Review of 3ds Max 2009 Bible (Paperback)

Like other 'bibles' 3ds Max 'bible' is frustrating, often oblique and although the author clearly knows his stuff, he cannot teach - at least not this reader. It is a brick of a book and the illustrations often contradict the text which leads to further difficulty. Also the odd religious prose dedication at the beginning of the book about sin and how one should live one's life is odd to say the least in an industry text, and, given how frustrating the book is to use, simply adds another annoyance. For the 3ds Max novice the '3ds Max Essentials' book from Elsevir is excellent and had me in control of the application and understanding why I was in control in no time. As for the 'bible', comprehensive, yes, but helpful? Not for the novice. Avoid.

Product Description
The only comprehensive reference-tutorial on 3ds Max available, this book is everyone's favorite. Whether you're a beginner looking for 3D basics or a full-fledged animator seeking new ways to dazzle viewers with your creations, it's all here. You'll find pages of professional tips, loads of advice, and more than 150 step-by-step tutorials guaranteed to build your skills and spark your creativity. A 16-page color insert highlights cutting-edge work from 3D artists. A valuable companion DVD provides all the examples and content from the book, including unique models and textures you can customize on your own, and a searchable, full-color version of the book.

3ds Max 2009 Bible covers both 3ds Max 2009 and 3ds Max 2009 Design and covers:

• Navigating the viewports with the ViewCube, SteeringWheels, and other ways.
• Creating realistic materials with new ProMaterials.
• Using Spline Mapping to improve texture mapping over irregular shaped objects.
• Blending multiple texture maps together with the new Composite Map.
• Creating architectural walkthroughs with the Walkthrough Assistant.

Don't miss out on the newest version of this bestselling resource!

From the Back Cover
Covers both 3ds Max 2009 and 3ds Max 2009 Design

This is, hands down, the best book on 3ds Max you'll find

If you want just one book to be your go-to guide for all things 3ds Max, this is the book. Whether you're a beginner looking for 3D basics or a full-fledged animator seeking new ways to dazzle viewers with your creations, it's all here. You'll find pages of professional tips, loads of advice, and more than 150 step-by-step tutorials guaranteed to build your skills and spark your creativity.

• Discover the ViewCube, SteeringWheels, and more ways to navigate the viewports

• Use the new ProMaterials to create realistic materials

• Improve texture mapping over irregular shaped objects using Spline Mapping

• Blend multiple texture maps together with the new Composite Map

• Easily create architectural walkthroughs with the Walkthrough Assistant

What's on the DVD?
You'll find before-and-after example files for every tutorial in the book. The DVD also includes:

• Unique models and textures you can customize for your own designs

• Autodesk 3ds Max evaluation version

• A searchable full-color PDF of the book

System Requirements: See the DVD appendix for details and complete system requirements.

Also in the Book

• A 16-page full-color insert showcases cutting-edge work from 3ds Max artists

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Review of Guide to Graphics Software Tools (Springer Professional Computing) (Hardcover)

Not only are his language skills extremely lacking, but his coding is sloppy and his teaching leaves MUCH to be desired.Don't think I'm just a disgruntled student who wants revenge on the professor,because I got an A- for the course and I slept through it.The book really is not all that good.The majority of the book itself is references to other resources.What's left is only four chapters that do not delve very deep into any of the concepts that they supposedly cover.It is not worth it to get this book.

Product Description
Current graphics software and hardware combine to allow multiple-level functionality and open up new application areas for scientists of all disciplines, and for computer scientists and engineers in particular. This integrated guide explains and lists readily available and widely used graphics software tools and their applications, while also serving as a shortcut to graphics theory and programming. It grounds readers in fundamental concepts and helps them use visualization, modeling, simulation, and virtual reality to complement and improve their work.

Features:

* Comprehensive and practical coverage of software graphics tools

* Provides a uniquely categorized compendium of 265 3-D graphics software tools

* Concise listings of platforms and pricing, applications, examples, functions, and related Web resources

* Shortcut to practical graphics principles and methods

* Includes a CD-ROM with extensive collection of source code and executables

* Extensive pointers to websites and other proven helpful sources

* Combines theory and OpenGL programming with an accessible approach

Readers will find the book an authoritative and useful catalogue of practical, working software tools and methods.

About the author: Jim Chen is director of the Computer Graphics Laboratory at George Mason University and editor of the visualization column, and the Visualization Portal (website), for the IEEE magazine, Computing in Science and Engineering.

