Reading Group for Photoshop Masking & Compositing

[jfriend]

This is the master posting for the reading group for Katrin Eismann's book, Photoshop Masking & Compositing. The chapters of the book are listed below with the chapter writeups linked in (where we're done with them). This posting will be updated with a new link each time a new chapter writeup is done. The volunteer list for future chapter writeups is at the end of this posting. Here are the chapters in the book and the corresponding chapter writeups.

Chapter 1 - The Creative Process and Configuring Photoshop (http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=29442)
Chapter 2 - Selection Strategies and Essentials (http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=29656)
Chapter 3 - The Essential Select Menu (http://dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=30355)
Chapter 4 - Pen Tool Power
Chapter 5 - Masks are Your Friends (http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=33201)
Chapter 6 - Layers are Your Friends, part 1 (http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=30046) and part 2 (http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=30297)
Chapter 7 - The Power of Layer Masking
Chapter 8 - Selecting Hair and Fine Detail
Chapter 9 - Advanced Selection Techniques
Chapter 10 - Selecting Transluncency and Green Screen Techniques
Chapter 11 - Image Execution and Photography
Chapter 12 - Photorealistic Compositing
Chapter 13 - Creative Compositing

For anyone interested in buying this book, you can get a 35% discount and free U.S. shipping (http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=29374) by following the link and instructions here (http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=29374).

http://jfriend.smugmug.com/photos/58933199-O.jpg

We need volunteers for the other chapters in this book. I've started things off with the writeup on the first chapter. Ideally, we'd produce writeups on one or two chapters a week with some time between to discuss them.

Who can volunteer to do writeups for other chapters in the book?

Here is the chapter volunteer list so far:

Chapter 1 - The Creative Process and Configuring Photoshop - done by jfriend
Chapter 2 - Selection Strategies and Essentials - done by pathfinder
Chapter 3 - The Essential Select Menu - gluwater volunteered
Chapter 4 - Pen Tool Power - cletus volunteered
Chapter 5 - Masks are Your Friends - pathfinder volunteered
Chapter 6 - Layers are Your Friends- Yorkie Dad volunteered
Chapter 7 - The Power of Layer Masking
Chapter 8 - Selecting Hair and Fine Detail - jfriend volunteered
Chapter 9 - Advanced Selection Techniques - risici volunteered
Chapter 10 - Selecting Transluncency and Green Screen Techniques
Chapter 11 - Image Execution and Photography - wxwax volunteered
Chapter 12 - Photorealistic Compositing
Chapter 13 - Creative Compositing

Folks who have volunteered for a chapter writeup, but we haven't picked a specific chapter yet:
DavidTo
Yorkie Dad (will do another chapter after his chapter 6 writeup, if we still need more volunteers)

[cletus]

Who can volunteer to do writeups for other chapters in the book?

I'll take a chapter as soon as my copy arrives!

[Yorkie Dad]

Ordered the book today - will notify when received and chapter desired for review.

Art

This is the master posting to link together the various chapter writeups and discussion threads for a reading group on Katrin Eismann's book Photoshop Masking & Compositing. I'm hoping we can find enough volunteers to write up all the interesting chapters in the book.

http://jfriend.smugmug.com/photos/58933199-Th.jpg


The chapters in this book are. The chapters that are linked point to the individual chapter writeups here at dgrin.

Chapter 1 - The Creative Process and Configuring Photoshop (http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=29442)
Chapter 2 - Selection Strategies and Essentials
Chapter 3 - The Essential Select Menu
Chapter 4 - Pen Tool Power
Chapter 5 - Masks are Your Friends
Chapter 6 - Layers are Your Friends
Chapter 7 - The Power of Layer Masking
Chapter 8 - Selecting Hair and Fine Detail
Chapter 9 - Advanced Selection Techniques
Chapter 10 - Selecting Transluncency and Green Screen Techniques
Chapter 11 - Image Execution and Photography
Chapter 12 - Photorealistic Compositing
Chapter 13 - Creative Compositing

For anyone interested in buying this book, you can get a 35% discount and free U.S. shipping (http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=29374) by following the link and instructions here (http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=29374).

