Book Description
This is the ultimate recipe book for visual effects artists working in Apple Shake, Adobe After Effects, and Apple Motion. An impressive lineup of Hollywood and independent effects pros have pulled together this compendium of the coolest and most useful effects from A to Z ("Adding Clouds" to "Z-Depth Effects"). The book includes everything from practical everyday commercial techniques to breakdowns of well-known shots from blockbuster films. Readers learn to create light sabers from the artists who created them for Star Wars Episode 3; learn to freeze time from the wizard who invented the effect for The Matrix; and learn to create matte paintings from the pros who did them for Lord of the Rings. Coverage includes rotoscoping, painting, warping and distortion effects, dramatic lighting, adding lightening and fire, matchmoves, 3D CG integration techniques, advanced blue- and greenscreen techniques, and much more. DVD-ROM included. Foreword by Ron Brinkmann.
Customer Reviews:
Provides the building blocks to VFX with Shake........2007-06-27
Four stars. A fifth star would have been earned for a better indexing or cross-reference. Otherwise a top notch, very informative book.
I have experience with film making and with Editing on Final Cut Pro. I was new to VFX, but I'm not anymore after reading this book!
Having seen Shake in action, I wanted to learn more. This books focus on Shake and the fact that a trial version ships with the book is the reason I bought it.
This book is a reference book. It explains, in detail, terms used in the VFX industry (clean plate, matchmoving, etc.) that any filmmaker or budding VFX artist will need to know if even just to communicate clearly with VFX professionals. The entries in the book are punctuated with walk-through tutorials that show you how to accomplish (in Shake) the specific effect. This is a good thing.
I had a project on my suite that needed some pretty hefty FX work. This book armed me with the right concepts and understanding so that I could plan the steps I'd need to take to accomplish the FX. In my case it was turning the request to "Make that person a ghost" into build a clean background plate, rotoscope the actor, invent a ghosty look, and then put it all back together. Until I had read the book and understood the individual steps involved, I didn't know where to begin.
Overall, this is a very informative reference book written in a witty and accessible style. It is VERY Shake oriented, which is, again, WHY I bought it. This is the kind of book an FX pro (or newbie) will reference many times as they work on future projects.
Fine book.......2007-06-07
I was already aware of most of the topics covered in this book, but it helped understand them better and be able to explain accurately to anyone asking. Its also well updated to current industry standards. its in no way complete as an Encyclopedia, needs future voulmes to do that.
In short-A text book for every student of visual effects.
Cons: The DVD files can be accessed only in a MAC (not for PC).
A most complete textbook for VSFX..........2007-03-08
My humble congratulations to the authors who have teamed up with Apple to bring us (my Visual Effects Dept. students and I) a most complete textbook. In my opinion, this book rates in the current top five of all serious resources in the teaching & learning of Visual Effects at the College and Graduate levels. In addition to that, for those of us teaching compositing and matte painting, I would rate this book as the current number one textbook on these topics. A must-read, for a serious student of the Art and Craft of Visual Effects.
Deepest respects,
Prof. Tan TASCIOGLU,
Professor of Visual Effects, Savannah College of Art & Design
SCAD-Atlanta campus.
(Review posted: March 2007)
great reference material.......2007-02-24
great book for beginner to intermediate level vfx artists. the book works exactly as the title says, as an encyclopedia or a reference on how to approach specific problems/challenges that a vfx artist usually faces in production.
Good Contribution.......2007-01-29
For those reviewers who are complaining this book does not cover Adobe After Effects or Final Cut Pro should consider one major fact: the title. It's an Apple book dedicated to Apple software. After Effects (strangely enough) is NOT an Apple product. Furthermore, Shake is Apple's premier visual effects software, and promoting it is in their interests. People are glued to either Final Cut Pro or After Effects (I find both endearing and quite wonderful), and Shake is left out in the dust, even though it offers many aspects other software cannot.
In any case, the book doesn't cover EVERYTHING but it does enough. If you want a step-by-step guide to all the possible effects, I suggest you write your own book after years of experience. Or, you can spend $500 for a collection of books which will undoubtably cover many of the same topics.
This book is a good find. Won't disappoint you if your expectations aren't unreasonable.
Book Description
The fastest, easiest, most comprehensive way to learn Adobe After Effects 7!
Classroom in a Book, the best-selling series of hands-on software training workbooks, helps you learn the features of Adobe software quickly and easily. Classroom in a Book offers what no other book or training program does--an official training series from Adobe Systems Incorporated, developed with the support of Adobe product experts.