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Review of Digital Food Photography (Paperback)

I am a professional photographer, and I was greatly looking forward to receiving this book.

I was hoping to get some detailed information on lighting techniques, specifically for food. The additional sections on food and prop styling were handy extras.

What I did get was a nice easy read, and some useful tidbits of information that I can use. Some of the sections on Photoshop were useful (and would be more-so for serious amateurs and up).

What I wasn't expecting and was very disappointed with, were the large chunks of the text dealing with the relationship between ISO, aperture, and shutter. Come-on! This should be a book about digital food photography. Anyone who doesn't know about the basic photographic relationships should be reading a book on basic photography. There were other parts of the book that likewise contained very basic general knowledge I would not expect in a specific book.

Additionally, much spaced was used as almost a portfolio for Lou Manna rather than providing useful information. He does have some beautiful work, but that is not what I was paying for.

All in all, I was disappointed with this book, although it was not a total waste, especially if you were just wanting to get into professional photography.

Product Description
Great food always elicits strong reactions-the smell of freshly baked bread, the taste of a perfectly prepared steak. The job of a food photographer is to elicit that same mouth-watering reaction, but without the benefit of scent or taste. A well-shot photograph can send crowds flocking to a new restaurant or boost the sales of a culinary magazine. Capturing the perfect image requires a trained eye, finesse, and photographic skill. Digital Food Photography gives you the ingredients to cook up your own recipe for success-with professional lighting techniques, composition, food and prop styling, retouching, and tricks of the trade. You'll learn how digital photography combines teamwork, creativity, and technology, and how to make money creating delectable works of photographic art.

About the Author
Lou Manna is an award-winning Olympus visionary photographer whose work has appeared in national ad campaigns, major magazines, and more than 30 cookbooks. After shooting for the New York Times from 1975 to 1990, he went on to establish his own Fifth Avenue studio, where he works with corporate, advertising, and restaurant clients to create photos that can only be described as "exquisite." Lou is the author of DIGITAL FOOD PHOTGRAPHY, the only book on the art of food photography devoted exclusively to digital technology.Craig Clairborne, restaurant critic and food writer for the New York Times, said, "The important thing about being a real photographer is not only having a great lens, but having a feeling of warmth, collaborating, and bringing out the best of a subject. It requires a sense of style and a feeling of creative arrangement--Lou is marvelous at this."

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Review of Photoshop 6 for Windows Fast & Easy [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)

Tells you how to access the features, but not why you would want to or what to do with the features after you access them. Basically teaches you how to use menus.No help in teaching how to improve your digital photos, with the features of Photoshop 6.

Product Description
Digital imaging is exploding in both the consumer and professional markets as affordable technology opens the way.As the leading image-editing software, Photoshop is best positioned to ride the digital-imaging wave.Photoshop X for Windows Fast & Easy walks you through the often intimidating and overwhelming features of Photoshop by presenting tasks in concise steps complemented by clear illustrations.It leads you through key tasks including creating new images, editing images from other sources such as a scanner or digital camera, adding effects, and prepping images for Web use.This book presents information in a format that's appealing for beginning users who want clear steps for Photoshop operations and also for intermediate users who want a fast introduction to the new version of the software.The visual, step-by-step approach makes the learning process appealing to users of all levels.

About the Author
Lisa A. Bucki, currently residing in Fairview, North Carolina, has spent six years as a consultant, author, technical writer developer, and trainer.She has more than twelve years of experience with computer book publishing.She has developed over 100 computer book titles and has been an author, co-author, contributor to more then 35 books and multimedia titles, including "Keynote Fast & Easy" (Premier Press, 1592001297), "Macromedia Flash MX 2004 Fast & Easy Web Development" (Premier Press, 159200119X), Adobe Photoshop Digital Darkroom(1931841926, Premier Press), Mac OS X Version 10.2 Jaguar Fast & Easy" (1592000444, Premier Press), and "Managing Microsoft Project 98" (Premier Press, 0761519866).

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Review of Beginning Direct3D Game Programming w/CD (Prima Tech's Game Development) [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)

I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, I've been waiting for a long time for a decent Direct3D book to refer beginners to, and this is one of the best so far. On the other hand, being the "best" among Direct3D books really isn't saying much, and this book is far from perfect.

