Robin Nichols is the author of Mastering Adobe Photoshop Elements 2021, we got the chance to sit down with him and find out more about his experience of writing with Packt.
Q: How did you become an author for Packt? How long did it take you to write the book?
Robin Nichols: I was originally approached to write the first version by a Packt acquisitions editor and have continued to update the publication for the last two updates. The recent update took about two months.
Q. What was your motivation for writing this book?
Robin Nichols: I have been involved in professional photography for a long time and find Elements to be one of the best editing applications on the market. It has everything a photographer needs… It’s far easier to understand and use compared to the often-quoted ‘Photoshop’ (CC), and yet its tools and features are very powerful making it ideal for beginners as well as advanced image-makers. It’s not a subscription product – a feature that many amateur photographers do not like!
Q: What kind of research did you do, and how long did you spend researching before beginning the book?
Robin Nichols: I have been using this application for 20 years so am familiar with all the editing processes – with Photoshop Elements, as well as its competitors. I spend approximately a month on its new features before starting to write.
Q: Did you face any challenges during the writing process? How did you overcome them?
Robin Nichols: No real challenges – as I said, I have been a photographer for 40 years and involved in digital imaging for more than 20 so the processes are all very familiar.
Q: What’s your take on the technologies discussed in the book? Where do you see these technologies heading in the future?
Robin Nichols: It would seem that Adobe is continuing to push its AI development – which has been strongly reflected in the range of new features listed in the past couple of versions.
Q. What are the key takeaways you want readers to come away from the book with?
Robin Nichols: The book comprises easy to follow instructions and feature explanations. Covers initial setup and media backup. Highlights all aspects of image editing, from absolute basics to advanced processes. Explains all the common tools and their functions. An appendix provides comprehensive feature information.
Q. Why should readers choose this book over others already on the market? How would you differentiate your book from its competition?
Robin Nichols: The readers should choose this book because it is easy to follow, has simple English and quality illustrations for better understanding.
Q. What’s new in this edition?
Robin Nichols: On top of its regular content, it also highlights all the new tools and features found in the latest software release.
Q. What advice would you give to readers learning tech? Do you have any top tips?
Robin Nichols: Whenever you want to learn a new tool or process, find a project that you find personally fascinating and use the new tool to complete the project. Share your work on your own blog; writing about it will help you discover errors you may have made, areas for improvement, and cement the learning you accomplished while building the project.
Q. How do you keep up-to-date on your tech?
Robin Nichols: Reading, online Sites, plus a continued interest in shooting images and recording life. I also keep up to date teaching others…
Q. How would you describe your author journey with Packt? Would you recommend Packt to aspiring authors?
Robin Nichols: I have been involved in publishing magazines for 15 years so understand how convoluted the production process can be – especially once the written material is submitted. For first-timers, this might be somewhat confusing and convoluted.
That said, if you are happy with your written content, the road to a successful publication is well worth the investment in time…
Q. How do you see these technologies benefiting society in the long run?
Robin Nichols: This is a hugely useful software tool for hobbyists and professional photographers alike.
You can find Robin Nichols’s book on Amazon by following this link: Please click here
