Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 for Photographers
by Ken McMahon
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Book Reviews of Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 for Photographers
Book Review: Could have been better
Summary: 2 Stars
I know many people who have read this book and found it to be an absolute joy that taught them the basics and introduced them to some nice concepts and topics. Especially topics they wanted to hear. Actual people who enjoy this book. Which is bound to happen, it does have good information and in some cases you can even learn something. But that depends.
I struggled with giving this a two or a three star rating. I don't think it's so bad as to give it a one. But the problems I did encounter were enough to make me want to chuck it after I had gleaned any unknown information.
First, as it has been announced by others, he tends to get way into depth about easy topics, and glides over more complicated ones. Curves for example, an awesome, amazing, powerful tool that Adobe felt was too professional for Elements. He barely touches on it, how it can be used, and why it should be used.
He does give some nice tips. But then turns around and gives the same worn out depth of field "tip" we've all heard before. "Select the background, then use Gaussian Blur." Which, I don't know about you but even for me as someone who isn't a photographer knows, doesn't work properly. His example is atrocious.
A lot of the time the pictures don't match the version he's talking about. And more than once PSPP X2 is referred to as version XI. In the scripting section he clearly states "maybe they'll fix this in version XII" the very version the book is about. Apparently didn't feel the need to update the text at all where it wasn't needed.
I loved the section that gave an explanation of layer blend ranges. I've been trying to use them properly for a while. But he does so because Corel changed the Color Balance system and you can't do the old method of a special technique. Despite the fact that the technique he's referring to can be done using the Color Balance Adjustment layer. Now on this point, and in his defense he had not gone over Adjustment layers yet. But he could have saved this tip for adjustment layers as it fits there.
He has a number of explanations that are all over the place. And many times it's hard to follow what he's talking about. If Corel reviewed this book like the cover says, then I wonder what standards Corel is employing. And does this mean that PSPP will only get worse from here because it's owned by a Company that is already removing just as much as it's putting in and allows books like this to be written and published?
Now again, there is useful information in this book. It's not a complete waste. But if you're going to buy it. Then go somewhere else and buy it used. You stand a better chance at a better price. Right now, here on Amazon, the used price is higher than the new price.
Small warning though, even the website spoken of in the book is old and outdated. So that won't be of any use to you at all.
Youtube, they've got stuff. Photoshop tutorials even. They can often be changed over to Paint Shop Pro. And they're free.
Book Review: Too Simple & Too Advanced
Summary: 2 Stars
I have been into digital photography for the past couple of years and have been using both PSP Photo X2 and Photoshop Elements 5. Through experimentation, I had figured out how to brighten, sharpen, soften, clone, straighten, crop, etc. I had tried using masks and layers but failed miserably. I was looking for a book that would walk me through the creation and application of masks and layers and hopefully guide me through the more sophisticated tools such as curves. What a disappointment. The first chapter takes roughly 30 pages to list the tools, e.g., "Red-Eye tool" duh! It finally gets down to an example at the end of the chapter, taking 2 full pages to show how STRAIGHTEN AN IMAGE!
Chapter 2 nicely covers "Simple Picture Manipulation", with a thorough explanation of the "Smart Photo Fix". It also covers the use of Histogram Adjustment and tools like "High Pass Sharpen". Unfortunately, it only touches on "Soft Focus", which is actually quite complicated, i.e., requires a lot of playing around, and skims past Curves with 9 short sentences and nary an example.
Chapter 3 "Moving Past the Basics" is an understatement. Suddenly I was seeing "tips" like, "For an interesting effect use a Hue/Saturation/Lightness Adjustment layer in colorize mode to apply a tint, then reduce the layer opacity to blend it with the original color." Right. It reminds me of the proverbial ski trip where the "expert" skier lets everyone take one warm-up run down the bunny hill and then takes them to the top of an "easy" black diamond trail. At that point, he drops over the edge and vanishes from sight, expecting his novice charges to follow - forgetting that it took him years to perfect his technique.
Book Review: Just What I Needed
Summary: 5 Stars
I have been a JASC PaintShopPro fan since almost the beginning. I started with PSP4 and graduated to PSP8 where I stalled out when versions 9, 10 and 11 came out too quickly for me to absorb (even though I upgraded to all new versions) -- plus at the time I was very happy with PSP8 for my particular applications. However, I really wanted to get into more sophisticated techniques like advanced selection techniques, use of histograms, advanced layers & masks, etc. Ken McMahon's PSP Photo X2 For Photographers was just what I needed to get me up to speed on the latest version of PSP, plus sharpen my skills in the previously mentioned techniques. Note that this book is rated Intermediate, so it is not for those who are new to basic photo editing techniques. The book is clear, well organized, has lots of good illustrations, and with easy to use index and tabs. It is a pleasure to read and use.
David R Carlson
Fresno CA
carlsondr@gmail.com
Book Review: GREAT BOOK
Summary: 4 Stars
This book is a wonderful source of information for Corel. My only complaint was in the actual procedure for layering which produces the same affects as 35mm multi-exposures. It just needs an example and a step by step method (on combining two images)which I later found on the internet. This and other manuals never assume that you don't know you have to right click on certain layers to make them work. This is a simple thing that can leave you totally perplexed since a wrong click can really mess you up. If this had just been there I would have rated it a 5 star.Book Review: Great book for great image editor!
Summary: 5 Stars
I've been following Paint Shop since its Jasc days, and was worried when Corel bought the company, because Corel already offers Photo-Paint, Painter, and PhotoImpact. However, the latest version of PSP is as good as it ever was, and this book is the easiest way to learn all the new features, or, if you haven't owned Paint Shop Pro before, to get up to speed with the image editor. Everything is organized into easy to follow lessons and can help you learn the function of every tool and feature. Recommended.