Overall, this book covers a lot of good material, including some of the more advanced aspects of DX8, and the code itself is pretty solid. Unfortunately, the explanations can be a little hard to understand, partially due to the fact that the author isn't a native English speaker (the chapters on physics and collision detection don't suffer this problem, though, being written by someone else), so you may find yourself having to reread things several times.

I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone who doesn't have some game programming and DirectX knowledge, but I would recommend it for someone who wants to get up to speed on the latest version of D3D, especially if they have used a previous version of Direct3D - or even another 3D API - or if they are willing to put the effort into working through the chapters to dig out the (truly useful) information they contain.

Product Description
Guide to creating Direct 3D games for personal computers, covering all aspects and elements of programming, from objects to file formats. The CD-ROM contains a number of features, including software for creating games, the source code from the text, and games. For beginner to intermediate level gamers. System requirements: CD-ROM drive. Softcover.

About the Author
Wolfgang Engel is CEO of SoftGroup GmbH and SoftGroup Plska, which offer IT and game development services. These companies produce 3D animations for marketing and advertising activities.He is the author of "Beginning Direct3D Game Programming" (0761531912).

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Review of Macromedia Dreamweaver MX 2004 Fast & Easy Web Development (Paperback)

I like this book because it is as visual as a training video, with screen shots taking up half of every page, but it has the advantages of being able to mark pages and use the index. The first time I tried going through it, I had no code background at all, coming from a graphic design background. Then I took a few classes and became familiar with basic concepts. Now the book makes sense and I like to refer back to it when I've forgotten a step. It's quicker to find the missing information and understand it at a glance, than trying to wade through code samples for me. And even though I use the CS3 version of Dreamweaver now, the Dreamweaver panels have not changed much for database binding between the versions so I still find it useful.

Product Description
"Macromedia Dreamweaver MX 2004 Fast & Easy Web Development" teaches you how to create dynamic database-driven Web sites with a visual, simple, and concise writing style. Macromedia Dreamweaver MX 2004 represents the next step in the evolution of Web application development. It is a visual editor with built-in components to design and generate database-enabled Web applications. With practical sample applications and easy-to-follow code segments included, this book addresses the key elements of Web site design, database modeling, and server-side scripting using ASP.NET and ColdFusion MX.

About the Author
Aneesha Bakharia is a Web developer and accomplished author. She is fluent in C#, Java, JavaScript, ASP.NET, JSP, HTML, XML, and VB.NET. Aneesha specializes in creating dynamic database-driven Web sites. She has a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Microelectronic Engineering and various postgraduate qualifications in multimedia, online course development, and Web design. In addition to "Macromedia Contribute Fast & Easy Web Development", she has written several other books for Premier Press, including: "Dreamweaver UltraDev Fast & Easy Web Development" (ISBN: 0761531645), "JavaServer Pages Fast & Easy Web Development" (ISBN: 0761534288) and "Microsoft C# Fast & Easy Web Development" (ISBN: 1931841055).Aneesha lives in Queensland, Australia.

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Review of Macromedia Flash MX 2004 Fast & Easy Web Development (Paperback)

I bought this book after playing around with Flash MX on my own.I was looking for a book to answer some of the questions I had.The back of the book indicates that it is intended for "intermediate" level users.After reading the entire book (it doesn't take long, LOTS of pictures), I'd say it's more for the beginner.It covers the very basics of creating Flash movies, but leaves out a lot of the technical information, which I was looking for.

The examples were somewhat helpful, but the amount of repetition soon got old.If there are two different ways to do something, it described in full gory details, BOTH ways, even though only a single step may be different.One other thing about the example was the author's lack of following her own "tips" and rules.One tip informs the reader to use descriptive names for layers, symbols, etc.Yet the majority of the examples in the book use names such as "Layer1", "Layer2", etc.

The editors of the book missed a lot of grammar errors, misspellings, and typos.Not a major issue, but annoying nonetheless.The only other thing that bothered me was the half attempt at covering the differences between Mac and Windows versions of the software.In some places, the alternative key commands for Mac/Windows were given.In others, just the Windows versions were given.Again, not a big deal, but annoying.

Overall, the book was marginal as an "intermediate" book, but probably acceptable as a "beginner" book.

Product Description
What better way for readers to learn the newest version of Flash than with the Fast & Easy series! Macromedia Flash MX 2004 Fast & Easy Web Development presents solution-oriented techniques for creating dynamic animations and graphics for the Web. Through illustrated step-by step instructions, this title demonstrates the technologies of Macromedia Flash MX 2004 while providing practical applications as well. Covering both the Windows and Mac versions, readers will learn important Flash skills such as using symbols and tweening, using vector-based content for faster downloads, and optimizing animations for the Web. Using a hands-on approach to yield fast results and downloadable sample files to practice techniques, this book is suitable for both beginners and current users aspiring to learn the newest features of Flash.

