Reviews (10)

An excellent book if you already know the basics
If you are a new InDesign user and/or do not understand concepts like bleed & slug/kerning & leading, then read Lynda.com's Hands On Training (HOT) first.Otherwise, you may want to consider Adobe's Classroom in a Book.HOT does a better job of covering the basics and the included videos are superb. But Classroom in a Book is also excellent and carries you a bit further than does HOT, particularly if you are producing a book with chapters.
Offers a great general overview
This book is great to get you started on the basic operations of Adobe Indesign. However, there are more than a few typos that make it challenging to get the exact end result that is described in the book. But with enough persistance you'll figure it out and coast through the other lessons. :)

Adobe Indesign CS Classroom in a Book is Terrific
This book is very comprehensive and well thought out. It is an indispensible tool for someone learning Adobe Indesign. This book, along with the included CD with exercise files helped me pass and assesment test for a job interview with flying colors!
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Subjects:  1. Adobe InDesign    2. Computer Books: Desktop Publish    3. Computers    4. Computers - Desktop Publishing    5. Desktop Publishing    6. Desktop Publishing - General    7. Photoshop   

Reviews (25)

Great Overview Without Getting Bogged in Details
One of my long standing complaints about computer software books is that they so often eliminate the first forty pages or so that explain just what this software is and what is supposed to do. This book (at 606 pages it's a lot more than forty pages) is essentially the front end description that explains what SAP ERP is and what it si supposed to do.
What happened in the new edition?
This edition appears to be about 1/3 the size of previous editions; and refers to a fairly old version of SAP... even though this was released in Dec 2005.
Poor Book, barely skims the surface
This book provides no real usable knowledge about SAP. There is absolutely no information on some areas, such as CATT's.And the areas that have some meat have only bologna. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Client-Server Computing - General    2. Client/server computing    3. Computer Books: General    4. Computer Science    5. Computers    6. Computers - Other Applications    7. Hardware - Personal Computers - Macintosh    8. Microcomputer Integrated Application Software    9. Programming - General    10. Programming - Software Development    11. SAP R/3    12. SAP R/3 (Computer software)    13. Computers / Database Management / General    14. Other software packages   

Reviews (1)

Excellent Reference Book
I have many years of architectural drafting experience. Although this book says "Basic Skills" on the cover, it is much more than basic. It's an excellent reference book, covering everything that is needed for interior design drafting: from line weights to scale, dimensioning, plans, elevations, sections, checklists, furniture and finish schedules, contract documents, and the list goes on. I highly recommend this book for students of interior design and practising designers alike. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Building    3. Building Construction    4. Construction - General    5. Decorating    6. Details    7. Drafting & Mechanical Drawing    8. Drafting Technology    9. Drawings    10. Interior Design - General    11. Interior architecture    12. Structural drawing    13. Technology    14. Architecture / Interior Design    15. Computer aided design (CAD)    16. Engineering graphics & technical drawing    17. Home furnishing & decoration    18. Interior design   

Reviews (2)

great rendering and dynamics for maya7
A great book for beginners of maya7.It is basicaly the "Rendering" and "Dynamics" books of the Learning Maya6 Book Series all in one.There are over 600 pgs of color diagrams and simple text discriptions.It is very clear and covers many very important aspects of image quality.Unfortunately for me, I already have the Learning Maya6 Book series so there is a lot of redundant information.Though there is enough new info to keep me happy.

The best it gets!
These books are a spectacular edition. Alias has been good about teaching in their books, but these books actually have FUN projects! I have enough books that will tell me how to do something (and these are VERY easy to understand) but the only ones that I can actually have fun working with are the ones contained in this new series. Not for the advanced user though. If you want advanced, go for the Maya Tecniques series, not the Learning Maya series. Great books! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer Animation    2. Computer Books: General    3. Computer Graphics - Game Programming    4. Computer Graphics - General    5. Computers    6. Computers - Other Applications    7. Non-Classifiable    8. Nonfiction    9. Computer graphics software    10. Computers / Computer Graphics / Design    11. Image processing: computer animation   

Reviews (29)

Review
The first part of the book is very valuable. The patterns described are on average rather shallow and don't touch on the real issues. For the 'novice' however this is a very relevant book to read. I do advice to deepen understanding by looking at actual websites to see how leaders have implemented the different patterns. Much more to learn there.