We need volunteers for the other chapters in this book. I've started things off with the writeup on the first chapter. Ideally, we'd produce writeups on one or two chapters a week with some time between to discuss them.

Who can volunteer to do writeups for other chapters in the book?

[jfriend]

I'll take a chapter as soon as my copy arrives!

Great. When you get the book, let me know which chapter you want that isn't already spoken for.

[jfriend]

Ordered the book today - will notify when received and chapter desired for review.

Great! Just let me know which one you want.

I know from doing a chapter writeup on the LAB book that the best way to really, really learn a chapter is to have to explain it to others.

[DavidTO]

I'll order my copy before the week is out, once I get it I'll step up for one, but really, I don't care too much which one I do, just want to help, so if you have a particular chapter or two that you'd like me to do, let me know.

[jfriend]

I'll order my copy before the week is out, once I get it I'll step up for one, but really, I don't care too much which one I do, just want to help, so if you have a particular chapter or two that you'd like me to do, let me know.

Great, thanks for helping. Once you get the book, we can pick a chapter based on what others have shown an interest in.

[cletus]

I'd like to take a crack at chapter 4.

[jfriend]

I'd like to take a crack at chapter 4.

Great, I'll sign you up for chapter 4. I'm dying to learn how to use the pen myself.

[cletus]

Great, I'll sign you up for chapter 4. I'm dying to learn how to use the pen myself.
I've used the pen tool in Illustrator quite a bit, but I haven't used Photoshop's pen tool much. I'm looking forward to reading Katrin's coverage of it.

By the way... If anyone wants to learn Illustrator's pen tool, check out The Adobe Illustrator CS Wow! Book (I think the CS2 version of the book is out now as well.)

[pathfinder]

If welcome, I'm in. The book has been on my shelf for some time.

Chapter 2 or Chapter 5, or both:):

[jfriend]

If welcome, I'm in. The book has been on my shelf for some time.

Chapter 2 or Chapter 5, or both:):

Let's start with chapter 2 since we're waiting for someone to take that one next. If you want to take chapter 5 also, that would be great too. Thanks. Whenever you're ready with chapter 2, just post it in a new thread and I'll link it into the master chapter list.

[Yorkie Dad]

Put me down for Ch 6 and I will hope the book arrives soon.
Thanks

[jfriend]

Put me down for Ch 6 and I will hope the book arrives soon.
Thanks

I've got you down for Chapter 6, thanks for helping out.

For anyone trying to keep score here, I've got all the chapters that people have volunteered for recorded in the first message of this thread. The chapters still looking for a volunteer are 3, 7 and 9-13.

[wxwax]

I can take Chapter 11. My copy hasn't been delivered yet. Something about Homeland Security.

[jfriend]

I can take Chapter 11. My copy hasn't been delivered yet. Something about Homeland Security.

Thanks.

[ginger_55]

I have the book. I got it, looked at it, and thought, good lord, I don't understand a word here, and threw it somewhere and had forgotten.

So, please, I will follow along, but I am having enough trouble trying to read it.

I thought you might actually do the first chapter, so I am trying to keep my mind on reading it. I can follow it, could never write it up, though. But the "discipline" ..................well, I am in here and the book is in there.

I would love to make those beautiful photos, though.

ginger

[jfriend]

I have the book. I got it, looked at it, and thought, good lord, I don't understand a word here, and threw it somewhere and had forgotten.

So, please, I will follow along, but I am having enough trouble trying to read it.

I thought you might actually do the first chapter, so I am trying to keep my mind on reading it. I can follow it, could never write it up, though. But the "discipline" ..................well, I am in here and the book is in there.

I would love to make those beautiful photos, though.

ginger

No problem. Follow along with the writeups. Ask questions about the stuff you don't understand. As the techiques are illustrated in the various chapters, try them yourself. Ask more questions. That's why we're doing this.

In case you didn't realize, the writeup for chapter 1 has been posted here (http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=29442) and all the chapter writeups will be linked into the master message in this thread as they get produced.

[Stormdancing]

I hear ya Ginger. I'm in the same boat with you. You paddle and I'll row. It will be fun and we will learn a lot.