About the Author
Lisa A. Bucki, currently residing in Fairview, North Carolina, has spent six years as a consultant, author, technical writer developer, and trainer.She has more than twelve years of experience with computer book publishing.She has developed over 100 computer book titles and has been an author, co-author, contributor to more then 35 books and multimedia titles, including "Keynote Fast & Easy" (Premier Press, 1592001297), "Macromedia Flash MX 2004 Fast & Easy Web Development" (Premier Press, 159200119X), Adobe Photoshop Digital Darkroom(1931841926, Premier Press), Mac OS X Version 10.2 Jaguar Fast & Easy" (1592000444, Premier Press), and "Managing Microsoft Project 98" (Premier Press, 0761519866).

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Review of Digitial Painting Fundamentals with Corel Painter 11 (Paperback)

I sometimes get a bit overwhelmed with Painter workbooks. This one is entertaining and easy-to follow. Highly recommended for the first-time user or those needed refreshers.

Product Description
Unlock your digital artistic talent with Corel Painter 11, the industry standard for pixel-based drawing and painting. Digital Painting Fundamentals with Corel Painter 11 provides step-by-step instructions for using the basic features of Painter 11 along with a Wacom graphics tablet. Created for artists by artists, Painter 11 realistically emulates the look of traditional painting and drawing in any style you choose. You'll start with simple sketching exercises immediately, to acquire and sharpen essential skills such as eye-hand coordination and drawing what you see. As you develop familiarity with Painter's wide array of brushes and art materials, you'll be introduced to traditional art concepts such as composition, line quality, contrast, and focal points. Projects ranging from still life and landscape studies to portraits and abstract painting will help you practice and master each new skill, and the book is full of images that illustrate every technique as you progress through it. Whether you are a new artist or an experienced artist who wants to apply your skills to the digital medium, this book will help you get the hang of Painter 11's tools and features, as well as hone and perfect your painting and drawing fundamentals, skills that can be applied to any artistic medium.

About the Author
Traditional fine artist, caricaturist and cartoonist since 1970. Began working digitally in 1991. Using Photoshop and Painter, creates illustrations for books, magazines, corporate publications and the web. Classroom teacher of traditional drawing and digital painting since 1997. Author or co-author of several books on Painter and Photoshop. Author of three multimedia tutorial courses on Painter for Virtual Training Corporation (VTC). Award-winning pioneer in creating caricatures digitally at events, dba "Rhoda Draws A Crowd."

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Review of Paint Shop Pro 8 Fast & Easy [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)

This book is an easy read, and provides basic explanation of the key operations to be effective at a beginner or intermediate level of PSP8.The program is one of the most complicated to learn of any I have encountered, so someone relatively unfamiliar with graphics or previous editions of PSP would find this book very useful.It is much better at explaining the basics than JASC's manual, which I found quite difficult.PSP is such a complicated program, many people will need a guide to the basic functions, and this book fits the bill.Someone looking for instruction on advanced topics would probably find the text too basic.I give this an excellent recommendation for PSP beginners.

Product Description
This book covers how to learn to create graphic drawings, enhance photos and create animations. It makes Paint Shop Pro easy to learn with point-and-click instructions.

No heavy jargon, just helpful information. The user-friendly approach is ideal for beginners of Paint Shop Pro looking to enhance any graphics project, and experienced users looking to grasp the new features quickly.

About the Author
Diane Koers owns and operates All Business Service, a software training and consulting business formed in 1988 that services the central Indiana area.Her area of expertise has long been in the word-processing, spreadsheet and graphics area of computing as well as providing training and support for Peachtree Accounting Software.Diane's authoring experience includes twenty other books on topics such as PC Security, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Works, WordPerfect, Paint Shop Pro, Lotus SmartSuite, Quicken, Microsoft Money and Peachtree Accounting, many of which have been translated into other languages such as Dutch, Bulgarian and Spanish.She has also developed and written numerous training manuals for her clients.Diane resides in Indianapolis, IN.