Very handy reference book and checklist
While there are many books on the market that discuss patterns related to programming, architectural elements, etc., this is the first book I've seen that focuses on web patterns at the user interface level. The book is essentially an indexed, cross-referenced, best practices guide to building web pages that attract and keep customers. Or at least keep you from pissing them off. The authors have collected and summarized a great deal of HCI research (all listed in the resources section of the appendix) on web usability, so none of this stuff is made up--it's all based on time-proven, tested, and verified data about how people actually use the Internet (e.g., see Amazon, Yahoo!, Google, et. al.). A few of the patterns are no longer considered best practices, due to evolving standards (e.g., CSS) and increasing browser standards support. This is a very handy reference book, especially for an in-depth UI checklist.

Design of Sites: Patterns, Principles...Review
I purchased the book while participating in the remodeling of a client website. The book is formatted in such a way that you can review only sections that relate to your project or read for overall background on web design. Our team found it to be a useful tool. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer - Internet    2. Computer Books: General    3. Computer Networks    4. Computers    5. Design    6. Desktop Publishing    7. Electronic Commerce    8. Internet - Web Site Design    9. Web sites    10. Computers / Internet / Intranets    11. Publishing on the Internet   

Reviews (3)

Good for beginner....Not for advanced
This book is truely for beginners who have no clue of signal Integrity. He starts this book with stuff like Ohm's law and how capacitors and inductors work which most people learn in high school.
Probably the most readable book you'll find on this
Brook's book is exceptional in the clarity of the writing, esp. in explaining key concepts that most engineers are fuzzy on.This book is great at giving engineers an intuitive feel for basic electromagnetics and how it relates to signal integrity and emi. A chasm has been bridged...
As an educator, lecturer and practicing designer I am given many books to read and make comment on. I find very few books that are able to bridge the chasm between the needs of a beginner learning about signal integrity and the needs of a professional desperate to solve design problems. This book is an excellent primer and reference for understanding the interrelationship between the board layout and the signal integrity problem. This book details design solutions to classic signal integrity problems and educates the novice in understanding the reasoning behind the solutions. There is a lot of nonsense being written about signal integrity and few people have the resources to filter out the chaff from hay. This book proves every principle presented with tested board layouts, demonstrated engineering principles, or documented laboratory results. Some people can see the world in formulas and some see the world pictorially. This book is rich in both forms of expressionism and its presentation will not exasperate the PCB designer who sees the world visually, or frustrate the engineer seeking equations for design representation. This book has been added to the required reading list for our PCB layout designers and product development engineering teams. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Applied Electromagnetics    2. Design and construction    3. Electromagnetic interference    4. Electronic Circuit Design    5. Electronic circuits    6. Electronics - Circuits - General    7. Electronics - Circuits - Printed    8. Engineering - Electrical & Electronic    9. Microwaves    10. Noise    11. Printed circuits    12. Science/Mathematics    13. Technology    14. Technology & Industrial Arts    15. Circuits & components    16. Computer Hardware & Operating Systems    17. Signal processing    18. Technology / Electronics / General   

Editorial Review

Digital compositing, defined here as "the digitally manipulated combination of at least two source images to produce an integrated result," is a huge field incorporating 2-D and 3-D still and animated artwork. Read more

Reviews (21)

Must Have for compositors and digital artists
This book is a in depth study of the techniques and technologies involved in the art of compositing. Not sooo technical that no one will understand it, but technical enough that it even explains in detail the algorithms and math used for antialiasing, blurs, the transfer operators like multiply, screen overlay., etc... I am a professional cg artist and highly recommend this book.

Just Great
I use Fusion 5 and this book has been of great help understanding not just how the different operators work within Fusion, but also, how a good composite has to be done. The final section shows different real world examples of compositions made for films like Titanic, an invaluable resource if you are a begginer and a point of reference if you have more experience.

Very good book! helped me prepare for my career
This is a great book. I wanted to really get deeper into graphics and film and out of all the many-many books I have bought this is the grand daddy of them all.Ron Brinmann gives you a wonderful understanding of film and graphic language and really helps to prepare you to be equipped
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Subjects:  1. Computer Books And Software    2. Computer Books: General    3. Computer Graphics    4. Computer Graphics - Design    5. Computer Graphics - Game Programming    6. Computers    7. Computers - Desktop Publishing    8. Digital Image Processing    9. Digital techniques    10. Image processing    11. Computer graphics software    12. Computers / Computer Graphics / Design    13. Internet   

Reviews (15)

AIN'T FOR NEWBIES!!
I've always resected the "Dummies" for their simplicity, however, this book is strictly for "near" or wannbe professionals!I do not reccommend this book for the people who want to build their own websites.

exactly what I needed
this book was exactly what I needed to begin web design!

