"Traditional Photographic Effects" removes the section "Simulating Color Filters" and replaces it with "Vintage Hollywood Portraits" and again uses the Black and White Command to recreate the effect. Also removed is "Contrast Masking," replaced with "Sabattier and Solarization Effect" which gives almost a metallic effect. Examples both in color and monochrome are depicted.

"Distortion Effects" removes "Photo Mosaic" and replaces it with "Caricatures" which shows how to create a caricature by using the Transform and Liquefy commands. It also removes "Fish Eye" and adds "Cloning with Perspective" that uses the Vanishing Point Command to clone one area of a building to another. The third change in this section is that the "Displacement Effect" is now replaced with "Adding Tattoos" which uses the clone source capability of CS3 to add the tattoo.

"Texture Effects" remains the same as the prior version and, with the exception of removing "Signature or Monogram Custom Brush," so does "Presentation Effects."

While you don't have to be an expert to use the recipes contained in Photoshop CS3 Photo Effects Cookbook, it will help if you have experience enough to get around in Photoshop. Yes the author runs you through basics, but understanding the fundamentals will have you creating very sophisticated effects in no time. I really liked the step-by-step instruction and the full color examples that were provided.

So is it worth it? Certainly if you never owned this book, by all means, yes. If you own the prior version, that depends. There are seven totally new recipes, some of which use new techniques. Some of those recipes I think are better than the ones in the prior version, so I feel that these are good additions. But as far as owning both versions, this must be a personal choice based on your finances.

One other thing I noticed with this version of Photoshop CS3 Photo Effects Cookbook is that the images are much richer in both color and quality. I did not think that the ones in the prior version had any problems with them, it was just that when comparing them side to side, it was noticeable to me. If you want a real cook book to throw together photographic effects then Photoshop CS3 Photo Effects Cookbook will get you up to speed in no time.