Adobe After Effects 7.0 Classroom in a Book contains eleven lessons and a bonus DVD with lesson files. The book covers the basics of learning Adobe After Effects, and countless tips and techniques to help you quickly become an After Effects artist. You'll get thorough training in digital video effects and production as well as learn about After Effects 7.0's new features, including motion tracking, powerful animation and keyframing controls, HDR color support, network rendering, and more. You can follow the book from start to finish or choose only those lessons that interest you.
Customer Reviews:
good intro, one flaw.......2007-07-11
good, basic intro to a professional tool. while it might not "be for beginners" as some have said, neither is after effects. the one problem i have with the book is that several of the lessons require effects that only come bundled with the Pro edition of AE7. given that the title of the book does not mention Pro, the authors should probably have taken more care to avoid using features limited to the Pro edition.
Average Tutorial from Adobe.......2007-04-05
Actually this is about what I expected from Adobe. It's a basic instruction book for After Effects 7 that shows a beginner some of the mechanics of the program. The lessons pull the reader through the steps needed to produce the required results without much explanation.
As another reviewer noted, the examples aren't that good. Watching the sample movies before doing the lessons, you find yourself saying "And why would I want to produce something like that?" Or maybe "It takes over an hour just for that 10 second cheezy cartoon?"
After Effects is an extremely powerful program that's used by many professionals in countless video applications. Watch any TV program and you'll surely see the results of what After Effects can do. Much additional instruction beyond this official training book from Adobe, that you have to pay extra for, is obviously required to get the most out of After Effects.
I just got 2 more books,"After Effects" by Fahs & Weinman and "Creative After Effects" by Taylor. I'll see how they compare with Adobe's book.
Update: After reading "Creative After Effects" by Angie Taylor, this Adobe Classroom in a Book looks like a Pulitzer prize winner in comparison. Don't even think about wasting your time on Taylor's so-called "book".
A must-have if you own After Effects!!!!.......2007-04-01
I sat for a solid week trying to make sense out of the confusing owner's manual for After Effects, and never got anywhere. After just the first "lesson" in this book, I already knew my way around in AE smoothly, and then with each lesson, I was accelerating rapidly with knowledge. The official AE owner's manual will definitely be tossed into a dark corner for a long time.... this Classroom In A Book should be listed as a manditory requirement for learning how to use AE. It is very easy to understand and takes you through some very cool steps to help you create videos like the pros. Without this book, I would still have no clue as to how to function inside AE.....If you want to learn how to use AE in a flash, then you HAVE to buy this book!!!!! I recommend it 100%!!!!!
Good~.......2007-03-19
Haven't used the CD yet but book arrived in a timely matter and in good shape. Thanks
Life Saver.......2007-03-16
I had a project that I needed to start and finish in a couple of weeks. I had trouble learning it until I received this book. Very helpful. My only issue is with DHL. I paid for 24 hour service and got it in about four work days.
Book Description
Well before Ajax and Microsoft's Windows Presentation Foundation hit the scene, Macromedia offered the first method for building web pages with the responsiveness and functionality of desktop programs with its Flash-based "Rich Internet Applications". Now, new owner Adobe is taking Flash and its powerful capabilities beyond the Web and making it a full-fledged development environment.
Rather than focus on theory, the ActionScript 3.0 Cookbook concentrates on the practical application of ActionScript, with more than 300 solutions you can use to solve a wide range of common coding dilemmas. You'll find recipes that show you how to:
- Detect the user's Flash Player version or their operating system
- Build custom classes
- Format dates and currency types
- Work with strings
- Build user interface components
- Work with audio and video
- Make remote procedure calls using Flash Remoting and web services
- Load, send, and search XML data
- And much, much more ...
Each code recipe presents the Problem, Solution, and Discussion of how you can use it in other ways or personalize it for your own needs, and why it works. You can quickly locate the recipe that most closely matches your situation and get the solution without reading the whole book to understand the underlying code. Solutions progress from short recipes for small problems to more complex scripts for thornier riddles, and the discussions offer a deeper analysis for resolving similar issues in the future, along with possible design choices and ramifications. You'll even learn how to link modular ActionScript pieces together to create rock-solid solutions for Flex 2 and Flash applications.
When you're not sure how ActionScript 3.0 works or how to approach a specific programming dilemma, you can simply pick up the book, flip to the relevant recipe(s), and quickly find the solution you're looking for.
