Digital Camera Tricks and Special Effects 101

Adding ghostly images, transforming skin to fur, and creating stop-action photography are among the special effects digital photographers learn in this guide to manipulating a camera's conventional settings for unconventional and artistic effect. The camera itself provides the initial departure point from traditional photography as photographers are encouraged to use "incorrect" exposure settings, "poor" focus, and reflections to create striking and dramatic images. Instruction on popular digital imaging programs such as Adobe Photoshop Elements, Kai's SuperGoo, and PhotoVista 3D provides photographers with the means to manipulate photographs further with creative filters that transform daytime shots into nighttime images, a library of facial components, and the ability to combine images to create a three-dimensional digital object. A section on printing both at home and at a lab includes simple tips for enhancing the impact of photographs on paper.