Book Review: Photoshop Compositing with John Lund

Adobe Master Class: Photoshop Compositing with John Lund
John Lund and Pamela Pfiffner
320 pages. Adobe Press, 2003. $50

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Review by Amber Robey

When I first started using Photoshop, I found it quite daunting. There are dozens of palettes, tools, shortcuts and features to get to know. However, with time and practice, along with browsing many books about the program, I have gradually improved my skill level and now find myself playing Photoshop Tennis on a regular basis as well as restoring damaged old photos and experimenting for hours with my own digital photos, composites and various techniques that I have picked up or developed myself.I initially began reading books for beginners that explored every nook and cranny of the program. But as I progressed, I wanted to read books that go beyond the basics and give me a chance to explore and experiment. Photoshop Compositing, by John Lund and Pamela Pfiffner, looked to be exactly what I needed.

The authors present their material very well. There is an abundance of large color photos and screen shots, all accompanied by clear, step-by-step explanations. The authors assume that the reader has a basic understanding and knowledge of Photoshop, and there are plenty of opportunities to practice your skills as you work your way through the book, substituting your own photos for each exercise (the book does not come with a CD).

The book is broken down into two sections: the first covers Lund’s process for gathering photos for his composites, and the second explains how he puts them together to create some of his best selling works. Each chapter emphasizes a different range of skills and techniques, and Lund gives some background of his own work experience, which I thought gave the book more depth and character than most Photoshop books I have read.

This is an excellent book for the advanced novice or intermediate Photoshop user. There are many opportunities to practice your newly learned skills and perhaps pick up some new ones as well. If you need to learn how to use the basic Photoshop tools, this is definitely not the book for you, but if you want to improve your Photoshop skills and move up to the next level, this book is an excellent choice.

Amber Robey

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