Adobe Developer Library is a co-publishing partnership between O'Reilly Media and Adobe Systems, Inc. and is designed to produce the number one information resources for developers who use Adobe technologies. Created in 2006, the Adobe Developer Library is the official source for comprehensive learning solutions to help developers create expressive and interactive web applications that can reach virtually anyone on any platform. With top-notch books and innovative online resources covering the latest in rich Internet application development, the Adobe Developer Library offers expert training and in-depth resources, straight from the source.
Customer Reviews:
The title should be FLEX ActionScript 3.0.......2007-09-26
I bought this book because I wanted to learn how to use AS3 over AS2. This book claims to be a ActionScript 3.0 which it is, but ONLY if you have the Flex Application.
I don't have Adobe Flex but I would like to learn ActionScript 3.0 - this is too advanced for me and the applications aren't what I thought they would be.
This book may be good for advanced users of ActionScript but for someone like me who was just getting used to ActionScript 2.0 and wants to learn how AS3 works- it's the worst book you can buy.
As much as I like O'Reilly books, I feel this book is misleading.
Novice to Advanced users may think otherwise.
A Poor Sequel to Actionscript Cookbook.......2007-09-17
Here's an example of why this book deserves just one star (if that!):
Cre{2}l matches creel but not crel or creel
This example was taken from the section on regular expressions. There are other inaccuracies on that page. Overall, this book is riddled with inadequate, poor explanations that appear to typify the worse of IT personnel - bad communications skills. Anyone who gives this book high marks has not read the book entirely and is relying only on reputation.
Here's another example:
var example:RegExp = /(\d)abc(\d*)/;
var result:Array = example.exec( "7abc" );
// Displays: 3
trace( result.length );
// Displays: 7abc
trace( result[0] );
// Displays: 7
trace( result[1] );
// Displays:
trace( result[2] );
Notice that the last display is missing. Really sloppy work. Not convinced? Try it at your own peril.
Skip this book.
Disappointing.......2007-09-13
I have many O'Reilly books and I sorry to say this is my first diappointment. Many of the recipies are simply slight extensions of obvious constructs that are essentially just part of the Actionscipt language rather than interesting examples of how to put Actionscript to work or clever work-arounds as can be found in, for instance, the Perl Cookbook. To take one example, the multi-dimensional array recipe pretty much rehashes the Flash documentation - an array declared at 'compile time' - rather than expanding on it and showing the less trivial example of, for instance, a dynamicaly declared array.
What is normally useful about the Cookbooks is that they are an excellent way to learn a new language for people who prefer to learn by example, deconstructing code rather than trawling through an enumeration of the elements of a language in a manual-type book. Most of the examples in this are sadly not complex enough to work this way - they're too close to a one-concept-at-a-time manual - to show you how different elements of the language can acually work together to tackle full real-world programming tasks.
Great book on Actionscript..........2007-09-05
I've been learning Flex 2 and wanted to know a bit more about Actionscript and this book delivered! Plenty of good examples that have given me a MUCH better understanding of Actionscript. I never really learned much about Flash and so never wrote one line of Actionscript until I started to learn Flex (if you haven't heard about Flex yet go to Adobe.com and read up about it, it's pretty cool) and the books I had would show about 1/2 Actionscript and 1/2 mxml. So after getting a good understanding in mxml and basic Actionscript I wanted to learn more and this book was a big help. If you're even remotely interested in learning Actionscript this is the book to get!
The end of a tunnel.......2007-08-04
I consider myself as an early adopter of anything in interactive communication. I founded my company Falcomedia in 1989 with only one goal: to produce interactive multimedia communication. By then only possible on Mac's with programs like Hypercard, Supercard (in color) or Macromind's Director (called Videoworks by then). I definately see AS3 as the end of a tunnel and the start of really great things to come. It's possible now, no workarounds, pure OOP and this book is basic.
Read als Keith Peter's Actionsript 3.0 Animation and let your visions flow. I can't see anything stopping us from bringing good UI, quality design, functionalty, efficient production and scalability to the next generation of the web.
Peter Bohny, Falcomedia Systems AG, Switzerland
Book Description
Ready to learn the visual effects techniques used at such leading-edge studios as Industrial Light + Magic and The Orphanage? Adobe After Effects 7.0 Studio Techniques inspires you to take your work to the next level with real-world examples and insider techniques. With this under-the-hood, in-depth guide to Adobe's updated motion graphics and effects powerhouse, you'll get complete coverage of all the big features in After Effects 7.0: High dynamic range (HDR) 32 bit per channel color compositing, cinema preview and color management, a redesigned user interface, a new Graph Editor to animate using explicit translation curves, retiming effects using Timewarp, and dozens of other enhancements. Get blockbuster results without the big budget as you delve deep into the essence of visual effects. This book goes beyond conventional step-by-step instruction, teaching you bread-and-butter effects that you can adapt and combine for countless projects.
