5 comments about VRML 2.0 Sourcebook, 2nd Edition.

1. please informacion acerca de como cancelar



2. Doesn't take you through the subject in the conventional manner. After the first couple of intro chapters, you can then easily delve into any other chapter for what you need. Very useful as a reference once you understand the basics. A bit weak on using scripts to control and interact with VRML worlds. Other than this minor gripe, a great book.



3. This book is perfect for beginners and those that already now the basics and want to advance further. It has many examples and is written in a intelligent manor. If you are advanced in VRML you may still benefit from this book however when it comes to scripting and adding Java to your 3d worlds you will need to invest in other books.



4. I agree completely with the other reviewers. This book is has an amazing wealth of information about VRML and will have you making some amazing worlds by the time you are finished. Many important subjects are covered, from beginning to advanced topics. I do agree that there isn't NEARLY enough information about scripting with VRML, just a brief talk of how to do it. Some more examples with this would have been a huge help, but otherwise, I'd recommend this book to anyone who uses VRML, no matter your expertise.



5. Even nearly nine years after it was first written, this book continues to be valuable for more reasons than when it was published. If you are still involved in VRML and have some need to learn this language, this book is a complete guide that starts from the beginning with the simplest concepts and shape definitions and then builds to advanced concepts such as textures, lighting, and fog. Throughout the book there are figures of the resulting images and plenty of sample VRML files for all examples. I do agree with the other reviewers that chapter 30, the one on scripting, is really the only chapter that is no longer worthwhile since so many changes have been made to the scripting part of VRML. Other than that, this is truly one of the best written and most instructive tech books I have ever bought. If you are going to study VRML, there is no longer any other book in existence but this one that is worth owning.
   The second reason to own this book has only popped up over the last two or three years. Since Xj3D began to come on the scene several years ago as the XML-based open-source replacement for VRML, this book has become invaluable for evaluating that tool's ability to build virtual worlds. In fact, the Web3D consortium's "test files" for Xj3D, which continues to be a work in progress, are VRML files from this book that have been translated into Xj3D. Since the base tags are the same in Xj3D as they are in VRML, if you are able to understand VRML you should be able to understand what's going on in an Xj3D file with just a little investigation into the basic differences. This will allow you to intelligently evaluate Xj3D and determine if you can find any weaknesses or discrepancies in that tool's implementation.

No comments about Mathematica Computer Manual to accompany Advanced Engineering Mathematics, 8th Edition (Advanced Engineering Mathematics).

5 comments about 3-D Human Modeling and Animation, Second Edition.

1. If you want to learn how to model the human form, I defitnely won't recommend this book. I bought this book as a newbie modeller. But it didn't help me a bit. I learned more from reading about modeling and topology on diferent forums. And now I can say that about 90% of Peter Ratner's modeling theories are plain incorrect. He doesn't even mention edge loops. Even if it is mentioned because I missed it, still edge loops is a term that should have been mentioned 10 times or more on every page. It is one of the very pillars of modeling theory. Instead Peter Ratner tells us to extrude a polygon, cut it a few times and move the vertices around until you get the nose shape, or the ear shape or whatever. My grandmother could have told me that for free.
   Anyway, the second half of the book was helpful though. But I must say that the second half (that's about animation and lighting and texturing) is standard knowledge that is explained far better in other books. The CD has a few nice artwork on it. Nothing I could have downloaded from various sites on my own. What could have been more useful was tutorials on how the authors of those images made those images.
   If you are a beginner, skip this one! There are better books like "Stop starring", all the books from the [DIGITAL:] series from the top of my head.



2. It is friendly and understandable. I needed to model a human character using Maya without my instructor being there with me. So I totally did it using the book. It made everything to go smooth and FORWARD.



3. All Modelling concerns with this book aside, the biggest problem I have with 3-D Human Modeling and Animation is simply that the author's models are terrible examples of the human form.
   Not very impressive. If you see this book - just skip to the human face blend shapes section and see what I mean: ugly, anatomically incorrect shapes. This problem permiates through the whole publication. Don't let the cover image fool you (not the authors.)
   
   If you are new to character/organic modelling, I do not recommend this book. If your'e a little more experienced, there's a few chapters here that inspire especially later in the book. I found the reference section on hair shader variations quite handy.



4. Think this book is very good written. Specially useful for people who wanna fast introduction to 3D-modeling.
   
   Everything starts from simple and goes to very difficult models. Author simply wanna give a reader the most simple explanation of everything.
   How, what to use, how else you can do it...
   