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Review of Adobe Photoshop Forensics (Paperback)

This book is an enjoyable treatment of this topic for the general reader. When reading it from that perspective, it provides a great overview of what any of us might see in our day-to-day lives - altered political photos, actresses on the Photoshop Diet Plan, falsified documents on the internet, etc. Seeing the examples in Baron's book can make us a little more aware and a little more skeptical of what we see in advertisements, newspapers, magazines, and the internet.

This book is not, however, a technical book for the forensics professional - nor does it claim to be. As an expert in imaging forensics, I was careful when reading this book to not judge it from the wrong perspective - this book isn't intended to be a reference for those in my field. But, it still is an enjoyable read with some good information. I didn't care for some of the anecdotal treatments, and I disagreed with some of the content - but since it was written for a broader audience, those became minor points. If this were a technical text, these would have been more important issues.

Does the book belong on the shelf of every forensic image analyst? Probably not - but it will be enjoyed by anyone who is curious about this field, or who wants to be a bit more savvy regarding the photos and documents we are confronted with every day.

Product Description
Thanks to TV's crime scene investigation shows, forensic technology has entered popular culture. Combining puzzle solving and a dramatic storyline, these shows fascinate audiences as high-tech procedures uncover the truths hidden in seemingly insignificant clues. What many people may not realize is that forensic teams also use items they probably have in their own homes - digital cameras, computers, and Photoshop image editing software."Adobe Photoshop Forensics: Sleuths, Truths, and Fauxtography" shows you how Photoshop is used to create many types of fakery and fraud, including scientific, counterfeiting, art, journalism, and political propaganda. You'll discover that with some basic training in Photoshop's manipulation capabilities and a critical eye, you too can see through photographic hoaxes. Follow along as each chapter explores a different genre of real-life frauds, both historical and current, and explains how the fakery was or could be detected. A featured case file in each chapter carefully deconstructs a faked image so you can see the methods and processes followed by the image editing professionals who solve - and the perpetrators who commit - a variety of crimes. Even if you've never considered altering an image or becoming a crime scene investigator, you'll get a kick out of discovering the how and why behind both famous and common acts of image fraud with "Adobe Photoshop Forensics!"

About the Author
Cynthia L. Baron is Associate Director of the undergraduate Multimedia Studies and graduate Digital Media programs at Northeastern University in Boston. She was formerly the Technical Director for the Department of Visual Arts. She holds an MBA with a concentration in Marketing. Cynthia has been active in the creative community for most of her professional life. She has consulted for corporations and non-profits, and has published several articles in newspapers and periodicals. She was the editor of the DesignWhys series for Rockport Publishers and former contributing editor to Critique Magazine, one of the most important design publications of the -90s.

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Review of Digital Painting Fundamentals with Corel Painter X (Paperback)

This is the best book I have found on Painter. I think it will have special appeal to those like me who are not (yet!) professional artists, but wish to learn to paint and draw on the computer. The title says Painter X, but it covers versions 8 thru X. Grossman has a humorous and down to earth teaching style that pulls you right in. She uses a tutorial approach, with 10 main projects and variations, and includes an excellent CD. Rather than trying to cover every bell and whistle of Painter the way Cher Thereinen-Pendarvis does in the Painter Wow! books, Grossman focuses just on drawing and painting, with forays into pixel animation and caricature, which is her professional specialty. The book has so much substance, but is so non-intimidating and just plain fun, I think new and experienced Painter users of every artistic level will learn a great deal from it.

Product Description
Digital Painting Fundamentals with Corel Painter X is an introduction to drawing and painting using a Wacom graphics tablet and the industry standard software for pixel-based art. Each chapter is full of exercises designed to teach basic skills, such as eye-hand coordination. Easy-to-follow projects lead you from a simple, still life sketch to drawing the human figure. Each lesson is designed for novices as well as artists who want to transfer their traditional skills to the computer. You'll learn techniques for imitating natural media such as charcoal, watercolor, and oils. A wide variety of styles and subject matter is covered, ranging from classic landscape to experimental abstract painting as well as mixed media portraits and caricature.

About the Author
Traditional fine artist, caricaturist and cartoonist since 1970. Began working digitally in 1991. Using Photoshop and Painter, creates illustrations for books, magazines, corporate publications and the web. Classroom teacher of traditional drawing and digital painting since 1997. Author or co-author of several books on Painter and Photoshop. Author of three multimedia tutorial courses on Painter for Virtual Training Corporation (VTC). Award-winning pioneer in creating caricatures digitally at events, dba "Rhoda Draws A Crowd."

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