Written with a sort of dry humor, given a dash of levity and a touch of theatricality, it becomes an alluring read without much difficulty. It's successful because iNova speaks directly to his readers and shares over 600 iNovaFX Actions with effective before-and-after visual examples that show each Action's result instantaneously.

Best of all, as his first eBook ever to be offered on a 1GB USB 2.0 Flash drive, ACTIONS can now fit right into your pocket and be taken virtually anywhere there is a computer! No installation is required.

Well, unlike a textbook, you can carry it around (on a flash drive or CD) with ease and don't have to worry about extra weight in your bag. Also, you can jump quickly from chapter to chapter in the table of contents and from page to page through hyperlinked pages in the index. Click on one and you will get to the precise content in a flash. Another option is using the bookmark feature of Adobe Reader as a great navigational tool.

With active text buttons and interactive images, you will see the difference between the original and Action effects right before your eyes. Just roll the cursor over an image or click and hold the mouse down to see originals and variations of each Actions series (pay attention to image captions to know which treatment you are looking at). Notably, these rollover images are more dynamic than what a textbook's side-by-side comparisons can ever offer.

Who is this for?

As long as you have a computer with Photoshop 7 through CS3, Adobe Reader 8 (which can be downloaded), and any digital image, this could be for you. Digital photography or graphic design students, freelancers, and professors should definitely get this eBook. ACTIONS heightens personal creativity and boosts Photoshop's flexibility.

Alright, so what's so cool about the Actions?

Like a high-tech remote control, iNovaFX Actions work at the click of a button and--viola--it's like magic, following calculated and well thought out instructions before taking you to your desired effect. If you are not satisfied with your results...well this is where you, like iNova says, "tweak this and that, before or after you apply the Action" until you find that special touch. When an Action pauses or stops, it is waiting for you to manipulate something like contrast, color, hue and saturation. Just adjust and control those elements of the image until it looks great. Not all actions are quickly generated, it depends on the speed of your computer and how much is has to configure.

What is amazing is being able to switch back and forth between reading the eBook and applying the Actions in Photoshop.

Anything I should know before I purchase this eBook?

Do realize that this eBook is not a manual to Photoshop but for utilizing iNovaFX Actions in it. Therefore, new users to Photoshop will find it difficult if they don't know the basics. Even still, if you're not that adept at applying filters or default actions, already provided with PS, you are going to become a bit frustrated. I recommend learning how to do this and then utilize iNova's eBook, and you will not regret it.

For the sake of lessening confusion, the explanation of how to load and run an action should be clearer. I went to Peter iNova's official site, and in the FAQ, it explains this much better than the eBook does. It even includes an image that highlights/displays this. If you are an intermediate Photoshop User, with patience and experimentation, you will eventually figure it out.

For some, there are a couple photographic concepts that can seem a bit technical and overwhelming to understand, for example, chromatic aberrations. There are only a very few of these discussions; and although they might be hard to grasp, these topics include very useful information and iNova has a solution for these problems. Plus, they will make you aware of even the most subtle imperfections in your photos and show you ways to fix them.

The key to utilizing this eBook and software to its full potential is to have the most updated Acrobat Reader 8 and Photoshop CS3.

Examples of iNovaFX Actions

Peter iNova tells you which subject matter and color compositions work best with each Action. There are Actions that enhance, correct or repair, convert or transform, add borders, add filters and so much more.

iDeNoise Series - Explains how to diminish the appearance of film grain or noise caused by a high ISO, all while preserving the detail of the photos.

The two rollover images for this series demonstrate how the actions work but the changes are very slight, almost unnoticeable unless you magnify the photos. With this in mind, Peter iNova photos are of the highest quality that you can zoom in up to 400% without losing pixels or detail. Now try zooming in and view those image examples again. You'll definitely notice the difference.

iGlowingEdgesA/B, iGlowingWind[L/R], and iSplatter Series - I know what you're thinking, that your photo would have been awesome if it wasn't for the blurriness. Did you know that a series of Actions can work with blurry and moving subjects to illustrate them with a breathtaking result? Bring an aesthetic quality to your blurriest photos with these series.

iPolarizeSky Series - It is meant to bring out that deep blue in skies.

iCC Series - It will make white balance corrections.

iSinCity - That's right. Make your photos resemble Frank Miller's graphic novel!

iButterfly - Transform any image into a graphic butterfly, perfect for portraits.

Before

After

iSumi-E - Get the look of a Japanese wood block print.

Before

After

iShatter Series - Shatter the surface of your images to give it the appearance of having dropped the glass frame.

iHalo, iCrosstar, and iScratchStar Series - Actions unexplored before because their effects were only generated in film darkrooms. These work the finest for night scenes with bright light sources, like a carnival, Christmas decorations, city landscapes, etc.

Pay particular attention to any Actions series that uses the "Carnet" function because it allows your image to transform into multiple variations of that series with one click.

Ok! Enough said, go explore over 600 Actions and add your personal style to them. The ACTIONS eBook presents you with endless possibilities in creating images as unique as a fingerprint. And speaking of fingerprints, iNova even has Actions that will convert your fingerprint into a work of art using the iFinger or iGoldFinger Actions. Imagine a clear and precise detail of the one-of-a-kind design your finger has to offer.

With an emphasis on experimentation throughout the eBook, iNova stresses that you can find the best results for each of your photos. Finding the right photographic treatment is as important as your searching of it.

Check out more awe-inspiring effects like the iSinCity or iHalo Actions with Peter iNova's ACTIONS Official Site. He gives an in-depth list of what his eBook has in store for you.

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