Graphics & Multimedia Books - Page 6

ZBrush Character Creation: Advanced Digital Sculpting

Scott Spencer

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 11 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

An awesome book! 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

In a world flooded with basic introductory books on major 3D packages (cough*Maya*cough), Scott Spencer's 'ZBrush Character Creation: Advanced Sculpting Techniques', while quite a mouthful is a breath of fresh air. This is not a book that focuses on a pure beginner. Understanding the concepts of a 3D environment and mild experience with ZBrush are huge advantages in getting the most out of this book. That is not to say this book is not accessible to those who are not proficient in ZBrush. It covers many of the basic concepts, but covers them in such depth, that it would be easily overwhelming to a beginner.
The book begins by explaining the relationship to traditional sculpting techniques, to those applied while digital sculpting in ZBrush. This is one of the great strengths of the book. It covers not only the technical aspects of ZBrush, but also the artistic, the true driving force and advantage of ZBrush. From this initial chapter, you will then be lectured on such topics as; Sculpting Techniques, Detailing, PolyPainting, ZSpheres, and Displacement mapping, among many, many other topics I will let you discover for yourself.
Another great strength of this book is the mini-tutorials from various other artists that are added into the already information-packed pages. Contributing artists include; Cesar Dacol, Ian Joyner, Jim McPherson, Zach Petroc, Alex Alvarez, Ryan Kingslien, and Fabian Loing. Having all of these different techniques and perspectives on the art of digital sculpting, adds a lot of knowledge and expertise to this book.
I cannot say enough towards the value of this book. It is hands down the best ZBrush resource available in print as of this time. I hope that Scott and company with continue to share their extensive knowledge of the arts and of technology with the digital art community.

Editorial Review:

ZBrush's popularity is exploding giving more CG artists the power to create stunning digital art with a distinctively fine art feel. ZBrush Character Creation: Advanced Digital Sculpting is the must-have guide to creating highly detailed, lush, organic models using the revolutionary ZBrush software. Digital sculptor Scott Spencer guides you through the full array of ZBrush tools, including brushes, textures and detailing. With a focus on both the artistry and the technical know-how, you'll learn how to apply traditional sculpting and painting techniques to 3D art while uncovering the "why" behind the "how" for each step. You'll gain inspiration and insight from the beautiful full-color illustrations and professional tips from experienced ZBrush artists included in the book. And, above all, you'll have a solid understanding of how applying time-honored artistic methods to your workflow can turn ordinary digital art into breathtaking digital masterpieces.

The Art and Science of Digital Compositing, Second Edition: Techniques for Visual Effects, Animation and Motion Graphics (The Morgan Kaufmann Series in ... Morgan Kaufmann Series in Computer Graphics)

Ron Brinkmann

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Computer graphics special effects are widely used in film, television, and computer games. Compositing is a key part of the special effects pipeline—it is the final, crucial step where all the component parts of a rendering are joined together into a single, integrated image. These components may include 3D and 2D images that have been created with the wide variety of modeling, animation, and rendering tools available today.
Ron Brinkmann's The Art and Science of Digital Compositing provides a complete guide to the technical and artistic elements of this process and is the leading book in the field. Now revised in a second edition, Brinkmann uses his extensive experience in the visual effects industry to discuss the latest techniques used to create beautiful and believable images. The book takes a conceptual approach, fostering a deep understanding of compositing technique rather than focusing on specific tools—knowing where the buttons are located isn't nearly as important as knowing why to press those buttons.

* Ron Brinkmann brings extensive experience with feature film production to this complete reference on compositing
* Profusely illustrated in 4 color throughout with examples from contemporary films
* The bestselling book on compositing used by professionals and students alike

Foundation Flash CS3 for Designers (Foundation)

Tom Green, David Stiller

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Subjects -> Computers & Internet -> Programming -> Software Design, Testing & Engineering -> Software Development

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 37 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Flash is one of the most engaging and innovative, and versatile technologies available—allowing the creation of pretty much anything from simple slideshows, animated banners and icons and cartoons, to Rich Internet Applications, Interactive videos, and dynamic user interfaces for web sites, kiosks, or DVDs. The possibilities are endless, except that now, it just got better. In 2007, Adobe released Flash CS3, which boasts a whole host of new features, including fully customizable workspace, full ActionScript 3.0 support, a PSD importer, a tween-to-code animation converter, and much more. And this book is all you'll need to learn Flash CS3 from the ground up, or learn about all these new features, if you already have previous Flash experience—Flash experts Tom Green and David Stiller take you step-by-step through all facets of Flash CS3, with the emphasis firmly on good design techniques that you use in your own projects. You can discover more about this book, download source code, and even view video tutorials at the book's companion site: www.foundationflashcs3.com.

