Photoshop Elements Online E-book.

[TimS]

Hi all,
As you may know, I’ve only recently joined the forum, but already I’m impressed by the vigour and enthusiasm shown here. I suppose I’m actually doing a bit of market research here, but I hope it’s about something that many of you may well be interested in. Anyway, I’d love to hear your thoughts and comments if you wish to make any.
I’m in the very late stages of planning an online e-book or magazine called Photoshop Elements Route Map, and would just like some feedback from you lot.
The Photoshop Elements Route Map, will be an interactive PDF based e-book which I intend to publish as a part work at two weekly intervals. Visitors to the Route Map website will have the opportunity to download the current issue of the e-book, or sign up for a complete subscription, enabling them to automatically download all of the isuues within the series.
The complete e-book will represent an entire course in using Photoshop Elements, literally from installing it to creating full-blown digital creations, art effects, photo-montages etc. From the very start it will cover how to use each tool in Elements, exactly what each tool does, and as the series progresses it will teach how to use these tools and techniques to create full-blown digital works of art. Detailed step-by-step tutorials will be included in the fortnightly issues and each interactive PDF will feature embedded movie tutorials which you’ll be able to view on your own PC. You’ll also be able to print out each issue on your printer. I would be looking at a charge of approximately £2.50 per issue, or a substantially reduced price for anyone wishing to take out a subscription.
The inspiration for publishing this e-book comes from my feeling that Photoshop Elements is so often regarded as the “poor relation” of Photoshop proper, and I really think that there is call for a book that shows that this is really not the case, and that Elements can be used for equally advanced techniques and effects. To my mind, there are very few thing that can be done in Photoshop that can’t be done in Elements!
So (you’re no doubt asking!), why haven’t I gone to a publisher with this book? Simple, I’ve thus far written two books, and I have been longing to write an Elements book which is not limited by a publishers requirements, essentially one that’s written “my way”. I learnt digital imaging from the ground up, and I really want to write a book which shows people how to use Elements in an intuitive way, without all of the “fluff” in the middle. I guess it’s Photoshop Elements the way I did it!
The individual issues of the e-book will be downloadable from a website, where there’ll also be a users Forum, where readers and subscribers can swap ideas and problems, and where I’ll be on hand to answer any queries.
So, what do you think? I’d really like honest opinions here. You’re welcome to either email me privately, or post into the thread on the forum.
Cheers,
Tim Shelbourne.

[Mary]

Hi Tim
As soon as I saw your name I knew I was one person who would be interested. eBooks are a wonderful format to purchase things at a lower price and as long as it is in pdf format, the pages that would need the most attention can always be printed out. The addition of the linked movies makes it the best of both worlds.

ePublishing - the future - here now!:)

[Pauline]

Tim it sounds very interesting and I for one would love to check it out. My personal preference would be one time pay which I think would be easier all around. I have no clue as to the conversion of prices though? :(

I like the idea of indepth on tools especially ones light lighting effects and gradients which have so much to offer but are so overlooked because there just isn't a lot of information on them.

I have seen your website and really like your work which of course makes all the difference. While I don't own your book it is on it's way and I won't be able to see it until Christmas.

I do worry about the forum though as I spend far too much time on this one as it is. ;) As you can see though, we are a hungry lot for knowledge here and while the 'professionals' might not think much of elements, we are a pretty happy group of sharing and caring individuals.

[kevq]

hi,
very interested in the idea.
Will wait to see how it develops.

Kev.

[virgo1]

Tim,

I'm interested in the idea. Sounds like a good plan. :)

Eva ;)

[CarolLHB]

Sounds very interesting, Tim. Will we Mac users be able to access it as well? Looking forward to seeing how this develops!:)

[TonyW]

Sounds interesting to me too. I like the e-book format. I was only thinking today how to get better organized and collect all the useful tips I read on this forum and elsewhere in one place. £2.50 per issue (Can$5.00 at the current exchange rate) doesn't sound too unreasonable, depending on how much there will be in each issue, and I am certainly interested in going further than the basics of fixing up the pictures I take which is currently what I mainly use PSE3 for. In fact I just downloaded the sample chapter on Watercolor from the cookbook and was going to give it a try. And it would be nice to have a book which deals with more advanced techniques written for Elements so I don't have to spend the time figuring out workarounds when I work from Photoshop books/tutorials.

