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Real World Compositing with Adobe Photoshop CS4 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is really an instruction manual on how to sell a book with a misleading title and virtually no useful content for a hefty price. I kept waiting for the authors to quit wasting time and actually get to the "Industrial-strength Imaging Techniques" promised on the cover. It never happened. After 200 pages of filler, there are a few actual examples of compositing, but nothing you couldn't readily find online for free. A complete disappointment, especially considering it's published in association with Adobe Press. Some free advice for Adobe Press: before you put your name on it, try passing it by one of your editors, eh?

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In Real World Compositing with Adobe Photoshop CS4, Photoshop experts Scott Valentine and Dan Moughamian explain the key elements involved in planning and executing a composite imaging project. Readers will learn about the importance of the planning process, including tips on how to develop creative ideas and stay organized as their project evolves. In addition, they will pick up vital techniques for acquiring and perfecting source images in Photoshop CS4, before bringing them together as a seamless composite. The powerful new 3D features found in the Extended edition are also discussed as part of a 2D-3D workflow.Serious photographers and digital artists wishing to produce photo-realistic imagery or surrealistic artwork by blending—or compositing—multiple images and light sources can learn all they need to know right here. Building from the reader's existing skill set of Photoshop fundamentals, the authors provide detailed examples and explanations that cover the newest features in Photoshop CS4 and also utilize a variety of tools and software applications.More than just a Photoshop guide, this book takes a holistic approach, instructing readers on photographic planning and techniques, key design concepts, visual perception, and robust image editing techniques. This is an increasingly popular approach which requires the digital artist to become more involved in the presentation and concept of their images. Real World Compositing with Photoshop CS4 delivers the information readers need, to produce the best possible composite imagery.

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Adobe Dreamweaver CS3 with ASP, ColdFusion, and PHP: Training from the Source Review

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(More customer reviews)I have quite a bit of experience building static sites and pages and realized the importance of expanding my understanding of building dynamic sites. I have a pretty good understanding of using Dreamweaver but am just getting started on using Dreamweaver CS3. I was hoping to get a better idea of how to use all of the new features in CS3 while also specifically learning php. I got more than I bargained for. Specifically, I was not aware of the differences between ASP, ColdFusion and PHP. Now, I have a much better feel of which one to use for different situations.
One of the things that struck me right away is that anyone, regardless of your current level of experience, that is interested in using Dreamweaver can start out with this book. For those of you who already have Dreamweaver experience, you can speed through a few of the first parts but it is always great to see how someone else approaches things.
The tutorials and sample files were great and very easy to use - very intuitive and the sequential steps made lots of sense. I am still in the process of implementing all of the things I am learning. As a result of using this book, I am now planning to revise an existing static site and launch a new dynamic site. I love the way the book is written - very practical. I almost feel like the authors are having a dialog with me all along the way.
I would strongly recommend this book to anyone that wants to learn how to use Dreamweaver CS3 to build dynamic websites and applications.

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Designed for intermediate Web designers and developers with no previous experience with programming or server-side technology. Adobe Dreamweaver CS3 with ASP, ColdFusion and PHP: Training from the Source has been fully-updated, not just for the latest version of Dreamweaver but for today's Web. It's now standards--compliant, with a site created using one of Dreamweaver's brand-new CSS templates, that includes Ajax elements in the dynamic site design. Users ready to take the next step and make their Web sites interactive will find the same easy-to-read, logical, well-constructed projects, but with a site based on the latest Web technology.

