After years of fielding questions at seminars from Photoshop users, Dave Cross realized there was a lot of common ground: there were many questions that were indeed "frequently asked." In addition, most questions seemed start with “How come I can’t…." "How do I…." or "Why won’t the (fill in the blank) tool work?" This book addresses the most common problems and questions in Photoshop by both providing answers to the most frequently asked questions, and outlining strategies that can help you avoid problems in the first place.

 

You’ll see:

 

• Where to start when things don't work: from tool settings to re-installing Photoshop

 

• The most common warning dialogs: why they appears, how to fix them, and how to avoid them

 

• The Photoshop CS2 Checklist: what to check when things go wrong, or before you start working, to help avoid problems

 

• Solutions to typical problems when using the Adobe Creative Suite

 

• How to avoid problems by creating flexible documents (adjustment layers, layer masks, groups, smart object, layer comps, and more)

 

• Frequently asked questions—and their answers—in all key areas of Photoshop CS2:

• general operations (palettes, workspaces, menus, etc.)

• color (CMYK, color management, spot color, choosing color, etc.)

• type

• selections

• making adjustments

• layers

• preferences and settings

•  image capture (resolution, Camera Raw, file size)

• sizing (canvas size, image size, copping)

• automation (actions, batch, built-in automation commands)

• common image problems (exposure, focus, noise, color cast, etc.)

• painting (brushes, choosing color)

• output (web, PDF, video, printing)

• special effects (filters, layer styles)

• tools (that don't fit into any other category)

 

• How to customize Photoshop CS2 to work the way you want it to (actions, menus, workspaces, shortcuts, preferences)

 

• How to make your own brushes, swatches, shapes, styles, and patterns

A very useful book to have by your Photoshop workstation
Although I cannot figure out the organization of this book, I have found it very useful in answering most of my Adobe Photoshop CS2 questions. Dave Cross has a writing style that may irritate some people, especially those that take themselves and their work very seriously. That is very easily offset by Dave Cross’ expansive knowledge of Adobe Photoshop CS2 and his ability to make some difficult problems disappear. I highly reccomend this book to anyone trying to get a grasp on CS2 unless you are easily frustrated by having to search through the table of contents to find your questions.

Under Rated!
This is the most under rated Photoshop book I’ve ever read! A technical wealth of information contained within a one stop source. I wish I had purchased this book long before I did and hope Dave keeps revising it as each new version of Photoshop is released. Handsomely layed out with an eye-catching cover, I think the title is perfect!

Not just for help, a good source of inspiration
The Photoshop CS2 Help Desk Book by Dave Cross is not entirely what you might expect from the title. It certainly provides answers when Photoshop isn’t behaving they way you expect it should. For instance you have a tool selected and you keep trying execute an action, but nothing is happening. This book will provide you a detailed description of how the tool functions and why it may not be working as you expected. But the coverage of this book goes beyond trouble shooting problems. It is a handy reference manual.
It is 259 pages long and is divided into 21 chapters. The opening seven chapters address the meat and potatoes of basic problem solving. They succinctly take you through the basics of Photoshop menus and tool functionality. The next ten chapters continue to function as help/reference for a myriad of different functions but I find them very interesting to consult even when I am not experiencing a problem. They are written such that you can quickly peruse the subjects and pick up little tips and tricks on how to execute an action better and/or faster than you may otherwise be used to doing so.
The last three chapters are dedicated to personalizing Photoshop and making it work for you. Chapter nineteen does a great job of explaining how to automate operations using actions and batch processing. Chapter twenty provides guidance on making your own unique brushes and patterns and then applying them in a variety of different manners. The final chapter addresses customizing Photoshop features like picture package and contact sheet.
I would recommend this book to anyone with a foundation in Photoshop. It certainly is not intended to hold your hand and walk you through the basic functions of the program, but it will help you understand why the program works the way it does, and how to best accomplish the myriad of tasks that Photoshop is capable of performing. And if you are the type to enjoy experimentation there is plenty of opportunity to do so with this book.
To me a review is most meaningful when you know a little something about the person writing the review. I have been an avid amateur photographer since the late 1970’s and have been selling my work since 2004. Photography isn’t my day job, but it does provide a welcome supplement. I have been shooting with a Canon Professional Digital SLR since 2003 and perform the vast majority of my post processing work in Photoshop. I began with Photoshop 7 and currently work with CS2. I am a member of the National Association of Photoshop Professionals (NAPP) and make extensive use of the abundant educational materials available on the member website. I have read well over two-dozen Photoshop training guides with one overriding goal in mind; producing the best images possible.

