Book Review: Photographer’s Photoshop CS4 Companion by Mark S. Johnson

It’s no secret that my software use for photography has moved heavily towards Lightroom. Adobe Photoshop, however, is still the gold standard when it comes to detailed adjustments to your photographs. Mark S. Johnson, an excellent author (and great friend of mine), has begun releasing chapters of his new book, Photographer’s Photoshop CS4 Companion.

In addition to the wealth of free information available on his website, Mark has published numerous books on Photoshop and photography. His informative and soothing conversational tone perfectly complements his intimate knowledge of Photoshop as a tool for photographers.

If you want a book filled with techniques geared specifically to photographers interspersed with beautiful images and a great deal of inspiration, then Mark’s Photographer’s Photoshop CS4 Companion is well worth checking out!

The full, finished version of the book will be available for purchase in April or May for $39.95, but Mark is releasing each chapter as it is completed in the form of a Mini-eBook for $6.95. Although individual chapters ultimately cost more, here are a couple of reasons to purchase as you go:

1. Immediate access to the information.
2. The option to purchase only the chapters that are useful to you.

These chapters are available for immediate purchase and download:

Chapter One: Workflow and Orientation (110 pages, no sample images included, no actions included)

• Photographer’s Digital Capture Workflow (updated)
• Preparing a File for Output on Inkjet Printers (updated)
• Preparing a File for Output on LightJet Printers (updated)
• Preparing a File for Screen Viewing (updated)
• File Formats and Where They Fit Into the Workflow (updated)
• Resolution Made Simple (updated)
• Setting Preferences for Photoshop (updated)
• The Most Valuable Shortcuts for Photographers (updated)
• More Great Shortcuts and Time-Savers for Photographers (updated)

Chapter Two: Bridge and Automation (97 pages, sample images included, no actions included)

• Setting Preferences for Bridge (updated)
• Significant New Features in Bridge (new)
• Bridge: Part One (Managing Your Digital Images) (updated)
• Bridge: Part Two (Automation Features) (updated)
• Batch Renaming
• Adding a Copyright to Multiple Images
• Running an Action on a Series of Images (Batch Processing)
• Batch Processing a Series of Camera Raw Images
• Using Image Processor to Batch Process a Series of Images
• Loading Files into Photoshop Layers
• Using PDF Photo Gallery to Create a Contact Sheet
• Using PDF Photo Gallery to Create a PDF Presentation
• Using Web Gallery to Create a Web Page
• Writing an Action (updated)
• Stitching Panoramas (updated)

Chapter Three: Adobe Camera Raw and Smart Objects (81 pages, sample images included, no actions included)

• Setting Preferences for Adobe Camera Raw (updated)
• Significant New Features in Adobe Camera Raw (new)
• Adobe Camera Raw (significantly updated)
• Adjustment Brush
• Graduated Filter
• Targeted Adjustment Tool
• Post Crop Vignetting
• Crop Preview
• Snapshots
• Unbelievably Smart Objects (updated)

Chapter Four: Retouching (89 pages, sample images included, no actions included)

• Using the Spot Healing Brush, Clone Stamp, and Patch Tools (updated)
• Retouching Along a Sensitive Edge (How to Set Up a Protective Barrier) (new)
• Digital Grafting (updated)
• Automatically Removing Undesirable Subjects Using Median Stack Mode (new)
• Portrait Retouching (updated)
• Reducing Blemishes and Smile Lines
• Softening Pores and Skin
• Color Correcting Skin Tones
• Creating a Skin Tone Reference File
• Reducing Stains on Teeth
• Dodging and Burning (with the improved Dodge and Burn tools)
• Restoring Saturation to Lips and Eyes
• Correcting Perspective, Vignetting, and Horizons in the Lens Correction Dialog (updated)
• Straightening a Horizon Using the Ruler Tool (updated)
• Using Content-Aware Scaling to Extend a Background or Sky (new)
• Improving a Landscape Photograph with Content-Aware Scaling (new)

Chapter Five: Color Correction (74 pages, sample images included, action included)

• The Exquisite Beauty of Adjustment Layers (updated)
• Using Levels to Establish the Brightest and Darkest Values
• Using Curves to Set Midtone Contrast
• Using Color Balance to Remove a Color Cast from the Shadows, Midtones, and/or Highlights
• Using Selective Color to Change the Color Balance of Existing Colors
• Using Hue/Saturation to Intensify Existing Colors
• Recording and Using the “Five Essential Adjustment Layers” Action
• Understanding Curves (updated)
• Selectively Lightening or Darkening a Given Area (updated)
• The Sledge Hammer of Color Correction (new)
• One-Click Color Balancing Using a Gray Card and Curves in Color Blend Mode (updated)
• Correcting Color Casts When a Gray Card or Something Neutral is Not Present (updated)
• The Magic of Shadows/Highlights (updated)

Look for the release of these chapters soon:

• Chapter Six – Selections, Masks, and Channels
• Chapter Seven – Compositing
• Chapter Eight – Black & White and Film Effects
• Chapter Nine – Special Effects
• Chapter Ten – Color Management, Sharpening, and Output

I recently reviewed Luminescent World: The Stories (and Secrets) Behind Twenty-Five of My Favorite Photographs by Mark S. Johnson. That review can be found here. Other books by Mark include:

• Photographer’s Photoshop CS3 Companion
• Photographer’s Photoshop CS2 Companion
• Botanical Dreaming: Using Photoshop, your camera, and your heart to create inspiring images

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Tags: book • cs4 • Mark S Johnson • photoshop • photoshop-book • review