Tony

[carmelnap]

Hi Tim,

I love the idea of that would and would be very interested in getting it when it comes out. I really love your work it is very good.

Tawan

[kayser]

Tim,

I like the idea. It's easy when you buy a book to get really into it and then get busy with something else and put it aside. With parts of the e-book coming out every two weeks, I think you would keep people's interest/attention and it would be something to look forward to. Also, with a "regular" book, it can sometimes seem daunting to start at page 1 and work your way through it, with this concept, it might seem more doable. I'm looking forward to seeing what you come out with!

[karen donnybrook]

Yes Tim, I would be interested in having a look at it. I presume payment would be by a secure site with the ability to use a credit card?

[michoumisalade]

I wonder: would you write it for PSE4 or PSE3? considering that version 3 is more flexible than version 4 because all the plugins allowed that we can use in PSE3 and not in PSE4.:confused:

[Wendy]

Now that is an interesting point as quite a few people here use add ons to give PSE more functionality ...

The ones mainly used are the PET ones from the subscriber area or Grant's tools http://www.cavesofice.org/~grant/Challenge/Tools/index.html

Wendy

[lindajay]

I'm certainly interested! I do like the "installment" idea -- which would keep me working through it at a steady pace. I'm wondering if the videos would be downloadable with Quicktime 7. Please keep us informed of progress. I think we're all "hungry" for more when it comes to Elements.

--Linda

[GaryK]

Tim

It sounds interesting. I'm not much of an e-book fan, but as long as we can print it EASILY then no probs.(I have opurchased one that you can only print the page you are looking at:mad: )
A lot of people here admire your work, and I do believe your "Cookbook" will be on quite a few Christmas lists.
If you can somehow create the "community" atmosphere, we have here, (that will be tough) you will more than likely have winner.

[TimS]

Carol,
As I run both PC's and Macs here, you can rest assured that Mac users will be catered for as much as ossible! :)
Best,
Tim.

[TimS]

Thanks to everyone for the feedback so far, it sounds like there could be quite a bit of enthusiam for this idea. It's something I've been working on now for quite a while, so it's good to know that I've hopefully not been barking up the wrong tree!
I'm of a similar opinion regarding e-books, in that they can be very good- or ofcourse very bad. For me PDF is very important, as I've paid for, and download HTML based ebooks before now, and have found them pretty useless, and often incredibly hard to read (multicolour type on a Blue background with scattered block highlighting springs to mind!), but my ambition with this one is to present it exactly as I would design and present a printed book. PDF also allows you to shrink each page to fit the paper in your printer, and print out single, a range, or all of the pages.
Once the project advances a little further and the website is live, there will be a couple of sample PDF spreads which potential subscribers will be able to download... so that everyone knows exactly what they will be getting.
For my money, the techiques would centre around PSE 3, as I'm not completely convinced about 4 yet.
Just as an aside... thanks again to everyone for the kind words regarding my work and the Photoshop Photo Effects Cookbook.
Thanks all for the input, I really value it.
Best,
Tim.

[TimS]

I'm certainly interested! I do like the "installment" idea -- which would keep me working through it at a steady pace. I'm wondering if the videos would be downloadable with Quicktime 7. Please keep us informed of progress. I think we're all "hungry" for more when it comes to Elements.

--Linda
Lynda,
Currently I am considering Quicktime for the movies, which is what we use on the magazine cover disks, but there may be issues with file sizes and bandwidth with Quicktime movies, so I may look at a Flash format for them. Will keep you informed.

[TimS]

Yes Tim, I would be interested in having a look at it. I presume payment would be by a secure site with the ability to use a credit card?
Karen,
Payment will indeed be made through a secure merchants site, I know only too well that we need that kind of reassurance when it comes to paying for anything online.
T.

