A Reference Book for Serious Adobe-Addicts - Rated 
I never could understand Layers in depth - now I do.
Sometimes throws you in the deep end - but always takes you back to the shore safely.
I am ready to explore the full might of Layers with confidence both in Photoshop 7 as well as CS3
Not the best - Rated 
I have several "how to" photoshop books but most of them tend to be of the "now click this..then click that " type. What I needed was a book that told me "why" I clicked that, so I though that being devoted completely to the "layers" tool it would be give me a more in-depth explanation of the tool. Things start off well enough with an overview of exactly what a "layer" is, but then jumps straight into creating "gimicks". There are plenty of better books on the market for creating gimicks in photoshop ( try one of the excellent Katrin Eismann books )but that wasn't what I needed. This author is from the same stable as Scott Kelby who writes excellent books on this subject ,and it shows through as he tries to write in the same style (love it or hate it). Unfortunately he is not Kelby and the book is actually short on useful techniques that you will want to use every day. (incidentally, the useful stuff has already been covered elsewhere ) This book, after my initial flick through will no doubt end up at the bottom of my pile..while my search goes on for a real-world sugar-free explanation of this powerful tool.
Layers - for the rest of us - Rated
I do a fair amount of PhotoShop Image Editing, and tho' I say it myself, have become reasonably proficient at it, but one aspect I haven't really come to grips with, and which I know to be a failing, is understanding how to use Layers. Now I do know what Layers are, and I also understand that there's something quite magical about using Layers in PS, but somehow, although I do indeed understand the "Why", I've never really got to grips with the "How To". Then Amazon, as they do, mailed me about Matt Kloskowski's brand new PS Manual, strangely enough called "LAYERS"
And I have to say that it really has been an eye-opener, virtually from page one. Obviously inspired by Scott Kelby's eclectic style of writing, the book is laid out throughout as a series of step by step tutorials, including a complete on-line download of all the stock images used, which is many times easier to understand than Adobe's admittedly comprehensive User Guide's, and Classroom in a Book series, which in the main, flew right above my head. Some of the adjustment Layer Tutorials are little short of stunning, almost blindingly Damascene in their revelation of technique. If I had one criticism it would be of the sometimes facile chattiness of the writing which does begin to jar a little after the tenth or fifteenth jokey comment, but let that not distract from what is a tour de force of a book, enabling Layer novices such as myself to effortlessly move up a level, or should I say Layer, in my comprehension of an area of PhotoShop which I have been too uneducated - read nervous - to previously take on board.
Obviously, I have no connection with the Author, or the Publisher, but if you enjoy, if that's the right word, playing around with PhotoShop, then I can thoroughly recommend "Layers" as one of the best PhotoShop guides I've yet worked with.
Neil Carter
Oxford UK
Outstanding Photoshop Book - Rated
Anybody who has listened to Matt Kloskowski teaching about Photoshop will know that he is a natural teacher. Everything he teaches is presented in a simple and very understandable manner, even if the subject is highly complicated.
Many of the subjects covered in this book are not huge secrets which the pros have kept carefully hidden from the general public. Rather many of the early lessons are simple and slowly build to the more complicated stuff. Matt Kloskowski has arranged the lessons in his Layers book to ensure that it is easy to follow and also in a way you will remember. If you are new to Photoshop and layers you will a thorough grasp of these subjects. The easy to follow tutorials are accompanied by colour images, which lead you through each step and you can even follow along yourself with the provided downloadable lesson files.
In short this is a really outstanding Photoshop book.
Photoshop Simplified !!!! - Rated
With so many books out there on Photoshop claiming to teach the secrets it's difficult to know what to buy; this new book by Matt Kloskowski though is a definite MUST HAVE for anyone just starting out in the world of Photoshop and anyone who has been using it for a while.
Matt manages to simplify the whole concept of Layers (the bread and butter of Photoshop) in a quick easy to understand way that I challenge anyone not to grasp it after the first chapter. Following on from that in the following 8 chapters, Matt goes on to cover such topics as blending layers, adjustment layers, layer masks and then some chapters covering retouching, layer styles and smart objects ... again, in an easy to follow teaching style that just works..period!
Some readers out there, like me may have been using photoshop for a number of years now and may consider a book teaching Layers to be beneath them, but as in all of Matt's books, there are always a few gems hidden in there that make buying the book worth it just for them.
Littered with some stunning photos and techniques this is a book that doesn't make false claims, it delivers and and all for a great price too ... nuff said :o)
ps> I'm not on commision, I just believe in putting my money to good use :o)
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