- Real solutions from real professionals: learn the techniques and approach used to create shots for big-budget special effects films.
- Compositing essentials: No matter how sophisticated the effect, they all begin with the same building blocks. Find out what you've been missing about color and light matching, keying, motion tracking, rotoscoping, working with film, and more.
- Advanced techniques: Your goal should be effects so good that no one notices them. From sky replacement to explosions, from smoke to fire, learn to bring your shots to life and enhance scenes without anyone ever knowing what they're seeing isn't 100% real.
- Companion CD-ROM: Professional tools produce professional results. The book’s companion disc includes plenty of sample projects including HD footage from Pixel Corps and the Artbeats Digital Film Library, as well as more than a dozen plug-ins and programs that you can use to build up and customize your own effects.
Customer Reviews:
Great Book, one to keep by your side while in AE.......2007-08-24
This book is everything I had expected it to be. Not a tutorial book, but more a reference tool. Get in a jam, look it up and you will get ideas on how to get out, or workarounds.
Good for intermediate and advanced users.......2007-05-15
This book is good for people that know how to use After Effects already. It's a good book though full of illustrations and tips but lacks tutorials which would enrich the book a little more...If you are looking for a book to start using After Effects the best book is Adobe After Effects 7 Hands-On Training from Chad Fahs with Lynda Weinman. You read that book and you learn everything needed to work with After Effets 7, Full of tutorials, hi quality paper, color print, and tips all over the book. Simply amazing!
ESSENTIAL FOR VIZ F/X AND COMPOSITING.......2007-04-02
This updated edition improves on the 6.5 book in a number of ways. First, you have tutorials to practice the concepts. AE7 added new features that Mark makes sense of, namely 32 bit float. And he expands on topics and details. I literally compared 6.5 to 7, page by page. Though I owned 6.5, it's worth it to get this update, if for the tutorials alone.
This said, no one else has made easier sense of visual effects compositing. No one. All the other books are really directed at Shake. Which is great if you own or understand Shake. But if you own AE7, or the AECS3, you owe it to yourself to get this. You can live without the Classroom in the Book, not Studio Techniques.
As a final digression, this really is like the source for DV Rebel's Guide. They do not overlap material, but DV Rebel's Guide touches on issues that a crucial, but the author rightfully defers to this book for the indepth analysis and practices. So if you want to go further, look to DV Rebel's Guide. And if you got Rebel's guide and are confused by some issues, look here first.
Superb, Practical Advice.......2006-12-31
Practical is without doubt the best way to describe 'Studio Techniques.' Christiansen has written a book filled with very practical and powerful advice that is sure to delight. Learning to create effects is fundamentally all about two things:
1) Learning to think like a visual effects artist
and
2) Learning to think like After Effects
Christiansen does a superb job of melding these two together. His examples, while very useful for their specific results alone, are perhaps more useful in learning how to approach problems and solve them in the After Effects paradigm.
As an added bonus, 'Studio Techniques' is also riddled with very useful tips and notes that provide additional creative insight and warnings on oddities that occur, their cause, and how to solve them.
Turbo Chage Your Compositing.......2006-11-15
This is NOT a book to help you create your first AE project. You must already be comfortable with the program before you open the cover of this book. But, once you can walk, this book will help you run. You will learn the dark secrets of the hollywood masters of the mystic art of compositing.
Book Description
"An excellent book for beginners as well as advanced 3ds Max users. A valuable reference that covers everything you'd want to know."
--Andre Surya, Award-winning Digital Artist
A favorite of 3ds Max artists from beginners to pros!
Why is 3ds Max Bible a perennial bestselling favorite? Because whether you're a beginner looking for a tutorial to get you up to speed your first day or an expert needing a reference to Max's advanced features, it's all here. Loaded with advice, professional tips, and more than 150 step-by-step lessons, this is the most comprehensive reference-tutorial on 3ds Max on the market, and the one you'll turn to again and again.