[JennB]

Hello Tim,

I have had your book "Photoshop Photo Effects Cookbook" in my Amazon.com shopping cart for a couple of weeks now because I wanted to know if the techniques can be done in PSE3. Is it possible? Or does this book really cater to just PSE's big brother? Is it worth buying when all I have to work with is PSE?:confused:

Thanks in advance! BTW, I like your idea of an e-book.:cool:

[TimS]

Jenn,
Although my book is written around CS2, the majority of the tutorials could quite easily be adapted for PSE... ie: cheating Layer Masks etc. That said, it is a Photoshop book.
I think Wendy is using it with PSE. Am I right Wendy?
Cheers,
T

[Wendy]

Hi there ...

I think that you do need to be fairly experienced with Elements in order to work out how to use either add ons or workaround to get the techniques to work ... because of that I would not suggest it for beginners.

Certainly I would also suggest that you need to have addons like the PET Extras or Grants tools installed and be comfortable using them ... so PSE4 users dp have a problem with that.

Wendy

[Pauline]

Mine arrived yesterday and I sadly handed the box over to my daughter and told her to wrap it. :(

[Wendy]

Pauline ...

Awwww .... :(


Wendy

[Pauline]

Wendy at least I possess some self control! :) She laughed at me when I told her to wrap them right away. I just worry that she'll stick the box somewhere in that room of hers and forget where she put it!! :eek:

[Wendy]

Pauline ...

Now that would be a disaster ... maybe you could fix one of those audible locators on it?? :)


Wendy

[TimS]

Pauline,
I so admire anyone with such self control! I'm afraid, as Oscar Wilde once said, "I can resist everything but temptation"!
Hope your Christmas is a goody!:D
Tim.

[bayhli]

Hi Tim,

I just visited your site and yes I most definitely would be interested.

BTW, I was particularly interested in your tutorial of the charcoal wash but it is not appearing - is it just not posted as yet?

I'll be watching for the e-book.....

[Pauline]

I peeked once at Christmas gifts when I was young and it really ruined the surprise at Christmas. Haven't done it since. :( My kids and my friend thinks that it's still bad that I ordered my own books and know what I'm getting. I tried explaining that while I know what the books are, I haven't looked inside, so there is still the secret of not knowing! No one would know what to get me if I didn't tell them, and ordering on line is 30% cheaper than buying in the store which is what my husband would do. (not to mention I only saw one of the books that I ordered in the stores. (sadly Tim it wasn't yours)

[jbdigipics]

Hi' Tim and Good Evening.
What an excellent idea!!
as you have suggested a price in (£UK) I take it that the book will come out of the U.K.??
Bully for you.
Please add me to any waiting list you care to originate.
Best of luck from Edinburgh.
jimB

[MikeH]

Tim,

You can also add me to the "would buy" list... :)

Mike

[jbyers2]

Have you seen this Photoshop Elements eBook...

http://simplephotoshop.com/

[TimS]

John,
Yes, I have seen that one. In fact, it was my inspiration for doing my own Elements E-book! I'm really not impressed at all with the syle or content. I'm fairly sure that it's "Metal Mickey" who narrates the video sequences!:rolleyes:
As in any form of publishing, nothing is ever unique. But we can strive to be better. Having said all of that, I'm certain that many people will have found the ASAP e-books useful, and healthy competition is great.
Best to All,
Tim.

[lindajay]

I see that the ebook mentioned above is not available to Mac users -- whereas Tim says his will be. Bravo Tim! I'm really looking forward to seeing and using your ebook.

--Linda

[GaryK]

Tim

I almost hate to ask..(I did say almost:) ) Do you know what happened to Digital Photo Effects Magazine? I used to grab that from the newstand (expensive here in Canada) and I really enjoyed it. Checking the website a while ago looked as thought it has been discontinued.

[vintage]

Hi Tim,

I just visited your site and yes I most definitely would be interested.

BTW, I was particularly interested in your tutorial of the charcoal wash but it is not appearing - is it just not posted as yet?

I'll be watching for the e-book.....
where is this site? The charcoal wash sounds interesting.

