5 comments about Dynamic Learning Flash CS3.

1. I got this for a class and then just did the book rather than taking the class. It is a good beginning to flash, but just a beginning. I need to learn a lot more to really know how the program works. This may be a limitation of me and not the book.



2. This book is a solid introduction to Flash CS3 fundamentals. It will be most useful to designers with no previous Flash experience and to programmers wishing to familiarize themselves with the Flash environment. The lessons are clear, easy to follow and cover all the basics. The sample projects are supported with well organized step-by-step screen shots of the menu bars, timelines, animation frames, property inspector and code. They are also supported with video demonstrations of key concepts from each chapter. After completing the lessons you will be able to create very basic level portfolios, slide shows, ads and entertainment featuring interactivity, animation, sound and video. You will also learn how to get your work on the web and on DVDs.
   
   Because the book is aimed at beginners, the ActionScript 3.0 lessons are simple and pragmatic. Rather than delving into programming, the authors created sample code for some basic activities -- navigation, starting and stopping animations, etc. The samples can be easily copied and modified for use in other projects.
   
   This book just scratches the surface of what you can do with Flash. After whetting your appetite with Dynamic Learning Flash CS3 Professional you will be ready to move on to intermediate Flash training and beginning ActionScript training.
   
   To use this book you will need Flash Player 9 and Adobe Flash CS3 Professional installed on your computer.



3. The exercises are adequate to teach the basics of Flash CS3.
   For me, though, the example projects seemed fairly pedestrian, and I found myself wanting to be able to do more by the end of the book.
   
   I'd recommend one or more of the Foundation "Friends of Ed" books over this one, mainly because they cover more and seem to appeal more to the creative spirit of the reader. After all, creativity is what it's all about, right? ;)



4. HI ,
   Just bought this book to begin to learn FLASH. I use a PowerBook G4 1GB memory 1.67GHz. I tried to open the video files but could not open it.I have Flash 9 player and Adobe CS3 premium. clicking on the icons opens flash 9 but does not open the file. It will not open on a PC either, only way to open it is by converting to a different format using web based tools. I converted some to .mov files which play but the video is fuzzy. Working through the book hopefully the rest will be more helpful.



5. This book is great. The step by step instructions are great for any level of flash CS3 user. There isn't much ActionScript in this book so that is what you are looking for this book is not for you.

2 comments about Typography 28 (Typography).

1. This book has already saved my life, very inspirational, it's shown me what fonts not to use do to over use. But all and all there is great use of type (of course), powerful layout, and great emotion, expression through typography. I think everyone should at the least look through this book, or any typography annual.



2. This is a good book, but if you want a book for graphic reference, with many crazy layouts, there are better books.

5 comments about Rendering with mental ray & 3ds Max.

1. It certainly made my life easier...book is layed out in an orderly fashion
   and takes you through the difficult steps of mental ray in a step by step approach..I highly recommend this book....and kindly ask the author to write another one that will go in more depth and more examples.....



2. This is an excellent book for anyone who has the basic knowledge on 3ds Max and wants to fully understand how the rendering process works using the mental ray renderer. Coherent and rational structure, short and precise text (no waste of time), clearly-aimed example files; all you ask of an instructional book.
   * Those interested in Architectural Visualization will be satisfied.
   * It is based on 3ds Max 9, but I recommend it for later versions too.



3. es un libro con algunos conceptos tecnicos sobre mental ray, iluminacion global, final gather, caustica y ambient occlusion..basicamente trabaja con los shaders qeu el programa trae consigo..y los que trae mental ray... algunos buenos trucos visuales...no abunda en detalles tecnicos pero si presenta ejemplos paso a paso y se entiende rapido. recomiendo el libro para los fanaticos del mental ray!!



4. Whenever you need to learn a new program, it tends to present itself as a huge mountain to climb. Mental Ray is no different. The lack of documentation comming with this Autodesk program makes climbing this mountain a sheer impossible task. Not with this book. Joep van der Steen takes you by the hand and showes you the paths. He does this by starting of with standard scene's and presets. Then with every tutorial he goes more and more into the details. Step by step you feel more and more at home with the program. Allready half way the book you have a good idea how to work with Mental Ray. But it goes on with more and more easy explanation of complicated stuff. The mountain turns out to be a joy to climb



5. This book was extremely helpful to me as it relates to MR renders and what the various parameter do in the render dialog box. That part is worth more than 5 stars. The place it might be lacking by a small amount is the clarity in how the shaders and materials are explained. Very detailed in some places, but I found myself going back and forth from the book to the material editor to try to follow along and understand what was being explained. In the end, I learned a good deal but there were times too when I was confused by what seemed like contradictory facts, or at least I found them to be so. Like how the arch materials diffuse,reflection and transparency channels could not exceed a value of 1 when added together, yet I saw many materials constructed where those three channels added up to 3. The materials still worked as described, but I am the type that needs to understand the nitty-gritty before I feel comfortable with something. Oh well.
   
