One advantage of having worked in the Photoshop training world for quite a while is that I have a pretty good eye for the best learning materials. So you can believe me when I say that I am holding in my hand a new book that is an absolute must-have for anyone who is thinking of upgrading to Photoshop CS2. It's Ben Willmore's new Photoshop CS2: Up to Speed, published by my favorite publisher Peachpit Press. This is a slim volume, but don't let that fool you. Every page is jam-packed with original, important information about everything that is new or different in this latest rev of Photoshop.

Ben has done a couple of things that are beyond compare. First, he sat down and figured out how all this new stuff works. Somehow Ben can see things that leave other Photoshop early adopters scratching their heads. Second, Ben is gifted with a knack for explaining the most complex features in a clear way that doesn't talk down to readers, doesn't keep them guessing, and just plain makes sense. The new features are organized into three sections — foundations, features that appeal to photographers, and features for designers. Ben not only covers brand new features. He also explains how existing features have changed so that you don't, as he puts it, "get upgrade vertigo." There's just enough background and just enough practical info to get you going with all the new features, big and small. OK, enough gushing. Just take my word for it — go get Photoshop CS2: Up to Speed.