[Yorkie Dad]

Book just arrived by UPS so it looks like an evening of enjoyable reading. I will be glad to take another chapter after I finish write-up on Ch 6 if there are still any unspoken for chapters remaining at that point in time.
Art
I've got you down for Chapter 6, thanks for helping out.

For anyone trying to keep score here, I've got all the chapters that people have volunteered for recorded in the first message of this thread. The chapters still looking for a volunteer are 3, 7 and 9-13.

[jfriend]

Book just arrived by UPS so it looks like an evening of enjoyable reading. I will be glad to take another chapter after I finish write-up on Ch 6 if there are still any unspoken for chapters remaining at that point in time.
Art

Great, thanks and happy reading. I'll put you on the list for future chapters after your chap. 6 writeup if we still need more volunteers at that point.

[jfriend]

If welcome, I'm in. The book has been on my shelf for some time.

Chapter 2 or Chapter 5, or both:):
Pathfinder - thanks again for helping. Any idea when you'll be able to post the chapter 2 writeup? We're pretty much ready whenever you are. If you want to discuss in email, my email is in my profile.

[jfriend]

This is the master posting to link together the various chapter writeups and discussion threads for a reading group on Katrin Eismann's book Photoshop Masking & Compositing. I'm hoping we can find enough volunteers to write up all the interesting chapters in the book.

Now that PathFinder has contributed the most excellent writeup on chapter 2, next up is chapter 3, which just happens to be one we don't yet have a volunteer for.

Can anyone volunteer to write up chapter 3, The Essential Select Menu to keep us going? After chapter 3, we've already got volunteers for 4, 5 and 6. The other open chapters are 7, 9, 12 and 13.

[gluwater]

Chapter 3 is like Poison Ivy around here isn't it? Well I just got my book in the mail yesterday and just started going through it but if there are no takers for chaper 3 yet I'll write it up if I can have a couple days.

[jfriend]

Chapter 3 is like Poison Ivy around here isn't it? Well I just got my book in the mail yesterday and just started going through it but if there are no takers for chaper 3 yet I'll write it up if I can have a couple days.

Great! Thanks for taking Chapter 3. Take the time you need to give us a great writeup. We'll be looking forward to it.

[ian408]

Mine just arrived and it's overwhelming...the number of ways one can slice
a mask :D

[gluwater]

Just to let you know I am working on Chapter 3 but have been working lots of hours lately so I haven't finished it up yet. I'll try to get it up by Sunday night.

[gluwater]

Well that took me way more time than I had expected. I finally finished the write up of Chapter 3, I do appologize for taking so long. I really salute everyone who takes the time to write up these chapter discussions, it is a lot more work than one would think. But it really is a great way to learn the material because it forces you to really read the material and create sample images.

[Risici]

Hi
Im in. i ordered the book yesterday. She is my all time favorite author :p im ready to take 9 and afterwards, prefareply 9 (if its not lready taken).

I did buy the book with discount, and im still amazed she made that posible for us here :)

Btw for all you thats not a napp member tjeck out her site where she ha her articles for photoshop user: http://photoshopdiva.com/articles.html not ure she still updates though (the latest isnt up yet at least).

Please send me a mail with what capther i shall write about, since i might get lost in this new forum ;)

/Lasse -Risici

[jfriend]

Hi
Im in. i ordered the book yesterday. She is my all time favorite author :p im ready to take 9 and afterwards, prefareply 9 (if its not lready taken).

I did buy the book with discount, and im still amazed she made that posible for us here :)

Btw for all you thats not a napp member tjeck out her site where she ha her articles for photoshop user: http://photoshopdiva.com/articles.html not ure she still updates though (the latest isnt up yet at least).

Please send me a mail with what capther i shall write about, since i might get lost in this new forum ;)

/Lasse -Risici

Thanks for taking chapter 9. I'll put you down for it and will confirm via email.

[gluwater]

Has this just completely died? Is there really no interest in the rest of this book? I thought it was a very informative read and I routinely use what I learned in it.

[DavidTO]

I, for one, am still very interested, just way too busy to take it on right now.

[cletus]

I, for one, am still very interested, just way too busy to take it on right now.

