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Layers: The Complete Guide to Photoshop's Most Powerful Feature (2nd Edition)

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Binding:	Kindle Edition
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Editorial Reviews

This is the eBook version of the printed book.

In 2008, Adobe Photoshop pro and best-selling author Matt Kloskowski broke new ground teaching Photoshop by focusing on the one thing that makes Photoshop the amazing (and sometimes difficult to understand) program it is: layers. Now, Matt returns with a major update that covers layers in Photoshop CS5 in the same concise, easy to understand way that’s made him so well known in the field of Photoshop training.

When asked about the original version of this book, Matt said, "I wanted it to be the Photoshop book that I wish was around when I was first learning." This update improves upon that concept. Within these pages, you’ll learn about:

Working with and managing multiple layers in Photoshop CS5
Building multiple-layer images
Blending layers together
Layer masking and just how easy it is
Which of the 25+ layer blend modes you really need to know (there are just a few)
Using layers to enhance and retouch your photos
All of the tips and tricks that make using layers a breeze
Plus, a new chapter on advanced layer techniques and compositing to help take your work to the next level

If you want to fully understand layers in Photoshop CS5, this book is the one you’ve been waiting for!

Customer Reviews

I'll be honest, Photoshop has scared me to death for quite awhile. I love digital photography, but I always felt the whole post-processing end of it was way too complicated and would take me years to learn. A friend of mine would take photos that I had taken and work his PS magic on them, and I would thank him, not really knowing what he did to correct exposure, color, etc. I picked up Photoshop Elements 6, but I still never really understood the whole layers and masks thing, although I loved the editing aspects of it.

But then I saw an episode of PhotoshopUser TV on the web and was introduced to some of the tips, tricks and new features of Photoshop CS5. All of it explained in detail, with some good doses of humor thrown in, by Matt Kloskowski, Scott Kelby and Dave Cross. They made Photoshop less intimidating and much easier to comprehend.

So I got a copy of Photoshop CS5 for myself, determined to learn this program and start using it to its potential. I was all set to purchase the first edition of Matt's Layers book, but he mentioned that he was revising it with new emphasis on CS5, so I decided to wait and get the newest edition.

Matt has a great style of teaching the use of layers in Photoshop. Another reviewer mentioned that Matt wrote in a "juvenile" style, but I found it refreshing and helped make what can be a dry subject interesting. Watching Matt on the web, or attending one of his seminars, will show you that he writes as he speaks. He doesn't talk down to his audience and makes sure you know the subject matter before he moves on. Several times in the book, while demonstrating a process or procedure, he will instruct you to perform a basic step (whether it's a keyboard shortcut or navigating to a certain toolbar) that he talked about in an earlier chapter, that helps to complete the current project. This is just a simple repetition technique that makes those steps come naturally to you.

The book is logically set up to start off a new user with the basics of layers, and quickly moves into blending layers and the use of layer masks to enhance your images. The book is NOT a Photoshop tutorial showing you what every brush or menu option does. Matt assumes you have a good base of knowledge on how to navigate around the program toolbars and menus. He gives you a good foundation of knowledge in the early chapters that he builds upon as you go through the book.

New to this edition is the "Advanced Layer Blending and Compositing" chapter that Matt has added for this edition. Again, while this is about more advanced techniques, Matt makes it easy to understand, and most of all, fun to learn!

In addition to the information in the book, there is a web link given where there are more video tutorials and pictures that you can download, so you can work on them alongside the turorials in the book.

Overall, I would strongly recommend this book for the person just starting out in Photoshop and who wants to understand how layers are the building blocks of all images that are edited in it. As with any book, some of the more advanced users may not get a lot of new information out of it, but there may be a new tip or trick that they might have not have come across before.

Great purchase!

I have been using Photoshop since the days of Adobe Photoshop 5.0, roughly 11 years. The bulk of my Photoshop experience has been self taught with some influence from online tutorials and a simple crash course in Digital Printmaking in College. Many of my photo manipulations consist of 65+ layers prior to flattening and printing, I know layer control. In fact, I thought I knew it all and to many I have been a valuable subject matter expert. However, everyday in Photoshop CS 5 I have learned more, no matter how long I have been at it, it is a complex beast to tame. With the help of "Layers: 2nd Edition" the sharp beasts teeth are looking duller, the intimidating drool is appearing cute, and the ragged facade it carries is looking more friendly.

