It has effects, if you photoread only and don't do SR daily. For me, it's much easier to understand a physics textbook after photoreading it a couple of times. I remeber that Paul writes in the book that with photoreading -even if you don't activate the material- you will understand things much quicker. Ever since I've been photoreading, I find I'm much quicker on the uptake, even much more quicker if I photoread the material. But make sure you photoread a lot daily. It doesn't matter what you're photoreading, the essence is to use your new skills.
But don't forget you will need activation, except if spontenous activation happens to you. The activation can be attending the lessons too. You will see that you will understand things much easier than you used to, see the essence, it will seem familiar to you. But you need to use this skill in order to achieve this level.
vajti