Excellent Primer
This book is a great starter if you want to learn how to design web pages.While it's not a step-by-step page building guide, it's an excellent source of ideas, theories and practical "how-tos" that will definitely get you going in the right direction.If you're interested in building your own site, you could also be interested in hosting your site after it's built.Check out the "Complete Guide to Web Hosting" on amazon.It's a complete kit with all software and instructions that will let you host your site on your own PC for free.I highly recommend both of these titles together. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer - Internet    2. Computer Books: Desktop Publish    3. Computer Networks    4. Computers    5. Design    6. Desktop Publishing    7. Desktop Publishing - General    8. Electronic publishing    9. Hardware - Network Hardware    10. Internet - Web Site Design    11. Web site development    12. Web sites    13. Computers / Internet / Web Site Design    14. Internet   

Reviews (1)

More for high school kids....but....
The "but" is after reading the first chapter of this book and looking through the contents there are some useful projects. I've been using Publisher since 2000 for a newsletter and brochure for a non-profit group and not much more. But now I can see several new uses for the program and I'll give them a try. Granted it's not a hard program to master the bare essentials but I think this book may open a much wider range of uses for this user. The only bad thing is the steep price for the book itself. I really would like to give the book a 3.75 star rating... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer Books: General    2. Computers    3. Computers - General Information    4. Interactive & Multimedia    5. Computers / Interactive Media    6. Desktop publishing software    7. Multimedia   

Reviews (23)

A very solid basis for game design
I'll start with the bad aspects of the book first. It is very repetitious at times.It also tends to overanalyze some aspects of gaming and game design.That being said. I have no other ill comments about this book.
An Academic who claims to be a designer. . .and then writes a book
Having used this book for a few semesters, I offer you this: Avoid this book, unless you too are an academic who has nothing real to offer the world of video games in terms of game design or actual game production.
INTRODUCTION to Game Design Fundamentals
Rules of Play is an elaborate promotion for SiSSY FiGHT 2000.Though the cover art is cleverly composed of images from Street Fighter II and Super Mario Bros, I had the feelng of being mislead by the end of the book.Everything comes back to SiSSY FiGHT 2000.
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Subjects:  1. Computer Books: General    2. Computer Graphics - Design    3. Computer Graphics - Game Programming    4. Computer games    5. Computers    6. Computers - Games    7. Design    8. Interactive & Multimedia    9. Programming    10. Computers / Computer Graphics / Game Programming    11. General Theory of Computing    12. Multimedia   

Reviews (9)

Game Development praise
Jeannie Novak's book Game Development Essentials is an excellent text covering the scope of today's gaming environment. Everything from story development, marketing, character development and audience demographics is covered in this text. She uses highly appropriate first person narratives from industry professionals and has excellent study guide questions at the conclusion of each chapter. The CD included also has great game demos and trials as well as excellent links to web sites that add enrichment to the reading. I look forward to her other upcoming titles.

Not BAD!
I've been making games for 19 years and I couldn't disagree more with Mark Baldwin's criticisms of this book. Jeannie Novak has written a fresh, all-encompassing book on the subject of game development. The industry is rapidly evolving and this is one of the few texts to keep up with current thinking and present it in a manner that is easy to digest.
Excellent introduction to the industry
This book is a great introduction to the game industry in general. It doesn't delve deeply, but does a flyover of what is becoming an increasing complex medium. It hits the points someone seeking to enter the industry needs to know - everything from features of the companies creating games to current styles of development.
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Subjects:  1. Computer Books: General    2. Computer Graphics - General    3. Computers    4. Computers - General Information    5. Reference - General    6. Art / Graphic Arts    7. Computer Programming    8. Computer games   

Reviews (14)

Microsoft is great with software but not with documentation
I ordered this book as well as Special Addition Using Ms FP 2003The only FP2003 book you'll ever need.This is the book to get!!The microsoft book does not really do a good job of fully explaining the topic.To me it was very confusing.The other book I just mentioned is 3 times as thick and goes from very basic to very advanced.So as you grow the book will be there for all the information.I will be returning this book and keeping the Special Addition.

