Let’s face it. Photoshop is considered the industry standard of image manipulation programs. But it’s a bear to use if you don’t know how. And while the manuals tell you how to do it technically, they’re often written by geeks who don’t know how to speak to the user.

In fact, I often wondered whether the people who write the manuals ever actually use the program to create a professional image. They seem to lack the “real world,” down and dirty, get-things-done techniques that professionals actually use.

Example: What’s the Number 1 mistake most Photoshop users make that can easily ruin virtually every image they work on? I’ll let you know in just a minute. But before we go any further, why should you listen to me?

My name is Nathan Segal. If you’ve been reading computer graphics magazines or ezines you have probably seen my name. I’ve spent the last 8-1/2 years working as an Artist and Writer. I’ve been active as a Digital Artist for 10 years and way back in 1988 I worked as a Camera Operator in what was known as the Multi-Image industry (a precursor to multimedia as it’s known today).

Over the years I’ve published 322 articles and 2 books on the subject of computer graphics and photography. I was the main contributing Writer to Streaming Media World, where I wrote over 111 articles over a 16 month period.

Currently, I’m an Associate Editor at WebReference.com, a site that draws between 150-175,000 page views each day.

The topics I’ve covered include Software Reviews, Tutorials, Tips and Tricks, Features, Profiles and Investigative Reporting. I create my own illustrations, photographs and screen shots.

In 1996, I entered into a collaborative effort with 3 photographers and one designer. Together, we created 296 digital images for stock photography catalogs.

A sampling of my clients are Visual Convergence, Web Developer, Photo Techniques, Mac Design, Layers Magazine, Photoshop User, Streaming Media World, WebReference.com and Rangefinder.

I’m not saying all this to brag, but I think it is extremely important to understand the expertise of someone before you take their advice. (We’ve all seen web sites and advice that aren’t worth the pixels they are printed with.)

As a Writer, my specialty is taking difficult topics and breaking them down into terminology that's easy to understand.

How Does This Help You?

I’ve finally pulled the best Photoshop tips, tricks and techniques together into one resource that will help anyone become a better Photoshop user.

Introducing:
The Photoshop Companion

The Photoshop Companion is an extensive practical resource that not only covers Photoshop, but the software and devices that work in conjunction with it.

Let's go back to that question I asked earlier. What's the Number 1 mistake most Photoshop users make that can easily ruin virtually every image they work on?

They don't calibrate their monitors....

Why Is This Important?

BECAUSE WITHOUT COLOR CALIBRATION
YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO RELY ON
ANYTHING YOU SEE!!!

Sure, you might be one of the lucky users who gets a perfectly balanced monitor right out of the box...

But Do You Really Want To Take That Chance?

In The Photoshop Companion you'll learn a simple 10 step method to calibrate your monitor using Adobe Gamma.

It only takes a 5 minutes...

And when you're done you can save the profile. As your monitor ages, recalibration only takes a minute or two and then you're good to go!!!

In The Photoshop Companion what you get is knowledge and techniques that took me 17 years to learn, all written into this volume. And unlike many other computer manuals that lose their appeal and fade into antiquity in a few months, most of the techniques here will last for years.

As an example, if you want to learn how to photograph art correctly (page 66), that technique will still be as useful 20 years from now as it is today.

For web designers, image compression is one of the top issues. How much is too much? On pages 16-21, you'll learn

This manual shows you how to avoid a lot of mistakes up-front and get the results you deserve.

What you’ll learn here will save you many hours of frustration and allow you to become productive quickly.

Here’s what you get in this manual:

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1: Monitor Calibration: The Key to Obtaining Accurate Color (pg. 7)
Calibrate Your Monitor with Adobe Gamma, Monitor Software Solutions, Additional Calibration Notes

Chapter 2: Computer Graphics Fundamentals (pg. 13)
The Differences between Bitmapped and Vector Graphics, The Relationship between Resolution and Measurement, Working with Images, Resolution Requirements for Different Media, Scanning Secrets, Define the Purpose of the Scan, Start With a High-Quality Original, Cropping During the Scan

Chapter 3: Understanding Web Graphics and Compression (pg.16)
JPEG & GIF, About Bitmaps, Compression Issues, Progressive JPEG and JPEG-LS, Weighted Optimization, PNG, Additional Notes

Chapter 4: 10 Tips for Consistent Web Layouts (pg. 24)
1. Plot Layouts on Paper First, 2. Format Considerations, 3. Consistency with Templates, 4. About Bandwidth, 5. Thumbnail Advantages, 6. Using Compression and Reducing Colors, 7. Dithering and Banding, 8. Jagged Edges, 9. Be Cautious About Animations, 10. Vector-based Animations

Chapter 5: 10 Professional Masking Tips (pg. 27)
1. Save a Copy of the Original File, 2. Use High-Contrast Layers, 3. Masking with the Magic Wand, 4. Masking with the Color Range Command, 5. Masking Using the Extract Filter, 6. Feathering a Mask, 7. Feathering Alternatives, 8. Stacking Masks, 9. How to Get Rid of Fringe Pixels, 10. Masking by Sections

