5 comments about Ancient Egyptian Calligraphy A Beginner's Guide to Writing Hieroglyphs.

1. I guess I was expecting more.
   If you have children, they would get more out of this. It reminded be of learning how to write in grade school. That's about all there is to it.



2. This made the work that I was doing for a Birthday Project for two young ladies much easier



3. The best I guide to practice your hieroglyphic calligraphy. I love it.



4. This is one of several books on the subject that I bought because I was late on a decorative commission and had to learn how to write hieroglyphs fast. This turned out to be the only book of any value. Using Gardiner's Sign List to organize the symbols into catagories, Fischer first shows a large drawing of the glyph, then shows with a series of sequential sketches how to arrive at the final design. Using his technique, I was able to achieve satisfactory results in a remarkably short time.

   Unlike some of the other authors, Fischer does redraw, modify, or try to "reinterpret" the symbols. I compared his hieroglyphs to photographs of tomb and temple walls and found his to be true to the originals.
   The 4th edition contains some additional glyphs and information in supplementary references and addenda.
   This is a beautifully designed and bound book, worthy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. I use this in conjunction with Wilkinson's "Reading Egyptian Art".




5. As others have said, this volume is slim and thankfully clear and concise. The glyphs are simplified to make them easier to draw, but still recognizably hieroglyphs (as opposed to cursive forms or hieratic-- and sometimes clearer than Faulkner). There are many larger illustrations that show the glyph in more naturalistic form; these are quite interesting. When the forms varied significantly over time, all versions are shown (i.e., Old Kingdom form, Middle and New Kingdom form(s).) It's very helpful, for writing and reading.

3 comments about Fashion Entrepreneurship: Retail Business Planning.

1. This is an ideal resource for building a business plan to secure funding for a fashion retail store. Step-by-step guidelines for writing the plan and operating the store. There is nothing else like this book on the market!



2. This book is required reading for those interested in opening any form of fashion retail business. The text provides step-by-step guides and well thought-out examples for the reader to follow in preparing a business plan unique to this type of retailing.



3. If you are entering the world of retail fashion or the fashion industry this book is an absolute necessity. Excellent detailed information taking the reader through the fashion retail process, e-commerce and writing a buisness plan. The CD rom that comes with the book is superior to other business plan software and makes writing a business plan easy.

1 comments about Bookplate Designs CD-ROM and Book (Dover Electronic Clip Art).

1. This bookplate design CD was highly anticipated as the release date was delayed several times. It's beautifully done and easy to use. Great product and worth the wait.

5 comments about The The Non-Designer's Type Book, 2nd Edition.

1. I have to begin by saying that I have absolutely no experience in design or artwork. I have taken on a project (not exactly voluntarily) which I would prefer doesn't look completely amateurish by the time I finish. I got this book to give me some sort of reference in something I know I'm way over my head on.
   
   It covers everything that an amateur needs to know; it is fairly well indexed so I can locate it quickly; it doesn't go into unnecessary detail, just the to-the-point-basics. It is perfect for someone who doesn't have time to read the whole book and just needs to look up specific aspects of design as the need arises; it is not only well-written, but also well-illustrated. So far, everything I've needed is there.
   
   Having said this, I think that someone who already knows the basics or has design experience might find the tone of the book a little bit arbitrary or pedantic. In questions of taste or style there has to be a little more leeway for personal preference than this book would indicate.
   
   The author does have rather firm ideas of what is right and what is wrong and how things must be done. I tend to agree and do things his way because I don't know anything different and I desperately need strict guidelines since I don't have time to experiment or develop my own style.
   
   People who know more than I about the subject might or might not agree with all he says. But I think everyone will find this book useful at least as a source of reference or a starting point.



2. Contrary to the reviewer below, this book is most definitely a book about type for non-designers. I too love typography. Mantis neglects to mention, in his diatribe about underlining, that Ms. Williams makes it perfectly clear that a rule (line) integrated into the typographic design is entirely different from the underline feature that you hit with a keystroke. She advocates never hitting that keyboard shortcut, and she is correct. Ms. Williams also makes it clear she is creating guidelines for non-designers who need clear boundaries when they first begin, and that once you know the rules, you can break them with glee. Like Helvetica -- a very skilled designer can override the 1970s look that inevitably comes with Helvetica, just as a very skilled designer can work with art deco fonts and create a new look with them. But beginning designers aren't there yet, so Robin suggests some boundaries.
   