"Layers: 2nd Edition" succeeds in many ways. The lessons transition well, starting you off with the basics and then applying the basic tasks to more challenging applications. In many cases, these challenging applications are practical and can be used in everything from your everyday photo retouching to designing with type. Matt makes sure to point out important keyboard shortcuts. For many years I have been right clicking on my layers to duplicate them taking 2 to 3 seconds to duplicate the layer when ctrl+J is all it takes (cmd+J on a Mac). I have also familiarized myself very well with Layer Opacity Blending Modes, but now, thanks to Matt and "Layers: 2nd Edition" I know how those blend modes work and what happens to the colors in my layers when I use them.

There are a plethora of reasons to purchase this book, even if you have 11 years of experience, you can always learn more. The greatest thing about it, you do not have to be wealthy to receive the wealth of knowledge contained in Matt Kloskowski's "Layers: 2nd Edition". Take it from me and do you and your photography a favor. Save yourself the $50-$350 per credit at your local community college or University and give "Layers: 2nd Edition" a chance. I know for a fact the user's on my blog will benefit from my, NOW, more knowledgeable tutorials.

I actually have the first edition of this book, but I think the review here is unfair. It's billed as a beginners book, and that is exactly what it is. And a superb one at that. Here's what I wrote when I received my Layers book:

*********************
I have taken a class on Photoshop already, and am amazed by the possibilities and just dying to know how to use all the features. I can already do a lot-since it's a great program-but I know there are better ways of doing things, and I know if I learn to use layers better that I could do so much more, but it just wasn't clicking in my head how they work or which mode to choose or whatever, or how to work with masks-this book is really changing that quickly, I am 90% through my copy and I just LOVE it.

This book clearly and concisely illustrates how the layer thing works while making it fun to follow along. I tried retouching images before and that's great, but I never thought to do the corrections on a separate layer, if I messed up or overdid it before I had to go back to the original and start over. Retouching is my favorite chapter. And I can't wait to try the painting with light technique on my own photos. Great book. I hope he writes another one soon on a different feature.
*********************

I stand by this initial review and will recommend this updated version to any friend who is new to Photoshop. Many newbies just can't "get" how masks work, or why you'd want to do things on different layers, but this book breaks it down and makes it super easy. If you're not as new to Photoshop, Mr. Kloskowski's mentor and boss, Scott Kelby has many great books you can look into. In the couple of years since I bought this book (and because of this book) my Photoshop skills have come a long way. I particularly like Down and Dirty Tricks, which makes a good next-step after you complete this book!

I'll admit I'm only on page 122 of the 286 pages but I stopped to write a review because of a couple of frustrations I have with this book. First the book is sprinkled with mistakes. Better editing should have been done. The mistakes are doubly frustrating because I'm completely new to Layers and Photoshop and I don't know enough to work around them. So a simple little slip in their book causes me tons of lost time trying to figure out where the author went wrong. Second complaint is that they don't include all the photos in their download section. Actually there are even tutorials where key photos within the tutorials are missing but for some reason the others are included. Not logical and should have been fixed before this. Last complaint is the style of the book where the steps are mixed into the rest of the text. It's impossible to catch each step forcing me to have to re-read to find small steps I missed during the first run through. Adding bullets for each step would have easily fixed this. All of these thingss are making it extremely time consuming to get through a book. Fixing them would make it so much easier so I hope the author reads this and includes in a third edition. I gave it three stars because its still a very valuable book on learning layers.

This book was a great read and a worthwhile investment. When I first started reading it, I thought it was too basic for me, but luckily, I kept reading. Yes, it has the very basic concepts of layers, but it has WAY more too. I made several breakthroughs with this book, which is a major accomplishment for me. I usually feel like a book is worth it if I find one really worthwhile technique. I have 12 pages dog-eared so that I can get back to them quickly, and of course highlighting throughout the book.

I loved the layout of the book. It is broken into 10 chapters that have subchapters within. The subchapters are short, less than 10 pages each, and have LOTS of graphics showing the screen he is referring to. There were a few times that I wished he'd shown another screen that he was referring to, but overall he showed what he was discussing. The text is brief and to the point without the mindless detail that kills some Photoshop books. At the end of each chapter he has a "How do I..." section that replays some of the tips he demonstrated from the chapter that I found quite useful.

