Reviews (19)

Learnt invalueable lessons from this book.
Photoshop Elements 4.0 may not be as feature rich as Photoshop CS. But it packs more than enough punch to stand on its own. Scott Kelby clearly illustates this point in this book. The organization of this book is very helpful to jump specifically to a particular technique and use them. The teach by example model is very effective. A must have reference for anyone using Photoshop Elements 4.0.

Excellent book!
I was extremely impressed with this book!You can go directly to the chapter you are interested in, but I read it cover-to-cover to not miss anything.Beautiful, clear illustrations of exactly what you need to do for all kinds of photo modifications, including stuff I would never have thought possible.

What a great book!
Don't be scared away from buying this book because some reviewers here say, "It's not for beginners."True, it doesn't take you through the product menu by menu and tell you what each little tool or piece of functionality does.But if you want to learn the basics of photo editing (anything more advanced than the auto fix options)in Photoshop Elements 4, this is definitely a good book for you.
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Subjects:  1. Computer Books: General    2. Computer Graphics - General    3. Computer Graphics - Photoshop    4. Computer graphics    5. Computers    6. Computers - Desktop Publishing    7. Computers - Other Applications    8. Digital techniques    9. Photography    10. Techniques - Digital    11. Computers / Computer Graphics / General    12. Photoshop   

Reviews (17)

A true manual for CS2
If you have Photoshop you simply must have this book. It is one of the finest books on a using a complex piece of software I have ever bought. If you buy no other manual for Photoshop this is the one you should buy.

instantly dissapointed...
I produce motion graphics with Adobe After Effects, and have constantly run into the problem that on-line tutorials start with preparing or creating files in Photoshop first, then bringing those files into After Effects for manipulation.When I tell people I am a videographer, so many say "oh, you must be great with Photoshop then", so finally, I decided to take the plunge and try to learn this program.
No CD???
Surprise.This book does not have a CD.For such book this is a big disadvantage. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adobe Photoshop    2. Adobe Photoshop (Computer software)    3. Computer Books: General    4. Computer Graphics - General    5. Computer Graphics - Photoshop    6. Computer graphics    7. Computers    8. Computers - Other Applications    9. Desktop Publishing    10. Desktop Publishing - General    11. Microcomputer Graphics    12. Computers / Computer Graphics / General    13. Photoshop   

Reviews (4)

Good book, not for beginners
I have to agree with an earlier reviewer that indicated that this is not for beginners.I have 2 years of experience with video editing (Final Cut) and Photoshop CS/CS2, and the knowledge that using those tools gave me prepared me to use this book.I'm not sure that ideas such as layers, timelines, compositions, effects, etc. would have made sense to me without that prior knowledge.
This book is not for beginners
Before I purchased this book, I read the premier 2.0 classroom in a book and I love the book.It explains almost everything you need to know about using premier pro. So after reading premier pro classroom in a book I readily bought the AE 7 classroom in a book thinking that by reading this book I could gain a lot of knowledge as I did with premier pro.However, to my surprise it did not helped me a lot. Yes, it has tutorials for you to follow but it does not explain to you why you have to do this and why not to do this.It doesn't have any chapter about the features of AE 7 not like premier pro classroom in the book.The first chapter you will go directly to a tutorial it show you steps to follow however after finishing the tutorial you will not learn much so after reading chapter 9 I stopped readingbecause it just a waste of time to me as a beginner of AE. However, if you already using after effects and just upgrading to AE 7 then this book will help you because you already have an idea how AE works.If you are still a beginner, I suggest go to lynda.com and get the cd after effects 7 essential training. You won't regret you did.