Chapter 6: Scanning Issues (pg. 35)
Skew the Document, Moiré Patterns, Cropping, High-Quality File Types, Scanning Black and White Negatives and Prints, Grayscale Scanning, Problems with Artwork, Digital Camera or Scanner?, Conclusion

Chapter 7: Quality Slide Scanning (pg. 40)
The Scanning Process, ICC Profiles, Clean the Scanner Surface, Transparencies and Negatives, Start with a High Quality Original, Dust and Lint, Scan at the Right Size

Chapter 8: White Balancing for Accurate Color with Your Digital Camera (pg. 43)
Light contamination: How white is white?, Color Balancing Issues Indoors, A Sampling of Color Temperatures, The Life Cycle of a Bulb, Lumen Maintenance Curve, Fluorescents, Discharge and Cold Light Sources, How Do You Know When White Is White?, Problem Lighting Situations, Night shots, About White Cards, The True Meaning of the Term “White Balance,” Conclusion

Chapter 9: How to Create Textures in Photoshop: Part 1 (pg. 50)
Working with Geometry, Detail Level, Simple Shapes and Primitives, The Use of Different Materials, Using Software to Create Textures, The Reflective Quality of Objects, About Shaders, Other Controls, Texture Maps, Procedural Maps, Bitmaps, and Bump Maps, Combining Textures, Conclusion, References

Chapter 10: How to Create Textures in Photoshop: Part 2 (pg. 57)
Create Textures with Plug-Ins, How to Create Star Fields for Space Scenes, How to Create a Tileable Texture in Photoshop, Creating Textures with Paint, A Cautionary Note, Conclusion, References

Chapter 11: How to Photograph Art and Flat Copy (pg. 67)
The Importance of a Solid Camera Support, Photographing Art with a Tripod, About Lighting, Lenses, Film, Light Meters, Digital Cameras, Shooting Art Outside, Inexpensive Tungsten Lighting, Photograph Art on the Wall, About Backgrounds, Glare Issues, About Dust and Lint, Exposure & Vibration Issues, Flat Copy with a Digital Camera, Conclusion

Chapter 12: 30 Tips for Creating Digital Pictures (pg. 74)
1.Plan Shots in Advance, 2. Compose within a Frame, 3. Remember the Background, 4. Shoot tight, 5. Squint, 6. Bracketing, 7. Eliminate Camera Movement, 8. Introducing Blur by Panning, 9. Creating Mood with Blur, 10. Depth of Field Blur, 11. Shooting for Stock Photography, 12. Natural Light, 13. Shoot Images on Cloudy Days, 14. Shoot at Sunsrise/Sunset, 15. Unusual Lighting, 16. Shooting Fireworks, 17. Tabletop Photography Techniques, 18. Studio Backgrounds, 19. Gray or Black Backgrounds, 20. Problems with Digital Camera Flash, 21. Studio Flash Techniques, 22. Lighten Shadows with a Reflector, 23. Use Scrims, 24. Use a Light Tent, 25. About Close-Ups, 26. Flash Portraits, 27. Other Lighting Issues, 28. Shooting the Unexpected, 29. Keep all your Images, 30. Trust your Gut Feeling

Chapter 13: 12 Printing Tips (pg. 86)
1. RGB to CMYK, 2. Use a Commercial Printer, 3. A Great Color Reference Guide, 4. Page Layout, 5. About Graphics, 6. Screen vs. Print Resolutions, 7. Quality Fonts, 8. About Bleeds, 9. Crop Marks and Color Scales, 10. About File Formats, 11. Other Considerations, 12. Printing in Your Home or Office

Chapter 14: Hardware Review: Wacom Intuos 3 (pg. 89)
Included Components, Installation Notes, Tablet Design Changes, Performance Observations and Issues, Additional Features and Options, Conclusion, System Requirements, Pricing and Availability

Chapter 15: How to Buy a High Resolution Printer (pg. 92)
Features to Look for in a Printer, Ease of Use, Laser vs. Inkjet, Pros & Cons of Lasers & Inkjets, Paper Choices, About Inks, Prices, About Cartridges, Maintenance, Interface Options, Print Quality and Resolution, Duplex Printing, Postscript, Warranties, Recommended Printers

Chapter 16: How to Buy a CRT/LCD Monitor (pg. 98)
How a CRT Monitor Works, How a LCD Monitor Works, Differences between CRT and LCD Monitors, Tips for Buying a CRT Monitor, Tips for Buying an LCD Monitor, Conclusion

Chapter 17: How to Improve Your Creativity by Going to Art School (pg. 102)
Drawing and Painting for Beginners, The Victoria College of Art, Further Study, Lessons of Painting, The Wisdom of the Process, Computers and Design, Parting Observations

Chapter 18: Resource Guide (pg. 111)
Photography: Copy Stands, Photographing Art with a Tripod, Lenses, Film, Digital Cameras, Gray Cards, Light Meters, About Dust and Lint, Special Effects, Computer Color Management, Film Scanners, Software Programs, Quality Fonts, Drawing Tablets, Recommended Books, Free Resources, Additional Resources

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