Some of my favorite things from this book were:
* All of the great keyboard shortcuts. Yes, I have a book on shortcuts, and have printed out volumes from another book I purchased, but I found his more useful because they were in context.
* His description of the layer blending modes with examples. I have a few that I use all the time, and this has really helped me branch out of my blending mode rut.
* Clipping masks, yes, I've used them, but I didn't really understand how to make them. Now I do, and it's easy.
* He also helped me expand with text. I didn't think about rasterizing a text layer so I could add filters, gradients, or use a brush on them, now I will. Or locking the transparent pixels, so a gradient doesn't apply to the whole layer, seems obvious, but I never thought of it.
* I did not know there was a keyboard shortcut where you could run the last filter, but open the dialog box so you could change the settings. It's command-option-F! Yeah!
* Loved his sections on creating a watermark, and creating glowing light streaks with layer styles. His layer style discussions were great.
These were just a few of my favs. Some of these things may be familiar to you, especially if you watch Photoshop User TV the podcast as I do. But I still found the book quite helpful.

There were a few things I didn't like about the book, for instance, he uses the eraser tool in situations where I would use a layer mask, since a mask would be less destructive. But I know another very famous photographer/retoucher that uses the eraser tool extensively over layer masks. So maybe it's what you are used to, but I would teach masks when at all possible. Matt does use layer masks extensively, but a few times, I thought, "Why is he using the eraser tool now, and not a mask?"

Then when he was teaching the highpass filter to sharpen or create an `edgy look' he said he really uses a plug-in Topaz Adjust to create the same look because it is easier. I use the highpass filter as he describes all the time, but I have it as a recorded action, so it is easy for me. I own Topaz, I just don't use it that much.

I really struggled over what rating to give this book, because I normally save my 5 stars for books that I consider perfect, and there were, as I mentioned, things I disagreed with in this book. But I liked the book so much, and would recommend it to any of my friends, that I decided it deserves 5 stars. This is a book that I will refer back to and study and incorporate many of his techniques, and where possible, automate them!

This book is very, very basic. Terrific material for newcomers to Photoshop users. Anyone with a few years experience using Photoshop will probably not find the items in here too useful. Medium-level users may find a few things they overlooked or weren't ever taught.

New to Photoshop I wanted to get the most out of the program and learn how to use Layers. Watching Matt Kloskowski on D-Town TV helped make up my mind on this is one of the books that would help me. And I was not disappointed. The book is easy to read and easy to follow along with. As other reviews say there are some instances where I had to go back and read the directions a couple of times to make sure I understood what was going on. But part of that may have been because I was so eager to get on to the next step. You can download the majority of the photos used in the book to follow along with the instructions. Which makes it much easier to learn as many people learn by doing. As you do each step you see the results and how they all fit together.

There also two bonus videos that you can watch on some Photoshop basics which are not 'covered' in the book but are very helpful.

For me the explanation of the blending modes was one of the most helpful things. He goes beyond saying this mode does this, but how they work and why. The whole book is full of useful tips, tricks, hints and knowledge in general.

If you want to learn about layers in Photoshop this is a great place to start.

If you are a new user of Photoshop the concept of a layered file can be quite intimidating. Thinking of your flat image file in terms of multiple slices on top of each other like an overhead projector can help to realize the power of transparency and masking. This book is directly aimed at the beginner with a goal of demystifying the single most powerful feature of Photoshop - Layers!

Matt breaks down the use of layers in ten easy to read chapters. Not surprisingly from the Kelby Media stable this book is written in a step by step flow with each chapter building your level of understanding and improving your skills. For those who need to get the exact same results when following along there are sample files provided for each chapter, a huge bonus when entering values for selections, colors, and opacities. Also included is a link to video tutorials for Layer, Brush and Selection Basics, not to mention two videos showing how the cover was made.

Starting with Layer basics Matt explains why you might want to use layers. Theres even a picture of him holding a photograph and a sheet of acetate. If that doesn't explain the basic concept I don't know what does!