A great beginning book
I have have AE Pro 6 on my editing pc for 2 years now. Using it for s few films i did. I found it very difficult to learn. Flash forward I upgrade to AE7 pro and love it! I got this book at the same time and its been my bible. Very easy to follow and great usable tutorials. I highly recommend this book for new AE users! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cinematography    2. Computer Animation    3. Computer Books: General    4. Computer Graphics - General    5. Computer graphics    6. Computers    7. Computers - Desktop Publishing    8. Data processing    9. Interactive & Multimedia    10. Special effects    11. Computer Software Packages    12. Computers / Interactive Media   

Reviews (6)

Great "how to" manual even for a newbie!
I am new to Motion (2) and not a full time video editor or professional.Even so, the tutorial is excellent: well written, logical, easy to follow.If you produce the occasional movie (just for fun) and want to step up to the more sophisticated capabilities of Motion 2, you can't go wrong with this book.

Best of the Training Series (so far)
This is the third of the Pro Training Series books I've used (DVDSP and FCP are the others) and while the others are excellent, this is the best of the bunch. The first chapter alone taught me tricks and shortcuts I hadn't learned through the manual or the DVD training series I used. I've been using Motion practically since day one of its release and it's strength (and weakness) is that it can do just about anything...you just have to figure out what you want done and how to do it. This book has great lessons that expand one's knowledge and outlook on the program.

Excellent!!
As a fellow PeachPit author, I know what it takes to produce a book like this. First off, congrats to Damian for getting this book to market.
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Subjects:  1. Apple And Macintosh Graphics And Sound    2. Business Software - General    3. Computer Books: General    4. Computer Graphics - General    5. Computers    6. Computers - Desktop Publishing    7. Desktop Publishing - General    8. Computer graphics software    9. Computers / Computer Graphics / General    10. Image processing: graphics (static images)   

Reviews (14)

Perfect book for all skill levels
First let me start off by saying that I am far from a Photoshop beginner so I am cautious when choosing a book, but this one didn't disappoint. I was introduced to many tricks and tips or "Finishing Touches"... such as (patterns, custom brushes, burned edges, selective blurring and delivery) among others that have recently added that extra "pop" to my photos. I noticed in the other reviews that people are disappointed with the amount of "border effects" but what they are forgetting is Photoshop is a program that produces the best results with experimentation. Dave isn't trying to create clones (not the stamp), but is giving us insight in how the pros create such stunning imagery.
This book stays near my desk!
Another great reference book from Dave Cross. This one will be well-thumbed before it's retired.

Great if you are Good
Ok, I'm not really out to toot my own horn here, but I was already very good at photoshop before I got this book.
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Subjects:  1. Adobe Photoshop    2. Adobe Photoshop (Computer software)    3. Computer Books: General    4. Computer Graphics - General    5. Computer Graphics - Photoshop    6. Computer graphics    7. Computers    8. Computers - Desktop Publishing    9. Desktop Publishing    10. Desktop Publishing - General    11. Microcomputer Graphics    12. Computers / Computer Graphics / General    13. Photoshop   

Features

• Illustrated

Reviews (8)

YOU WANT TO BE IN PICTURES...!!
Are you a Macintosh filmmaker and DVD designer? If you are, then this book is for you. Author David Pogue, has done an outstanding job of writing a book that is designed to give you a grounding in professional filming and editing techniques.
OK, I see how that's done!
After searching Apple's support site for help with using these two programs, I turned to David Pogue's excellent manual.I have several of David's manuals and this was certainly up to his standards. Easy to read and follow.Although there is a tremendous amount of meat in the programs, you probably wouldn't discover all the potential without spending a little time with another excellent Missing Manual.I would recommend this to anyone interested in building a professional iMovie or creating a smooth DVD collection of favorite images or clips. And, with almost no effort at all, you can build an out of the ordinary slide show made complete with music, fades and a nice variety of special effects.