* Organize and blend sequences with the new Animation Layers feature
* Explore Sun and Sky, Car Paint, and other new mental ray shaders
* Combine and divide objects with ProBoolean and ProCutter
* Create more accurate dynamic animations with updated reactor tools
* Add greater realism with enhanced and integrated hair and fur tools
* Reference objects, materials, and controllers with XRef
Animate a dancing cartoon moose
Isolate mapping surfaces with the Quick Planar map button
Add realistic motion to your model's hairstyle
What's on the DVD?
You'll find before-and-after example files for every tutorial in the book. The DVD also includes:
* Models and textures to customize for your own designs
* Rendered AVI files of animations used in the tutorials
* All the Max files for every tutorial
* Adobe tryout versions of After Effects(r), Photoshop(r) CS2, Illustrator(r) CS2, and Premiere Pro
System Requirements: See the DVD appendix for details and complete system requirements.
Customer Reviews:
greatest.......2007-10-01
I'm begginer but the book has step by step about the software.
A bible, really... Really great!
Detailed but under-illustrated.......2007-09-17
This is an excellent and highly detailed reference for the program 3ds Max 9. As near as I can tell it mentioned every button and command that 3ds Max has available. My main criticism is that it is highly under-illustrated. While every function and button is mentioned, as a beginner to 3ds Max, I found that I often could not find the command being referred to in the text, whereas a screen shot would have quickly, and clearly shown what I should look for. In addition, since 3ds Max is such a sophisticated and detailed program which is great, it is often not readily apparent how all the various settings and parameters that can be entered for a given effect should be used. This book mentions most, if not all of the parameters, but examples as to how they are used in an actual project would have been good. There are short tutorials on the main features of the program, but these are generally restricted to singe effects. This book is probably for a more advanced user who is familiar with all the commands and knows how to use them to create a 3d scene, but would like a more detailed explanation of various functions in 3ds Max. Definitely well written though, and the DVD with the material and software described in the examples is great.
Done it again!.......2007-08-04
I've had two of these books over the years. They are fantastic reference to have.
Excellent.......2007-07-17
Perfect for beginners...after the opening tutorial, step-by-step walkthrough to understanding all aspects of the program. Would reccomend to anyone!
OOPS missing 1059-1154.......2007-06-24
This is a good book, Wiley Publishing messed things up though. It is missing over a 100 pages. As soon as I got it I searched for the chapters on MaxScript and detected the omission. The book itself is great; but the publishers omission is not acceptable. I have informed Amazon about this and hopefully they will recover the missing chapters. The DVD does have a complete version of the book which is very helpful in the interim.
Book Description
In the only Apple-certified guide to advanced video editing techniques, award-winning filmmaker Michael Wohl delivers comprehensive training in the real-world skills that professionals use every day. Working through six hours of superb raw footage on two DVD-9 discs, you’ll learn to cut dialogue, action, comedy, chases, fights, interviews, documentaries, music videos, and multi-camera projects, as well as complete an entire audio mix.
Unlike other software books, Wohl teaches you to use Final Cut Pro’s advanced features while you explore the art of crafting a story on film. So, for example, rather than just learn how dynamic trimming works, you’ll learn why it works and in what situations you’d want to use it. And as you perfect your split edits, you’ll learn to match angles, cut for reactions, and use cutaways and inserts effectively in dialogue. You’ll discover how editing choices make comedy funny, drama moving, or chases suspenseful. Along the way, Wohl shares valuable tips on creating polished transitions, refining rough edits, and fixing screen direction errors. The book also covers audio editing and finishing, managing clips and media, transcoding video, and working with film and 24p—all in the context of making you a better editor and a more effective storyteller.
• DVD-ROM includes lesson and media files for over 40 hours of training
• Focused lessons take you step-by-step through practical, real-world projects
• Accessible writing style puts an expert instructor at your side
• Ample illustrations and keyboard shortcuts help you master techniques fast
• Lesson goals and time estimates help you plan your time
• Chapter review questions summarize what you’ve learned
The Apple Pro Training Series is both a self-paced learning tool and the official curriculum of the Apple Pro Training and Certification Program. Upon completing the course material in this book, you can become a certified Apple Pro by taking the certification exam at an Apple Authorized Training Center. To find an Authorized Training Center near you, go to www.apple.com/software/pro/training.
About the Author
Michael Wohl is best known as one of the principal designers of Final Cut Pro, a role he held for more than five years. As a director and editor, he has won numerous awards including the coveted CINE Golden Eagle award in 1993. Michael’s films have been featured in film festivals worldwide, and his first feature, “WANT,” will be released on DVD in 2006. He has taught classes on editing, directing, and digital filmmaking at institutions including the American Film Institute, UCLA, and Pixar University, and has been a featured speaker at film festivals and conferences including DV Expo, South by Southwest, and Macworld Expo.
