I have taken a couple of one day classes on Photoshop but they did not spend much time on how to use Layers.  I have not spent much time on my own trying to learn about layers so when Linda asked if I would be interested in reviewing this book I welcomed the opportunity.  By the time I got to chapter three, I decided that I wanted a copy of the book for myself because I would never remember all that could be done with layers in Photoshop.

The book is divided into nine chapters starting with Layer Basics, Blending Layers, Adjustment Layers, Layer Masks, Type and Shape Layers, Enhancing Photos with Layers, Retouching with Layers, Layer Styles and finishing up with Smart Layers.  The last chapter, Smart Layers, I was not able to follow the instructions because I have Photoshop CS2 not CS3 on my computer.  All of the other chapters I was able to follow along and do all of the exercises with no problems.  It was very easy to read and follow and very well organized.  At the end of each chapter there is a “How Do I” questions and answers section.  They are all common questions related to things that you read in the chapter and very helpful tips.

The nine tutorials are step-by-step exercises and the reader may download associated files from the internet from the following web site  www.kelbytraining.com/books/layers 

If you are just beginning to use Photoshop or rarely use Photoshop and don’t know where to find things in Photoshop, this book would be very easy to use and follow.  The author gives very specific instructions including shortcuts to perform each exercise.  Even if you use Photoshop layers frequently there are probably exercises in this book that would show you how to do things with layers that you never knew Photoshop could do.  In my opinion both a new user and a frequent user of Photoshop layers would benefit from the exercises in this book.  There are so many cool things that you can do with layers in Photoshop that it would be very difficult for me to choose just one as a favorite. 

I work with photographs both in my job, on the web page, and in my personal life.   I have picked up a few tricks from reviewing this book that I can now apply to both work and home.