   I found this book to be much more practical for the millions of people who are just discovering that there is more to type than "block text." Bringhurst's book is beautiful and philosophical and something to aspire to, but for nuts and bolts and clear guidelines that work on the page, The Non-Designer's Type Book is a must!



3. As an avid reader and (some would argue) somewhat-successful writer, I spend a lot of time looking at the printed word. But I don't have a full appreciation behind the effort and thought that goes into how that word gets transferred from writer to reader on paper. Robin Williams has a great book for those of us who are not professionals in the world of typesetting... The Non-Designer's Type Book.
   
   Contents: Centuries of Type; The Art of Readability; The Art of Legibility; Quotation Marks - Or Not?; Hang that Punctuation; Punctuation Style; Shift that Baseline; OpenType & Expert Sets; Small Caps; Oldstyle Figures; Ligatures; Condensed and Extended Type; Display Type; Kerning; Linespacing (leading); Paragraph Spacing; Alignment; Headlines and Subheads; Pull Quotes; Captions; Emphasizing Type; Line Breaks and Hyphenation; Swash Characters; Initial Caps; Typographic Color; Ornaments & Dingbats; Pi & Picture Fonts; Don't be a Wimp!; Evocative Typography; Choose a Typeface; Telltale Signs of Desktop Publishing; Trends in Type; Typographic Terms; Listen to Your Eyes; Font and Product Vendors; Special Characters; Index
   
   It's easy to look at something written and get an immediate impression as to whether it looks good or not. But it's really hard sometimes to know exactly why. Williams demystifies the whole world of print design in such a way that even a novice like me starts to "get it". Her explanation of font styles and when to use what should be required reading for everyone putting words to paper. Just because you can use 10 fonts in a report doesn't mean you should. Going a little deeper, you learn about kerning (spacing between letters) and how that can be adjusted for the best visual results. All of these subjects continue to build on each other, and by the end of the book you have a solid foundation on the subject. What makes the book even better is that her writing style is conversational and somewhat irreverent, and there are an abundance of examples on nearly every page. Even if you already know a particular rule (such as using smart quotes or hanging punctuation), the visual nature of her writing can be used to glean ideas for your own work. Reference and inspiration in a single volume is a hard thing to accomplish, but she pulls it off with ease.
   
   This is another one of those books that will stay close at hand. This will probably be more of a "stay at home" book, as that's where a lot of my writing takes place. But it's guaranteed to get slotted in next to all my other volumes that allow me to make-believe I'm a writer. Great book...



4. I'm a big fan of the author, but I feel this is not one of her best books. She clearly illustrates all the important type concepts, but the book felt too long for the amount of information presented.
   
   I love her "The Non-Designer's Design Book" which concisely covers some of the same information. I've recommended the "Design Book" to lots of people but cannot think of anyone I'd recommend the "Type Book" to. I would have preferred it as a quick reference companion to the "Design Book", maybe at half its current size.



5. I have been reading Robin Williams' books since "The Mac is Not a Typewriter" came out.
   This author gives great, clear information that will help with the look of anything that you produce in print. (Or on the web)
   If you aren't a designer, or aren't particularly artistic, like me, you will benefit from this book because she gives clear examples of how to catch the reader's eye, and gives examples of pitfalls to avoid.
   There are also some who are a little too artistic for their own good. This book will help them avoid over-embellishing to the extent that their message doesn't get accross.
   A good buy for anyone who has to communicate in print. It doesn't matter if it's ad copy, a report for the boss, or your book, web site or menu.

5 comments about The Designers Guide to Color Combinations.

1. The problem with most books on color is that they are mind numbingly boring in their technical approach. Color is context. This book not only provides exceptional color comination suggestions but it places color in historical context. It jogs the imagination in so many ways.
   
   I was a grapic designer and am now a fine artist. I continue to use this book for inspiration after using it for over a decade.



2. I greatly admire the work of Leslie Cabarga -- particularly in the book LOGO FONT & LETTERING BIBLE. Perhaps because of the aforementioned authorship, I let my guard down in purchasing DESIGNER'S GUIDE TO COLOR COMBINATIONS. The same tired layout is depicted hundreds of times in colors sampled from "historic" paintings. Though subject to personal opinion, I find the large majority of such colors are period dated or otherwise unsuitable for current graphic design projects. As with other books of this sort, the Live Color feature in Adobe Illustrator CS3 renders this reference work unnecessary.



3. I ordered this book for my college courses. It has been very helpful for several projects so far, especially when having to do projects that are historic in content.
   
   ~Stacey~



4. The book contains hundreds of color combinations derived from packages, posters, advertisements, giftwrap by designers over the past century. It covers Victorian period, Art Deco, Sixties, Modern times, etc.
   