   But all-in-all this book is WELL worth it. It will take a lot of the guess work and trail-and-error out of your MR renders. All I can say is, Good job, Mr. Van der Steen.
   
   Yes, very good job.

3 comments about Design Secrets: Products 2: 50 Real-Life Product Design Projects Uncovered (Design Secrets).

1. Got this as a birthday present for my fiance (who is studying industrial / product design), and he loves it. It takes you step-by-step through the design process, and includes pictures/illustrations. It includes a variety of products (from kitchen products to snowboarding products), which he appreciated.



2. I was actually looking for a book to help me with my portfolio development... though it doesn't cover rendering techniques (it doesn't claim to) this book actually gives you such a clear idea of the entire design process, there are hardly any doubts left in your head after that. and it's so well written... oh and the pictures! they are just fantastic. This book is the second in the design secrets - products series... so it is very up to date and covers very recent products. I recommend this to anyone, not just aspiring designers, if products in general interest you. you'll never look at anything you buy the same way! it's just a brilliant book. and as for anyone looking to pursue design, you NEED it. if its too expensive for you, at least get a used copy!



3. I recently purchased this book for one of my design drawing classes. The teacher had specifically asked us to find examples of product design sketches. After looking everywhere for books on the subject this one turned out to be the most up-to-date in terms of techniques and the most complete. I also think it's a great reference book and gives a good overview of the product design process. I recently purchased this book for one of my design drawing classes. The teacher had specifically asked us to find examples of product design sketches. After looking everywhere for books on the subject this one turned out to be the most up-to-date in terms of techniques and the most complete. I also think it's a great reference book and gives a good overview of the product design process.

5 comments about Clothes and the Man: The Principles of Fine Men's Dress.

1. WHEN A MAN GETS TO A POINT WHERE THEY DON'T WANT TO LOOK TRENDY ANYMORE,AND START TO FOCUS ON QUALITY AND STYLE, THIS IS THE REFERENCE BOOK TO READ AND OWN,TEACHES YOU HOW TO TIE A BOWTIE AND SEVERAL TIE KNOTS,ALSO COVERS WHAT SHIRT COLLAR FITS YOUR FACE,THIS IS A UNIVERSAL REFERENCE BOOK FOR FINE DRESSING......



2. If you could buy only one book to have as a reference on men's clothes, this would be it!! If you are choosing between this book and A.F.'s "updated" later version, get this one. The updated one has less information and also a questionable section on modern casual wear. The book's illustrations are excellently clear, and it is a great learning and reference tool.



3. This is a quick, one-day read, but a lifetime keeper for reference.
   
   Mr. Flusser covers all the essentials in detail: suit coats; suit trousers; sport coats; blazers; dress shirts; neckties; handkerchiefs; hose (socks); shoes; hats; and jewelery.
   
   He covers sportswear such as cable-knit pullover sweaters and cardigans very briefly.
   
   Mr. Flusser asserts the lines, look, and feel of all fine mens wear can be traced to the timespan of the 1930s - 1950s. This was the Golden Age of Hollywood when men dressed well (Cary Grant; Fred Astaire; Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.; Adolph Menjou; and England's Edward, Prince of Wales). Mr. Flusser's point is that if you want a suit that will not be out of date in five or ten years, ensure it is grounded in 1930s - 1950s style, with emphasis on the 1930s.
   
   The only thing I disagreed with in the entire book was his reverence for the four-in-hand necktie knot in all settings. This knot is asymmetrical and does not belong in the boardroom or office. It is a knot that is to be worn casually to a club or in some other social setting. The Windsor or Half Windsor should be worn to the office.
   
   This is somewhat a digression, but there is more to fine dressing than just the fabric against your body, or the leather upon your feet. Care must be taken to groom the hair inside your nose, so that it does not protrude outward. The hair on and in the ear must be cut. Nothing looks worse than looking at a man in fine clothes and seeing he has a thick patch of hair growing out of each ear cavity. Andy Rooney eyebrows are also verboten. Hair, beards, moustaches, eyebrows, ears, nose, teeth...all of these must be groomed/maintained properly to accentuate the look of fine clothes. Without these grooming basics in place, no suit is going to make you look good. Mr. Flusser elected not to cover grooming as essential to the "total package," yet he devoted many areas of the book to items that were not strictly related to clothing. I feel it was a mistake to neglect grooming.
   
   Clothes and the Man is now 21 years old. It is as relevant now as when it was written. This book is a timeless masterpiece, fully deserving five stars.



