Intended user: Intermediate and Advanced.

If you are looking for a book on how to use Photoshop, this is probably the last book I'd recommend. However, if you were interested in a book on how to use Photoshop as a tool for artistic expression, this would be on the top of my list.

To quote Sharon Steuer from her introduction, "Whether you are using Photoshop 6, 7, or 12, Quantel's Pantibox or ProCreate's Painter, the concepts covered in this book should open your mind to new artistic possibilities, spark your imagination, and encourage you to develop your own ways of working creatively with the computer."

Much of the focus of this book is based on the fact that Photoshop has layers and with these layers one can compose more than one image into one Photoshop image. And, one can muck around with part of an image and not affect any other part of the Photoshop image (within different layers). Thus, giving one the chance to play with colors, shading, intensity, extra parts, whatever, one can expand the creative/artistic levels not easily achieved (and in some cases impossible) without Photoshop.

[Such enhancements can provide wonderful additions to a regular photograph and some samples of such can be seen at the site of Paul Bradforth of Cornwall England. His site shows a small sample of his work where some of his photographs have been "enhanced."]

If you have been wanting some guidance and/or direction on using blending modes and/or adjustment layers, this is the book for you. As you look through the book, Sharon sets up layers, more layers, adjustment layers, alternating blending modes for all, and then a few more layers.

One of the interesting aspects about Sharon Steuer is that much of her artwork is hand done and she then uses 35 mm photographs of her work and/or scanned images of her work for Photoshop manipulation. Additionally, Sharon may take photographs of "things," combine them in Photoshop, and then "draw" on the photograph images to create a drawing (in a new layer).

As you go through this book, you will often feel deja vu as you will notice you keep on revisiting the same images over and over. This is because the picture of "Jeff and the cats" is presented in Chapter 1, but the techniques used in applying color in this picture is presented in Chapter 2. While reading this one may get the feeling that this approach would lead to a disjointed educational experience; however the fact is Chapter 1 is presenting the concept of compositing images and Chapter 2 is dealing with problem solving using layers.

I think one of the things that I find very appealing in this book is Sharon's practical approach to problem solving AND her explanations of these issues. Whereas some authors, like Scott Kelby, tend to have a very methodical "listed" (step 1, step 2, etc.) approach toward explaining processes, Sharon tends to be more expository--sort of a running dialog approach. As such, this is much more a book that can read away from the computer. She is more interested in imparting ideas than specific techniques. However, as such, do not expect to learn how to do specific techniques--that is not really the purpose of this book.

Also, do not expect to learn "just" about Photoshop with this book. For example, Sharon provides instruction on how to create monotypes using a trace of a digital image (Chapter 7). Alternatively, Sharon is constantly emphasizing how working with someone else as a collaborator can bring out much more than one can achieve by themselves.

Admittedly, working through this book is a bit of a challenge. For those used to cookbook style lessons, you will find this book to be somewhat frustrating and challenging. More than specific techniques, this book is striving to convey ideas. That notwithstanding, too often Sharon leads the reader through various techniques even asking the reader to follow along with their own images. While providing a CD with some of the images may not have been worth the extra money and/or effort, it would not have been out of line to have some of the images available on line for personal use. There are other areas where Sharon comments on what she has done without any examples of what it looks like when she's doing such an operation. While I consider myself a strong Photoshop user, I am very much a beginner in the specific operations that Sharon is teaching. Thus, adding a chapter in the beginning of this book for some basic, but detailed explanation on her techniques would have been helpful.

I also found that Sharon will add layer upon layer upon layer. I am not fully sure that there was a purpose for each of these layers or if they were being used as experiments (that might be deleted later).

I hate to end this with a cop-out statement, but as this book is so radically different from about any Photoshop book I've seen, the full value of it will be in the eye of the reader. Do not get this book if your goal is to learn about, or how to use Photoshop. However, if you are interested in exploring areas of Photoshop you may not have considered before, this book is definitely worth a look-see.

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