   On each page, beside the art piece, the author has posted a commentary related to the particular color combination which is often rather humorous and very much fun to read.
   
   Underneath each color combination are listed CMYK colors used in that particular combination so that you can reproduce them in your graphic design program - Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, etc. - if you find a color combination you'd like to replicate or experiment with.



5. This book is an excellent resource for anyone in the field of Design. It not only offers a variety of color combinations to suit a particular style or time period but also includes the CMYK values to produce an exact duplication of the color(s) of your liking in the book (contingent upon monitor/printer callibration etc.).

4 comments about Exploring Photoshop CS3 (Design Exploration Series).

1. This book is excellent for beginners and intermediate users,shows you all the tools and how to use them, in a step by step, simple way. This book is expensive but it is worth it.
   You will not be guessing your way through Photoshop CS3 if you go through this workbook.



2. If you are new to Photoshop, this book will definitely help you out. It's a basic beginners book but probably the best to start. If you work through the tutorials you'll be great by the time your done.



3. I purchased this book for a Photoshop course. I kid you not this book started coming apart the 2nd week of class. The glue has come undone from the pages. This book was a course requirement. Whoever glued this book together needs to get fired!!!!



4. I never had a new text book which started breaking pages away from the binding within a very brief time....as this one does.

2 comments about Skeletons (Agile Rabbit Editions).

1. From each of the Agile Rabbit books, you can use up to 10 images (for free) in a single application (do you really need 10 stock images in a postcard Amy?) before having to consult with them and, since the advent of e-mail, communication with the graphically inclined computer user in Amsterdam is of no problem. It's really not all that different from let's say. . . the End-User License Agreement for stock photos from a stock house or the very fonts you purchased from a private foundry. Before panicking, perhaps she should read the entire EULA from Peppin Press?
   
   In any event, this collection is by far one of the best they've released. The details are amazing and you won't find illustrations like this in many places, not even Dover. I can think of only a handful of illustrators who would do this sort of work and they're taxidermists in hobby. Absolutely beautiful.
   
   PS: http://www.pepinpress.com/pages/policy
   That link has been active since the first book of theirs I bought in 2005 - Graphic Ornaments. Usually EULAs are listed under image rights rather than per book.



2. Fellow Designers: Pepin Press has published many beautiful books, but before you buy them, just be aware of what you're getting-
   Even after you buy the book and the CD, you cannot use the images without permission!
   I thought it was like Dover Publications, where you buy the book and/or CD and can actually use the images w/out further contact w/the publisher. If you want to print an image from this collection, say, on a postcard as they suggest that you can, you have to appeal to the publisher in Amsterdam & wait for a response. (Not convenient, even assuming they grant your request.)
   
   The description, (pasted below) is a bit misleading, and these conditions are NOT posted on their website (as of today). It is stated in the introduction, which you don't have until you've already purchased the book.
   
   "This book contains stunning images for use as a graphic resource, or inspiration.
   All the illustrations are stored in high-resolution format on the enclosed free CD-ROM and are ready to use for professional quality printed media and web page design. The pictures can also be used to produce postcards, or to decorate your letters, flyers, etc. They can be imported directly from the CD into most design, image- manipulation, illustration, word-processing and e-mail programs; no installation is required. For most applications, single images can be used free of charge. Please consult the introduction to this book, or visit our website for conditions."

1 comments about Lemon Poppy Seed: Multitasking Creativity.

1. Anyone Googling "lemon poppy seed" for the recipe might be surprised to see this book pop up in the search. But, if you're an artist or designer in any of the visual fields, you'll find this 272 page softcover a breath of free air. The book design, by noted publisher Gestalten Verlag, is kept to a minimum. The only text includes the name of the artists, the title of the pieces, and the page numbers. There's also no introduction, artists' statements, interviews, manifestos, etc. to sway your opinions, allowing you to freely explore the terrain on your own. This international collection of contributors features spread after spread in lush colors and subtle muted tones. Any black and white art/photography has the full tonal range from 0 white to 100 black. If you liked the style and content of the soon-to-be-reinstated "GRAPHIC" magazine, but without all the tiny text, then you'll no doubt find these works inspiring. If only this were an exhibition catalog from a traveling show. That way, you might get the chance to see these works in person.
   [...]

5 comments about Snowflakes in Photographs.

1. I bought this book hoping the kids (8&5) would be intrigued by all the patterns of the snowflakes. They weren't, but the adults loved it!
   
   The photography and the story of the how these snowflakes were captured on film is very interesting.



