The 19 contributors are artists first and foremost. Most started out using conventional materials and some even admit to technophobia and an initial reluctance to embrace digital methods before being won over by the freedom and versatility that Photoshop provides.

Images, rather than the technology used to create them, are the focus. Josh Fallon is heavily influenced by the graphic work of MC Escher, Catherine McIntyre is inspired by Vera Lehndorff's nude images in which she is painted to blend, almost imperceptibly with the natural environment. Mike Cina is well known for his ground-breaking work on testpilotcollective.com, much of which is based on design principles developed by the Bauhaus school. According to Paul Sinclair "In art, the only thing that should matter is the final image, not how it was created". Thankfully he, and the other contributors then go on to ignore this, by providing detailed explanation of the techniques that have enabled them to create unique, striking and often beautiful digital images.

These provide insights into, not just how to achieve a particular effect, which you can discover more or less anywhere, but the process by which ideas become reality--a much rarer resource. --Ken McMahon

2001-10-23 Excellent hands-on tutorials