   Think very nice book... it a bit reminds a lessons in school. Every small part of book - is one lesson. But at the same time it's not boring lessons, so think this book have pretty much right for existing.



5. For starters the cover pix was not done by Rattner and further more is not posed, rather it was - (tell me if I'm wrong) - modeled in place. There used to be a web page that covered the first chapters of this book, I guess it was taken down because it was hurting sales.
   As was mentioned it skips edge loops and other important aspect of CG sculpting. The book is chocked full of bad anatomy and techniques, it goes about modeling in a shoddy and disorganized way, that will start the beginner off on the wrong foot. You will save money and get a better start using the Joan of Arc tutorial that is available for free on the web.

4 comments about Writing for Animation, Comics, and Games.

1. More than a few years ago, I had the extremely good fortune to be mentored in the art of animation writing by Christy Marx, who told it like it was about the biz and taught me all about the basics in great detail. Now a professional myself with credits as an animation production coordinator and writer, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book. Not only does it cover all the ground she taught me about animation writing with the same depth and care, it takes on comics and videogames, two mediums which have become more and more intertwined with animation over the last two decades -- something which is taken into account throughout the book. Whether you're trying to figure out if any or all of this areas are for you, or just looking for a better understanding of the business, this is an excellent primer.



2. This is the best compilation of *practical* information for the business of writing that I've seen yet. It is very well organized and just about every piece of knowledge in there is indispensable. It helped connect a lot of dots for me that I had gleaned elsewhere but sometimes without the proper context. Most books touch on one or two things really well, but Ms. Marx's book is the best overall "primer" out there.
   
   Although I already have a number of writing credits, I'm still really just starting out and I found the book very helpful. The information helped validate some of the things I'm doing and also give a little more direction for the future.
   
   If you're interested in writing for any of the three fields, the book is worth buying. If you are interested in more than one, then you can't pass it up under any circumstances. Highly recommended.



3. Transmedia storytelling is one of the big new buzzworthy concepts right now, as evidenced by the multiple-media narrative campaigns of HEROES, BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, FIREFLY/SERENITY, TRANSFORMERS, THE MATRIX, and so on. Although she doesn't explicitly use the term 'transmedia', Christy Marx has written a sort of proto-primer for writers looking to tell stories across multiple media. Being able to understand the basics of writing for each media type goes a long way towards understanding how to tell a story using each of those multiple forms. That the book is both very well-written and an entertaining read are added bonuses. Highly recommended!



4. This book is about writing, but it's also an insider's view to the industry. I give it five stars because it's clear and to the point, it covers a lot of ground, because the author's years of experience in the business shows.
   
   People think that being creative is about inspiration, some magical wand beaming an endless stream of imagination to your brain. Maybe it is, but the author shows it's mostly hard work. She is clear in telling that professional writing and storytelling should be a careful, considered process and it's best to follow the footsteps of experienced professionals.
   
   Having worked with Flash animation for a long time, as an employee and a freelancer, I have to agree it's a tough job. You have to work along with a team, accept criticism lightly and then deliver some amazing jaw dropping stuff!
   
   The book is not about developing ideas for scripts or coming up with some formula for characters, plots etc. It is about the day-by-day practice: how to format your script, deadlines, teamwork, resources etc etc.
   
   She shows what professionals - bosses and co-workers- expect from a writer, what are the standards and common practices in each of the three areas. That's a lot of information! And priceless.
   
   I love it because it helped me build up a method for work that is more productive and to the point and to bring more focus to the decision making involved in the creative work, specially animation and comics.

1 comments about Design Paradigms: A Sourcebook for Creative Visualization.

1. This book is an exciting exploration of universal principles (paradigms) of form and design. Warren Wake identifies the design fundamentals common to such diverse areas as architecture and insects, industrial design and weather patterns. The book is organized around big questions in design, like how two objects can be joined, and how an object can change size. Within each category or chapter, the author takes us through the many ingenious solutions to these fundamental problems, wherever the solutions may be. One moment we're looking at how an armadillo can roll into a ball, then we're seeing how this can be applied to metal construction to bend and change the form of rigid materials. We see the structure of a Swiss Army Knife and then how the principle can be applied to clothing design. The bottom-line message is that "Design is Everywhere," and this book is as good a guide to this view of the world as you'll find. It should be required reading for persons interested in industrial design or architecture, and should be interesting to anyone interested in how things work.

5 comments about Organize Your Photos with Adobe Photoshop Elements 3 (2nd Edition).

