Camera
Raw with Adobe CS2 (2nd edition)
Reviewed by Dr. Eric
Flescher
![](cameraRAW_files/image001.png)
Author: Bruce Fraser * (see note below)
Released: 2006
Pages: 314
$40
USD, $56 CND, £56 GBP
ISBN: 0-321-33409-4
Publisher:
Peachpit Press
http://realworldcameraraw.com/
(*
note) Mr. Fraser passed away and Mr. Schewe continued with the current
version below. This review is for a previous CS2 version. The CS3 version
(see note below) is now available.
Real
World Camera Raw with Adobe Photoshop CS3
Authors: Bruce Fraser and Jeff Schewe
http://www.peachpit.com/store/product.aspx?isbn=03215186
Released: November 7, 2007
Pages: 384 pages
$45
USD
ISBN-10: 0-321-51867-5
ISBN-13: 978-0-321-51867-5 |
![](cameraRAW_files/image003.jpg)
|
Novice/Intermediate/Advanced
Strengths: Stylizing the material in the book as a learning
lab is a good idea. Color photos and screenshots. Uses Macintosh screens.
Text works with shooting with RAW format, using Adobe DVG, automating image
management task. Book applies to Windows and Apple users. Covers Photoshop,
Bridge etc and no other RAW converters. Editing images (Chapter 5 ) is nicely
done.
Weaknesses: Text not screenshots and visuals are the main
stay here. Wish there was more information in column and tables versus
paragraphs. Several of the screenshots, especially the text within, are too
small and difficult to read. if you are using other software other than
Photoshop and Bridge this book may not be for you. |
Introduction
Using
RAW images gives a photographer more latitude to manipulate the images to make
the photographs better. This book focuses principally upon the use of Adobe’s
standards browser called Adobe Bridge. The focus of this book is the
demonstration, teaching and unlocking the full potential of your digital
camera’s raw camera raw file format. The main intent is for the creation of the
best-quality images for your photographs. And this book Camera Raw with Adobe
CS2, takes us through the process of learning.
The
author, an international authority on digital imaging and color image
reproduction, is the author of other Photoshop books and contributor to online
newsletters and websites. The book covers nine chapters and a preface. There
is a nice index which is helpful.
The
preface is devoted to communicating the process of using your camera and the
RAW digital formatted photos within tools that are used in a photographic
laboratory. The author nicely points out (p.xv) that your control of your
resulting photos begins, not with photoshop, but with optimizing the exposure
and color balance first to produce the best photos you can. Insightful words
like this point out the necessary rules needed to do the process right.
Real
camera raw, Chapter 1, tells you about the nature of RAW images so you
understand what this format as a rank beginner. Advantages for the Digital
camera raw (Chapter 2 ) are nicely explained in this chapter. Chapter 3, How
camera raw works, with Photoshop, the software Bridge, and Camera Raw plug-ins
(small applications that allow Photoshop etc do other duties. This chapter
communicates the pros and cons for the using of Adobe’s new universal raw
format DNG. Camera Raw plug-ins are highlighted even further in Chapter 4
(Camera raw controls) while Chapter 5, Hands-on camera raw, explores how to
efficiently work with the features and edit what you capture.
You learn all
about the new browser in Chapter 6, Adobe Bridge.
Workflow
is the catch all phrase for working with your applications in all ways by
interdicting you to principals for guiding yourself through your work with RAW
in Chapter 7, It’s all about the workflow.
Chapter
8, Mastering metadata, helps the understanding of a new type of inner data
called XMP ( Extensible Metadata Platform) used to create, store and share
files and information for your formatted photos. Chapter 9, Exploiting
automation, has a wealth of information concerning converting images and
more.
You
have to forage through a lot of information and text. Some of the teaching
process that espoused by the author is lost in the translation of the readings.
Reading through the chapters is fine, but some of the “pearls of wisdom” don’t
stand out enough. Sometimes the author “does not get to the point” easily enough
and the information gets a little “muddled.”
Conclusion
If
you work with Photoshop (does not mention Photoshop Elements), then this might
be a good book to wade through. You can learn much of this book but you will
have to “find it”. It does not jump out at you. If you need a more visual text,
along with more guidance this is not the book for you.