Good introductory text, but not the best reference tool!

While I had tinkered around with Photoshop a bit in the past, I had to buckle down and get serious about it for work a few years ago. Before picking up "Adobe Photoshop 7.0 Classroom in a Book," I could perform basic photo manipulations and touch-ups, but not much more.

I was able to work through "Photoshop 7.0 CIB" in about a week. The book's divided into 18 lessons, all roughly the same length, so it was easy to map out a plan and stick to it. The instructions are straightforward, clearly written, understandable, and informative. The beginning chapters (Getting to Know the Work Area and Using the File Browser) are perhaps a bit basic, but might be necessary for those completely unfamiliar with the program. The remaining 12 lessons cover the essentials, including basic photo corrections; working with selections; layer basics; masks and channels; retouching and repairing; painting and editing; basic pen tool techniques; vector masks, paths, and shapes; advanced layer techniques; creating special effects; preparing images for two-color printing; optimizing web images and image maps; adding interactive slices and rollovers; creating animated images; setting up your monitor for color management; and producing and printing consistent color. I did find two major mistakes that make completing the lessons impossible, but the good news is that they're only moderately difficult to spot.

After completing this guide, my understanding of Photoshop increased exponentially. It helped to familiarize me with tools which I had never used before (some of which I'll probably never use again!), and increased my confidence in regards to tools I already knew how to use. It's an excellent introductory guide to Photoshop 7.0 (indeed, it was the first Photoshop manual I purchased and actually completed!).

However, I've since upgraded to Photoshop 8.0 CS, and have read a number of 8.0 manuals. As I've graduated to more advanced graphics manipulation, I also find myself constantly referring to Photoshop books when I try a technique that I've learned but haven't yet mastered. I can honestly say that "Adobe Photoshop 7.0 Classroom in a Book" is always the last book I pick up - it's a last resort, and is almost never of any use. While it does help you learn the Photoshop basics, it isn't very helpful as a reference tool. Rather than teaching you the finer points of using a specific tool (including its many options, and when it's best to choose one tool over another), the "Classroom in a Book" just demonstrates the mechanics. Thus, it's virtually useless as a reference tool - it can introduce you to Photoshop's capabilities, but can't help you apply them beyond the basic lessons in the text.

Although newbies will find this book helpful, there are better ones out there which can both introduce you to the program AND act as long-term reference tools. I can guarantee that you'll read through "Adobe Photoshop 7.0 Classroom in a Book" once, maybe even twice, but after that it will just gather dust on your bookshelf. You're better off spending your cash on a book that you'll keep out on your desk, close at hand, until your next Photoshop upgrade. For an indispensable all-purpose guide to Photoshop, I highly recommend "Photoshop 7.0 for Windows and Macintosh" (or CS, if you have the newest version) by Elaine Weinmann and Peter Lourekas. It may be light on fancy illustrations and glossy pictures - but that's why it's one of the more affordable manuals on the market!

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