Digital Expressions: Creating Digital Art with Adobe Photoshop Elements

Missing CD.

My name is Shelley Ellis, and ever since I got a digital camera, I knew there was more I could do with it than just shoot pictures of pretty flowers. Then, I discovered the world of digital art. I was in awe, like seeing the works of Picasso or Dali for the first time. However, like those great artists, they seemed magical and unattainable...that is until I found Susan Tuttle's book, Digital Expressions.Seriously, I am not at all exaggerating when I say that she combines the best of both of these worlds. Her book could simply be thumbed through and enjoyed by viewing the stunning digital art inside, but the best part is her clear and concise, step-by-step instructions so YOU can create your own piece of art based on the sample. And I truly do mean clear and understandable instructions. As a retired teacher, I know how to give instructions in small steps - so a 2nd grader can follow them - and Susan (a former teacher herself!) does an excellent job of foreseeing and explaining any trouble spots or questions that may come up along the way.The first 20 pages of Digital Expressions are devoted to a review of how to use Photoshop Elements. Susan says it's not to be used as a replacement for the instruction manual...but, if you're like me, you probably never really took the time to actually read through the entire manual. Or if you did, after a while it all ran together. The first 20 pages in Digital Expressions made it all clear to me. I especially loved her yellow "Digital Detail" boxes where she highlights information or tips that come in particularly handy.Oh! Just in case all of this isn't enough... Susan is generous enough to include a CD with the book loaded with images to get you started and help you along the way. I am so happy I bought this book. It's just exactly what I needed with 25 different project ideas such as: altering vintage photos, giving photos a hand tinted look, creating sweet realistic looking drawings, adding words to images, layers of backgrounds, photo montages....and so much more!

So OK, I've only been working in the digital collage realm for a year now, so any help I can get that speaks to MY level of understanding is ALL RIGHT by me! I found over this time, that the other books available (not that many as yet, that aren't more "how to use this fancy new tool PS just created...") tended to start at a place that was just a tad bit over my head. Assumptions being made that I would KNOW where certain actions could be found, or the like. I found Susan's book, with it's step-by-step walk-through for a given piece, the "Digital Detail" bullets as well as other helps put me on the road to more creative digital collage than I'd been able to make thus far. Oh and hey! I don't know if others have noticed that many in the digital art creating realm can be pretty stingy with their source materials, leaving one to wonder "Where DOES she/he get all those fabulous images?! Maybe they're born with it." (Apologies to Maybelline...) Also, how cool is it to get a nice freebie DVD, with a generous number of photos, textures and a few brushes to boot? One more caveat for me was the introduction to artists whose work I was NOT familiar with (as in, "Geez, can we see some OTHER people's works now?!") Don't get me wrong, I love the artwork of many of the artists who are in constant rotation, I do, but I'd also like to see more from "unknowns" (at least to me they are.) So, at the risk of sounding maybe a little too snarky, let me just add-I DUG this book. Was up late last night, working through some exercises, expanding my understanding of where certain actions can be found, what they will do for me etc. You might remember, Susan also authored the pretty wonderful "Exhibition 36" which was for me, enough of a "heads up a good book is coming" that I'd have bought it, sight unseen. Really glad I did. Check it out.

Wow! Have you seen those gorgeous digital photos all over the internet - in blogs and websites - by not just professionals but some of your mixed media artist friends and other novices? How do they do it? Oh, Photoshop. Well, Of course, but who can understand that complicated program? Actually, now YOU can!Susan Tuttle has created a masterful book that is as gorgeous as it is helpful. In each of the 25 powerful projects, are the EXACT steps you need along with instructive illustrations of the window you will see on your computer for each step. As if that weren't enough, there is even a CD with images, brushes, and textures to add to your collection and use with the projects in the book. The layout is so enticing that I actually read it through cover to cover the first few hours I had it to discover that I certainly could follow these lessons even though I use PHotoshop CS2 rather than Photoshop Elements.This book is as solid in teaching strategies as it is in fostering inspiration. Ever pick up a "how-to" book and find that it assumes you have some secret, mysterious prerequisite skills which leaves you confused as to how to start - or has gorgeous photos with no clue as to how to accomplish them? You will not have that problem with these lessons. Just in case you are a total beginner, Susan lists the prerequisite Photoshop skills for each lesson with a reference to one of the first ten pages in this book where you will find succinct information about essential tools and techniques.For anyone who wants to make soulful, artistic, exciting, dreamy, mysterious, and engaging digital art, this book is a "must have." I promise you will add a plethora of creative skills to enhance flair and ingenuity in your digital art work. What more could you ask of a book?

This book is inspirational and as it is aimed at users of Photoshop Elementsit should prove to be very popular, and the exercises are well explained andeasy to follow, so long as users are willing to take time with them.Most artists should find this book a mine of information and ideas.

This is a good book if you want to start making mash ups of paintings/digital images. It presumes some photoshop knowledge but not too much. Very helpful.

good instructions and very inspiring

Nice book but not quite as good as I was expecting.

Love this book, great examples of compositing images in an artistic way. All examples are clearly posted with steps to follow in case you are just beginning but it also is great for getting more ideas to use with your own images to composite.There's also lots of freebies to help you in your work with photoshop on the cd in back of book.