After the basics comes a series of examples showing how powerful Layers really can be in a photographers or designers workflow. Blending, Masking, and Smart Layers are all included. You could get through this book easily by completing one chapter a week or even one chapter a day but you'll probably want to hold on to it as a reference for a while. If you don't keep the book you'll definitely want to keep the "How do I..." checklists at the end of each chapter for those times when you know something is possible just quite can't remember where you learned about it.

While its not billed as the definitive guide to Layers, from a beginners perspective its an absolute gold mine.

I'm learning how to use Photoshop and have bought MANY books on the subject, this book is, BY FAR, the best written, and easiest to understand book on Photoshop Layers that I have found to date! Matt's explanations and examples are crystal clear, he takes you step-by-step through different techniques and also provides the same image files he uses in the books' examples for you to download and practice on. Layers & Masks have been the toughest part of Photoshop to grasp for me, even after taking a few courses, I came away with more questions than answers. Within half an hour of reading each chapter I was able to duplicate the images in this book with ease, and best of all I finally understood what I was doing!!!! Friends of mine that are seasoned Photoshop users were surprised to find shortcuts and hints that they didn't know existed after just browsing through the book. If you are searching for a book to teach you how to use and UNDERSTAND Layers and Masks in Photoshop then this is the book for you!

I bought this book after about one year (non continuous) experience with photoshop and I find it very useful. Before this book I edited my photos and went through my workflow as best I could. It was like pecking one letter at a time on a computer, and there were somethings I just could not do. I am the sort that likes to learn by doing and the next best thing, what I can get out of a book, is to "see it being done". If you feel the same way "Layers" (copyright 2011) may be for you. The tutorial style works well and the repetition of some of the commonly used short cuts help me remember the techniques and commands. I still consider myself a novice but I am confident now to call myself an advanced novice!! With the foundation of this book and continued work on my photos I may update this status a year from now.

I have all of Scott Kelby's photoshop books, but you really need this one to understand what a powerful tool layers is. This book is well written with loads of tips. I have been depending on Lightroom and photoshop plug-ins and until this book came, using photoshop less and less. Its like a whole new approach to using photoshop. Buy this book

Mike

Matt has done an excellent job of laying out the basics of using layers. Even though I have been using Photoshop for several years I learned a few new techniques.
The book is a must read for anyone interested in mastering the power of layers.

I had avoided this book for some time, largely based on the graphics on the cover.
I had thought this would be an esoteric book that would not be relevant to meat and potatoes
use of photoshop by a photographer. I was dead wrong. This book is a clean and straightforward
introduction to using layers in photoshop and the cover image is by no means an indicator of
the bulk of the content in the book.

I would recommend this book to anyone starting to use photoshop.
It is an extremely logical and well thought out series of hands on lessons
on how to use layers to process images in photoshop. Makes it seem easy.

Highly recommended.

Layers: (2nd Edition) by Matt Kloskowski is an outstanding book. I have been working with Photoshop

I want to commend Matt Kloskowski for a well written tutorial on how to use layers in Photoshop CS5. I've been "playing" with Photoshop for many years and had what I thought was a decent understanding of layers. I was wrong. I'm only halfway through his book, and I've learned so much that I didn't know. He provides great information in a fun and easy to understand way of teaching. And the best part is that he gives a link in his book where you can download all the files he uses in the book so that you can follow along and do the same thing he is doing.

I find myself going step by step through each tutorial. He provides great photos of the screen so that you can make your layers panel look like his layers panel and get the same end result. The photos of his layers panels are especially helpful as they help me see exactly what mine are supposed to look like. He explains masks, clipping masks, adjustment layers, blend modes so that you really understand how to use them. One of the best "tricks" I've learned is how to sharpen a photo by using a high pass filter. I've used it on several photos I've taken and the difference is amazing!

I'm looking forward to the next half of the book. I highly recommend this book to anyone who uses photoshop. It will only improve your photos and your creativity!

I'm slowly working my way through this book...it's well written and simple to follow. Finally, I know how to make and use layers. Very useful book, I highly recommend it for anyone just starting to learn layers.

Matt Kloskowski's Layers book is a great way to sharpen your skills using layers in Photoshop CS5.