[G. OReilly]

:) Tim....I would be interested as well.
Do keep us informed .
George

[bayhli]

Hi Vintage,

Tim's site is timshelbourne.com.

At the left side of the screen you will find directions to all of his tutorials and the charcoal wash is available there now. Enjoy!

[TimS]

Tim

I almost hate to ask..(I did say almost:) ) Do you know what happened to Digital Photo Effects Magazine? I used to grab that from the newstand (expensive here in Canada) and I really enjoyed it. Checking the website a while ago looked as thought it has been discontinued.
Gary,
Very sad to say, Digital Photo Effects has gone forever. It was axed about 3 months ago. I was litterally half way doing a tutorial for them when the news came through. Someone at Future decided that it should be no more. I didn't, and still dont understand the decision, for my money it was one of the bes magazines out there... but I suppose the decision was a business/financial one.
The digital imaging/Photoshop/PSE market seems to be under great pressure at the moment, with almost every title fighting, issue by issue, for survival.. I'm afraid the market became swamped. It's the same with book publishers now. There's real resistance to publishing Photoshop books, again because there are just so many out there.
Have you tried Advanced Photoshop? I'm writing for them as well now,
Best,
Tim.

[TimS]

where is this site? The charcoal wash sounds interesting.
Vintage,
Pat's supplied you with the answer! Although I must apologies to you and everyone else.... technically it's hardly the best website in the world! Web building is not one of my strong points.. I'm always intending to do something about it, but just have no time. If there's anyone out there who'd like to build a good site for me, at a reasonable fee then PLEASE get in touch! :)
T

[vintage]

Thanks Tim and Pat for the web site. Guess what I went there and was able to open all the tuts except the charcoal wash urrrrrrrggg! What could I be doing wrong?

[Bayla]

Me too:( All the other tutorials are fine but I just get a black screen when I click on the charcoal wash one.

Bayla

[bayhli]

Bayla and Vintage,

I don't think you are doing anything wrong, it happened to me as well the first few times but it eventually showed up.

I have the Charcoal Wash Tutorial saved and tried to email it to you both, but there doesn't seem to be a way to attach a file with the private messaging on the forum. Keep checking Tim's site in the hope that it turns up again.

[Bayla]

Thanks Pat,

I guess I'll just have to keep on trying

Bayla

[TimS]

Sorry about that... really must get this website sorted. Here's an old link where you can view the tutorial!: http://www.timshelbourne.com/waterchalk.htm

[Bayla]

Thanks Tim for taking the time to post that link.

Bayla

[wombat2]

I picked up Tim's book "photo effects cookbook" yesterday,and after looking through it I will looking forward to your online e-book. :D

Thank you

[vintage]

Thanks Tim for posting the site. I got it that time. and Pat thanks for trying to email the saved file to me. Know both of you spent valuable time on this. Oh and BTW Tim I would be interested in the e-books you have mentioned.
Thanks again both of you for everything.
Vintage

[wombat2]

I wonder whatever happened to Tim's e-book?

[Wendy]

hi ...

I tried his site and there isn't anything there about them either ... sounds like it just didn't happen ..

Wendy

[TimS]

Oh yea of little faith! The Elements E-book is very much current, as is a full new website featuring both PDF and movie tutorials for download, but it takes time to write a book, and to organise the logistics of the whole thing. I'm afraid I've never been one to wheel out rubbish just for the Pounds (or the dollars), and I really want to make this the best there is.
Anyone is welcome to email me directly for updates on the project. Trust me, it WILL happen!
my email address is: tjs@timshelbourne.com
Sadly I don't have the resources of Adobe at my disposal, I'm just a lone chap here doing his best to supply the absolute best product.
Hi to all,
Best,
Tim.

[Wendy]

Hi Tim ...

... I keep popping over to your site just to check if there is anything new mentioned and will carry on doing so . I guess that you will post any new there !!

Good luck with the new site and hope it is up and running soon ...

Wendy

[wombat2]

Thanks Tim
I am really looking foreword to your e book
Vern