Layer blending modes have been part of Photoshop for years, but because they're not easy to understand at first glance, this immensely useful feature tends to get overlooked. "Photoshop Blending Modes Cookbook for Digital Photographers" is the only recipe-format book that covers blending modes specifically for digital photographers. The book covers: Changing hue, saturation, luminosity, and color Correcting basic color shifts Repairing highlights Sharpening or softening focus Adjusting lighting for subtle or dramatic effects Controlling contrast Creating surface effects and textures Adding interest to landscapes and urban scenes Enhancing portraits of children and adults Simulating graphics arts techiques and much more. Unlike Photoshop's built-in filters, blending modes don't change the actual pixels that make up an image, so their effects are completely reversible. There are over 20 blending modes in Photoshop CS2, which range from those which darken and lighten images (such as Darken, Multiply, Lighten, and Screen) to modes that increase contrast (such as Overlay and Hard Light) and adjust color (such as Hue, Color. Luminosity, and Saturation). In addition to covering each blending mode in detail, John Beardsworth, a London-based photographer and author, takes the reader through a whole collection of recipes that demonstrate how to use blending modes alone or in combination to fix problem photos, add subtle effects, and create dramatic images that are truly unique. With clear, step-by-step instructions, real-world projects, an easy-to-follow format, and hundreds of full-color examples, "Photoshop Blending Modes Cookbook for Digital Photographers" is shows you how to use blending modes to achieve a wide range of image adjustments and special effects-without having to first learn everything there is to know about Photoshop.