1. If you are one of the many people who are feeling overwhelmed by your files of digital photos this book is a must have! Michael Slater's new book, "Organize Your Photos with Adobe Photoshop Elements 3" will help you take control of your digital shoebox of photos. In my opinion, Photoshop Elements 3 is the easiest way to do so and this book makes using the program a no-brainer! The book even reveals a hidden trick on how to clean up the Photo Review feature in the Organizer section of the software.



2. This book concentrates on the Organizer side of PSE 3 and does an excellent in depth job of showing the various ways to organize and find all your photos. It has different degrees of organization depending on the photographers needs. You make a very enlightened choice!
   There are also very good chapters included on editing both with the Editor and Quick Fix. Sharing photos, printing and making creations all have their own chapters.
   The book is extremely well illustrated with plenty of colour screenshots and photos.
   If you only buy one book on PSE 3 this should be it!



3. This is a good book with lots of info and great ideas on how to organize your photos.



4. this would have to be the most comprehensive organizer i have seen .i was most impressed by the quality and size of the book. with this book you need look no further,top marks. signed. errol



5. I have had this book for a couple of years now and it has helped out a lot. Pretty well written and covers most questions. Binding is not good as pages will come out. For those starting out with Elements it is a good buy.

2 comments about The Reproduction of Colour (The Wiley-IS&T Series in Imaging Science and Technology).

1. The author has an impressive array of initials after his name; he is, amongst other things, a Doctor of Science, a Member of the Imperial College, an Associate of the Royal College of Science, and a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society as well as a Visiting Professor of Physiological Optics and of Colour Science, and a former Assistant Director of Research at Kodak. He has also been Chairman of the Colorimetry Committee of the International Commision on Illumination, and Chairman of the International Colour Association.

   First published in 1957 and now in its much enhanced 5th edition, The Reproduction of Colour is the most comprehensive single resource available. Two quotes from the preface to the 5th edition describe what it is about:

   "The object (is to present) the fundamental principles of colour reproduction, whether by photography, television, or printing in the hopes that all those engaged in producing, selling, buying, or using colour pictures will be able to see the nature of the problems they encounter. Those who want a general statement on colour reproduction will find it in the first part, and those who want a more detailed discussion of any one application in which they are particularly interested (will find it) in the later parts." and "The reproduction of colour involves physiology, psychology, physics, chemistry, and technology. presents complexities, (and) involves a wide variety of enterprises". Even though there are individuals skilled in processing and printing their own color film, and DTP bureaux had taken over some of the work of traditional printing houses, color reproduction was, until not so long ago, the province of technicians in the photographic, printing, and television industries, Now we have crossed the threshold of a new era in which a massive technology transfer is taking place, putting effective control over color into the hands of a much wider range of users. Even home users now have available to them very powerful tools that enable production of images that are, to the ordinary eye, indistinguishable from quality photographic prints.

   That brings with it a need to understand the technology of color reproduction, and the definitive text is Dr Hunt's book. I have rated it 10/10 because of the remarkably wide range of disciplines covered and its astounding technical depth. Without it most of the information presented would have to be gleaned from numerous other books, professional journals, and published papers. Further, one does not have to have a scientific background to gain some understanding of what is involved in the reproduction of color. The fields covered television, photography, and printing are becoming less discrete with the application of digital technology; those who use computerized systems for the reproduction of color images will find relevant information spread throughout most parts of this book.

   It is not a popular account, a color-for-cretins guide, or a how-to manual. This is a technical resource written in a style that makes it readable without diluting its professional integrity. Not all readers will need, or even want, to know the chemical structure of cyclic methylene magneta couplers, but may want information about the effects of signal processing on color reproduction. In what other recently published text would one find a comparison table of film speeds that includes the Weston system?

   The Reproduction of Colour should be in any library with holdings on technical subjects; professionals in DTP, printing, photolabs, television, and digital imaging should have it; and anyone teaching or studying graphic arts, computer science, photography, printing, or subjects related to television technology should be aware of this edition. A check of some large libraries suggests that librarians may think earlier editions are good enough, but new developments demand this latest edition. Teachers of science in sub-tertiary institutions may well find this a useful text for its practical application of science to topical real-life problems.

   The book is divided into parts: Fundamentals, Color Photography, Color Television, Color Printing, and Evaluating Color Appearance. Each chapter opens with an introduction that provides a succinct overview of the topic. Reviewed by Major Keary [majkeary@netspace.net.au]




2. In my opinion, this is the best book on color photography that I have read. Of course, it covers other topics, but it devotes a substantial amount of text, graphs and formulas to that topic. In recent months, I have acquired a fair number of books on the subject of photography and color theory, some of them very formula-intensive and some descriptive and math-primitive; but this one stands head and shoulder above the rest in its effort to describe the fundamental principles.
   
