As the title implies, Deke McClelland offers the reader a personalized approach to the wonders of Adobe Photoshop CS. The book offers a comprehensive tour of the features of Photoshop in a classroom where the reader is the lone student and McClelland is the teacher.

Deke McClelland is an Adobe Certified Expert and a member of PhotoshopWorld’s dream team of instructors. He was inducted into the National Association of Photoshop Professionals Photoshop Hall of Fame in 2002.

This full color book includes two hours of video tutorials on CD. It features a step-by-step presentation of real-world projects that are sure to help the reader master Photoshop. The reader is treated to a wealth of graphics theory, best practices, and tips to avoid Photoshop disasters. McClelland’s approach to learning Photoshop bridges the gap between the available literature on the subject and provides a unique educational experience.

The book was created with the intention of making the seemingly monumental task of mastering Photoshop seem like a walk in the park. Inside are twelve lessons, each consisting of three to six exercises, illustrated with over 600 photos, diagrams, and screenshots. Each book-based lesson comes with a corresponding video lesson, included on a companion CD. The exercises are project-based, culminating in real-world projects that readers can show off when they’re done.

The book also contains “Extra Credit” sections that show readers how to take advantage of Photoshop’s powerful features to give their projects a professional touch. Multiple choice quizzes follow each lesson, providing a great teaching tool for educators and a way for new users to test their knowledge.

Enriched with “Pearls of Wisdom” garnered from McClelland’s years of experience, “Photoshop CS One-on-One” is accessible to complete beginners while offering tips and secrets that even the most experienced Photoshop users are unaware of. Readers are sure to find that the combination of step-by-step lessons and video introduction provide the best learning experience of any Photoshop resource on the market.

The exercises included with each lesson are interesting and fun to do. The end result is almost always something you can be proud to say you created.

Due to its comprehensive approach, a complete understanding of this book will take some time. Take it easy and at your own pace. McClelland’s wit, literary allusions, and playful writing style help turn a cumbersome, complicated, and sometimes mysterious computer application into an easy-to-use tool.

Did you find this article useful? For more helpful hints and tips, points to ponder and consider, techniques and insights related to Photoshop, find more information on our websites.