Creative Thinking in Photoshop: A New Approach to Digital Art

I bought Creative Thinking in Photoshop after seeing Sharon Steuer on The Screen Savers. I must say that I am certainly impressed by Sharon's artistic ability, but after reading a few chapters I began to seriously doubt her ability to put into words exactly what process she took to reach the final result. There are of course plenty of screen captures showing and noting important steps in the process, but after careful inspection and recreation attempts, I was unable to reproduce her results using her directions. I instead had to carefully study the images and use my knowledge of photoshop to see what settings she really did use on the filters she mentions.

I certainly am not the type of person that would willingly insult any person, no matter how big the opportunity or reward may be. Instead I hope to inform readers and artists interested in this book that if they need step by step instructions for filters and tools in photoshop, you may be looking for something a little less... Read more

I'm not sure how this book got 5 Star reviews from everyone who's reviewed it thus far, but to each his own, I suppose. This book wasn't what I was expecting. I thought I'd see some great photoshop art, learn some neat photoshop tricks, but I'm really not impressed by anything I've seen so far.

The artist takes photographs and uses various filters and photoshop tools to give them a painterly feel and to look more "artsy". Or she takes her own drawings and uses photoshop brushes to give them a more digital feel. Maybe this book would be fun for fine artists who want to play around with their images on the screen for the first time, but as a digital artist I haven't seen anything new or noteworthy in this book. I'm actually surprised that this was printed so recently (2002) because the artwork actually has that dated feel of digital art from the early 90s.

For a really beautiful Photoshop book that explores the artistic capabilites of Photoshop, read: "The Art of... Read more

I have taught hundreds of hours of Photoshop classes. This book is a terrific way to learn the program. Instead of memorizing: go to this menu, click this icon, move this here, Ms. Steuer shows how to "think" in Photoshop. How to look at the program the same way an artist would look at a blank canvas.

In just ten minutes leafing through the book I was inspired to try several different projects. Not because I memorized a new command, but because I was looking at the program in a whole new way.

Chapter 8, on collaborating, is well worth the entire cost of the book. Watching Ms. Steuer and her photographer friend work together is an amazing experience. Just that chapter alone will change how you approach Photoshop.

It's a great way to learn Photoshop.