The chapters are well organized and even inside the chapters, Matt conveys a sense of patience with plenty of details, without going over the top. Downloading and using Matt's practice images is a great way to follow along. The Chapter summaries at the back of each Chapter can be used to test your new skills and memory. Each chapter does build logically on your developing skills. Don't be afraid to linger in any chapter or section and play with all of the layer options.

Each Chapter in the book can be used as a reference for the different type of Layers. And each Chapter is full of keyboard shortcuts that Matt recommends, and they are real time savers. I recommend for newer users of Photoshop, reading Chapter 1, Layer Basics, and fully use the practice images carefully in this chapter as a good foundation.

I highly recommend this book. Layers is one of the most powerful and useful tools in Photoshop, and this teaches you how to use Layers without worry.

This Book is great!!! If your searching for a book about photoshop layers, search no more because you have found it. This book is fun and you will really come to grips with layers. Lots of great projects in this book. All I can stay is ....more Matt more!!!!

I have to tell you this book is awesome! Matt does a fantastic job explaining layers/ how they interact with one another, building them right in front of you on the books pages, creating dramatic affects. This book clearly and concisely illustrated. It is very easy to understand and follow the instructions. The tips/shortcuts/walk throughs are just great.
I have photoshop elements and after reading Matt's book I feel like I'm ready for CS5 !
I definitely recommend this book!!!!!! GO LAYERS !!!! Thank you Matt Kloskowski.

With what seems like an infinite number of Photoshop books out there on the shelves all making claims to contain the `secrets' of Photoshop when all is said and done, most do the same thing and that is show you how to achieve certain effects.

Now that's all well and good but what about a book that will help you to really understand Photoshop and show you how to not only achieve certain effects but at the same time, understand the how and why? Well, with the 2nd Edition of Matt Kloskowski's `Layers' book it totally lives up to it's sub heading:

"The complete guide to photoshop's most powerful feature" ... and that is giving a total understanding of Layers.

I made the mistake when I first started using Photoshop of buying into the `effects' books and while they were good fun, I didn't really learn much at all. If I was asked to do a certain thing to a photo or design and create a poster I'd struggle because if it wasn't in print infront of me I wouldn't have known where to start.

It wasn't until I took things back to basics and started grasping an understanding of what was going on that my skill level improved and has continued to do so. In fact since doing so the Plug Ins I own are only used at certain times such as client work that is on a tight time scale for completion as I can generally work out how to achieve the same effect by myself using...wait for it...Layers

The book's 312 pages are packed with `no nonsense' and `straight to the point' information but written in a conversational style that makes it easy to read and digest leaving you not only with more knowledge but an ability to apply what you've read.

Highly Recommended!

This is a fantastic book! If you work your way through the book you will become very competent in photoshop layers. I highly recommend it as an excellent resource for learning how to use layers.

I used to hate layers and learned a lot from just searching around online, and there were some things I already knew but in a different way. Matt Presents it in a way that is simple and easy, even things I did before, like Skin Blemishes, whitening teeth, he presented in a different, very basic, yet amazingly effective new way with layers. I hope he decides to write a book that continues off of this book focusing on more complex projects.

As being rather new in photoshop Matt's book is a good reference for use of layers. It gives clear explanations on easy to find subjects. As a photographer I however rather would see less of subjects related to text and making photo collages and more pure photographic adaptions.
But still book works excellent for me.

Jos Dielis
Netherlands

This book is decent for beginners, but gives information that can be found elsewhere for free. If you know about the layers window, layer blending modes, and know the usual Adobe mechanics for turning visibility and locking on or off--or are familiar with the usual mechanics for renaming and dragging, then this book isn't for you.

The book is assembled as a series of tutorials. Each tutorial is spelled out in excruciating detail. While someone who has never opened the application before may need to know that level of detail, for a user that is familiar enough with Photoshop to use Layers, that much detail amounts to padding. In effect, the book is four or five times too long for the amount of information presented. This is pamphlet-level information at a book price.

The author writes in a very juvenile style, using terms such as "way cool," "sweet, huh?" and admonishing the reader that "all your friends will think you're a geek." He also suggests that a couple of useful, albeit specialized, blending modes are useless. Many people may not find the casual style distracting, but some may. Regardless, a book that supposedly unlocks the power of Layers shouldn't unilaterally declare some features useless because the author's depth of understanding is lacking.