Customer Reviews:
Variety and quality.......2007-03-31
The book presents a really useful range of techniques structured in an appropriate sequence that builds skills. The overall quality of the book is very good. Highly recommended.
Beyond nuts and bolts.......2007-03-21
This is not just another "how to" book it goes beyond the technical to cover the why of editing. The author uses actual feature film footage to convey the decision process for the art of editing.
highly recommended! more than a how-to manual. .......2007-02-17
This extraordinary book/dvd set is much more than a simple "how-to" manual. And, in its own way, it's all really more than a book on editing. It really addresses the entire film making process, albeit from the POV of an editor. Possibly it is most valuable in its emphasis on tone and genre. The exercises are truly instructive, in every sense of the word. My own method of getting through the lessons was to read the chapter all the way through, first. Then go back, at the computer, with the footage loaded and follow, step-by-step. One word of warning - this really is an advanced program. I don't suggest getting this book as a primer for first time users. Get it if you already have some proficiency with the basics of FCP. Otherwise I think it'll be a bit overwhelming. For me, this way actually better than sitting in a classroom learning from a live teacher (something I've done, as well). Highly recommended.
Great Product.......2007-02-15
I haven't exactly read this book yet, but I do own one and love it. It's so helpful. If anyone is interested in editing these are great books to read.
Great Training for FCP Certification.......2006-07-19
It is great to have a project ready to start editing on a moments notice and really provides some valuable working experience that will help you with a real job. Enjoy! This book is great resource for intermediate editors who wish to start the journey to be an advanced Final Cut Pro. I have enjoyed the entire Apple Training Series, the only thing I don't like about them is that it seems that a new book with a lot of similar material will come out every year depending on the FC studio releases.
Book Description
The most comprehensive way to learn Adobe Premiere Pro!
Classroom in a Book, the best-selling series of hands-on software training workbooks, helps you learn the features of Adobe software quickly and easily. Classroom in a Book offers what no other book or training program does--an official training series from Adobe Systems Incorporated, developed with the support of Adobe product experts.
Adobe Premiere 2.0 Classroom in a Book contains fourteen lessons and a bonus DVD with lesson files. The book covers the basics of learning Adobe Premiere Pro, and countless tips and techniques to help you become more productive with its new features, including new multicam editing tools, auto-creation of menu-based DVDs from the timeline, and Native HD, SD and HDV support, and more. You'll learn how to work with audio, create transitions and titles, manipulate subclips and virtual clips, and more. You can follow the book from start to finish or choose only those lessons that interest you.
Customer Reviews:
Doesn't work on Macs.......2007-08-18
1 star because I was unable to open the files on a Mac. 0 stars for Amazon not mentioning anywhere on this page that the DVD rom won't work on a Mac. The book is probably as great as others have said. I've had other books from these folks and they were very good. The book I received clearly says "DVD included for Windows" in the lower left hand corner. Try clicking on the picture of this book and enlarging: The exclusion is not there. If you have a Mac look elsewhere, I'm sending mine back.
If You're Serious About Learning Premiere Pro 2 This is the Book to Get.......2007-06-09
At this writing I'm about halfway through the book. I've run across one or two typos and one case where the title templates weren't available for a particular lesson (that's probably more of a problem with my version of Premiere than this book & DVD). I'm going through this book cover to cover rather than spending $900+ on UCLA Extension classes that I can't afford, especially when I don't know if I'll end up getting any work after investing that time and money. This is supposed to be the same book that they use for their classes. I know of someone who learned this software the same way and is working full time as an editor now. If you're serious about learning Premiere Pro 2 this is the book to get.
Good book very poor editor.......2007-03-12
Adobe Premiere Pro 2.0 Classroom in a Book is a good book for beginners if you can get past the numerous grammatical, spelling, and incorrect and missing steps found throughout the book.
I would recommend this book but only after warning people that sometimes it gets a little frustrating when you have to re-read the same sentence over and over trying to figure out what the author is talking about, since two or three steps are missing.
If I was the author of this book I would be asking the editor (that is if there was any) for my money back.