Be your own movie director yourself - painless!
It would be natural to think why does you need to buy this 22 dollars book, if iMovie and iDVD is so easy as Apple claims. But unfortunately, it is not easy as they say, (as all software vendors which want to earn more money by save the cost to print clear written manual) It need some extra help, with more English, I mean. In this point of view, this book is more than worth, in particular, you can learn more tips and advice to successfully make your own movie.
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Subjects:  1. Apple And Macintosh Graphics And Sound    2. Authoring programs    3. Computer - Apple/Macintosh    4. Computer Books: General    5. Computers    6. DVD-Video discs    7. DVDs    8. Data processing    9. Design and construction    10. Editing    11. Film & Video - Direction & Production    12. Interactive & Multimedia    13. Miscellaneous Software    14. Motion pictures    15. Operating Systems - Macintosh    16. Programming - Software Development    17. Computer / Apple/Macintosh    18. Computer graphics software    19. Computers / General    20. Computers / Operating Systems / Macintosh    21. Computers/Interactive & Multimedia    22. Digital video    23. Home video systems    24. Image processing: video    25. Performing Arts/Film & Video - Direction & Production    26. Video recordings    27. imovie, idvd, imovie 6, magic idvd   

Reviews (22)

watered-down, illustrated by amateur photos
I bought this book with the camera hoping to learn something that I would not be able to figure out effortlessly on my own using manual or pressing buttons. I wish I saved the money. Book has basic instructions from long-time user. No specific insights of the professional. Photos that are illustrating the book are plain and boring. No huge mistakes in light or composition, just ordinary objects in uninspired setting.
Digital Rebel Field Guide
A much better guide than the "Magic Lantern Guide", it still centers on the controls of the camera, but does go into better detail towards the end of the book, about how to take better photos with it, if you only had one book to buy, buy this one first!

Great guide
I got this book before a big trip and it really helped me take better pictures and use more of the great features of this camera. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer Graphics - Image Processing    2. Photo Techniques    3. Photography    4. Techniques - Digital    5. Techniques - Equipment    6. Photographic equipment & techniques    7. Photography / Equipment   

Reviews (22)

Good, but ONLY FOR WINDOWS
Great detail, but I was very disappointed to discover it is only for Windows.It does NOT cover PE4 for the Mac.There are some substantial differences between the applications on the two platforms.Good material, but now I have to figure out what to do on my Mac ...
Excellent Illustrations
What makes this book so useful is the preponderance of excellent illustrations! This book very clearly illustrates where the user should focus on the Elements' tool bars, option bars, menues, screens, etc.
Very helpful manual
The manual is essentially great for beginners and advanced users. Probably a little bit more illustrations would have inspired me to rate it with five stars. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer Books: General    2. Computer Graphics - Design    3. Computer Graphics - Game Programming    4. Computer Graphics - Photoshop    5. Computers    6. Computers - Desktop Publishing    7. Computers - Other Applications    8. Internet - Web Site Design    9. Techniques - Digital    10. Computers / Computer Graphics / Design    11. Computers / Computer Graphics / General    12. Computers / Desktop Publishing    13. Digital techniques    14. Image processing    15. Photography    16. Photoshop    17. photography, digital photography, graphics, photo editing,   

Reviews (11)

Good intro to shaders
This is a well written book covering the Cg shading language. It contains a lot of useful information about Cg and graphics programming techniques in general. Unfortunately, I felt like it didn't cover as much of Cg as I would have liked, making the book less useful than it could have been. Good introduction to Cg
My review here is from an experienced OpenGL programmer's perspective. Good introduction, not very thorough.
This book is very good to get yourself started with Cg, but lacks technical details and advanced topics. Once you're on your way coding shaders, you're better off with NVidia's free cg_toolkit.pdf which is included with the Cg SDK. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer Animation    2. Computer Books: General    3. Computer Graphics    4. Computer Graphics - General    5. Computers    6. Computers - Other Applications    7. Real-Time Data Processing    8. Computer graphics software    9. Computers / Computer Animation    10. Image processing: graphics (static images)    11. Programming languages    12. Software engineering   

Reviews (7)

