Photoshop CS6: Visual QuickStart Guide/ Elaine Weinmann & Peter Lourekas

006.686 WEI

Very concise; fully illustrated. Organised by features.

Some handy tips I picked up:

p.205. Clip Adjustment layers
Hold down the ALT/ OPTION key; click between the line of two layers to clip/ unclip them.

p.208/ 209. On using the Histogram panel
How to read the histogram; what's well balanced (basically must cover the graph range), under-exposed (slanted towards left with gaps on the right); overexposed (slanted towards right with gaps on the left); shadow pixels clipped (graph is like under-exposed but raised all the way on the right); detail loss (where there are comb-tooth like gaps between the graph).

p.264. Photomerge command/ feature (via Bridge)

p.336 Puppet Wrap command
Edit > Puppet Wrap (use SHIFT/ ALT/ OPTION keys for effect)

p.377 Transform (e.g. detach) effects
After creating the effects, right-click the Effects listing on the layers panel, then "Choose Layer" from the context menu.

ImagineFX: Fantasy & Sci-fi Digital Art/ Dec 2012

Some photoshop layering tips from Dec 2012's issue.

P88. Workshop feature by Annie Stegg.

• Group layers together, and apply Mask (mentions Alpha Mask; restricts painting to the area).
• For lighting, suggests creating two layers: one set to Multiply and the other to Colour Dodge. Work between these layers to get definition and depth.

• Once basic lighting is done, add texture. Create a new layer; "setting a basic Speckled Brush to Screen"; put the layer on Soft Light.

• Use Emboss and Bevel effects (try setting the directions to Up/ Down) to create inset looks on plate armour.
• Shortcut: Use [F] to cycle through different screen modes in Photoshop.
• Use the Smudge tool to "pull" hair strands when painting hair.

Adobe Photoshop CS6 essentials/ Scott Onstott

One thing I learned from this book: manipulating text/ fonts and working in tandem with path/ vectors.

Use the Pen tool; draw a path (free form or straight); then select the Text tool; place over the path (cursor will add on a little symbol to show a path); click and type.

Easy to follow short exercises.

Adobe Photoshop CS6 Digital Classroom/ Jennifer Smith, AGI Creative Team 26

Clear instructions; illustrated. Good systematic approach in learning Adobe Photoshop CS6. Presented as specific lessons and tasks (vs just describing each features).

The Hidden Power of Blend Modes in Adobe Photoshop/ Scott Valentine

Many 'Single-technique' examples of Photoshop CS6 blend modes (in Layers).

Second part has a more technical explanation of the workings and mathematical calculations.