Excelent.......2007-01-09
Need nothing more than this book.It has exactly what I needed to know.Of course, I needed to work deep inside instructions, several times. However, I feel like a master on the subject. Even though, we all recognize We are all advancing on the subject ,and it changes constantly and fast
Well worth the time........2007-01-05
I was actually put off by the Adobe press books after going over their enclosed "manuals". But this book gets you into the program in a manner that is teaching and reasonably pleasant. If you can make yourself stick with the lesson format, following the described steps, you will learn the basics of this program. And for Premiere Pro, that is saying a lot. This will help that scary learning curve.
Amazon.com
If you have been using After Effects for years, have just started using it, or are considering using it, get this book. Written by Trish and Chris Meyer, perhaps best known for their monthly motion-graphics column in DV Magazine, Creating Motion Graphics with After Effects is the definitive book on using this powerful tool.
Every page is in color and is filled with tips, notes, warnings, and screenshots. The format is clearly not boilerplate--there is no wasted space, yet the book manages to strike a balance between being information-packed, easy-to-read, and enjoyable to look at. The only downside of this book is that it doesn't have a spiral or lie-flat binding.
Nine sections break down the features of After Effects in a logical manner, starting with basic animation and key framing, and on to layers, masks, mattes, effects, and rendering. Part 6's four chapters explain using After Effects with its sister applications, Photoshop and Illustrator, and Part 7 covers audio--an important but rarely discussed aspect of any presentation. Part 9 features a wide array of technical discussions, including field rendering and interlacing, 3:2 pull-down, working at film-resolution and widescreen sizes, prerendering, and using proxy files.
The CD-ROM gives 22 tutorials and includes project files. These lessons range from the basic ("Getting Animated" for After Effects beginners) to what falls into the "Oh, wow, I would never have thought of that!" category (a Matrix title-sequence look-alike). The CD-ROM also includes all the projects and source files cited in each chapter, plus tech tips covering 12 difficult and common technical areas--including alpha channels, the aspect ratio, and the After Effects rendering pipeline.
An artisan at the top of his or her craft often takes on the task of teaching others. Those working in the fields of animation, effects, motion graphics, and digital media are lucky that authors Trish and Chris Meyer are living by this rule. --Mike Caputo
Book Description
Discover the experts' techniques for creating award-winning animation, composites and special effects for TV, film and more-with Creating Motion Graphics with After Effects by Trish and Chris Meyer. Dozens of inspiring examples help you break through to new heights of creativity and proficiency.
This color-packed book starts with the fundamentals of Adobe After Effects 4.1 and progresses step by step. The authors offer real-world explanations of how the program works, and a CD-ROM of example projects showing each concept in action. Hands-on tutorials demonstrate creative techniques, shortcuts, and tricks you can apply to your own art, using both the Standard and Production versions of After Effects.
For users of all levels, topics include:
- Mastering complex animation and keyframe assistants
- Creating transparency with alpha channels, masks and keying
- Transfer modes, rack mattes and numerous effects tips and tricks
- Building hierarchies of nested compositions
- Working with fields, DV, NTSC, PAL, widescreen and film
The companion CD-ROM contains hundreds of movies, stills, objects and audio clips, plus free plug-ins and more. It also includes the tryout version of Adobe After Effects 4.1 for Mac and Windows.
Customer Reviews:
Questions Answered.......2004-12-15
Excellent book. I can't put it down. It's giving the answers to my questions. The AE manual is dry with short descriptions. AE CIB is OK for teaching where to click etc. This book tells the whys, hows, etc. Detailed but easy to read.
Too Difficult For Beginner.......2004-08-26
Well, I bought this book after the glowing reviews. But in all frankness, I found the beginning chapters and tutorial to be very difficult to follow. The authors do write that in this book, you are immediately thrown into the AE process...they weren't kidding.
Rather than start a newbie off with a simple composition, they throw a very complicated at you from the get go. I'm pushing buttons and following instructions the best I can, but for the life of me, I don't understand the process. It would have been much better for them to start off with an explanation of all the buttons, switches, boxes, icons, commands, etc.
So, if you're new to AE, I'd steer clear of this one. I've already been through the first tutorial twice, and it still doesn't come any easier. Yes, I do realize that AE is complicated software, but there's GOT to be a better way to present the material!
I am probably destined for an actual classroom training course just to first get over the hump....and I'm a 25 year veteran of film/video production. Photoshop and Illustrator...no sweat.
Other than that, the book looks like it has a lot of good stuff in it...but it will collect dust on my shelf.