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Dreamweaver CS3 for Windows and Macintosh Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I read the other reviews and had to comment.
This book is NOT a technical manual, nor a step-by-step on how to design websites. Rather, it is a COMPANION book on how to use DreamWeaver. If you are familiar with other Adobe products, then you will appreciate that DreamWeaver maintains many similarities. If you are NOT familiar with Adobe products, then you are in for a major learning experience!
Let's get one thing straight right off the bat ... DreamWeaver is a highly complex program that is NOT meant for just any [dingbat] one to pick up on a whim and design the "perfect" website. You actually have to know how to read and understand (X)HTML, you can't just plop a site together without knowing this. Just because you CAN use the WYSIWYG interface doesn't mean you can do that exclusively.
If you are used to using FrontPage, then you have a RUDE awakening when it comes to the difference between that and DreamWeaver.
This book was the required book for the class in Web Design with DreamWeaver that I enrolled in (at an actual school) and completed very successfully.
This book is EXACTLY what the title states: a "quick start". It in no way ever implies that it is anything other than that! It is there as a gentle nudge. It is NOT there as a guided class!
AND, it NEVER EVER states that it teaches CSS ... NEVER!! Maybe you thought that "CS3" was the same as "CSS"??
If you are looking for an entire "class in a book" strictly on DreamWeaver, then I recommend the "Missing Manual" by O'Reilly and/or the "Classroom in A Book" series from Adobe Press.
If you are looking for a book on CSS (cascading style sheets), then you want the "Head First" series entitled "HTML with CSS & XHTML", or the Visual Quick Start book entitled "HTML, XHTML & CSS" ... DUH!! I mean, really - make sure you buy the correct book for what you want to learn! If you don't, then DON'T BLAME THE BOOK!!
I use this book as a reference quite often, and to remind myself how to do certain functions in DreamWeaver. It has a great index, and the appendices are very informative.
Also, the website is as complete as it can be. They give you the links for the resources in the book. There is only one "errata" that relates to using a Mac, and it's listed on the site.
About emailing ... they specifically say to READ THE FAQ'S FIRST. There is a disclaimer about them NOT being able to answer each and every email on page xiv of the book - so quit griping about that! Read the FAQ's, or get a teacher! [such a freakin' whiner you are M.F.Summy.]
I wish people would THINK before posting a negative review. There is value in every book. Before you buy it, look through it either online or in a book store! Whether you bought the proper one for your needs is NOT the book's fault! Grow up!

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With the release of Adobe Creative Suite CS3, Dreamweaver is now partof the world's leading suite of creative tools, making it the de factotool of choice for anyone designing for the Web. Adobe Dreamweaver CS3for Windows and Macintosh: Visual QuickStart Guide uses a combinationof task-based instruction and strong visuals to teach beginning andintermediate users how to create, design, and publish powerful,innovative Web sites with Dreamweaver. Leading technology authors TomNegrino and Dori Smith take readers step-by-step through the newfeatures in Adobe Dreamweaver CS3, with all new chapters on buildingdynamic pages with Ajax and Spry, and designing for mobile devices.They also cover improvements to using styles and CSS in Dreamweaver,and the new Browser Compatibility Check in Dreamweaver CS3. Beginningusers will learn to create their first Web site, add text, style andposition page content, manage styles, work with links, incorporateimages, media, tables, forms, and frames, design site navigation, andso much more. Experienced users will find this a convenient referenceto the new features of Dreamweaver CS3.

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Dreamweaver CS4 for Windows and Macintosh: Visual QuickStart Guide Review

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(More customer reviews)This is an excellent resource book. It is written for both the the beginner and the advanced user. I have read a wide variety of books on this subject, I have found this to be the easiest, best text.

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With the release of Adobe Creative Suite CS4, Dreamweaver solidifies its role as the de facto tool of choice for anyone using Photoshop and designing for the Web. Adobe Dreamweaver CS4 for Windows and Macintosh: Visual QuickStart Guide uses a combination of task-based instruction and strong visuals to teach beginning and intermediate users how to create, design, and publish powerful, innovative Web sites with Dreamweaver. Leading technology authors Tom Negrino and Dori Smith take readers step-by-step through the new features in Adobe Dreamweaver CS4, with completely revised chapters on critical tools like linking and including images and Flash animations. They also cover improvements to using styles and CSS in Dreamweaver, and the new Code Navigator in Dreamweaver CS4. Beginning users will learn to create their first Web site, add text, style and position page content, manage styles, work with links, incorporate images, media, tables, forms, and frames, design site navigation, and so much more. Experienced users will find this a convenient reference to the new features of Dreamweaver CS4.

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Web Design All-in-One For Dummies Review

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(More customer reviews)What I really loved about this book is the emphasis on topics most other web design books skip over such as planning, researching, getting content together to create a successful website. I'd recommend this to people just getting started learning web design or a seasoned professionals that just want to get more value out of their own website projects.

