Before I went through the training in this book, I was already using Photoshop professionally and had a fairly good grasp of how the software worked. However, I still learned quite a bit from the book, and it has opened my eyes to parts of the software that I have overlooked for far too long. The book has given me a much deeper understanding of the functions of the tools and taught me how to properly use the adjustment layers, the differences between the color modes and blend modes, and best practices. The advice you receive from the Photoshop evangelist featured in the book brings you into the proper mindset for touching up and manipulating photos. Sure, you can learn Photoshop on YouTube (which is how I originally learned it), but your knowledge will be limited by your ability to search for good videos. On the other hand, by going through the lessons in this book, you can have the satisfaction of knowing that you’re receiving official Adobe training instead of piecing it together from various sources on the web. If you love Photoshop, do yourself a favor and pick up this book. It really shows you how to manipulate photos with great control and creativity.

Adobe Illustrator Classroom in a Book is written by Brian Wood. Wood is my favorite author of the Classroom in a Book series, because he always gets straight to the point. He shares only the essentials, with minimal (or nonexistent) fluff. Most of the graphics I generate on the web (including my YouTube videos) are made with Adobe Illustrator, and I wouldn’t be nearly as fluent with the software without having read Adobe Illustrator Classroom in a Book. If you’re unfamiliar with Illustrator, it is the industry standard for creating vector art. It’s great for making logos, business cards, flyers, posters, billboards, and graphics for the web. Well-known YouTube channels such as “Kurzgesagt” and “Life Noggin” use Adobe Illustrator to create their graphics. After reading Adobe Illustrator Classroom in a Book, you’ll have a basic skillset to generate vector art for a variety of uses.

The book covers a lot of territory. You’ll learn lessons such as how to use shapes to create art, edit and combine shapes and paths, transform artwork, use color, create posters and t-shirts, blends and patterns, and much more. Wood is great at explaining the material, so you’ll rarely get lost (if ever). As with all the Adobe books, Adobe Illustrator Classroom in a Book comes with video tutorials, multiple- choice and review questions, and a full digital copy of the book.

Overall, Adobe Illustrator Classroom in a Book is an excellent resource for learning how to manipulate vector art like the professionals. Brian Wood explains the material in a straightforward way, which makes it easy to learn a lot in a short time. I highly recommend Adobe Illustrator classroom in a Book for anyone looking to profit through vector art or those who want to establish a strong online presence.

Reading After Effects CC Classroom in a Book is a great way to ease into After Effects’s complex control system. After Effects is the industry-leading software for motion graphics and visual effects. If you see any visual effects on TV or in theaters, it’s likely that After Effects was behind it. It is used by news stations, video production companies, and professional YouTube channels (such as “Kurzgesagt in a Nutshell”).

After reading this book, I realized how quickly I gained a basic understanding of After Effects, one that I could not quite get from watching YouTube tutorials alone. Sure, it’s possible to learn After Effects by watching YouTube videos, but it will probably take you a long time to piece together the information needed to use the software competently. Instead, why not dive deep into the book and learn After Effects straight from the experts? If you learn best visually, the book includes video tutorials and references to some of the best After Effects YouTube channels from people who are associated with Adobe. I didn’t know many of these channels existed. This surprised me, because I’m always on the lookout for good After Effects videos. The book also includes a digital copy of the text and multiple-choice and review questions.

Overall, After Effects CC Classroom in a Book is a great way to start learning After Effects. I highly recommend it for those who want to jump straight into the information and begin their journey learning the art of motion graphics and visual effects.

Reading Adobe Muse CC Classroom in a Book is a great way to get familiar with Adobe Muse, the web-building software. The book was written by Brian Wood, who gives clear, concise instructions that make learning Muse painless. If you’re unfamiliar with Muse, it is web-building software that lets you create sites without having to use code – that is, users don’t need to dabble in code, because Muse generates it automatically. This allows users to focus on designing their sites instead of programming them. It’s great for creating e-stores, marketing products or services, or building personal websites (such as one for a high-school reunion or wedding). The book teaches you how to add text, graphics, effects, links, and widgets to your sites, and how to work with responsive design. It’s a short book compared to the others in the “Classroom in a Book” series, but it offers essential information that you won’t want to miss. For instance, it discusses SEO (Search Engine Optimization) – meaning that you’ll learn how to optimize your site using keywords so that search engines (such as Google) can find it on the web. This is essential if you want your website to gain exposure. The book also teaches you how to export your website to a third-party web hosting service (such as HostGator.com).

Overall, reading Adobe Muse CC Classroom in a Book is a great way to get started with Adobe Muse. After the training, you’ll know how to build websites for profit or personal use, and will be able to optimize them for search engines. I highly recommend Adobe Muse CC Classroom in a Book for those who want to learn how to build a website with Muse in a quick, painless way.