PM
If your serious about making a living using Ae.......2002-10-04
I Have the videos ...I have the books, they are all collecting dust except for this one. Trish and Chris Meyer are the Ae guru's. I have been using Ae for about 2 yr.s and I have dramatically increased my income because of this book. Now all the :30 and 1:00 commercials I do are done in After Effects. I strongly recommend this book for an intermediate to experienced editor wanting to break into motion graphics and compositing. This book is guaranteed to raise your IQ (and could quite possibly help in raising your income).
A to Y.......2002-06-07
I was a beginner and this was all I ever used to learn AE. I left out the Z b/c obviously they must have left out a technique or two, but otherwise this is all you need to get up and running. Forget the videos others offer, they're a waste of time and money. There's plenty of online support and training offered from various user groups, some with FREE video clips. LES MEYERS get an A+++++ from this DV Editor.
Essential for any after effects user.......2002-05-01
I've been a long time fan of the Meyers' column on DV magazine, so when I heard they were publishing a book I knew it would be great. I think that this book and it's companion After Effects in Production should be in every motion graphics artists personal library. The tutorials are beautifully explained and illustrated. Even advanced users learn new ways of doing things. For what I've seen beginers can use it as a text book and follow it sequentially, for advanced users it's a great reference book that completly substitutes the original manuals.
Book Description
Hollywood Special Effects with Adobe Premiere Elements 3 is a book that will help users get to the next level in video editing, and that next level goes beyond simply splicing together clips and creating simple titles. In no time readers will be overlaying multiple tracks of videos and adjusting transparency; creating Picture-in-Picture overlays; using key frames and motion paths; setting and refining greenscreens and bluescreens; using color effects for emotional impact; and a whole range of other special effects to help them tell their story. What sets this book apart is the author's expertise in carefully showing readers how to execute each of these effects step-by-step in a clear and friendly writing style. With this book, budding filmmakers will be well on their way to becoming the next George Lucas! The accompanying DVD contains royalty free music, sound effects, and video clips from Artbeats, Digital Juice, TwistedTracks, and the Footage Firm (among others).
Customer Reviews:
Hollywood for PREL 3.......2007-08-23
The book describes how to do about 20 special effects using Adobe Premiere Elements, Ver. 3.0. The author does an excellent job of describing the effects and how to set them up. I would have liked the book much more if the author described how to do many more special effects. I am left wishing I could do things I have seen in other people's work that are not covered in this book.
Hollywood Special Effects...Excellent!.......2007-08-19
This book is one of the best instructional pieces I have ever seen. I am very pleased I selected it. Carl Plummer has done a wonderful job of extracting and presenting Adobe's material in a way everyone can understand it. The detailed instructional layout and photos are far superior to Adobe's boring, and exhausting operation manual, which appears to be written by engineers and techs with no clue to the learning curve of the consumer. I would like to see a manual written by Carl on Photoshop Elements 5 as well.
Hollywood Special Effects.......2007-06-01
The book is a compilation of special effects and how to do them in Premiere Elements. Well almost. The first tutorial did not look anything like the original SW opener. But I still learned a lot from it.
Hollywood Special Effects with Adobe Premier Elements 3.......2007-06-01
This is most definitely a book which is worthy of its 5 star rating. It is well written and well illustrated with screen shots tied to easy to follow step-by-step instructions. Overall, it forms a good base for many effects one could only guess at on their own; but inspires one to think about how the included effects could be used in our own work. Also like that the included DVD contains all of the project video, music and sound effects. Great book - well worth the money.
This is way to learn Adobe Premiere Elements.......2007-03-29
The book is excellent guide to using Premiere software. The CD has all the material and style of writing is excellent. All user guides should be written this way. As others have said before, the book will inspire you to create better videos. So happy splicing and dicing.
Book Description
This book offers introductory-to-advanced material on all major aspects of multimedia, including pointers to current links for information and demos at the most advanced level, to form a complete reference. Topics covered include introduction to multimedia, graphics/image data representations, color models in images and video, basics of digital audio, lossy compression, image compression standards, basic video compression techniques, basic audio compression techniques, multimedia networks, and more. For professionals involved in Computer-Aided Engineering, Computer Systems Organization, Computer-Communication Networks, Computing Methodologies, Coding and Information Theory, or anyone interested in a good reference on current multimedia technologies.
Customer Reviews:
Good textbook.......2006-04-18
I use this book as a textbook for an undergraduate course on Multimedia Application Development (together with Guzdial's book on Squeak).
It's a good book if you want to know about the way multimedia content is encoded and transmitted. It's not very deep but, as I mentioned, I use it for an undergraduate course...
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