About once a month we receive an e-mail or a phone call with a question about Photoshop. As our client’s get more savvy with technology, they often purchase layered native files thinking they can open them in Photoshop and alter to their heart’s content. Or, maybe the web developer needs to know how we created an effect so they can create a new button or page, and there is always the designer friends calling in a favor from the time they told me how to a new feature worked!

I remember when I was learning Photoshop (back in version 2.0!) and how I managed to cram all of the new information into my head; and then the program updated, and updated, and updated! The best tools I had to first learn the program and then keep my skills updated were 1.) time to play with the new version of Photoshop and 2.) my wonderful books that I still keep in quick reach (some even have snazzy new duck-tape binding).

While we love providing the answer to the questions we receive, I really do believe in “teaching someone to fish” rather than just giving them a fish for the day, so here are a few Photoshop books that should have the answers your looking for, help improve your Photoshop skills, and maybe even provide a cool eye-opening AH HA! the next time you open up Photoshop.

Adobe Photoshop CS4 Classroom in a Book

This is my all time favorite for the first time user. It does a great job of walking you through the program, showing you tools, providing sample files, and allowing you to walk though the process just like you were in a classroom with a teacher.

Photoshop CS4 Quick Start

another great first time user / learn the basics book and a favorite reference book. Vol. 1 covers the basics, and Vol 2. goes over more advanced techniques.

Adobe Photoshop CS4: Up to Speed

A must have for when you upgrade is the Up to Speed books. They walk you through the new features, show you where your old time favorites are, and save you a LOT of time when you need simply get back to production.

Photoshop CS4 Down & Dirty Tricks

One thing I just love about Scott’s “tricks” is applying them in new ways. It’s not all about creating the same thing everyone else is doing, it’s about finding a way to use the right tool for the right situation.

The Adobe Photoshop CS4 Book for Digital Photographers

While I always leave the photography to professionals, we don’t always get to choose where our images come from. This book provides a great resource for editing photo’s, creating a crisp image, and walks you through the interface and tools you need specific to photo’s.