Excellent bible for the bumbling novice
First I need to give a nod to "Gunny", the reviewer who convinced me to purchase this book: Thank you!This is truly the best Illustrator guide available for beginners, who need to find their painful path through the inscrutable thicket of Illustrator, who need to get a graphic project done, quickly.
Excellent, As Usual
Visual Quick Start Guides and I were introduced in college. Each one I have used is: supremely instructive, light to nonexistent on self absorbed asides (a blessed relief), and meaty...very meaty. The paper isn't glossy, the images aren't in color, you get no adorable photos of the author with their children frolicking on the sands of Southern California. But you get information about how to use Adobe products (and anything else you want to tackle) so that you, in your miserable Midwestern hovel, far from the smiling shores of the Pacific rim, can accomplish your tasks for your demanding and sniffy clients and get paid, and not go to the poor house! Tres cool, no?
Complete Reference
This is a reference book, and a very good one. If you're looking for a tutorial-based book, try the HOT series by Lynda Weinman and quit your griping. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adobe Illustrator (Computer file)    2. Computer Books: General    3. Computer Graphics - Game Programming    4. Computer Graphics - Illustrator    5. Computer graphics    6. Computers    7. Computers - Other Applications    8. Microcomputer Graphics    9. Operating Systems - Macintosh    10. Operating Systems - Windows    11. Computer graphics software    12. Computers / Computer Graphics / Design   

Reviews (4)

Zero PowerPoint
I think if you have used PowerPoint for a month, you'll figure out most of the stuff in this book. That's for those who want the content. If you want a funny read, then get this book.

PowerPoint 2003 for Dummies
I had no prevoius experience with PowerPoint. I needed this Dummies book. I have learned a lot of information that experienced users had no knowledge of. Great Book for Beginners.

Review: Power Point 2003
A very good reference tool for the beginner Power Point user.Illustrations and follow along directions VERY useful. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business Software - Powerpoint    2. Business presentations    3. Computer Books: General    4. Computer Graphics - General    5. Computer graphics    6. Computer programs    7. Computers    8. Computers - Other Applications    9. Graphic methods    10. Microcomputer Graphics    11. Presentation Software    12. Computers / Desktop Applications / Presentation Software    13. PowerPoint   

Features

• Illustrated

Reviews (9)

Give you clear look of little giant
This book gives you the bird-eye view of the world's renowned photo management software, it has some useful information for amateur photographer who is intended to use iPhoto software, written in plain english. It is little interesting that one-thirds of the entire book contents are cover how to choose the right digital camera and how to take a good shot, of course, you don't have to worry since its another two-thirds of pages are fulled about some kind of "soft" thing, which is about acquire, manage, tag, retouch and share or archive your pictures.
IPhoto6 Review
iPhoto 6 - The Missing Manual
Another exemplary title in The Missing Manual series!
Even iPhoto veterans will appreciate the excellent coverage of new features offered in iPhoto 6 over previous versions of iPhoto.
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Subjects:  1. Computer - Apple/Macintosh    2. Computer Books: General    3. Computer Graphics - Design    4. Computer Graphics - Game Programming    5. Computer Graphics - Image Processing    6. Computers    7. Data processing    8. Digital techniques    9. Image processing    10. Operating Systems - General    11. Photograph albums    12. Photography    13. Computer / Apple/Macintosh    14. Computer graphics software    15. Computers / Computer Graphics / Design    16. Computers / Computer Graphics / Image Processing    17. Computers/Computer Graphics - Design    18. Image processing: graphics (static images)    19. Macintosh (Computer)    20. iPhoto 6, iphoto   

Editorial Review

A remarkable range of examples for the idea of visual thinking, with beautifully printed pages. A real treat for all who reason andlearn by means of images. -- Rudolf Arnheim ... Read more

Reviews (38)

An outstanding addition to my library
An outstanding addition to my library, Edward systematically explores the presentation of data showing the value of data rich content when it is properly displayed.After reading half the book, I couldn't sit through a presentation without coming up with at least 3 ways to improve it.The illustrations in the book are beautifully rendered and cover a diverse set of subject matter each as interesting as the next.The only topic concerning this book that I struggled with is whether or not to mark it up.In the end, as I do with all of my books I intend to refer back to, I did.

