1 comments about Sculpture Today.

1. This is a beautiful book. It is more than I expected and a pleasure to own.

5 comments about Making It: Manufacturing Techniques for Product Design.

1. this is an excellent book, it has good pictures and images that describe step by step all the processes.



2. A catalog of processes is essentially what this book is. It's broken into 7 process sections: Cut from Solid, Sheet, Continuous, Thin & Hollow, Into Solid, Complex and Advanced. Each section has from 6-20 subset processes, eg, 'Cut From Solid' includes CNC machining, Turning, etc., 'Into Solid' has Forging, Sintering, 'Thin and Hollow' processes such as Blow Molding, Filament Winding, etc. The range of processes seems quite comprehensive and includes some I'd never heard of before such as Inflating Metal under the Sheet section, which is basically using air to inflate sheets of metal in a mold.
   
   Each process is typically described in 2-3 pages and follows a common layout. There's a picture of a typical item produced, some text describing the process, and an information section which includes economic production volume, type of surface and finish, and the typical sizes and tolerances of parts produced. This is followed by a '+' and '-' list of advantages and disadvantages of the particular process.
   
   A Further Information section on each process lists web addresses of manufacturers who supply the process and/or provide more information on it. This is a great resource, but you do wonder--given the fluidity of the web--how long some of these addresses will be viable.
   
   For the price this book is a great catalog of many of the manufacturing processes available. It doesn't go into any detail on how to design for the process (as a designer) or make it function (as a machinist/manufacturer), but it's a great reference as an overview of available processes, their benefits and limitations, and where to go to get more information.



3. I am a 1st year student in an industrial design dept. the book really gives a wide review over production methods and in a very elegant non-exhaustive way. It maps the methods of production and gives cross-refrences that describes a reliable picture of the industrial processes and their characteristics. In conclusion - analitic and kind. highly recomended.



4. Very readable & understandable review of various materials specifications & materials techniques including both traditional and the unconventional.
   
   A good catalogue of one of the elementary and fundamental drivers for new product design.



5. This is a great book for someone like me, a product design student. As my institution doesn't really cover manufacturing processes I need a book like this to break it down for me. It is categorised well and the crudely drawn process diagrams are great at putting the procedures into perspective. This book is great for those who already have a basic knowledge of manufacturing and design process terminology as it assumes the reader is familiar with terms such as draft, tooling, die, section, profile and other phrases specific to manufacture and design, although it does have a rather limited glossary at the rear. I would highly reccommend it to students who struggle with the ins and outs of manufacturing as it has common items listed that are produced by a specific process, giving the info a tangible basis of understanding, as well as providing many "Oh, THAT's how they make that..." moments. I think this will be a great handy reference for me, enabling me to short list viable processes that I can then investigate further. Definitley worth the money.

1 comments about Fashion Retailing: A Multi-Channel Approach (Delmar Fashion).

1. I am using this book for my Intro to Retailing class and it has a lot of info in it. Could use to be updated slightly.

1 comments about Understanding Color: An Introduction for Designers.

1. This book is pretty good. It explains the different color wheels, how we see color, value, saturation, harmony, and so much more. It is pretty thorough and easy to read. I recommend this book for anyone needing to understand color theory.
   
   Minetta Minnick

5 comments about The Practical Handbook for the Emerging Artist.

1. The Practical Handbook for the Emerging Artist is a general introduction to the mundane tasks of the working artist. There's nothing glamorous here. If you're serious about art, you're probably familiar with most of what's covered in the book, but it never hurts to reinforce that knowledge.
   
   This is a handbook and not a coffee table or shelf piece, so take the price break and buy it used.



2. I am a serious starter and enjoy the barrage of intelligence in this book. Great advice that keeps me going.



3. Why is this book so expensive??? Plus it's out of date. Not worth the $50-$60 you're expected to pay, especially if this is a required text for a college level course.



4. It is a long road from Art School graduation to solo shows in major galleries. Lazzari's book is a vital tool to help navigate that road. The book is filled with practical information, on the business of being an artist, and opportunities in the arts.Much of the information is information you don't, normally, get in Art Schools.
   Every serious artist needs help with the practical out of the studio stuff. If you do not have a dealer (you trust) or someone who manages your career and finaces, you can use this book. I have bought this book for friends and serious students in the arts.



5. Sorry to disagree with Ms Lazarri's friends but this book should be accurately titled "artist-lite". It is strictly for an amateur - a Sunday painter - and not for an artist serious in pursuing a career in the visual arts.

   If this is how you define yourself then this is a book for you.

5 comments about 1,000 Graphic Elements: Details for Distinctive Designs.

1. A comprehensive display for the experienced and novice alike.
   Open up your world by seeing the splendid designs of others.
   A broad picture to the world of design from logos to brands.
   Yes, this is well worth the price.



