Acknowledgments

First, I'd like to thank one of the most important people in my lifemy incredibly beautiful, funny, caring, sensitive, and fun-loving wife, Diana. I have the easy job. I get to go to work every day to do what I love and get paid for it. She works 10 times as hard as I do and never seems to wear down. I'll always be grateful for the wonderful job you do raising our kids each day while still managing to have an ear-to-ear smile on your face when I come home. You're the best wife a guy could hope for.

Next, I owe more thanks than they'll ever know to my two sons, Ryan and Justin. The two of you put things into perspective for me in ways that you'll never be aware of and just make me the absolute proudest dad I could have ever hoped to be. No matter how much I work, what I write, or whatever I do, my favorite thing in the world is still our weekly "Guys Night Out." Granted, it consists of mini-golf, video games, and ice cream but I wouldn't trade that time together with my buddies for all of the book deals in the world.

None of this would be worth anything without people to share it with and I'm lucky enough to have the best family a guy could hope for. First, thanks go to my mom and dad for giving me such a great start. I'd also like to thank my brother and sister and their spouses, Ed, Kerry, Kristine, and Scott. You've all been such a positive influence in my life and your support means the world to me.

I'd also like to thank Scott Kelby. One day I got a call from Barbie Taylor (KW Media Group's Human Resources Director, and so much more). She asked me to come in to talk to Scott about a permanent position with the National Association of Photoshop Professionals. That day changed my career and my life and I owe a great debt to Scott. All I can say is thank you. You've not only given me tremendous opportunities, but you've become a great friend and role model of mine in the process and I'm honestly not sure which to be more thankful for.

To Dave Moser, I'd like to say that I will not be the fish on your wall (weird inside joke that only he will get). Seriously, your constant pushing (to say the least) is what makes this book and everything else I do even better and better. Thanks for always reminding me to strive to be better, but more importantly thanks for becoming a great buddy as well.

I'd also like to thank Dave Cross. I say this over and over again in every book I've written since I've known him but I feel compelled to continue to say that Dave is a 100% class act in this industry. If there is any person to follow personally, professionally, and ethically, Dave is the one.

Special thanks go to Felix Nelson, Dave Damstra, and Jessica Maldonado. The book you're holding in your hands looks as great as it does only because of them and their amazing ideas. Trust me, if you had seen the raw material handed in for this book, you would have no doubt why these guys are the best in the industry. Many thanks also go to Kim Gabriel for keeping this project, as well as the million (okay, maybe it's only 50, but it's still a lot) other projects we do, going at the same time.

I also don't know what I would have done without our two tech and copy editors, Cindy Snyder and Kim Doty. The two of you are editing machines and you do it all with a smile on your face (and I know I'm not that funny). I'll never forget the day Cindy asked me, "How can you manage to capitalize Camera Raw four different ways in the same paragraph?!" I can only imagine how hard it is to do what you do and I truly appreciate all of your hard work to make this book the best.

Many thanks also go to Scott Cowlin, Nancy Ruenzel, Rachel Tiley, and Ted Waitt at Peachpit for continuing to be leaders in this industry and giving me the opportunity to do what I love to do.

I'd also like to thank some of my friends at Adobe. Namely, Julieanne Kost, Terry White, Russell Brown, Jeff Tranberry, Marc Pawliger, and Tom Ruark. Your input and insights into Photoshop have helped me tremendously.

Finally, I owe a special debt of gratitude to you, the reader. I truly appreciate being able to write books and I appreciate you taking your time to read this one. You are the reason why this book is here in the first place. The constant feedback and encouragement I get from people in the form of website feedback, phone calls, emails, and introductions at conferences is what makes this the most fun for me. Thank you.