For users that are very new to Photoshop, who don't mind the writing style and prefer to have a book beside them rather than find a good, online tutorial, this isn't a bad buy. For the rest, I'd suggest looking elsewhere.

This book is written primarily for photographers. Matt Kozlowski has made understanding how layers work in Photoshop, even this old film shooter can leave the filters home and concentrate on my images. This book should come as standard instructions with every copy of Photoshop. Just remember that even Photoshop cannot save a crap file. If you "spray & pray" and then say you'll fix it later, shame on you. You can make all the adjustment layers and masks you want and it still will not save a bad photo. Layers will make a good photograph into a great one. Learn them well and use them wisely.

I love this book. It is really helping me unlock the power of layers. I have been intimidated by Photoshop until this summer when I was determined to overcome my fear. I am now comfortably using layers in PSE9 and know that someday I will move with comfort to the full version. Matt writes so well and makes the user feel comfortable as he carefully unlocks each component. NO BUYERS REMORSE on this one! Well worth it.

Very clearly written detailed guide to new technics, full of very useful hints, helped me to improve quality of my pictures, taught me a lot, encourages to own experiments. Definetely worth buying for those seriously intersted in digital photography.

I have to admit that this book is really good for people like me(I have been using photoshop layer for quite a bit without really understand what layer and mask can do),It is pretty basic, just like teaching you some basic math before you want to solve any problem.
For whoever want to step from beginner level into advance level, You shouldn't skip this book.

I'm just getting into layers, and Matt's book really explains a lot of things that had confused me. This book will help you understand Photoshop much better, because layers are the basis on which so many other features, including masking, builds. Buy this!

This book is outstanding. I've purchased so many books on Photoshop over the years but found them nearly as difficult to navigate as trying the software for the first time. Matt's book was so easy to follow & understand. Layers is thorough, yet simple. I felt confident applying these to my client's needs as each technique I tried was an instant success. And...I had fun! Thanks for making my a better photographer, Matt.

I am relatively new to photography and photoshop so I am still finding my way around but Matt's book has made understanding layers that much easier. If you are new to photoshop and you are going to use it regularly then this is the book for you. I am half way through the book and it has not only answered many questions but has given me the knowledge to try different things with layers that I never new you could do. Money well spent

If you are trying to learn Photoshop in a practical way this is your book. This is a learn by doing kind of book. The author goes through practical examples and the beauty of it is that he touches so many subjects in such a simple way that by the end of your reading you actually feel like you understand and know how to use Photoshop. I wish more books were written this way. Even though the book does not come with a DVD all the files and tutorials are available on line for download. I have read two other books on Photoshop, so far this is the best.

This is simple an awesome book.Matt teaches and explains to e3verything in well throughout,and understandable way.Trust me even if you have no idea of how to use Photoshop,this book remidies that problem.

BUY THIS BOOK,YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Great beginners book, or refresher for those who have been away from Photoshop (taking advantage of Lightroom, for example).

Matt's easygoing and fun style does a great job of *clearly* illustrating how to best utilize layers.

I could go on and on for paragraphs... but let me just say this; HEY!!! Don't waste any more time reading reviews - BUY THE BOOK AND LEARN!!!

This is a great book, however, it has a lot of information and isn't something you can read quickly. After reading the beginning of this book, I found that instead of going into photoshop with layers with my photos, I wanted to do most of my editing in lightroom and found a book that I like that made edits much easier to do in Lightroom. I refer to this layers book occasionally but I use photoshop mostly for finishing edits on my photos. I would recommend this book for understanding and working with layers in photoshop.

I am new Photoshop user, moving up from Elements. I read the Scott Kelby book but it didn't really tell me about getting Photoshop to do what I needed (Kelby spends a lot of time on RAW, which you care less about id you also have Lightroom). This is a practical book that takes you through a whole series of tutorials with enough wow factor and 'so that's how I do X' that I found it compelling and enjoyable to come back to night after night. I now know how to get Photoshop to do what I need.

I have bought and used many guide books related to Photoshop, but none come close to Layers by Klowkowski in terms of simplicity, fun, depth and clarity. This is possibly the best one ever. Highly recommended!