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Web designers must wear many hats. Among books on Web design, Web Design All-in-One For Dummies is the one that helps you successfully wear all those hats without losing your head.
Full-color illustrations and five self-contained minibooks show you how to be a graphic designer, creative organizer, visual communicator, markup language technologist, and cutting-edge trendsetter, all in one. This book helps you lay the groundwork, follow design rules, test your site, register a domain name, and much more.
Getting Started covers planning, defining your target audience, choosing the right software, and more
Designing For the Web acquaints you with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, plus how to choose a layout and optimize graphics
Building Web Sites gets down to nuts and bolts: putting text, images, hyperlinks, and multimedia files together, organizing content, and building navigation systems
Web Standards & Testing teaches you how to test and validate so everyone can enjoy your site
Publishing & Site Maintenance helps you get your site online and keep it current

Web Design All-in-One For Dummies also helps you learn how to choose a Web editor and graphics program, how to make your site accessible to the widest possible audience, and when it's time to call in a pro like author Sue Jenkins. It's just what you need to start and manage a great site.

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Digital Drawing for Landscape Architecture: Contemporary Techniques and Tools for Digital Representation in Site Design Review

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(More customer reviews)Bradley Cantrell and Wes Michaels have authored a concise and beautifully illustrated book. They know their stuff and it shows. The book presents a detailed overview of digital methods, graphics and tools used in landscape architecture and related design professions. The clearly written content encompasses varying software and graphic. The images are excellent representatives of the graphics and methods the book's content advocates.
The book focuses on the creation of graphics type and not just on specific graphic programs. The authors took into account the flexibility in which many designers create representative graphics. This smart approach allows the book to center on the creation of rich representations of the landscape, but still delve in to the specifics of the programs used by design students and professionals.
Each chapter and section demonstrates varying techniques. From using Photoshop to create sections and plan graphics, to scaling and working with aerials. The authors demonstrate how to integrate CAD with Adobe Illustrator in an easy but important workflow. The book reviews a variety of 3D modeling programs including 3D Max and SketchUp and the type of graphics these programs can generate. One favorite chapter includes a step-by-step tutorial on creating Photoshop Perspective Collage. And this is just a sampling of what the book contains. The comprehensive nature of the book is phenomenal.
The authors move the discussion beyond just `how to' and discuss digital theory. Of particular note is a dialogue on how current digital methods are directly informed by the tradition of ink, pen and paper which was the backbone of graphic representation for decades. Framing the book's methods in the long tradition of hand-drawn illustrations emphasizes why design practitioners must read and use this book; it's a milestone in bringing the design community up to date to the level that design should be represented and practiced.
The book's approach and theories on digital presentation will elevate professionals and students practicing landscape architecture and related fields.
Daniel Tal, author of Google SketchUp for Site Design: A guide to Modeling Site Plans, Terrain and Architecture

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For a hundred years, pencil, pen, markers, and watercolor have been the principal tools of representation for landscape architects and urban planners. Today, those hand-powered aids have been replaced by computers and Computer-aided design (CAD). Digital Drawing for Landscape Architects bridges the gap between the traditional analog and the new digital tools and shows you how to apply timeless concepts of representation to enhance your design work in digital media.
Building on the tried-and-true principles of analog representation, Digital Drawing for Landscape Architecture explores specific techniques for creating landscape design digitally. It explains the similarities and differences between analog and digital rendering, and then walks you through the steps of creating digitally rendered plans, perspectives, and diagrams. You'll explore:
Computing Basics

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David Huffman's Travel Photo Tips: Know Before You Go Review

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(More customer reviews)An excellent, easy to read source of very useful information for anyone taking pictures while traveling. Covers all the basics and then some. Great ideas to help make my photos more interesting. Even includes photo editing and improvement. Good value and a great gift. I bought several for friends after I bought and read my own copy.

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"David Huffman's Travel Photo Tips" helps anyone choose and use a digital camera.Learn about camera types, features, settings and controls.Illustrated composition and picture taking tips with international photography.BONUS feature "Better Travel Photos" covers basic and advanced photo editing, correction and enhancement.70 full color pages in convenient 5.5 by 8.5-inch travel size.Recommended for beginning to intermediate camera and computer users.Fun and easy to read, makes a great gift.