• Learn Flash design from the ground up, or just get to grips with the new features, with a series of step by step tutorials.
• Provides an easy introduction to ActionScript 3.0 coding, but the focus is mainly kept on design.
• Learn from the expertswritten by renowned Flash designers Tom Green and David Stiller.

What youll learn

• The ins and outs of the Flash CS3 interface
• How to use all of Flash CS3's essential features, such as text, graphics, and animation
• How to use video and sound effectively in Flash
• The basics of ActionScript 3.0
• Building Flash user interfaces rapidly using components.
• How to populate a Flash movie with dynamic data such as XML.
• The Basics of creating Flash Lite applications (Flash for mobile devices)
• Using Cascading Style Sheets with Flash
• Optimizing and publishing your Flash movies

Who is this book for?

This book is for both beginners who want a solid grounding in Flash CS3, and designers with previous Flash experience, who want to get up to speed with the new features.

Summary of Contents

• Chapter 1: Learning the Flash CS3 Professional
• Chapter 2: Graphics in Flash CS3
• Chapter 3: Symbols and Libraries
• Chapter 4: ActionScript Basics
• Chapter 5: Audio in Flash CS3
• Chapter 6 Text in Flash CS3
• Chapter 7: Animation in Flash CS3
• Chapter 8: Video in Flash
• Chapter 9: Using the Flash UI Components to Build Interfaces
• Chapter 10: CSS and Flash
• Chapter 11: Dynamic Data (XML) and Flash
• Chapter 12: Going Mobile in Flash
• Chapter 13: Optimizing Flash Movies
• Chapter 14: Publishing Flash Movies

Animating with Blender: How to Create Short Animations from Start to Finish

Roland Hess

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Well written explanation of going from start to finish for a short animation 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful.

Roland has a clear and entertaining writing style. In "Animating with Blender" he seems to have answered many of the questions I've had on how to go about doing my own short animations. I'm an experienced Blender user (and developer), but have only dabbled with the animating and rendering capabilities of Blender, and this book has greatly increased my confidence of being able to tackle those topics in my own potential animations.

It also great to have simple production files to try and use, they should be quite useful for roughing out my own animation ideas even if I ultimately use self created assets.

A quick disclaimer, I'm the author of the original story idea of 'The Beast', and even though Rolands final script and resulting animation are significantly different than my original idea - I might have a bit of bias :)

Also for those interested I thought I'd include the original story email that I sent to Roland...

********

I thought you might like to see my script attempt[.]

This one could be done extremely quickly with a small team (probably even
fairly quick for a single decent animator) - unfortunately not much in the way of technical challenges.

Characters:

Mom - typical mom of a 2 year old
Beast - 2 year old - a typical terrible 2 based on my nephew, nicknamed 'the beast' by my mom.
cat - imagined character - the typical feline that is suspicious of children, but generally intent on ignoring them

Set - living room - has tv in southwest corner at 45 angle to room. Has a couch with two endtables facing the TV, a houseplant is sitting on one, a large planter with plant is elsewhere in the room. The cat is lying on the couch back. Beast is sitting closely in front of tv watching a cartoon.

FADE IN: mom is spraying house plants, the phone rings, she walks out of the room setting the spray bottle down on an end table near the couch.

1) Bored toddler (the beast) is watching TV (cartoon) sittin 'indian style', elbows on knees

2) He rolls onto his back sprawling out his arms and legs - exhaling a sigh of boredom

3) starts blowing his lips - making a pbbbtt sound with his lips - sighs again

4) he rolls over and climbs onto the couch

5) as he climbs on he notices the squeak of the leather, starts bouncing and squirming trying to make it squeak again.

6) as he is getting bored with this he notices the cat - which gives him a warning stare, then snuggles its nose more firmly tucked into its tail.

7) toddler sighs again and looks around - this time spotting the spray bottle

8) he grabs the bottle and starts spraying things, the plants, the end table, the couch, and then accidentally sprays the cat..

9) the cat jumps up, shocked - then the beast suddenly gets an evil grin on his face

10) he starts squirting the cat deliberately

11) the cat takes off knocking over various items (plants, and pictures off shelves, assorted nicknacks) as the toddler pursues squirting the cat and all sorts of other things

cat runs through a doorway, and through moms legs - the beast runs into mom and falls over backwards.

