Top 5 Photoshop CS3 Books

I can’t imagine that there is anyone out there that says they know and understand everything about Photoshop CS3. I’m an Adobe Certified Expert and I still learn new things every day about how the program works or different approaches to a given task. What that means is that my shelves are full of books on one of my favorite topics, Photoshop.

But working with Photoshop CS3 for over a year, I’ve realized that I have just 5 book that I regularly refer to. So, here’s my list of the top 5 Photoshop CS3 books that will help you in your day-to-day Photoshop CS3 adventures. They are in no particular order, since I find each of them extremely useful.

1. Adobe Photoshop CS3 How-Tos: 100 Essential Techniques (How-Tos) by Chris Orwig – Think Photoshop should be able to do something but you’re not sure how or where to start? Start here. If you use Photoshop regularly, then you’ll eventually do everything in this book.
   

2. Adobe Photoshop CS3 On Demand by Andy Anderson, Steve Johnson, and Perspection, Inc. – This is a great book on two levels. First, it is illustrated with fantastic, highly-detailed color images, which is most important for me and the way I work. Second, it covers everything you need to know about Photoshop to pass the Adobe Certified Expert test. Saying something like that can be dangerous, so let me say this, too: don’t expect to be able to pass the test by thumbing through Adobe Photoshop CS3 On Demand. You’ll need to follow every single exercise and understand what you’re doing before you head to your local expert testing center.
   

3. Scott Kelby's 7-Point System for Adobe Photoshop CS3 by Scott Kelby – To be honest, this was not a book that appealed to me based on the title –  I just didn’t think you could apply a 7-point checklist to every photo. Well that’s what Scott does, but all seven points aren’t used on every photo. If you can make it through every lesson (I confess that I haven’t...) you ’ll have a great understanding of the tools Scott uses in his 7-point system. Basically, if you can master these 7-points, you can make some gorgeous images out of average ones. Isn’t that what Photoshop is all about? By the way, the book has a place where you can download all the lesson files. An important point about this book: make sure you actually read the introduction first. In point of fact, if you only read the introduction while you’re at your local Barnes & Noble, you’ll get the gist of the “7-Point System.”
   

4. Adobe Photoshop CS3 One-On-One by Deke McClelland – If you’ve ever had the opportunity to see Deke train in person or have watched one of his videos, you’ll know he comes off a little like Donnie Hoyle…“I know more about Photoshop than you, but I guess I’ll let you in on my secrets.” Deke can be entertaining, but this book is 500 plus pages of strict Photoshop CS3 business. This book is like the user manual that Adobe should write, detailed yet practical. Since its approach is like that of a manual, it’s no problem jumping from chapter to chapter. Deke and this book are my primary go-to resource when I have a specific How do I do that? Photoshop question.
   

5. Layers: The Complete Guide to Photoshop's Most Powerful Feature by Matt Kloskowski – Last but not least is this skinny approximately 250-page book. Truth be told, layers are what makes Photoshop the killer app that it is. I started using Photoshop before “the layer era,” so I can say that with some confidence and personal history to reinforce it. What most people don’t realize is that with each new version of Photoshop, Adobe has added more functionality to the layer palette. This book is great for beginners or pros. If you’re a beginner, learn everything in this book and you’ll be one deadly, powerful Photoshop Ninja. If you’re a pro, I’ll bet you the cost of an upgrade to Photoshop CS4 that there’s something in here you didn’t know about layers. If you want to pick up some tips fast, this book also has a great feature at the end of each chapter called “How do I…”. Just skip to the end of each chapter and read those.

I trust you’ll find my top Top Five Photoshop CS3 Books as useful as I’ve found each of these books. But who am I to say if they’re the best Photoshop CS3 in the world? If you know of other books that rock your Photoshop CS3 world, add a comment here. I’ve got an Amazon Prime account and I’m not afraid to use it.

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Keywords: Photoshop, Adobe Photoshop, CS3, Top 5 Photoshop CS3 Books 5, adobe, books, certified, expert campphotoshop, five, top, digital photography, kelby, kloskowski

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