4. I have Dressing the man which is almost as good. Clothes and the man was the first book I bought on mens clothing just as I was starting out on my own 14 years ago and I am glad I did..
   Flusser taught me everything I know about clothes and then some. This book is well wiritten with practical advice on how a man should dress.



5. I've now read several highly recommended books on men's style. This book is the best out of all of them. In my opinion 'Clothes and the Man' is a little better than Flusser's more well-known 'Dressing the Man' (seen stacked in Ralph Lauren stores). 'Clothes and the Man' delves deeper into the subject laying out specific guidelines to build season-specific wardrobes. Unfortunately the book is out of print now...fairly easy to find on the net though!

5 comments about Amano: The Complete Prints of Yoshitaka Amano.

1. The book is well put together and has great image quality, but unless your a big Amano fan than this book is probably not for you. Honestly I wish I could truly give this book 5 stars because I love his ink designs but some of his fairy concepts is not my cup of tea. As for range this book delivers like few art books do and you truly get a feel for his style and what he's about.
   If you got the change to spend and love art books than this will make a great addition to your collection. Otherwise I would go to a store and flip through it a bit to see if it is for you.



2. I've seen his work on the Arts channel and am impressed, but when I looked at this book I was disappointed. I hadn't realized he did violent, prurient comic books for adults, and much of this book is devoted to those examples. However, his line and color and the flowing mystic quality are what attract me, but I am turned away by his subject matter.



3. This is an amazing item! The art work is simply stunning. Since words are inadequate to describe this book, you must buy it immediately!



4. The book is wonderful but keep in mind half of the book is a catalog of his work (for other words ton of pictures that are inch and a half by an inch).



5. This book is a perfect artbook, an wonderful edition, with an excellent paper, and high quality images. Some pages can unfold and form large and amazing images.
   This book has a complete collection of the drawings and paintings more remarkable of the author,and reflects the influence of the traditional Japan and the modern occidental arts.
   It is an artbook that you cannot let have if you really admire Amano's works.

3 comments about The Worldwide History of Dress.

1. This is one of the most beautiful books I've had the pleasure of reading. If you are at all interested in world culture, or history or people and their clothing, you must add The Worldwide History of Dress to your collection. Within this text you will find everything you ever wanted to know about the history of fashion and gain new insight into the different customs and traditions of world civilization. It is a remarkable book and I highly recommend it.



2. I spent a lot of time over the last week searching Amazon for a book that covers the history of textiles from all over the world, to no avail. I saw this book at Border's this morning and was amazed by it - it's exactly what I've been looking for! I don't know how this didn't show up in searches before, but I'm glad I came across it at the store and had a chance to look through it. This is first on my Amazon to-buy list for when I get my next paycheck.



3. You need this book if you love clothes. Monographs on Dior and Chanel will always be generated by fans and fashion houses. But our design inspiration -the origin of all dress design - can be found on every page of this beautifully illustrated volume. This vast compilation of artisanal, native, and vernacular clothing is compulsory read for the fashion lover, dress historian, and costume or fashion designer. The Worldwide History of Dress fills a gaping void: there is absolutely nothing like this compendium of international dress currently on the bookshelf.

5 comments about Cinema 4D: The Artist's Project Sourcebook, 2nd Edition.

1. This is probably the best source for self help with Cinema 4D. It is easy to follow, with minimal holes and very little left to the user to figure out on his own. Recommend.



2. This book is clearly for anyone who is in need of a quick read with brilliant illustrations that will motivate you to great motion ghaphics.



3. Everything about this book is amateurish. You can tell from the models that she uses as examples that she doesn't really know how to use the program, really what is a "Starlight Receiver"? The example movies on the DVD are in black and white with no sound. Unbelievable. Don't believe the hype this book is garbage.



4. I'm really disapointed by this book. Was expecting a lot more after reading all those good reviews... This is only a step by step tutorials book. The author doesnt explain that much anything related to cinema 4D... I don't understand exactly what I am doing. The book is starting with those tutorials without at least explaining the basic of this software and the interface... I need first to understand the interface before being able to do anything else with this software and this is not the book that will help me out for sure... It's not by telling me to put a value somewhere in the attributes that I will actually understand WHY to put this value there...
   
   :(



5. This is the book I wish I had when starting out in 3D. It doesnt barage you with technical descriptions of 3D app features but teaches by going in and making stuff. The quality of the models made and the layout of the book is beautiful, you would not mind having this book on the coffee table for friends to look at. And kudos go to the publisher for printing this book on durable high quality paper, strong binding and with full color photos. So many graphics books nowadays will rip you off with B&W pics on cheap paper. Why is it you can by a $7 magazine (ie National Geographic) with high quality color pics, good paper and strong binding, but not a $30 graphics book?