3 books on learning FrontPage 2003
I actually bought 3 books: Microsoft FrontPage 2003 Step-by-Step, Microsoft FrontPage 2003 Inside-Out, and Que Special Edition Using FrontPage 2003.
Provides Only a Spefic Example Included on The CD
Does not provide directions for "Step-by-Step" creation of your own original web site. It continously refers to the example on the included CD so you recreate that website.
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Subjects:  1. Computer - Internet    2. Computer Books And Software    3. Computers    4. Design    5. Electronic publishing    6. Internet - Web Site Design    7. Internet - Web Site Design - Frontpage    8. Internet - World Wide Web    9. Microcomputer Integrated Application Software    10. Microsoft FrontPage    11. Programming - Software Development    12. Web publishing    13. Web sites    14. Computers / General    15. Home Computing    16. Internet    17. Presentation graphics software   

Reviews (9)

What they mean by "Art"
I think some readers may be confused by the title, "The Art of Maya."This is not a coffe tale book showing some art made by Maya users.The title is a play on Sun Tzu's book, "The Art of War."That is exactly what this book is, it is a soup to nuts explaination of the "art" of using Maya.
On The Money
My Book arrived in great condition and on time.
Very good overall Maya book
It's a very good book if you knew how to use Maya.
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Subjects:  1. Computer Animation    2. Computer Books: General    3. Computer Graphics - Game Programming    4. Computer Graphics - General    5. Computers    6. Computers - Other Applications    7. Desktop Publishing - General    8. Three-dimensional display systems    9. Computers / Computer Graphics / Design    10. Computing and Information Technology   

Reviews (9)

Interaction Design
The majority of this book is from the thoughts and findings of other authors.Nothing orignal.Books is difficult to read and often does a poor job of explaining topics clearly.Currently using this book as a text book for a class and have to believe there is a better choice out there.

Adequate but not great
I have used this text for a year and half, for three instances of the same course (upper division undergrad).Good: 1. Each chapter is about a week's work, so it fits the schedule nicely; 2. Each chapter has "activities", "summary", and "assignments" which I find very useful when making assignments; 3. Lots of illustrations; 4. Interviews with professionals in the field are added at the end of each chapter -- this adds another dimension to the "textbook" aspects of the book; 5. Cartoons here and there. Could be improved: the quality of some of the illustrations -- some of them are photos that are dark and hard to make out.Some look like they came from the 1950s -- I am not sure how that is possible in a book published in 2002, but that's what it looks like to me.Still, the text is "nicely illustrated".The thing that stops this from being a "great" text is the quality of the writing and presentation of ideas.The writing is too simplistic.A "great" text finds ways to express things in a succinct manner, summarizing key ideas.Instead, this book tends to be wordy in many places, and lacks an effective organization of ideas.Finally, the text is starting to appear "dated", but few textbooks can withstand the breakneck speed of change in this area.That said, no student has complained (to me) about the text (but neither have they praised it).And, I have not been able to find a better text.

Excellent Course Text for HCI students
The breath and depth of this text truly embodies the necessary content for beginning HCI students in an undergraduate and graduate program. I've successfully used this text every semester with my students since its inception. The author's perspective of the discipline accurately reflects an increasing trend in HCI education that places less emphasis on computing and more on designing products to enhance human communication based on the social sciences. It is organized to provide an instructor a way to pick and choose selected chapters or proceed sequentially. Each chapter is multi-dimensional in its approach to provide an array of content that includes both theory and practice. I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Artificial Intelligence - General    2. Computer Books: General    3. Computers    4. Computers - General Information    5. Human-Computer Interaction    6. Interactive & Multimedia    7. Science/Mathematics    8. Technical Writing    9. Virtual Reality    10. Computer Communications & Networking    11. General Theory of Computing    12. Technology / Technical Writing   

Reviews (4)

Type Book that dilivers!
I've always looked at design books that showscase work from firms around the country and have always wondered: "What typeface is that?". I really love how in this book it actually tells you the typefaces used in all of the work. I also love the cover and the layout. If your in type and love graphic design, BUY THIS BOOK!

Type as Art
Awesome selection of works with outstanding use of typography. nice collection of examples

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Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Commercial art    4. Design - General    5. General    6. Graphic Arts - General    7. Graphic design (Typography)    8. Typography   

Reviews (3)

Good reference but dated
Not a bad reference for most users. It is a little basic and some of the info is dated. It's a little weak in more advanced areas like indiredt addressing, use and construction of subroutines, but otherwise this is a good book to keep in a general library for technicians responsible for supporting PLC based systems.

Great for AB users
I have used this text in our PLC class for three years. I really like that it is specific to Allan Bradley products. The workbook that goes with this text has programming assignments to reinforce the concepts.As I train on AB SLC500s exclusively, it is almost ideal. I say almost becaue there are many references to obsolete instructions used with a PLC no longer manufactured. It is due for a new edition. But until then, it remains a very good text to teach from, or if you simply want to know more about the subject.