I bought this book because it's been several years since I put myself through some intensive self-training on Photoshop. I saw this book at a NAPP-sponsored Photoshop workshop and my first reaction was I already use layers and masks pretty intensively and saw that it was marked for beginners, but then I realized, Adobe has probably added a lot of little features over the years that slipped by me. Some new shortcuts were introduced in the first chapter that made me happy right off the bat. I did notice some errors that other reviews have remarked on, but fortunately, I'm skilled enough that they didn't bother me. If you already use layers and layer masks and you don't have a lot of time, then there are probably other books that would suit you better, but if you've got a few days and you're looking to refresh your skills, this one is a little gem. It's too bad they don't have an errata page at KelbyTraining.com, which would help with the errors. Most publishers that specialize in computer software have added that by now.

I have been using Elements 9 and recently switched to PS CS5. There is a lot of information on line (Youtube, etc.) but I have learned more in a few hours with this book than I have spending days online sifting thru various tutorials. I suspect weather you are a beginner or just getting started this book has something to offer.

every chapter is worth reading, even though you know what layer basic means. brief and concise instruction easy to understand guides to photo editing is what made this book worth having. I preffer to use my own photo than that of the books' downloadable examples because this way I see better results of the pictures that I took out from RAW files and turned it into wonderful compositions. I'm glad I own this book 'coz it did not waste my time and money.
there is an online tutorials on Layer Basic, Selection and Brushes to jumpstart understanding Photoshop Layers that Mark made in Kelbytraining site.

I've had Photoshop for years and keep upgrading but never really learned how to use it. I friend showed me a few things in Photoshop and I decided I really needed to learn how to use it. I purchased several books, but this is by far the best book. It is very well laid out and easy to follow, even the advanced stuff. I also purchased "Teach Yourself VISUALLY Photoshop CS5 " which is good also, but it makes a better reference book to help find a command and it's function very quickly. Between the two you've got a great learning library. But if you buy one book on Photoshop CS5, this is the one!

I found this book useful for opening up your imagination, one thing I found that there is more than one way to enhance or just give a photo another perspective. To be able to do this you have to really make layers work for you. The good thing is that by using layers you don't destroy the original and if you are not to sure of the effect switch it off and try another then to can toggle between them. If you don't like either of them delete them.

Have fun using layers.

This book provides most of what you need to know about Photoshop if you are a photographer. It covers topics like Combining Multiple Exposures, Dodging and Burning, Replacing a bland Sky, Enhancing Depth of Field, Selective Sharpening, Portraiture Retouching and more. It also includes a lot of information for Graphics Designers. It is easy to read and follow.

Seeing Matt K. on Kelby Training and Kelby TV, I figured his book would be overly technical and a bit dry if not silly. Mind you, I actually do like him on Kelby videos, but he's definitely the "little brother" of the group. However, he's always full of useful information so I thought I'd give this book a shot on ipad kindle app.

I'm about a third of the way through this book and even though I've used Photoshop, layers, and layer masks for years, this book has opened me up to the uses for different layer modes giving me a whole other world of tools. Now I find myself going through old photographs and applying these tools to improve what I thought were already good photos. I'm sure that I still have many other great tools/techniques to learn from this book and I'm looking forward to working through it.

I will definitely purchase Matt's next books based on the great information that I've received from this one. Also, if you have the Kindle app on a tablet or PC, this is a great way to have quick access to both the book and Photoshop at the same time.

Understanding layers in PS5 is essential to get the full benefit of your photography efforts. I am not an expert in CS5 or photography and this book certainly helped. You need to have a little experiance to begin with because Kloskowski tends to leave out sometimes critical steps so you have to anticipate what he is doing. The end result is usually excellent but if you make a mistake just go back in the history panel, find your mistake and drive on.

Fantastic book...tell all you need and with the informations supplied you are able to move on with some good stuff

I have the first edition. This edition is super. It is a welcome edition that clears many questions for me.....I would highly reccommend.....Great addition.

The book is good, but the book it pretty thin.. I think it should be a little bit cheaper on the price.

I purchased this book a few months ago and have struggled ever since. The instructions don't work all the way to the end. I have to figure out for myself the correct way to execute.

I wish I could return this book and get my money back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Layers: The Complete Guide to Photoshop's Most Powerful Feature (2nd Edition)

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