   I bought this book primarily because I wanted to learn whether it is possible, and if it is, how to predict the RGB density values of negative film versus the CYM density of the photo enlarging filter. I believe that I have found my answers in this book. Yet I was also quite pleasantly surprised to learn a lot more about color photography and reproduction. As I was reading this book, many things to which I had had unanswered questions from reading those other books have fallen in their logical place.
   
   I would highly recommend this book for anyone interested in color photography and who wants to learn not only the practical aspects of it (i.e. the result and the practice) but also the "why" of it (i.e. its scientific and experimental fundamentals). You do, though, have to have some knowledge of linear algebra and chemistry, although I would not call this book math-intensive.

1 comments about Essentials for Design Macromedia Flash 8 Level One (2nd Edition) (Essentials for Design).

1. The book is accurate, but a little hard to find exactly what you need. Very linear, for example to do a beginner level project I had to go to several later chapters in the book for help. I still used the Flash help menu and found it to be more helpful with specific questions. This book is helpful with sample files - but you can also see those by going online . . . Overall I will continue to use the Essentilas line because it is consistently the best I've found.

5 comments about Producing Independent 2D Character Animation: Making & Selling A Short Film (Visual Effects and Animation Series) (Focal Press Visual Effects and Animation).

1. This book is the most concise, and comprehensive book I've seen on the subject of producing a 2D animated cartoon. While several other books focus on the art of animation, Mark Simon focuses on the nuts and bolts of "getting it done". Topics flow from planning, visualization, character design to storyboarding, audio recording and animatics, through editing, rendering and even distribution options. The sample CD-ROM has a huge assortment of demo programs to help you "work along" with the book. It is by no means the ONLY book you need to embark on animating a cartoon, but it is an essential one for any prospective cartoon filmmaker's library. Interviews with several industry professionals are included and add a perspective from the talent buyer's view. All in all a very handy resource for someone who knows what they want to do, but need guidance to realize their vision.



2. This book is selling for $27.99 at Barnes and Noble as of 2/24/04 - that's over $20 less than here!



3. explains all resources all indumentary needed and best of all almost everything has high budget and low budget examples.



4. There is some good information in this book. If you have at least a modicum of familiarity with animation though, there's very little new about art or theory or instruction in here. The title and subtitle should be reversed in terms of importance to

   Making and Selling a Short Film: Producing 2D Independent Character Animation.

   Granted, this is not a flaw with the book, but I am writing this review as a caution to those who might think of it as one thing, when it is in fact another. They don't mean "I produced animation for Mary." They mean "For Mary I was involved in an animation production."

   Difference being, aside from a section on tips, there is -no- mention of the process of animating, but rather name-dropping of software/hardware you'll need to run a digital version of the conventional studio, presented vicariously through the author recounting his experiences in making his short film.

   All that being said, though, the tips are pretty good and the single most informative part of this entire book are the exclusive interviews with artists and suits from around the industry. These are so insightful (on the respondent's part) and so chock full of good things to know that it might have been more beneficial to chop the price in half and have the whole book just be about the interviews. Still, keeping the price the same, it's almost still worth it.

   This is not a bad book by any means; on the contrary, it is one of the better, more clearly written books out there, and though there are too many purposeless illustrations, the ones with purpose are great and it's wonderful eye candy to have them in full color. I never got a chance to see it before I bought it, and ordered it into Barnes and Noble by my house...Now I'll likely be contributing it back into the world via the Marketplace as an interesting one night stand...




5. First of all, I just wanted you to know - this book officially kicks ass.
   
   I have been messing around with Flash animation on and off for the past 4 years. Some of my stuff appeared on Howard Stern's syndicated TV show, and I even won a prize in an animated joke competition.
   
   But I have been in a total slump lately - no motivation or understanding of how to improve my skills and not a decent idea to speak of. I haven't posted a new animation on my website in well over a year.
   
   Then I received the book (Producing Independent 2D Character Animation) as a gift. It has been the jump start I needed, like shock treatment for my creativity. I've written some scripts and started storyboarding. I also did an animatic in Flash to check the timing/jokes. With the procedures outlined in the book as my guide, I intend to begin animating again shortly.

   Thanks to the author for sharing his knowledge.

No comments about Computer Graphics: Programming in OpenGL for Visual Communication.