; both are excellent in their ways.

 

[tntyz]

I don't have this book, but I do have the Brundage book. I like the "Missing Manual", but my suggestion is . . . go with the fun stuff! It doesn't sound like you're interested in how to do basic retouching, so why not use something that will stimulate your interest and excitement? It is amazing how much you will learn by just goofing around and you're going to get exposed to what Elements can do. Heck, it's fun transplant heads and teaches a lot of good skills that can be used in serious work, too.

 

[Travis550]

Hi,

Does anyone know of a book for a beginner in PSE 5.0 that would teach me these fun things? ...or do I have to work through a How to book like "The missing manual" first?

Get my feet wet and your hands dirty while learning the key tools and tricks through objective-based lessons.I want to be able to combine elements of two photos into one image, perform "head transplants," makeover clothes or face, edit people into and out of images, and graft images together to create giant, mystical creatures." All the fun stuff.

Any books like this. I don't need or want to take the time to learn PS! I'll leave that up to the pros. I just take family pics and enjoy making people laugh

Thanks for any tips.

Travis

 

[Conchita]

You don't "work through" a book like the Missing Manual, just use it to find out about what you want to do right now.

BTW, I wouldn't start with a PE 4 book for PE 5. There are a lot of changes, especially in the projects available in the program.

You may as well face it. PE is a complicated program and you're going to want a good guide so you can look up the various menu options, etc. you're going to encounter along the way. For instance, if you want to move heads around you need to understand selections and layers. I would go to your local bookstore and look at the availalble PE books.

 

[Conchita]

BTW, when I looked up the "Fun with PE 4" book you mention in your first post (never heard of it before, to tell you the truth), I noticed that amazon is offering a "better together" discount for that book and the PE 5 Missing Manual as a bundle.

 

[Travis550]

Thank you for the advice. You have been very nice to me. I will check out Borders today and also look at the deal on Amazon.

I don't know your name, but thank you again.

Peace,

Travis

 

[TeriF]

I have both books Chonchita mentioned, I can highly recommend them. They are very easy to follow, coming from me, it has to be true!
Teri
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http://www.pbase.com/terif
http://www.homeartcreations.com