Adobe Photoshop CS3 Studio Techniques by Ben Willmore from Adobe Press is part learning how to use Adobe Photoshop CS3 and part photography skill building in Adobe Photoshop CS3. All of the material that is covered in this book applies to photography as well as other Adobe Photoshop CS3 uses. However, its main focus is on photography and studio work.

This full color book is loaded with illustrations and samples both of which help to show you visually what the author is talking about in the text of the book. It also covers a wide range of topics including: picking colors, importing images, what is a selection and the selection tools, layers and how to use them and why, optimizing grayscale, curves and how to take the mystery out of this important function, color management, color correction, using camera raw and more.

What sets this book apart from say the Real World Adobe Photoshop CS3 book is that this book is more photography specific and besides covering the basics of using Adobe Photoshop CS3, it also includes creative photo related coverage like collage techniques, retouching photographs, and other creative exploration. So you aren't limited to just photography related stuff but fun and creative things to do with those photos. I like this, it makes this a very well rounded book. I also like that it doesn't go to the extreme of any of the creative things, just the more tasteful aspects.

Chapters:

Chapter 1: Tools and Palette Primer
Chapter 2: Selection Primer
Chapter 3: Layers Primer
Chapter 4: Optimizing Grayscale
Chapter 5: Understanding Curves
Chapter 6: Color Management
Chapter 7: Color Correction
Chapter 8: Using Camera Raw
Chapter 9: Color Manipulation
Chapter 10: Adjustment Layers
Chapter 11: Sharpening
Chapter 12: Enhancement
Chapter 13: Advanced Masking
Chapter 14: Collage
Chapter 15: Retouching
Chapter 16: Workflow

Bonus Chapter 1: Line Art Scanning
Bonus Chapter 2: Channels
Bonus Chapter 3: Shadows
Bonus Chapter 4: Type and Background Effects
Bonus Chapter 5: Resolution Solutions

The 5 bonus chapters are contained on the CD that comes with the book along with practice images to use while working through the tutorials.

This is another great book for any one new to Adobe Photoshop CS3 or an intermediate user that wants to learn more and wants the material to be more photography related than just general Photoshop related. It is easy to read, nicely design and laid out and a real good choice to learn Adobe Photoshop or get more from this fabulous program.