Not quite sure on the exact ending after that

Editorial Review:

Blender has become one of the most popular 3D and animation tools on the market, with over 2 million users, and it is free! Animating with Blender is the definitive resource for creating short animation projects from scratch, the ideal platform for experimenting with animation.

Blender expert and author Roland Hess walks you through the entire process of creating a short animation, from writing to storyboarding and blocking, through character creation, animation and rendering.

* Learn the ropes from Roland Hess, one of Blender's developers and a community guru for this FREE animation program, which was used in the previz for Spiderman 2

* Create a single short animation project from start to finish, take an in-depth look into how all of the Blender tools work together

* Study, pick apart and reuse all of the files from the animation referenced throughout the book, with the Blender software and sample animation files included on the companion DVD

Manga Studio For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))

Doug Hills

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Subjects -> Comics & Graphic Novels -> Cartooning

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Love Manga? The newest features of Manga Studio help you bring your ideas to life! The tools available in the latest version of this powerful program make it easy to turn your computer into your drawing board, and Manga Studio For Dummies makes it easy to get started.

Discover how to use Manga Studio to begin creating comics in manga or Western styles, add color to your creations, and share them with your adoring public. It’s a breeze once you know your way around the program. Manga may have begun in Japan, but Manga Studio For Dummies is written in plain English, and shows you how to:

• Build and use page templates
• Rough in your comic with penciling techniques
• Work 100% digital, or use a combination of digital and traditional tools if you prefer
• Work with layers, rulers, and panels
• Add speech bubbles and sound effects text
• Ink your work and add tones
• Prepare your creations for print or distribution on the Web

Written by a working digital artist, Manga Studio For Dummies covers both Manga Studio Debut and EX versions. As an added bonus, it even gives you a peek into the world of manga and comics in general. With the help of Manga Studio For Dummies, you just might find yourself among the comic artists whose work populates the Web and gathers thousands of fans!

Apple Pro Training Series: Color (Apple Pro Training)

Michael Wohl, David Gross

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Disappointing 1 out of 5 stars.
13 of 18 people found this review helpful.

I ordered this in June of last year and I wish I'd not. I'm a live tv camera shader so my background is in color manipulation. If you have absolutely no idea how to manipulate colorimetry, this is not the book for you at all. It tells you how to drive the software with some helpful color hints scattered about. Read the manual, work in the application, scour the net and Amazon for information about color and you can learn the same stuff.

If you have a background in color manipulation, skip this book and read the manual to learn how to drive Apple's Color. If you're like me and enjoy constant learning, run and pick up "Encyclopedia of Color Correction" by Alexis van Hurkman. It's a far more useful text than this title.

Editorial Review:

In this guide to Apple’s masterful new color grading and finishing application, award-winning colorist David Gross starts with the basics of color balancing and correction and move on to the fine points of secondary grading. Topics include scene matching, using vignettes to isolate and track regions, creating advanced color effects and “looks,” skin tone adjustments, and adjusting the composition and framing of a shot. As with the other titles in the Apple Pro Training Series, each chapter in this Apple-authorized guide represents a complete lesson--with a project to complete and a review section to reinforce the lessons. Superb footage, including several BBC productions and broadcast commercials, provide real-world examples for you to work through as you master this revolutionary software.

Beginning GIMP: From Novice to Professional (Beginning from Novice to Professional)

Akkana Peck

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 40 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

I found this book to contain relevant information which could be invaluable in ones journey into the fascinating world of image manipulation using GIMP.

— Ravi Kumar, Slashdot contributor

This book is great for the completely new user, but even the seasoned veteran can learn quite a bit.

— Chad W. Smith, GIMPShop dot Net

This one is the most comprehensive and useful books that I’ve found. I give it a five for five. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to others.

— Mark Vandewettering, Brainwagon

Beginning GIMP: From Novice to Professional explains how to use the open source image manipulation program, GIMP version 2.4. You’ll learn how to install GIMP on Windows, Linux, and MacOS X platforms. Once you’ve installed the application, you’ll learn about the interface and configuration options, and then jump into a quick–and–simple project to familiarize yourself even further.

With four–color graphics and screenshots throughout, you’ll learn how to prepare camera images for display on web pagesincluding functions like rescaling, cropping, and balancing color. The book also explains with great detail how to utilize layers, paths, and masks. You’ll also learn how to draw lines and shapes, use patterns and gradients, and even create your own brushes, patterns, and gradients.