5 comments about Process Color Manual, 24,000 CMYK Combinations for Design, Prepress, and Printing.

1. This is an old book but it is still relevant to anyone who is designing for print. The book has every color combination of the four-color press process, in steps of 5% (i.e. 15% magenta, 75% cyan, 10% black and 25% yellow) in a grid format. You'll be able to accurately pick any color you are looking for.
   
   It doesn't have different paper stock, so that is the only part missing, but it uses the most common bright white coated paper.
   
   A cheap alternative to a Pantone Color book.



2. 20-odd years in the design industry and I have no idea why I haven't had a book like this yet. I've been mentally mixing colors for a long time now, and yet it's a fantastic thing to be able to see what that subtle difference is between 25c+100y and 30c+100y looks like in print. OK, it only approximates based on one press and coated paper, but at the end of the day, it's better than your monitor. So get the book and dispense with a good bit of guesswork. It takes a minute to get used to how to find exactly what you're looking for, but it's there!



3. I owned a previous version of this book at my last job and plan to purchase this for my own use. As others have said, it contains an amazing number of combinations not available in most books. It takes a little bit of flipping through the book to understand how it is laid out, but the concept is very difficult anyway to put down on paper. I think that this book has accomplished making it as simple as it can get while still being very comprehensive.



4. Buy this. Discover what you have been missing on this exceptionally complicated subject.
   Learn how to match the use of color(s) to your project.
   Take your usage of color to a level well beyond your experience with the easy to understand non-techno language.
   Excellent investment.



5. Well, I've been using CorelDraw for a short time, and this book helped me a lot about printing preview colors.

5 comments about The Copy Workshop Workbook 2002.

1. I had to have this book for a class I am taking for school. It is really helpful.



2. I originally gave this book 5 stars because I thought the numerous examples of ads, combined with helpful tips, was a winning combination. Upon further review, the ruling on the field is overturned, and I'm downgrading this book to 3 stars.
   
   The first problem: the book is written in a choppy, telegraphic style. I'm sure that was a boffo concept for a one-page ad in the 70s. But after a hundred pages of it, this monotonous patter of sentence fragments becomes annoying. After four hundred pages, you want to insert spikes in your eyes to make it stop.
   
   On top of that, the book is set in 14-point Times Roman -- perhaps just right for sight-impaired elderly readers who need a Large Type edition, but way too large for comfortable normal reading. Again, it appears that this layout was borrowed from the predominant style of print ads that ran in the 70s.
   
   The book is littered with numerous layout gaffes that are the result of plain old laziness. Text that didn't fit on a page was simply sliced off rather than refit. Inexcusably amateurish.
   
   And sometimes the author comes across as, well, clueless. I mean, have you ever heard Eveready's Energizer Bunny referred to as The Pink Bunny?? Me neither.
   
   But the author inexplicably insists on calling Energizer's mascot The Pink Bunny -- even while displaying an example Energizer ad that clearly says "Energizer Bunny" in its headline. That's just not paying attention, and after a few clunkers like these, you begin to seriously doubt the author's credibility.
   
   This book's publication date says 2002, but you won't see anything about Internet marketing here, aside from a really brief mention in the foreword. Occasional semi-contemporary references to "word processing" and "electronic media" notwithstanding, the book reads like it was written in an age when typewriters and carbon paper ruled the earth.
   
   I've seen this before: a hopelessly old-school pedagogue trying to cling to the tatters of relevance by throwing around outdated buzzwords, and missing the mark with much of his commentary. It ain't pretty.
   
   On the upside, the book has some helpful tips, and some insights that are on-target -- if you can glean them from the self-affected text.
   
   Bottom line, it's the example ads -- for print, TV, and radio -- that hold any redeeming value for this book. The good examples are plentiful, and for the most part, worth studying.
   
   Too bad the accompanying text doesn't rise to the same standards.



3. The item was great, at great price... but the delivery (shipping) was kind'a slow. Anyway... trust all they say about products and online shopping.



4. Among the 100-plus how-to books on my office shelves, Bruce Bendinger's well-thumbed first edition of the Workbook stands out. This book taught me, for instance, to write an effective creative strategy. (Thank you, Mr. Bendinger!) Fifteen years into my copywriting career, I can report that the Workbook has stood the test of time. It is fast, uniquely informative, practical and "really updated" in 2002. If copywriting is your profession, you'll be glad you own this useful book.



5. Truly one of the best resources on direct response copywriting I have ever come across. Those familiar with Joe Sugarman's "Advertising Secrets of The Written Word" will devour this book too, presented in similar style with excellent visual examples of the concepts taught. One of the few "must have" copywriting books to add to your collection.