Books

[Muggs]

I am a big reader and prefer to read books rather than on the internet. Does anyone have a suggestion for a real beginner's start for Elements 5. I keep starting to try to learn Elements then give up because everything I have is at least one step up from just learning what all the tools do and how to work with the features. :confused:

[Fernan]

Hi Susan. I will suggest Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0 A-Z by Philip Andrews or Phtoshop Elements 5 the missing manual by Barbara Brundage. Other members might have more suggestions.

Welcome to the forum.

[Andyd]

Hi Susan,

Welcome to the forum! You will find lots of information here.

I'll throw my $.02 in. You might try, The Photoshop Elements 5 Book for Digital Photographers by Scott Kelby. His books are good for a beginner. He will take you step by step.

Best of luck!

Andy

[Muggs]

I already have The Missing manual, Elements 5.0 A-Z, Combining Images with Photoshop Elements, Restoration & Retouching, and 100 Tops & Tricks Elements 4.0. Like I said, I'm a book person. None of these do what I need though. I want to find one that has basic lessons to make me familiar with how to work the basics of the program. [I] was wondering about Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0 Classroom in a Book or The Photoshop Elements 5 Book for Digital Photographers. It sounds like they both work from the beginning. I was hoping I could get some information from someone that has them. A-Z is a good book and has a lot to offer but not a tutorial format.

[Wendy]

Hi Susan ...

Have to admit that I skipped the very basic books as they really are only useful for the first few weeks or so .. but classroom in a book has had some good reviews (as a beginners book)

Wendy :)

[Muggs]

I've had Elements forever but never sat down to really learn it's power. I've always been intimidated by it. The books I have are great, but when I try to do a technique, I don't have the basic knowledge. I can use curves and crop and a few other things, but I really want to learn the more safisticated (sp?) things so I can make the best use of it. I've ordered Classroom in a Book. I'll go from there. Thanks everyone!!!

[David Bowman]

Hi Susan,

I also find it easier to follow along in a book. That is why I am recommending Deke McClelland's "Photoshop Elements 4-- One on One". It starts with the basics and includes a DVD that introduces each chapter and what you are going to be learning. It is a very structured book, with about 10 or 12 lessons. I am only on lesson 7, but I have learned a lot about the tools, filters, layers, brushes, sponges, et al. And Deke seems like a really cool guy, so it makes it a very enjoyable learning experience. Spend the $40, or go to the library and GET IT!! You will not be sorry, I garontee it!

Dave

[Muggs]

Dave, it's $23.07 at amazon.

[Pauline]

I was just going to recommend Deke's book. I didn't know if he had one out for v5 or not but I have his v3 one and it was great. Not only are there lessons, but video tutorials which I found extremely helpful when I was beginning.

[Martha]

Last year I purchased a book called "In Easy Steps" from Barnes and Noble
($9.99) . It was for Photoshop but Elements has most of the tools to do the things in it. What I liked about it was the fact that you could go to their website and download the the pictures used in the lessons. It starts out very basically. This really helped me to learn to use the tools and become familiar with the program. I have the "Missing Manual" book which is a great book but has so much information that a newbie is overloaded . These two books and finding the Forum here have made learning to use Elements possible.
Martha
.

[Edmund]

HI Susan, Welcome to the forum. You will learn a lot here. I have so many books but I know exactly what you mean. I tried this on line course out and it opened so many doors. I really learned a lot. It seems that with any adobe photoshop program there is a real steep learning curve. Then one day totally unexpected something up in the gray Matter clicks and the light goes on. I think we all went thru this with PSE. These courses are designed more like a classroom text course and that method worked with me.
Here is the link:
http://www.eclecticacademy.com/
Try it out its real cheap and IMHO worth every cent.
Eddie

[tomlaronge]

Susan,
I too prefer books. Furthermore, you can always refer to a book if you forget and you can refresh your memory with a familiar source.
I am waiting for delivery of the same book you just purchased from Amazon.
Tom

[Rusty]

Susan,

I have, in other threads, recommended the Adobe publication: Classroom in a Book. The PSE-3 version of that is what finally opened my eyes to what this software is all about. Like you, I want to be able to read and think about what I'm doing.

When you finish, you will put the book away and probably never look at it again. It's not a "how to" reference book. I promise you, if you work your way thru the sequential lessons, you will be amazed at how fast stuff starts making sense when you ask a Q and somebody on this Forum answers.

If you get this book and simply put it on the shelf, for reference, along with the others you have bought, you have wasted your money. The only value in this book is the lessons.

Rusty

[tomlaronge]

Susan,
As Eddie wrote, I have received more help and more rapidly from this forum than from the six to eight books that I have read. Also, the personal experience level on this forum is much more specific than anything that I have read in books. Finally, I find that much of what is in the books requires memory as opposed to understanding. In my case it is memory in, memory out as opposed to understanding in and my ownership of the information is just that.
Tom

[Tom K]

Hi Susan;

One of the best books for me was Classroom in a book by Adobe. The
version I used was the same one Rusty referred to for ver 3.

I believe there is one for ver 5, if you follow along thru all of the lessons
you will get a handle on many of the functions in PSE.

PSE is one of the least intuitive programs I have ever seen, however when
the light comes on the view is beautiful..

Good luck with your learning and if you have questions there are many
members who will gladly try to help... Tom :D