Sebastopol, CA--It's hard to resist a favorite dish that's been
simmering on the stove all day, teasing your senses with its
tantalizing aromas. As dinnertime draws nearer, the expectation
becomes all-consuming. So, imagine the anticipation of the all-star
panel of judges as the countdown to the Photoshop Cook-Off draws
near. The recipes in O'Reilly's five Photoshop Cookbooks promise some
rare and inspiring visual treats. On August 15th, top experts like
Mikkel Aaland, Katrin Eismann, Tim Grey, Deke McClelland, Bert
Monroy, Eddie Tapp, and others will finally view the entries that
creative Photoshop users have cooked up. It's not too late to make
sure yours is among them.

O'Reilly's 2006 Photoshop Cook-Off Contest is an opportunity flex
your imagination and ingenuity, have lots of fun, and win great
prizes--like a Pentax K100D Digital SLR and DA 18 - 55 mm Lens Kit or
an Epson Stylus Photo R2400 printer. The Grand Prize winner will
receive a prize package worth more than $9,600. Five category winners
will receive packages worth more than $3,000 each. The total value of
all prizes exceeds $27,000.

It's easy to participate. Just take up to three of your own photos
and manipulate them with Adobe Photoshop, using recipes from any of
O'Reilly's five Photoshop Cookbooks (free recipes are online at
http://digitalmedia.oreilly.com/contest/) Starting with an original
photograph, choose an appropriate recipe (or two) and cook up a
masterpiece, adapting the recipes as necessary for your creative
vision. On the online entry form, you'll list the recipes you used,
and submit both your original digital image and the "cooked" image
you've created. The submission process is a snap, there's no entry
fee, and anyone over the age of 14 can enter. Deadline for entry is
August 15, 2006. Prizes will be awarded on November 2, 2006 at the
PhotoPlus Expo in New York.

Cook-Off Sponsors include: Adobe, Creative Pro, "Digital Photo Pro,"
Epson, ExpoImaging, Flickr, Friesen's: The Yearbook Company,
Graphics.com, Gretag Macbeth, iView Multimedia, Imaginginfo.com,
Imaging Resource, iStock Photo, Lensbabies, Lowepro, Lynda.com, Nik
Software, "Outdoor Photographer," Pantone, "PC Photo," Pentax,
Pexagon Technology, Photos.com, Photoshopsupport.com, "Photo Trade
News," "Professional Photographer," "Rangefinder," Silicon Power,
Shutterstock, Software Cinema, "Studio Photography," Total Training,
Wetzel & Company.

Don't miss out--O'Reilly's 2006 Photoshop Cook-Off is a great way to
cultivate your creative genius, showcase your talent, and take home
fabulous prizes. Fire up Adobe Photoshop and get cooking now!

Other important details:

The all-star panel of judges can be viewed at:
http://digitalmedia.oreilly.com/contest/judges.csp

For more information on contest details and rules, visit:
http://digitalmedia.oreilly.com/contest/

For a complete list of prizes, see:

http://digitalmedia.oreilly.com/contest/prizes.csp

-Deadline for entries is August 15, 2006. No entry fee.

-All entries must be created using recipes from one or more of the five
O'Reilly Photoshop Cookbooks: "Photoshop Retouching Cookbook for
Digital Photographers," "Photoshop Blending Modes Cookbook for
Digital Photographers," "Photoshop Photo Effects Cookbook,"
"Photoshop Filter Effects Encyclopedia," and/or "Photoshop Fine Art
Effects Cookbook."

-Winners will be announced on November 2, at a special awards ceremony
to be held at Photo Plus Expo in New York.

-Legal U.S. residents only.

Educators, students, and interested parties: Download a flyer (PDF
format) to post or hand out at workshops, schools, and events:

(http://ug.oreilly.com/banners/creativemedia/cookoff_flyer.pdf)

About O'Reilly Media

For over 25 years, O'Reilly Media has illuminated the spaces where
innovation, creativity, and technology converge. Nowhere is this more
exciting than in the rapidly expanding sphere of creative media,
specifically digital photography, graphics, video, audio, and
illustration. From in-depth tutorials and comprehensive references to
techniques cookbooks and creative guides, O'Reilly connects you to
the technologies--and the leading experts--in print, online, and in
person. Visit digitalmedia.oreilly.com.