To borrow (OK, steal) the name of a recent Jerry Lee Lewis compilation, this book should be subtitled "All Killer, No Filler!". I tried (within reason, I don't have all day to geek out on Photoshop tips), but really couldn't find any useless tips offered from the Master (Scott Kelby). If there are some, they probably originated with Felix Nelson, Kelby's co-author, since Kelby can do no wrong (Scott, was that enough to cinch my free lifetime NAPP membership?).

As stated in the intro, Kelby's not writing a novel, so the tips in this book aren't organized in linear fashion, per se – the reader isn't following a tutorial, but rather discovering techiques that will speed up workflow and increase efficiency, leaving more time for the fun part: creativity. The book is, however, neatly divided into chapters that include short, typically half-page-long tips covering a specific area, such as production, Bridge, Camera Raw, type, and image correction.

Here's an example: to straighten scans in 10 seconds or less, use the Measure tool, which is behind the Eyedropper tool in the ToolBox, and drag it along the top edge of the image you want to straighten. Under Rotate Canvas, choose Arbitrary; Photoshop automatically enters the amount of rotation. Once you click OK, the image will be permanently straightened.

Another of my favorites is changing the color, font, or size of several different type layers at once, accomplished by linking all the layers you want to adjust (Command-Click or Control-Click, depending on whether you wear a T-shirt or a business suit – I'm SUCH a sucker for those brilliant Apple ads). Any changes then made in the Options Bar or Character Palette will then be made to all the selected layers – the key is not to select the type. Pretty slick, and a real time-saver.

It would be heresy to suggest that this book is anything less than useful. It's the kind of information one would receive at a one-day intensive seminar, but in compact form – and instead of sketchy doodles in the margins of your notes, there are indispensable screen shots on nearly every page. Furthermore, there are tips for both the beginner and advanced user, print designer or Web designer, casual or professional photographer. Virtually any Photoshop user would benefit from reading this book.