2. Bentley photographed the ephemeral and hidden: snowflakes. He did this on his own with limited education and equipment. His glass plates remind us of the awe, beauty and wonder of frozen water. The book reveals Bentley's efforts on his Vermont farm over his lifetime. His dedication and creativity help us grasp the complexity, simplicity and three-dimensional images of snow. Snow is the most unstable substance on earth - always changing, even while it is forming in the atmosphere, falling through the atmosphere, depositing on a ground surface (water, soil, fence, glass, trees), sublimating (going directly from a solid to a vapor), hoar frost depositing out of a saturated clear atmosphere at night to produce a fairly land in at sunrise, going through continuous metamorphism (melt-freeze, temperature gradient, equitemperature gradient) and finally melting to return to the liquid form of the hydrologic cycle.
   
   Bentley's photographs enable us all to grasp snow from nursery to graduate school - the images all make sense - physically and mentally. Many images have been transformed into ornaments, framed photographs and other high end works of art.



3. Snowflakes in Photographs
   
   You can't imagine the variety of design in each individual snowflake until you these photographs. From simple to complex, these photos show how absolutely symmetrical and stunning these fragile crystals are.



4. This book about lived up to my expectations -- which wouldn't make it worth it for everybody. In our case, we were doing a unit study on snowflakes and we covered Bentley's biography (from children's picture books for the young ones to more complete adult biographies for the older) and the point of this book for us was simply to see what it was that he did. I explained to my first grader that the large camera he had was also very young in terms of the history of photography and that what he accomplished was marvelous for his time. I also explained that today's equipment is able to do so much more. We turned to Libbrecht'sThe Snowflake-- being from Caltech he's probably a good one to take up the cause and the photos are incredible. My first grader loved them so much that we ended up getting the calendar, Snowflakes 2008 Calendar: Featuring the amazing micro-photography of Kenneth Libbrecht (Calendar). The high school student was more interested in the text, and I loved both.
   
   Since I was familiar with Bentley's photos I knew I was buying this one for historical interest to go along with the biographies and not for anything more -- therefore, I didn't experience any disappointment for it perhaps not being as good as other books mentioned.



5. I read Snowflake Bently to a group of four year old children. They loved the idea that it was a true story. The next day I presented this book and the kids couldn't get enough.

5 comments about The Acme Novelty Datebook.

1. beautiful drawings...no matter how self critical mr. ware was back in the day. the book really allows the reader into the head of a master illustrator. if you're looking more for a graphic novel, don't start with this one (try his first real freshman work jimmy c, or his ACME novelty library, probably my favorite - you get a real sense of what ware is all about - clean lines, insane, or better put, anal details). anyway, back to this one...great book, if you're a fan of ware, there's no reason not to get this one, and if you're not yet convinced, this is a nice piece just to have - these same drawings and doodles that once inspired ware himself, now get me thinking. love it.



2. I didn't think I would like this one. But after owning everything else the man ever made, I asked for this one for x-mas. Wow! I love it! There are spontaneous portraits of people on the bus, views from friend's rooftops, the rudiments of strips like: God, Jimmy the robot etc...
   If you are a Chris Ware fan YOU WILL LOVE THIS BOOK! If you are not familiar with Chris, best to start somewhere else.



3. The book is a record of an absolute monster drawing talent!
   It collects tentative investigations, as a scrapbook of ideas and odds and ends. The amazing thing about it is its vitality.
   Anything and everything becomes a source of inspiration and investigation into the nature of drawing. A coffee cup, a telephone in a waiting room, a washing machine, such mundane things seem to begin as notations but are transformed by Ware's observation of line and tone into their inner vitality - much like Van Gogh's peasant shoes. There are beautiful portraits. And beyond the observed notes, the book is positively brimming with characters, mutations, and cartoons from his eccentric imagination. The fantastical musings and the observed notations blend, merge together, separate like DNA strands through the book, adding up to a rich record of creativity



4. I just finished reading this, and it's a real treat. Fans of Jimmy Corrigan or Acme Novelty Library will enjoy drafts of these but expect differences in style. This gives a better look at Chris Ware than his other publications that I've read. You can really feel his frustrations in this work. I reccommend this to both fans and non-fans.



5. If you want to see inside Chris Ware's head, this is the book. There's next to no Jimmy Corrigan or Acme Novelty, just raw sketches of inspiration and internal struggle spanning 9 years of Ware's life (1986-1995). As an illustrator/designer, I found this book to be the most inspirational book I own, and I own many inspirational books. I definately recommend it.