Touch–ups are covered thoroughly: how to smudge away blemishes, fix red–eye, and stitch panoramic images. You’ll even learn how to tap into the powerful filters, effects, and plug–ins that are available and automate tasks using scripts. The entire book is laid out in a project–based manner, so as you progress through it, numerous projects help solidify your newly acquired abilities.

Engineering Design with SolidWorks 2008 & MultiMedia CD

David C. Planchard, Marie P. Planchard

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 9 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

This text focuses on providing a solid foundation in SolidWorks along with a competency based project approach. Commands are introduced in a step-by-step manner. Each chapter addresses a progressive learning approach, lists desired outcomes and usage competencies, and identifies a project with reflective information on the previous project situation. The book complements the on-line tutorials contained within SolidWorks.

Engineering Design with SolidWorks covers parts, assemblies and drawings. The part section covers all the major solid features in SolidWorks. There are 3 assemblies.

The first assembly, GUIDE-ROD utilizes industry components and simple extruded parts. Individual part drawings and assembly drawings with Bill of Materials are developed for the GUIDE-ROD assembly.

The FLASHLIGHT assembly utilizes 8 parts made up of Extrude, Revolve, Sweep and Loft features. The parts are combined into small subassemblies and the final FLASHLIGHT assembly.

The BOX assembly utilizes a top down assembly modeling approach with layout sketches and parts developed in context. The BOX works through sheet metal features and introduces design tables and configurations.

This edition covers enhancements to the User Interface section, Design Intent area and Sheet Metal features.

The Multimedia CD includes 4 hours of movie files, 1/2 hour on individual feature tips and creation.

This book focuses on machined, plastic and sheet metal parts, assemblies and drawings. Included in this book are activity layouts to distinguish step-by-step instructions in the text.

This book contains instructions utilizing Mold Tools to modify plastic parts and to develop a cavity mold for the Batteryplate part. There are also flash movies for Mold Tools and MoldflowXpress on the MultiMedia CD.

Separate editions of this textbook are available for SolidWorks 99, 2000, 2001, 2001Plus, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008.

Table of Contents
Introduction
1. Fundamentals of Part Modeling
2. Fundamentals of Assembly Modeling
3. Fundamentals of Drawing
4. Extrude and Revolve Features
5. Swept and Loft and Additional Features
6. Top Down Assembly Modeling
Appendix
Index

Advanced Maya Texturing and Lighting

Lee Lanier

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 17 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Excellent for Professionals 5 out of 5 stars.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.

I bought this manual to help me ugrade from Maya 7.0 to Maya 8.5 and it's become my most prized and relied upon resource. Every tutorial I've gone through has worked perfectly (no missing steps or errors so far), Mr. Lanier writes coherently & well, and each new topic is presented in a straightforward and matter-of-fact fashion.

As a professional Video Game Artist, I've reccommended this manual to our enitire company of 300, and will continue to do so to everyone else. In the past, decent documentation on the finer points of Maya has been elusive, but Mr. Lanier has saved us! I will be adding his other manuals to my library.

Editorial Review:

If you already understand the basics of Maya, the industry-leading 3D animation and effects software, you’ll be ready to move on to the sophisticated topics in this updated edition of Advanced Maya Texturing and Lighting. Detailed, easy-to-follow instructions will teach you the real-world production secrets that professional animators use to achieve amazing results. In the second edition, you will find extensive and updated coverage of the latest theories and trends in addition to an enclosed CD with exclusive content to help you sharpen your skills.

SolidWorks Surfacing and Complex Shape Modeling Bible

Matt Lombard

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Does not cut the mustard 2 out of 5 stars.
10 of 12 people found this review helpful.

The book is absolutely not for the beginner or the intermediate user. It should say Experts ONLY! And even then? I've been using SolidWorks for approximately 15 months, and got very frustrated trying to understand the book.

It does have many items on surfacing, mostly theory, but does not provide many practical tutorials or detail instructions. It reminds me of a person jumping off a cliff who thinks they can fly. There is no CD in the book with models to back engineer, if you can not follow the text. The book does not cut the mustard and the writing style is poor. I think I need a VAR class?

Editorial Review:

If you want to gain proficiency and expertise with SolidWorks surface modeling, this is the resource for you. You'll learn how to apply concepts, utilize tools, and combine techniques and strategies in hands-on tutorials. This Bible covers the range from sketching splines and shelling to modeling blends and decorative features. Complete with professional tips and real-world examples, this inclusive guide enables you to coax more out of SolidWorks surfacing tools.