Excellent text for beginner students.
The text used in conjunction with the accompanny study guide were requiredtext for an automation and control class.No errors noted, very easy andcomprehensive reading.An excellent reference manual.One of the bestrequired text books I have used. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Automation    2. Computers    3. Electricity    4. Engineering - Electrical & Electronic    5. Logic Design    6. Programmable Controllers    7. Science/Mathematics    8. Technology & Industrial Arts    9. Computer aided design (CAD)    10. Household appliances manufacture    11. Information technology industries    12. Mechanical Engineering & Materials    13. Science / Electricity   

Reviews (3)

Not for Novices
An encyclopedia of helpful information but, this will not be helpful to a novice trying to learn the program for the first time.
Very comphrensive book - CDROM has some problems
The Simulations folder on the CDROM included with the book containssome broken links, probably due to a production problem and it is my understanding that this will soon be corrected.
Dreamweaver 8 Bible
I would highly recommend this new release on Dreamweaver 8
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Subjects:  1. Authoring programs    2. Computer - Internet    3. Computer Books: Web Programming    4. Computers    5. Design    6. Internet - Web Site Design    7. Web site development    8. Web sites    9. Computer graphics software    10. Computers / Internet / Web Site Design    11. HTML   

Reviews (2)

Great Resource
The reality is that lots of graphic designers don't have formal design training, which can result in a problematic lack of production and printing knowledge. This book is easy to read (in a day), thoughtfully illustratrated, and covers the most important productino and printing issues that a designer should be aware of.
New to print? You need this book
I know a teeny tiny bit of print. Spot colours - hmm I did know that one, but since I don't do much print (or haven't til this year) I was always at a loss when it came ready for the printer.This book is an essential guide for the non print designer.
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Subjects:  1. Computer Books: Desktop Publish    2. Computers    3. Computers - Desktop Publishing    4. Desktop Publishing    5. Desktop Publishing - General    6. Graphic Design    7. Computer Software Packages    8. Computers / Desktop Publishing / General   

Reviews (4)

Worth buying
Excellant and useful book.My only complaint is the first couple of chapters are basic Mac OS how to stuff and a waste of time/space. Be sure to read the Appendices on the DVD though

Unjust Rip!
Lowering the books rating because the Mac requirements are higher than for FCE 3.0 isn't being very fair.The cover says HD, so it's obviously a new version.The description is certainly enough.I would raise the books rating and lower his.

Only book of its kind right now
To date, this the only book that covers FCE 3.5 HD & I strongly recommend it. The intended audience I think is FCE users who would like to make more professional home videos but I think new filmmakers would also benefit from the lessons. If you're interested in mastering advanced topics like color correction, you'll have to pick up other books in this series. Overall though, this an excellent book for the beginner trying to learn FCE as well as how to craft a cinematic experience.
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Subjects:  1. Cinematography & Videography    2. Computer Books: General    3. Computer Graphics - Design    4. Computer Graphics - General    5. Computers    6. Computers - Desktop Publishing    7. Digital Image Processing    8. Graphic Design    9. Interactive & Multimedia    10. Techniques - Digital    11. Computers / Interactive Media    12. Image processing: video   

Reviews (61)

Agreed with other reviewers-read manual or other books on the subject
This is not very good book for D50.The reason that author tries to explain two things at once.Fist how to take great photographs and second how to use array of custom functions on D50.He doesn't successes in either.Writer doesn't explain fully complexities of multiple functions of the camera.As for "how to take great picture" there are tens of books on that topic which explains art of photography in many details.Recommend instead to get truly technical book on all D50 functions "Magic Lantern Guides: Nikon D50" by Simon Stafford.I promise you will get more information from this book as to how use technical abilities of D50 to full potential.Do you for instance know that D50 doesn't lock simultaneously Exposure and Focus while you half-press release button (It locks only focus), because it's D50's default setting.You would think AF-AE are locked when you press release button halfway, because it works so in many and many cameras even point and shoot digital, but not for Nikon D50 (though you can make it so, explained in a book).

The proper name of the book should be beginners filed guide ...
The first part of the book describing all the D50 panels is almost similar to the manual that is supplied with the camera.
One gleaming inaccuracy
This Guide refers to the meter focus button, which would permit you to change meter focus modes with a mere twirl of the command wheel. Problem: the D-70 has this button, but the D-50 does not.
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Subjects:  1. Photo Techniques    2. Photography    3. Techniques - Digital    4. Techniques - Equipment    5. Computer Software Packages    6. Photographic equipment & techniques    7. Photography / Equipment