I am usually very critical of the manuals that serve as instructions for use of cameras or software. Refer to the instructions supplied by the manufacturer or publisher is indeed most often the best solution and, of course, the most economical. The book by Martin Evening exception to this law. The book is richly illustrated and printed on a beautiful and luxurious glossy paper and decorated with a DVD in English, deals in depth and complete his subject (only the last chapter - Chapter 15) - dedicated to the automation Photoshop, seemed to me a bit light). It is much more than the mere reproduction of the electronic manual of the publisher. It brings the whole experience of a photographer Photoshop user and describes not only the necessary computer manipulation (how to use the tools provided by the software, the meaning of the menu items and dialogs, etc., which is obviously the least thing for this kind of manual), but also the whole subject matter of the environment: why use such a tool of the software in any computing environment with which monitor, what are the pitfalls for beginners, plus a host of practical tips that will save time for the user. In addition, for a book translated from the English, the style is devoid of ambivalence, repetition or contradiction, which is worth to be noticed. The presentation of the book is also an exceptional clarity. The book is so remarkably shown that you almost forget that he has no other ambition than to help the reader to use computer software: it becomes an object in itself, a book that one reads with extreme pleasure, even if one does not use or if it is not required to use the software which he speaks. So I come to wonder if purchasing the software is really essential when you have such a manual in his hands! It's rare enough to be reported. Martin Evening The book is by far the best book on the subject. Before the works of Pierre Labbe (Photoshop CS4: For PC and Mac, also published by Editions Eyrolles elsewhere, but I want to clarify that I have no relationship, near or far, with this editor!), Of Steve Johnson (Instructions for Photoshop CS4) and Barbara Obermeier (First) (published by First also, but I have nothing to do!), all excellent in their own way. For the book by Barbara Obermeier (Photoshop CS4 8 in 1 for Dummies), careful however to choose the right edition, that, translated by Philip Escartin and Bernard Jolivalt, printed in color, published May 14, 2009 at a price of 29, 90 euros before reduction entitled "8 in 1" (and not "9 in 1"), as there are no less than 3 different editions of Photoshop CS4 in this collection, including 2 by this author! Do not confuse either with his book dedicated to Photoshop CS (the first version of the software), published in March 2004 and still available on the site.