Same here. I'm signed up for the chapter on the pen tool. I'm still excited about doing my write up, I just don't have the time to work on it right now. I think I'm going to have a chance to work on it next weekend.

[pathfinder]

I'll be very interested in your review of the Pen tool, Cletus.

The Pen tool is the most effective and accurate way to select protions of an image, but I still do not find it terribly user friendly even when I try to use it in lieu of other, easier tools.

I have been awaitng further discussion of this text. Interestingly, Mark Muench rated this book as one of the most important for a serious Photoshop user at the shootout.

[pathfinder]

Cletus,

Have you made any progress on Chapter 4 - the Pen Tool??

And how is Chapter 6 coming along, Yorkie Dad?

I am still waiting and eager to continue with this book. It is fundamental stuff, for first rate images.

[cletus]

Cletus,

Have you made any progress on Chapter 4 - the Pen Tool??

And how is Chapter 6 coming along, Yorkie Dad?

I am still waiting and eager to continue with this book. It is fundamental stuff, for first rate images.

It's been very, very slow, but there has been some progress. Still no ETA though.

[imann08]

I am a new poster here. I just found the forum the other day. I have had this book for some time. It was the first among my collection of Eismann and Margulis books. The one thing that I have found is that many of these methods of selection can be done with the luminosity mask and blend if tool as long as you keep all colorspaces in your mind. I can't deny that I still love the book though. The chapter on masking hair may be the single most important chapter I've read in any book. The compositing chapters are extremely helpful if you need to do that.

I can say that knowing the pen tool has a lot to do with whether or not you know AI. If you do then you are already 75% ahead of the pack. If you don't, then it can be difficult to grasp. Once you do though it's a breeze for the most part.

BTW, My name is Isaac and I'm glad to meet you guys.

[I Simonius]

This is the master posting for the reading group for Katrin Eismann's book, Photoshop Masking & Compositing.

Hope this is on topic....

I don't know Eisman's books but have seen one in the shops which wasnt this one

I guess you guys recommend it so I'll go order it BUT can you tell me, should I get her other books, i.e.which ones are the latest and which ones to get

I just want to avoid duplicating info too much, so please recommend which of her books to get?

spanks!

[pathfinder]

I am a new poster here. I just found the forum the other day. I have had this book for some time. It was the first among my collection of Eismann and Margulis books. The one thing that I have found is that many of these methods of selection can be done with the luminosity mask and blend if tool as long as you keep all colorspaces in your mind. I can't deny that I still love the book though. The chapter on masking hair may be the single most important chapter I've read in any book. The compositing chapters are extremely helpful if you need to do that.

I can say that knowing the pen tool has a lot to do with whether or not you know AI. If you do then you are already 75% ahead of the pack. If you don't, then it can be difficult to grasp. Once you do though it's a breeze for the most part.

BTW, My name is Isaac and I'm glad to meet you guys.


Hello Isaac. Welcome to dgrin.

I agree that globally editing an image, without specific selections, ala Margulis, is vastly preferable. I try to do it whenever I can - working in Luminosity, or R,G,B C,M,Y,K, Blend If, as needed.

But sometimes, things are not that simple and we need to know how to do good selections.
K Eisman's book is the best at how to really create and work on masks - she emphasizes that in Selections you cannot see the edges of the mask, but when you work on the selection as an alpha channel you can actually see the edges of the selection and can then alter them as needed.

I hope to get this book review in motion again this fall, as I still am very interested in finishing it.

[h20]

Hello, everyone!

I, too am fairly new here but I do appreciate the time spent sharing the Eismann book chapter by chapter. I just hope you guys carry this through to the end as this is the only way I could learn about this highly recommmended book. I do have a little working knowledge of Photoshop and AI but often times I need to learn and re-learn as I fall into the habit also not practicing for long periods of time.

Thanks and Best!

[cletus]

I just hope you guys carry this through to the end...

Howdy h20 :wave welcome to dgrin!

I too hope the reading group continues. I'm responsable for the pen tool chapter and that is where things have stalled. I'm finally getting a little bit of time to work on my write-up. I hope to have something soon.