Building on Carlton's reputation as the successful publisher of the Complete Photography Manual and the Digital Photography Manual, this book focuses on the techniques of the digital equivalent of the darkroom, concentrating on image editing and manipulation, to provide a complete resource aimed at all levels of expertise. Highly practical with a results-orientated approach, the book looks at image creation from both a photographic and artistic viewpoint. The creation of images is examined holistically - all the components of the process, including the original image, the software tools and the user's skill and creativity are examined and seen to contribute to the end result. Techniques and effects are given in the context of producing exemplary results, and creative solutions are presented for typical imaging problems. Taking a generic approach to software packages wherever possible, the low emphasis on individual software packages will prevent this title from dating quickly, allowing it to retain credibility as new software is developed. Different techniques are illustrated by colour step-by-step photography throughout, and together with concise, easy-to-follow text from an established expert in the field, this is a comprehensive and inspiring guide to this exciting area of digital photography.