Adobe Photoshop Elements 8 Classroom in a Book: The Official Training Workbook from Adobe Systems PAP/CDR Edition

I purchased this book as the text for a Photoshop Elements class at my local college. The class consists of six 3-hour sessions, covering two chapters per session that are designed like lesson plans. We literally march through the book, completing each exercise as written. The book provides a blueprint such that I can replicate each lesson at home if I want to practice further. In fact, with the exception of asking a few clarifying questions of the teacher, the class was really unnecessary since the book could stand easily on its own. There are two chapters specific to Mac users where Bridge is incorporated... which I understand is no longer used in version 9, so if you haven't bought yet, consider version 9. There is a CD included with the book that contains the lessons you will need to complete the assignments in the book, but the CD does not include the Elements software itself, so that will be an additional purchase. I got mine on sale at a local electronics store (plus a rebate), so the software was only $60. I'll buy other books to discover more advanced techniques and ideas, but overall, this Classroom in a Book was great for an Elements novice and a perfect first step toward understanding a not-so-intuitive software.

I am very disappointed because the ebook does not provide the lesson backup to use when you are doing each lesson. The regular book comes with a CD that contains the lesson material needed to do each lesson. After calling Amazon and Adobe and waisting one hour of my time, both would not provide the CD containing the lesson materials nor would them send them to me by email. I was just told that it is not available with the ebook. Unfortunately, the lessons in the Classroom in a Book, instruct you to load the materials from the CD in order to complete each lesson. The information that the CD or lesson materials was not included was not told before I purchased the ebook. The reason I purchased the ebook was so I could read it on my Ipad as I completed each lesson.

The "Classroom in a Book" series is a great help in learning Adobe software. It contains complete and informative lessons on CD that will help one learn how to use the software. One actively works through the lessons and learns. When you get into complicated software, the "Classroom in a Book" publications are a must.The book that I purchased on "Dreamweaver" 2 years ago was a lifesaver. Withour it I would not be using the expensive software to do my web site at this time. It is still helpful even now that I have a working knowlege of the software. I am currently working through the "Photoshop Elements Classroom in a Book" and am putting it to good use on my web site.

I am a new user of Photoshop and was absolutely overwhelmed when I loaded it and tried to use it. Step by step, this book walks you through how to learn and use this program through structured exercises starting with the most basic functions. It was easy to load the tutorial material on my computer and begin to use it. I have been able to create some pretty good photos by substituting my photos for the tutoral photos and following the lesson outline. For me, anyway, repitition seems to work best. Don't get in too big of a hurry to start doing advanced techniques or you might miss some of the basic techniques that are important. Good Luck

Easy to follow. Short lessons. I learned A LOT in a short time. Doesn't cover EVERYTHING the program offers, but it covers the big stuff and the rest is available online or F1. Minimal type-o's in the text. All-in-all, a great help and good to keep around as a reference.

With the book in hand I followed the lessons and found that I was able to do some remarkable edits with little effort and superb results. The book guides a beginner through the many choices and when I finished I found that editing my photos was fast and easy and the smallest details could be corrected with a few simple commands. What an incredible tool to go with the program. It is all inclusive and fun to learn.

Classroom in a box is a necessary aid. The Photoshop software is not as intuitive as it should be. I previously used elements 3 and elements 8 is much different. The book is well written and the DvD provides excellent examples.

One of the requirements to take advantage of this book is to purchase the application "Adobe Photoshop Element 8" that runs around $300. I don't have that money, so I can't buy it. Consequentely I can't rate this book.I have not use it, I can't use it.Maybe it is an "assumption" that when you buy a softway teaching book you're willing to but the application required but in this case I missed the "assumption".In all honesty, it seems like a good book but I can't rate it.

Knowing that a book would be necessary if I was to get to grips with the new software (Adobe offers only online/onscreen help) it was just a matter of choice. This one seems good so far, though I am not right through it yet, but be aware of one point. Like most similar books, it is quite expensive but also quite long (and has a CD of sample files to carry out the exercises on). In this case, however, the book has separate early chapters according to whether you are working on a Windows or Mac computer. This means that, of the 420-odd pages in the book, 90 are of no relevance if, like me, you work on a Mac, or 34 pages if you work on a Windows machine. And quite why it takes 90 pages to explain for Windows users what can be done in 34 on a Mac is a mystery. Possibly they skimp on the Mac side, perhaps the software sits better on a Mac (there are two different versions, unlike the book), or may be it's a comment on the users, I don't know. Having said that, the book is nicely produced and will certainly have helped me get to grips with the programme in a way I could not have done without.

Clear tutorials with a download facility that replaces the CD. I can have this open on both my laptop and Kindle which makes for easier use as I learn.