2. 1,000 Graphic Elements: Details for Distinctive Designs
   In my mind's eye I see this series being originated by a marketing expert that decided to focus and feature their own industry. These books offer frequency in category, classic designs, and creativity that lends to brand building. This series is a collection promotion experts should have as part of their consistently used library. Enjoy...



3. the title and description are misleading. This book should be called "1000 examples of ultra-high budget junk"
   
   These aren't graphic elements, they are complete projects. furthermore, the "elements" themselves are over-dependent on materials, embossing, die-cuts, metalic inks and other expensive processes that it is of little value to real-world designers. It gave me no fresh ideas or inspiration whatsoever, and is going in the recycle bin 15 minutes after arrival.
   
   I've seen better looking and more compelling work with rubber stamps. Buy this book if you want to see how over-priced production is used by spoiled designers and clients with money they have no problem wasting.
   
   The book tries to divide itself into sections such as binding, graphic devices, and typology, but there is no consistency applied, and each example could qualify for another category, because of the abundance of junk incorporated.
   
   If you want to create pieces that cost a ton of money, hurt the eye and poorly communicate, this is the book for you. I've seen more compelling graphic work from an 8-year old with glue and glitter.



4. It is a great book to reference and I look forward to purchasing the rest of the series.



5. You probably already know that this book is really just eye-candy. No helpful tips on how to design or anything like that. This book is something to look at for inspiration, and for that it is fantastic. Wilson Harvey (author) knows how to pick good design, and there is more good design packed into this volume than probably any other "inspiration book" I've looked at. Unfortunately, none of the other 1000 ______ books seem to have the same quality and variety of work. Wilson Harvey also did 1000 Type Treatments, so I'm sure that book is great without even having looked at it.

5 comments about The Rape of Europa: The Fate of Europe's Treasures in the Third Reich and the Second World War.

1. The Rape of Europa is an eye-opening book. Nicholas has done a tremendous amount of research that reveals the almost unimaginable extent of Nazi art looting during World War II. But the book never gets bogged down in details. The chilling story moves along quickly. I recommend this book highly for anyone interested in World War II, or for readers who are curious about the political uses of art.



2. What an eye opener. after reading this book one think the world war II was ment by the Germans to get hold on art only. One can never visit an museum in europe/america/ Argentina/south america/auction houses without thinking: what is the provenance of said article: also robbed / fenced/ stolen? How much blood is on it? Is there not an exhibition in London (March 2008) with stolen art by the Russian (so called reparation payment taken from hidden German wareshouses) this month full with French/Paris school / entarte kunst and more? Comming from France the loot was 28 thousant train wagons(containers)
   
   After reading, one should feel never be save anymore regarding own collection!



3. After seeing the documentary movie with the same title, I was anxious to buy the book. The movie is based on the book and generally I find books preferable to movies. In this case, however, I would recommend the movie unless you are an art history major or World War II history buff. The book is a scholarly work with dense writing and extensive footnotes. While I can appreciate such texts, it was not what I was expecting since the movie is so engaging that I sat through it utterly entranced and with an intense desire to learn more.



4. The movie, THE RAPE OF EUROPA, is a gripping documentary about the plan by Hitler to take over all of Europe's cultural treasures and the way that the U.S. dealt with these artworks after the war. The Nazis' success at stealing paintings, sculpture, and other art was phenomenal and this film does an excellent job of presenting all the facts. Many of the participants, or their descendants, are still alive and speak to the filmmakers movingly of their efforts, whether it was as the "monuments men" or the owners.
   At a time when it is all too easy to forget history, the filmmakers have created a terrific movie that reveals yet another horrific aspect to the Nazi regime. Highly recommended.



5. Nicholas traces the plunder of cultural treasures by Nazi Germany followed by the Allies' efforts to locate and return the booty. The Germans also engaged in the wanton destruction of others' cultural treasures, beginning with the very start of WWII. For instance, the German forces deliberately bombed and shelled the historical section of Warsaw (the Old Town). (p. 61)
   
   The reader soon learns that the pillage of conquered nations was done not just by Nazi hacks, but also by German intellectuals, as in German-occupied Poland: "Even the most distinguished German scholars were not immune to the opportunities presented by a cultural scene so open to exploitation...once the country lay at their feet many of these academics felt not the slightest qualms at transferring the collections, libraries, and even research notes of their erstwhile colleagues to their own use." (p. 74).
   
   Spectacular German thefts include that of the giant Wit Stwosz (Veit Stoss) altar of Krakow (Cracow), and the Bursztyn Komnaty (Amber Room) of the city of Pushkin. The latter is yet to resurface.
   