A great resouce
This is a very useful little book packed full of easy to understand information. I keep reaching for it over and over again.

From re-installing proper settings to understanding common warning dialog boxes and how to remedy common problems
Dave Cross is a senior developer of education and curriculum: his Photoshop CS2 Help Desk Book comes from a trainer’s view and from years of fielding questions at Photoshop seminars. It’s this background which led to his identification of frequently asked questions - and to Photoshop CS2 Help Desk Book , which allows users to identify common problems and how to fix them, from re-installing proper settings to understanding common warning dialog boxes and how to remedy common problems.

Terrific Book- A Must Have
At this point I literally have had the opportunity to read or browse a lot of the new crop of CS2 books coming out. I agree with the other reviewers that Mr. Cross has some real gems in this book and while it is not necessairily a book you will read cover to cover, I know that I will be using it often as a great reference. Some of the tips are questions I have had for years. I also agree with another reviewer that the person who left one star for this book has it in for Mr. Cross. Check out his four reviews and you will see that in three he skewers Mr. Cross. Looks like a personal vendetta to me and I think Amazon should remove the review and I am going to point this issue out to them. Get this book!!!

Photoshop CS2 Help Desk Review
From front to back this book is the best book that I’ve read regarding Adobe Photoshop. It is a wealth of information that describes everything from tools to filters to modes -- it covers it all. If there is a keyboard shortcut, Dave Cross covers it. This book is an encyclopedia of information with regards to Photoshop CS2. I highly recommend this book to anyone -- I know you’ll enjoy it.

Add this book to your wish list!!
First my review. This is not the kind of book you would need to read from cover to cover, since many chapters contain "typical" questions. Although you can use those as an occassional reference, I also found it interesting to browse through some of these Q&A chapters and found some answers to questions I’d always woindered about.
I also liked the section on customizing Photoshop, particularly the part on personalizing my Contact Sheet.

Now, this is probably "not done", by I was surprised by the low rating by one reviewer so I went to read his or her other reviews and was surprised to see that of his 4 reviews, 3 were one star reviews of Dave Cross’ 2 books and a DVD. Coincidence? Perhaps. If I sould like I’m defending Mr Cross, I guess I am. I have attended his classes at Photoshop World and he knows his stuff - and this Photoshop book shows it.

another dissapointment
This is another of those books that promises but doesn’t deliver...

There is nothing in this book that I find helpfull... that is, unless you’ve never used Photoshop, and have been living in a hole for the last few years.

Save your money...

This book won’t be far from my computer!
I love the way this book is in sections: ones to can read to learn some ways to track down problems, a place to look up answers to specific problems and a section to help customize Photoshop. It will not be far from my computer any time I’m working in Photoshop and run into a problem.
I’ve been using Photoshop since version 6 and have already found lots of useful stuff in the week I’ve had the book. Plus, the tip on customizing the contact sheet was worth the price of the book!
I definitely recommend this book.

wow! great ideas and a great reference
This book is divided into sections and each one is packed with ideas and info. I particularly liked the section that included suggestions on how to make flexible documents. I realized that was was doing a lot of things "the hard way" and could start create documents that I can easily edit and change.
It’s also packed with a ton of common questions and answers. Just glancing through I’ve already seen some solutions to problems I’ve encountered. Oh yes, I also love the fact that there’s a whole bunch of error messages and their causes: finally someone has explained to me why these things happen!
I really like Dave’s writing style and would recommend this book to any Photoshop user.