So you thought you knew how to envision information...
I recieved this book along with the most excellent (almost a companion book) Visual Display of Quantitative Information, from my CEO. Since I work a lot with numbers and he had been stressing the importance of presenting data clearly and concisely.
Fleshes out and expands the work Tufte has done on presenting information
"Envisioning Information" by Edward Tufte further fleshes out and expands the work he has done on presenting information.This volume is best suited for designers of complex information such as maps or schedules. As with his other books, it is richly illustrated with many colorful examples of well and poorly designed information displays.
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Subjects:  1. Art & Art Instruction    2. Business Communication - General    3. Communication    4. Communication In Groups    5. Computer Graphics - General    6. Design - General    7. Graphic Arts - General    8. Graphic Design    9. Language    10. Language Arts & Disciplines    11. Statistics    12. Visual communication    13. Computer graphics software    14. Industrial / Commercial Art & Design    15. Mathematics   

Reviews (40)

True inspiration, great tool!
this book is really a manual for me, i keep it with me at all times and just look at it sometimes, the colors provide inspiration, the combinations take me to other places, the make me think, they are a true inspiration and a great tool to find solutions when you're stock, take it from a Graphic design student, you'll love to have this book. For color theory not so good you might want to get something that covers color theory in detail, this is just an index as said on the tittle. but even if you know nothing about color at all, you will still find it amazingly useful!

Thank goodness for books like this!
I love the resource this book provides in the creative and graphic aspect of my work.Designers of all media should have this book handy. I don't let it go too far,CAUTION: YOUR FRIENDS WILL STEAL THIS BOOK.
If you're a graphic designer buy this book
I just got my first graphic design job three months ago and once I got this book both my employer and I noticed a huge difference in my work.The most helpful thing about this book is the color coding for HTML, RGB and CYMK but aside from the codes the color combinations are very helpful, especially for a beginning graphic designer.Well worth the cover price, and the turtleback cover will ensure the binding's integrity after much usage and for many years to come. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Color computer graphics    4. Color in art    5. Graphic Arts - General    6. Graphic Arts - Use of Color    7. Graphic arts    8. Handbooks, manuals, etc    9. National characteristics in ar    10. National characteristics in art   

Reviews (16)

Helpful!
"Digital SLR Cameras" is helpful for someone trying to decide whether to upgrade from a point-and-shoot camera to an SLR.Photos comparing the two camera types, as well as illustrating various SLR features are provided throughout the material.Noise, depth of field, lens dust, exposure, histograms, different file storage formats, infrared options, and basic editing were all covered.
Good Book, but...
Having recently decided to move to the DSLR world, I needed to learn how to shoot pictures in mode other than Full Auto.
Inspiring.This book will get you moving with your DSLR
Anyone who wants to learn about digital SLR cameras and photography should have this book at their side.It starts off simple with plenty of good information for beginners, but then dumps into more advanced ideas and techniques.
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Subjects:  1. Computer Graphics - General    2. Computers - Other Applications    3. Digital cameras    4. Digital techniques    5. Photo Techniques    6. Photography    7. Single-lens reflex cameras    8. Techniques - Digital    9. Techniques - Equipment    10. Computers / Computer Graphics / General    11. Special kinds of photography   

Reviews (6)