   Nicholas touches on those German genocidal plans against the Slavs that were to be implemented after Germany's expected victory over Russia: "The basic policies would be the same as those applied to Poland. After conquest, areas would be cleansed, exploited, and Germanized...In these [German-appointed districts] the cleansing would again be cultural, racial, and ideological. Not only Jews and `Bolshevists' would be eliminated by immediate execution; much of the general Slavic population would be allowed to expire naturally when their food supplies were diverted to the worthier citizens of the Reich." (p. 185)
   
   There are some distortions and omissions in this book. Nicholas repeats the myth of the Poles "arriving at" an already-abandoned Monte Cassino (p. 247) when in actuality the Poles had to overcome fierce German resistance, and to take grievous casualties, in order to take Monte Cassino. She elaborates on the Germans' burning of the libraries and archives of Naples (pp. 232-233), and the agony of the Soviet-betrayed Warsaw Uprising (p. 77), but not the magnitudes-greater destruction of Warsaw's cultural treasures. AFTER the fall of the Warsaw Uprising, the vindictive Germans burnt and blew up the still-standing architectural treasures of Warsaw. They also burned all the libraries and archives of Warsaw, causing the loss of 13 million volumes, including about 500,000 irreplaceable ones.
   
   All in all, however, Nicholas has given the reader a good overview of this sad subject.

5 comments about Writing with Pictures: How to Write and Illustrate Children's Books.

1. This is a great book and really explains how to layout a picture book. Since my college education never taught me how to do this, this is a wonderful book to have.



2. This is the book you have been looking for. I've purchased a number of other books about children's publishing, but this one has more wisdom and more real technique than any of them.
   
   The title might make you think this book is about illustrating children's books. Yes, an illustrator can get a graduate degree from the material here. But the title doesn't really do the book justice, because Shulevitz covers both writing and illustration. He covers both topics together, showing how the text and the pictures move a story forward to a satisfactory conclusion. Quoting from the book (p.29):
   
   "When the actor-stage relationship is clear, when the picture code is consistent, when the progression is appropriate to the action, the picture sequence will 'speak' to the reader. The more clearly the picture sequence speaks, the more enjoyment the reader will be able to get from it. And giving a feeling of satisfaction is essential in children's books."
   
   This book has literally hundreds of example illustrations and text excerpts. Most are pencil and ink sketches, but don't be fooled: the author created most of them specifically to illustrate this book. They do a great job.
   
   I'm done gushing. If you are interested in this topic, buy the book. You won't be disappointed.



3. As a 'gallery' artist moving more into illustration, I needed a text that really told me how to illustrate- what makes books different to gallery works, the psychology of composition, how to plan a book and incorporate words and pictures etc and this book has really done that for me. I found the section on composition and picture space particularly helpful.
   
   This is the book for you if you want a book that tells you how and why. The author hasn't held back information but explains everything with lots of drawn examples. I bought another book on illustration at the same time - Exploring Illustration by Michael Fleishman- which like so many modern textbooks goes on about theory instead of telling you real technical information. It has served to show me just how good Writing With Pictures is and how generous the author is in giving information.
   
   I can't recommend it highly enough.
   
   I have read criticism that it doesn't have enough computer-related information but that isn't something all illustrators need. This deals with the real skills of the craft and to me, with so many programs out there you are better getting guides on every program you want to use to really master them than have the broad, undetailed cross-section inevitable in books about this size.



4. Uri Shulevitz's book Writing With Pictures is a treasure trove of valuable information concerning writing/illustrating children's books. For those with no interest whatsoever in illustration, the book explains how illustrations enhance and fulfill the promise of the text. For those only interested in illustration, the book describes how to correctly construct illustrations so that they illuminate, rather than repeat, the prose.
   
   The book is divided in four parts. Part one defines/contrasts picture books and story books; two, describes how to plan the book; three, explains the construction and purpose of illustrations; and four, provides instruction on how to prepare illustrations for reproduction for publishing.
   
   Although the book could be used for college courses in both art and literature, it is easily readable, enjoyable and informative. For individuals serious about writing and/or illustrating books for children, this book is a must-have resource. It's a keeper!



5. This book is a pleasure to read, and very inspiring to get drawing! His detailed instructions are as helpful as sitting in a drawing class.

3 comments about Greek Art and Archaeology.

1. I am so happy i got this book from amazon. It shipped fast and came in perfect condition. Best of all i got it for $75, instead of $130 if i bought it from my school.



2. Great if you like archaeology, get the hardcover version too, its worth it, wont die over time!



3. This was a required text for an art history course I took in college, and, being an art history major, I found this to be an easy read. It made the material easy to understand, and the color and black-white photographs were excellent. Pedley covers the entire spectrum of Greek art admirably, makes connections to primary sources, and outlines the various styles so that even a student NOT interested in the subject comes away with something. Anyone needing a reference on Ancient Greek Art or wanting to learn about the subject will find his book to be invaluable!

No comments about Publication Design Workbook.