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Essential Photoshop: How to use 9 essential tools and techniques to transform your photography Kindle Edition

4.4 out of 5 stars 183 ratings

Learn 9 Techniques and Become Confident with Photoshop


Covers versions prior to Photoshop CC.
If you're using Photoshop CC, see my new book Essential Adobe Photoshop CC.



In this clearly explained and well-illustrated book, Landscape Photographer Robin Whalley guides you through the maze that’s Photoshop. With step by step instruction you quickly learn the essential tools and techniques. More importantly, you discover most of Photoshop can be ignored. To edit and enhance photography, you only need a handful of techniques.


This impressive little book was developed specifically for photographers. It’s structure and language make it accessible and easily understood, even by the novice user. Despite this, seasoned Photoshop users can also learn a thing or two.


It doesn’t matter if you’ve previously tried and failed to learn Photoshop. This book will cut through the confusion of Photoshop options. By focussing on the key tools and techniques, it’s possible to make sense of and quickly master Photoshop. A few powerful tools have been a constant in Photoshop for many years and for good reason. These are the same tools and techniques professional image editors turn to daily.


Following this book and you quickly learn:



    • To evaluate images, quickly identify the necessary adjustments.
    • How to navigate the confusing Photoshop interface, allowing you to work quickly and confidently.
    • How to remove dust spots and unwanted objects to clean up your photos.
    • Master the confusing Photoshop curves tool. One of the most powerful adjustment you can use.
    • How to perform colour correction to make images more appealing.
    • How to work with layers for special effects and control over your editing.
    • To create and work with masks for seamless, targeted image enhancements.
    • About different Color Space adjustments so your photography always looks good.

    By the end of this book you will feel confident in using Photoshop to enhance and transform your photography.


    The book is illustrated throughout with well-structured examples. Supporting image files can be downloaded from the author’s website, allowing you to follow along on your own computer. This book is packed with techniques, advice and guidance to ensure you’re quickly work effectively with Photoshop.


    Don’t delay learning Photoshop. Get this book.

    Due to its large file size, this book may take longer to download
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    Hydrate & focus with every sip Shop now

    Product details

    • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00EBRW2K4
    • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
    • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 8, 2013
    • Language ‏ : ‎ English
    • File size ‏ : ‎ 12.9 MB
    • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
    • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
    • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
    • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
    • Print length ‏ : ‎ 200 pages
    • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
    • Customer Reviews:
      4.4 out of 5 stars 183 ratings

    About the author

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    Robin Whalley
    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Robin Whalley is a Landscape Photographer with a passion for software, photo editing and a skill for sharing knowledge. He’s been honing his photography skills since 2000, starting first with film before moving quickly to embrace digital. Although not widely known as a photographer, his work has sold around the world and appeared in the popular photographic press. His photography has also appeared in several exhibitions, including The Landscape Photographer of the Year. He now runs Lenscraft Photography, where he shares insights into creating beautiful and engaging photographs.

    Visit Robin's Lenscraft website https://lenscraft.co.uk

    Read Robin's Blog https://www.thelightweightphotographer.com

    Watch Robin on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/robinwhalley

    Customer reviews

    4.4 out of 5 stars
    183 global ratings

    Review this product

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    Customers say

    Customers find the book easy to understand and appreciate its sufficient level of detail in explanation. They consider it a good basic Photoshop book, with one customer noting it provides a great introduction to the software. Customers find the book to be a tremendous value, describing it as concise and to the point.

    AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

    33 customers mention "Clarity"30 positive3 negative

    Customers find the book clear and easy to understand, with sufficient explanation and a concise writing style.

    "...He is a very thoughful author, who provides a sufficient level of detail of explanation of how the control works, and avoids the cookbook style..." Read more

    "Good examples (download the samples as that will greatly aid your learning) with many screenshots...." Read more

    "...He writes clearly and with necessary detail, with sufficient explanation as to how and why of the various steps...." Read more

    "...A basic editing plan -- from dust spots and sky darkening through contrast and saturation enhancement -- is followed by Whalley's nine tools and..." Read more

    20 customers mention "Book content"20 positive0 negative

    Customers find this Photoshop book to be a valuable introduction to the software, particularly for photographers, with one customer noting it serves as a great reference tool.