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Fun with Photoshop Elements 4: Foto Fakery for Everyone Review

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(More customer reviews)Most of the Photoshop Elements books are written using keyboard codes that are only for Windows. This book uses very few shortcut keys and the ones it does use are universal.
In addition it is very well organized into specific projects that teach how to use the Elements features. Rhoda Grossman's style of writing is easy to understand and entertaining. The book does not have a CD but refers you to the web site where you can download images to practice the exercises. It is filled with tips and information that makes Elements behave like Photoshop.

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Fun with Photoshop Elements 4: Foto Fakery for Everyone is a fun, cheeky approach to using Photoshop Elements 4 in exactly the way you want to use it - for fun! You'll be able to get your feet wet and your hands dirty while learning the key tools and tricks through objective-based lessons.You'll be able to quickly complete tasks, andby the end of the book, you will be able to combine elements of two photos into one image, perform "head transplants," makeover your clothes or face, edit people into and out of images, and graft images together to create giant, mystical creatures. Plus, you'll find out how to use these images ongreeting cards, T-shirts, personalized calendars, fake street sign, and more. You can even gain inspiration at the companion website from posted reader creations! The possibilities are endless. Let us help you reel them in!

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The Complete Idiot's Guide to Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0 Review

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(More customer reviews)Book refers to non-existent files on the included CD. Without these files the explanations are fairly worthless.

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Photoshop Elements, a pared down version of the standard Photoshop 6, offers surprisingly powerful image editing tools with an affordable price tag ($99 new/$69 upgrade) for budding digital photographers and computer graphics enthusiasts. As Adobe's first digital imaging package to target the mid-range market, it will appeal to anyone wanting to enhance their digital images or those who wish to create illustrations to go with exiting digital images. The essential steps to enhancing a digitally captured or scanned photograph are not the only areas covered in this book. Many more intermediate to advanced features in Elements will be reviewed: merging multiple photos, liquefying and blending pixels, cool ways to thumbnail images and preview filters, and handy instructions how to upload GIF and JPEG images onto the Web with Shutterbug. Plentiful screenshots in the book will walk readers through Elements highly intuitive interface. Step-by-step demonstration will be liberally used. A trial version of Elements will also be bundled.

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Digital Video: How to Produce Low-Cost Adult Home Videos For Profit Review

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(More customer reviews)When I first recieved the package, I almost missed the book. It is rather thin and not a lot of pages; your average comic book would be thicker and have more content. The writing is very sparce and appears like it was done on a typewriter. I would suggest that the publisher use a different font that would be easier on the eyes to read.
Having said that, if you wanted the quick and dirty on how to book on how to make a low budget adult video at home, then this book is for you. Mr.Meir keeps it real and dispels any illusions on what your aims should be. I would advise anyone entering the industry to do their homework in order to have realistic expectations of success in the first place. Overall, this is an O.K. book, not a great one.

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The Ultimate Indie Film Business! Learn How to Buy Low Cost Film Equipment. Learn about the Low Cost Video Editing Software you will Use to Produce your First Video. Learn Simple Techniques to Find Talent for your Films and How to Use the Best Marketing Tool Ever..The Internet!

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How to Cheat in Photoshop CS3: The art of creating photorealistic montages Review

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(More customer reviews)I had ranked an earlier edition as one of the four best Photoshop books available. With the CS3 edition, Caplin establishes himself in my eyes as one of the best Photoshop authors out there, Katrin Eismann being the other.
"How to Cheat in Photoshop CS3" has grown once again from earlier editions, weighing in with 397 pages of instructional text and two hours of video tutorials. Caplin's facility as a teacher has been apparent since the first edition of this book. His confidence has apparently (and justifiably) grown with his edition. The CS3 volume retains many of the examples from former editions (which are necessary) and adds many new ones, making the book an all-in-one Photoshop training manual.
Caplin has never had to resort to the silly attempts at humor employed by Deke McClelland, Scott Kelby and others. He is more than well equipped with a natural sense of whimsy. Caplin's tutorial on "Combining body parts" at pages 180 - 181 is an absolutely hilarious spoof on Arnold Schwarzenegger's "girly men" comment of some months back. If you can stop laughing long enough, it is also an excellent tutorial.
In all, there are about 170 tutorials in the book and some excursions into related subjects, such as the wisdom of carrying a small digital camera with you at all times to build our own image library. Every subject of importance to using Photoshop (i.e., learning Curves, Layer masks, etc.) and creating effective montages (i.e., creating effective shadows, combining body parts, perspective, etc.) is covered. I think it fair to say that a total Photoshop neophyte could find everything they need to know in "How to Cheat in Photoshop CS3," even if they never intend to create a photorealistic montage, but I would also recommend Katrin Eismann's books on montage and retouching be purchased as well. These three volumes would form a literal encyclopedia of Photoshop.
Finally, you don't need Photoshop CS3 for this book to be useful. Perhaps 97% or more is applicable to any recent version of Photoshop.
As I said, I consider Steve Caplin to be, along with Katrin Eismann, one of the best authors on Photoshop. "How to Cheat in Photoshop CS3" is the biggest and best of the series so far and I am pleased to say that Caplin has maintained his verve, imparting a sense of freshness even to the examples he has picked up from earlier editions.
This book is simply a must-have in any Photoshop library.
Jerry

