Released in June 2007, Adobe Photoshop CS3 for Beginners is the new video training DVD for those who are just beginning to learn Adobe Photoshop. It is hosted by Dave Cross ,the senior education and curriculum director for the National Association of Photoshop Professionals, or NAPP. If you are not familiar with NAPP, please read my review on Photoshop User magazine to gain more insight on what NAPP is all about and why you might want to join.

Adobe Photoshop CS3 for Beginners is contained on a single DVD that runs 140 minutes and can only be used on a computer based system. It is aimed at new and relativity inexperienced Photoshop users. The author goes over the basics in 24 lessons that will have you navigating Photoshop like a pro.

Lesson 1 "Key Concepts" walks you through what image size and pixel resolution means with regard to your pictures. You will also learn how image size reflects on printing. Lesson 2 "The Work Area" explores the palettes, icons, how to use the colors-swatches-styles palettes, hiding palettes, as well as saving your workspace.

Lesson 3 "Navigating" will guide you through using Actual Pixels to make decisions on your image corrections, use of the Navigator Palette instead of the scroll bars to move around images, and moving between documents. Lesson 4 "Tool Overview" covers the use of some of the tools available to you within Photoshop. Lesson 5 "Changing Your Mind" examines the use of undo, step backward and the history palette. It also covers the initial use of the Layers functionality as well as how to save a file in different ways.

Lesson 6 "Making Selections 1" shows you how to use the Marquee tool, Magic Wand tool and the Quick Select tool to make selections. Lesson 7 "Making Selections 2" covers the Lasso tool, the Magnetic Lasso tool and the Polygonal Lasso tool to make more complex selections. Lesson 8 "Bonus Lesson 1" covers some tips to save time and work smarter while making your selections.

Lesson 9 "Layers 1" gets started on what many consider to be the most important feature in Photoshop, Layers. It gives you the power to do many things without compromising your original image. Lesson 10 "Layers 2" explains how to reorder your layers and select multiple layers to process as well how to group layers. Lesson 11 "Layers 3" explains how to use layer masks, what they are good for, and how best to use them. Lesson 12 "The Type Tool" examines how different the type tool is from many of the other features in Photoshop and tips and tricks to work best with it.