    "...The work concentrates on learning and using almost any version of Photoshop (he illustrates with CS5) without added filter suites...." Read more

    "...The table of contents is fantastic and makes the book a great reference tool...." Read more

    "This is a good book for photographers who want to know the basics to get started in Photoshop!..." Read more

    "...It is easy to understand and very helpful." Read more

    16 customers mention "Value for money"16 positive0 negative

    Customers find the book to be a tremendous value, appreciating that it is to the point.

    "...Dollar for dollar, I feel that Mr. Whalley's books are a tremendous value, much more so than the more costly photoshop guides published with every..." Read more

    "...Good value for the money." Read more

    "This has to be the best bargain available in the universe of Photoshop tutorials...." Read more

    "...I didn't find it hard to follow at all. What's more, for the price being charged, I don't think you can go wrong." Read more

    Top reviews from the United States

    • Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2015
      I am an amateur photographer who learned the craft in the days of the darkroom and enlarger. For the past 10 years, on and off again, I have been struggling to learn photoshop in my spare time. Since I have a full time job plus a family, I haven't had the time I would have had to spend the time to learn it properly. Every few years or so, I would upgrade my photoshop version and buy the latest book. Well, a few years ago, I bought the lastest books by Scott Kelby as well as other photographers, viewed online videos, and have tried to teach myself photoshop using these means. The books I purchased were seemed to be step by step procedures, which didn't really teach me how to use the vast array of photoshop controls and filters.
      About a year ago after having purchased the NIK software suite, I bought the books by Robin Whalley, and really enjoyed them thoroughly. He is a very thoughful author, who provides a sufficient level of detail of explanation of how the control works, and avoids the cookbook style prevalent in many of the photoshop and lightroom guides. I got to the point in my skills that I had learned as much as I could learn without undertaking courses in photography.

      When I arrived to a point of frustration of not being able to tweak some of the photographs I had been working on, I noticed that Mr. Whalley had published this photoshop guide. After reading his book, I came away better understanding how to more carefully use the dodging and burning tools, as well as obtaining a greater understanding of the sharpening and color balance controls. I believe that Mr. Whalley's book has enabled me to move foward in my desktop darkroom technique. For the past few years, I felt that I was "stuck in netrual," but his book has helped me to better understand some of the most important controls in photoshop.

      I only hope that Mr. Whalley can write a similar book on Lightroom and/or DxO.

      Dollar for dollar, I feel that Mr. Whalley's books are a tremendous value, much more so than the more costly photoshop guides published with every new version of photoshop. I was so pleased after reading this book a few weeks ago, that I wrote Mr. Whalley a short note thanking him for putting this book together.

      Aside from the valuable material, I have to say that I enjoyed Mr. Whalley's writing style. He has a tremendous talent of being able to write highly technical in a writing style which flows very smoothly.

      I can't recommend this book highly enough,especially if you find that the mass published photoshop guides are not helping progress your desktop darkroom technique.
      13 people found this helpful
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    • Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2013
      Good examples (download the samples as that will greatly aid your learning) with many screenshots. There are a couple of instances where commands were behind where CS 6 is, but you can generally figure them out. Good value for the money.
      3 people found this helpful
      Report
    • Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2017
      Photography is my hobby and I used Aperture for years. About a year ago I subscribed to Adobe Lightroom/Photoshop CC. I did fairly well with LR, but when I had to go to PS for difficult photo adjustments I kept getting stuck. I watched dozens of videos on PS but I couldn't get a good understanding on how the many different methods and tools worked together and how to use them most effectively to solve various problems in my photos. I bought and read Martin Evening's "Adobe Photoshop CC for Photographers", a comprehensive book by a true expert, but I continued to get lost on basics. Whalley's Essential PS is a godsend. I purchased the Kindle version for my MacPro laptop and am very satisfied with how easy it is to read, with good color and detail. Whalley steps through the basics that you need to get over the hurdles that beginner PS users face. He writes clearly and with necessary detail, with sufficient explanation as to how and why of the various steps. For me, Ch.3 Using Layers, Ch.6 Curves Adjustments, Ch.7 Adjusting Colour, and Ch.9 Targeting Adjustments with Masks, were particularly useful. Of course, there still is a tremendous amount that I still have to learn, but with Whalley's help I have at least made it to first base. Easily the best $4 that I have ever spent, period
      7 people found this helpful
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    • Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2013
      This has to be the best bargain available in the universe of Photoshop tutorials. It combines enough depth in accessible bite-sized chunks so one can absorb one or more concepts completely before moving on to more. A basic editing plan -- from dust spots and sky darkening through contrast and saturation enhancement -- is followed by Whalley's nine tools and techniques, from original (RAW) image through to sharpening for final use.