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Google SketchUp for Site Design: A Guide to Modeling Site Plans, Terrain and Architecture Review

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(More customer reviews)As a new sketchup user (going on 3 months) and a purchaser of four books on how to use Google's Sketchup, this book is without a doubt, the most comprehensive introduction to utilizing an amazing tool to design (in 3D) to your hearts desires.
Being a newbie to sketchup can be a daunting experience, such a powerful, yet easy to use tool can get one into all sorts of trouble and lead to many a sleepless night. Aidan Chopra's `Google sketchup 7 For Dummies' was a godsend, as were the numerous online tutorials on Youtube and various online sketchup forums.
Tal's book however has made all the difference, by offering a concise and easy to understand process of how to model effectively. He delivers it with an engaging style that makes all the difference when one is trying to learn something new. The book doesn't suffer the dryness that `Google sketchup 7 Bible' sadly offered. He makes it fun because it really is fun.
Daniel Tal's book is an altogether different beast. A guide book that encourages one to simplify ones approaches by getting organized from the outset, it's all about the process to get the most out of sketchup and ease up on the headaches and sleepless nights that can often entail- no small feat to accomplish in the written word, I can assure you.
The book is set up in four parts the first of which covers the rudimentary tools. The second is where Daniel's expertise and knowledge really start to unfold. On every page, for me at least, there were numerous A-ha moments. So, that's how it's done!!, it's all so easy when one knows how.
The other benefits of the book are the tutorials. These provide numerous exercises' to hone ones skills and climb the ladder to "Sketchup awareness". Part 3 offers an all too rare glimpse into the powerful tools that the `Sandbox' can provide (a feature that I understand Tal was instrumental in fine tuning with the people at Google) to create terrain and organic forms that can really add to ones models and offer endless possibilities. If you can imagine it, Tal's methods enable you to build it. Part four is perhaps the most important one, dealing with Sketchup's unique abilities to import CAD files and also how to greatly increase productivity and turnaround time by using the numerous `Ruby' scripts available.
This is more than just a beginner's book and it is more than just a landscape architects approach to using sketchup in his work. Whether you are an interior designer, a home builder, carpenter, student, an aspiring 3D artist, or a garden designer like me, this book is indispensable.

If you love to model in 3D, you will find this book to be of immense value. Words cannot convey the gratitude I have for this book. It has made me a better, wiser, calmer and happier modeler than even I thought was possible.
Two thumbs up and five stars all the way.

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Google SketchUp for Site Design illustrates a holistic approach to SketchUp: how it works and more importantly, what to do with it.
Filled with tutorials from front to back, the book focuses on the start and completion of projects that include rich detail and expression. Each part and chapter of the book builds on the previous chapters and tutorial.
You will learn how to approach modeling site plans, buildings and site elements: from modeling each of these exterior environment elements to piecing them together to generate a singular and expressive model.
The book culminates with tutorials demonstrating effective and simple ways to include grades and terrain using the Sandbox tools and how best to integrate the entire approach with AutoCAD and SketchUp.
Also included are links to supplemental on-line resources such as YouTube tutorials and free tutorial and example models from 3D Warehouse.
The book is useful for all SketchUp proficiency levels including beginners, hobbyists, and professionals.

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