Published by David & Charles.
144pp, colour on almost every page.
BARRIE THOMAS HAS written many magazine articles, and sells CDs of Photoshop tutorials. I went to one of his demo days arranged by the local branch of the Royal Photographic Society and found him to be one of the clearest tutors I have ever met. This clarity is evident on his CDs and also in this book.
There are no books for textile designers; they are all aim at those with digital cameras who just want to take photographs to record family events, holidays and so on, or to working through special interests to display them at exhibitions. So we must pore over these books to find ways of using these programs to develop our photographs into textile designs.
If you do not have a book explaining how to use Photoshop then get this one. It is clearly laid out as short spreads of two or four pages, with excellent photographs, screen shots and diagrams, starting with how to transfer your images onto the computer and then explaining how all the tools and effects work and how to use them. Many of these explanations suggest ways we can use them for our purpose, clearly showing how alterations to the settings affect the image.
I have not read the whole book, but have dipped into it, looking for text on the Channels, for example, or the Measure tool, neither of which I have used. I understand them now.
I do have other books on Photoshop, but this is the one I shall use most. It is not too basic, nor too complex, but fulfills the need for a middle road that every one can understand.
Valerie Campbell-Harding
An article f rom Issue 51