      I've used PS Elements for years, along with many filter packages, but pictures must quickly be converted to 8-bit that way. With a complex program like Photoshop CS6, there is no "Guided Edit," so an outline of steps to take can be quite important, even if you decide on slightly different steps in your own workflow. The WHY of the steps is woven throughout, helping me grasp the concepts more fully. The work concentrates on learning and using almost any version of Photoshop (he illustrates with CS5) without added filter suites. (He does offer an e-book on the Nik Viveza and more.)

      Bottom line, incredible value. Here's a different way of learning Photoshop that should appeal to the most frugal and work on any tablet or laptop as well if you download the free Kindle Reader.
      11 people found this helpful
      Report
    • Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2013
      There's no shortage of Photoshop guides out there to choose from. They each take their own approach at teaching you things. Some are very complete -- like bibles, others are a little skimpy on material. What's nice about this book is that it goes over the basic elements that can have the biggest impact on your photos. I'm not looking to become a master Photoshop user, but I wanted to learn the tools that are most important in editing my photographs. I didn't find it hard to follow at all. What's more, for the price being charged, I don't think you can go wrong.
      7 people found this helpful
      Report

    Top reviews from other countries

    • Mum22pugs
      5.0 out of 5 stars Photoshop - 101 - Excellent resource for new users
      Reviewed in Canada on May 4, 2016
      I have several Photoshop books which are incredibly detailed, and being a new user, I found I had difficulty getting oriented on where to start. This book assumes no experience and is clearly laid out as to how to use the most popular tools and techniques. The files are supplied which you can use to try and replicate the adjustments shown in the book. These were very useful to practice on. Robin's writing style is concise and easy to follow. The other detailed books are great when you get stuck or need more information, but this book is a good starting point. Highly recommended. I've purchased more of Robin's books as a testament.
    • Amazon Customer
      5.0 out of 5 stars Probably the best book "Ever" in your quest to understand Photoshop
      Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 6, 2015
      If you want to understand PHOTOSHOP, this book is the best and I mean the best in your quest, simple and straight to the point. This book breaks down in simple terms the fundamentals of Photoshop and provides exercises and illustrations to guide you. I had been struggling to understand Photoshop on my own for months, "what's an adjustment layer?" why do I have to create a new layer in order to use an adjustment in some cases and why not in others? This book explains it all, "Masks" and all those strange words, to the beginner don't waste your time reading any other Photoshop book before this book. Also I'm wondering why it is so cheap, this is a $50 book, I have lots of books on Photoshop which claims to "Teach you" "Getting started" "fundamentals" all repetition of the technical manual on adobe.com. This book made me understand Photoshop, now I can read all other books and understand what they are saying.
    • Amazon Customer
      5.0 out of 5 stars It is a very useful book for beginner
      Reviewed in India on September 23, 2015
      It is a very useful book for beginner, intermediate and advanced users of Photoshop. The author Robin Whalley has explained minute details of the essential tools very clearly. This book is definitely value for money.
    • Ann Smallegange
      5.0 out of 5 stars Very useful
      Reviewed in Australia on October 22, 2018
      Unlike other Photoshop books that just discuss what each individual part of Photoshop does, the author has put together a workflow and mentioned some of the problems that can occur using the tools. Very useful for photographers who want to get a start on a method for processing images.
    • Hameed Huq
      4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
      Reviewed in India on September 11, 2018
      Useful guide, well written

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