When one looks at Adobe Photoshop for the very first time, it doesn't look all that complex. You have the tool box, you have your various palettes for layers, colors, information, etc. But, it isn't the surface tools that make Adobe Photoshop so incredible it is the lesser seen and even lesser understood features that give Adobe Photoshop its power. Features like channels. There are so many things you can do with channels and so many reasons to use channels, however the average user uses them very little and even then it is more or less for storing selections as alpha channels.

 

Several years ago, back in the Adobe Photoshop 4 days we had the only book available for Adobe Photoshop channels. It was called Adobe Photoshop Channel CHOPS. It was a small but incredible book, a ground breaking book. That book however has been out of print for some time and used copies have sold for as much as $150 or so I have heard. But, no longer do we have to worry about tracking down one of these old books. Scott Kelby one of my favorite authors has stepped up to the plate and given us the world's second book on Adobe Photoshop channels. That book is surprisingly enough "the Photoshop Channels Book" This full color 263 page book (if you don't count the index) is paradise. Finally we have an up-to-date book for the latest version of Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Photoshop CS2.

 

The book covers everything you can do with channels from using the image color channels (R, G, B or C, M, Y, K, etc.) to creating and using alpha channels. How to use channels for color correction, image sharpening, creating complex masks and more. This book is thorough, easy to read and it will I promise open your eyes to just how powerful and useful Adobe Photoshop channels are.

 

It is loaded with step-by-step instructions. It includes Q & A sections at the end of each chapter to help answer the most common questions on the material covered in that chapter. There are lots of screen shots and examples. This is a fun, useful and easy to read book done by one of the best Adobe Photoshop authors.

 

Chapters:

Chapter 1: Channel Basics
Chapter 2: Masking Using Channels
Chapter 3: Layer Masks & Adjustment Layers
Chapter 4: From Color to Black & White
Chapter 5: Channels & Better Color
Chapter 6: Sharpening with Channels
Chapter 7: Channels & Web Optimization
Chapter 8: Special Effects Using Channels

This is a must have book for any Adobe Photoshop user of any skill level. With the step-by-step instructions even a novice can make use of this book. Even if you don't have Photoshop as long as your image editor has channel support this book will be useful. You must run out and get a copy or your life with Adobe Photoshop will never be complete.