Adobe Photoshop CS3 for Dummies

Introduction

Adobe Photoshop is one of the most important computer programs of
our age. It’s made photo editing a commonplace thing, something for
the everyperson. Still, Photoshop can be a scary thing (especially that first
purchase price!), comprising a jungle of menus and palettes and tools and
options and shortcuts as well as a bewildering array of add-ons and plug-ins.
And that’s why you’re holding this book in your hands. And why I wrote it.
And why Wiley published it.

You want to make sense of Photoshop — or, at the very least, be able to work
competently and efficiently in the program, accomplishing those tasks that
need to get done. You want a reference that discusses how things work and
what things do, not in a technogeek or encyclopedic manner, but rather as an
experienced friend might explain something to you. Although step-by-step
explanations are okay if they show how something works, you don’t need rote
recipes that don’t apply to the work you do. You don’t mind discovering tricks,
as long as they can be applied to your images and artwork in a productive,
meaningful manner. You’re in the right place!

About This Book

This is a For Dummies book, and as such, it was produced with an eye toward
you and your needs. From Day One, the goal has been to put into your hands
the book that makes Photoshop understandable and useable. You won’t find
a technical explanation of every option for every tool in every situation, but
rather a concise explanation of those parts of Photoshop you’re most likely
to need. If you happen to be a medical researcher working toward a cure for
cancer, your Photoshop requirements might be substantially more specific
than you’ll find here. But for the overwhelming majority of the people who
have access to Adobe Photoshop CS3, this book provides the background
needed to get your work done with Photoshop.

As I updated this book, I intentionally tried to strike a balance between the
types of images with which you’re most likely to work and those visually
stimulating (yet far less common) images of unusual subjects from faraway
places. At no point in this book does flavor override foundation. When you
need to see a practical example, that’s what I show you. I included a number
of images from PhotoSpin.com, my favorite subscription stock art source.
But, again, I worked to ensure that each piece of artwork illustrates a technique
and does so in a meaningful, nondistracting way for you.