A must read!
I found the 6.5 edition so useful that I didn't hesitate for a second to order the 7.0 edition (which came out two months after I bought the first edition.)
After Effects 7 Studio Techniques: An Expert Guide from an After Effects Expert
Buy this book; its cost (particularly here at Amazon) is trivial compared to the software, and you'll get some important independent opinions and expert advice that, from what I understand, isn't available anywhere else.
Excellent book!
Excellent book! Good quality examples and excellent instruction for those who are looking for a slightly more advanced book and don't want to read 1/2 book on the interface. The author really knows his stuff and it's evident in the text. There are lost of useful things on the DVD too ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adobe After Effects    2. Adobe After Effects (Computer software)    3. Cinematography    4. Computer Animation    5. Computer Books: General    6. Computer Graphics - General    7. Computers    8. Computers - Desktop Publishing    9. Data processing    10. Desktop Publishing    11. Desktop Publishing - General    12. Interactive & Multimedia    13. Special effects    14. Computer Software Packages    15. Computers / Interactive Media   

Reviews (18)

actionscript and Math
I appreciate the book and it helps to understand how to create nice animations by using maths.
People, it's called flash math CREATIVITY
The Flash Math books are great.But not if you want an O'Reilly cookbook of answers to your design problems.It's all about inspiration.Being able to look at something and say "wow, that's so beautiful" and either need to make it yourself just on principal, or see that maybe one day you can use the idea yourself on all those practical things you're so worried about. If you get all juiced up creatively from the things you see around you, this is a perfect book.It's 4 instead of 5 because it doesn't come with a CD.But you can go to the website for the book and see things in action.
Some Assembly Required
The book is great.I find the negative reviews puzzling because this book is like a $30 kit for a working spaceship, but you have to weld the wings on yourself.Big deal.What's wanting in so many Flash books are examples of the astonishing things you can do with Flash.This book shows what can be done, then hands you the code on a platter.I guess if you're more the designer type and you want to do great stuff using the math functions in Flash, you, um, er -- need to learn some math.But don't complain that every author hasn't lined up to correct your particular brand of ignorance.Read a book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer Books: Web Programming    2. Computer Graphics - Flash    3. Computers    4. Computers - Other Applications    5. Internet - Web Site Design    6. Computers / General   

Reviews (22)

Worth every $.01
I have purchased too many Photoshop books!If I had purchased this first, it would have been my only one. Very clear and concise explainations!Nice work.

Highly Recommend
This is a truly excellent CS2 book - Willmore explains the why - behind the how to many of the critical processes necessary for understanding CS2.I highly recommend this book, it is the best overall CS2 book on the market period.

The Best Photoshop Book Available
A book is only as good as it's author and Mr. Willmore is an incredibly gifted writer in that he is able to explain WHY different techniques are used in Photoshop rather than simply listing a clinical step-by-step HOW-TO, as most of the Photoshop cookbooks out there do. This ultimately leads the reader to a much better understanding of the program and the tools that it offers the digital artist. The so-called telephone-book-thick "bibles" that are offered up for every software suite under the sun are nothing more than 'do this, do that, arrive at this' lists of instructions; they do very little in the way actually explaining WHY you would want to use a certain filter here, or adjustment layer there.
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Subjects:  1. Adobe Photoshop    2. Adobe Photoshop (Computer software)    3. Computer Books: General    4. Computer Graphics - General    5. Computer Graphics - Photoshop    6. Computer graphics    7. Computers    8. Computers - Other Applications    9. Desktop Publishing    10. Desktop Publishing - General    11. Microcomputer Graphics    12. Computers / Computer Graphics / General    13. Photoshop   

Reviews (17)

Excellent primer for the novice and self-trained
I recently finished reading - and taking copious notes - from The Elements of Graphic Design. As an individual taking himself through the process of learning graphic design without having to go to school, this book is invaluable. White makes the concepts crystal clear and simple prose imbued with his own take on doing design correctly plus doing it well. I've always had a good eye for composition but White's work has helped me see the underlying methods for making my designs better. I'm now building a presentation from his work to share with our marketing team to build a consistent look for our work. His book is a superb work for anyone needing to get a quick grip on design fundamentals, too. Just put them to use! There's no magic here, but there is a right way and a wrong way to do de