2 comments about Flash 8: Graphics, Animation & Interactivity.

1. I had the misfortune to buy this book for an online class on VR. We were supposed to work our way through the book chapter by chapter, as we took the class online. Admittedly, the online class did not support the flash part of the instruction in any way.
   
   Having said that, I found this book to be the worst book ever for learning a software. The progression of the lessons was clunky and the files that were included as a support for each lesson were hard to use and sometimes impossible to understand. Instead of giving projects to work on, the book focused on explaining each and every button and menu item. One problem with this was a button or pallett or menu item would be mentioned in the text with no graphic to show where to find it. Often you could get lost in trying to find what the heck was being discussed. In fact, the book was very short on graphics, period, which is bad since the program itself is very visual.
   
   I would never recommned this book to anyone who wants to learn flash.



2. After working through many "do something right now" tutorials - I felt like I could butcher my way through simple Flash projects and action script, but wasn't really using the software the way it was designed to be used.
   
   I think this book is an ideal read if you've been through Flash tutorials that show you how to use the program, but don't walk you through an overview from top to bottom, explaining the idiosyncrasies, gotchas and tips along the way. While the lessons are not particularly project oriented (like Classroom in a book style), you get a framework for continued learning.
   
   For a programmer / experienced software user who wants to learn Flash, I would recommend reading this book and finding tutorials online to go in deep on areas relevant to your specific project.

No comments about Planning for a Sustainable Future (Geography Skills).

No comments about RoboCup 2007: Robot Soccer World Cup XI (Lecture Notes in Computer Science).

5 comments about Maya Character Animation.

1. This is an excellent book in terms of content, but it is definitely not for beginners. It is not a step-by-step, click-this-button guide book. You really have to work your mind to follow the directions of the tutorials. However, it is still a good buy. It has great character modeling concepts, provided you know the basics of how to use Maya. I highly recommend this to intermediate users of Maya who wants to do character animation.



2. Maya Character animation is probably one of the best books I have seen so far dealing with character construction. While it is not for beginners, if you have a solid knowledge of Maya, the Maya tools and a general understanding of how it all works, this will take you to the next step in building your animations in a professional manner.

   I am an animation student at the Columbus College of Art and Design and this book has been a great help in reducing my character modeling time as well as showing me different ways to assign control surfaces so that my characters movements are easier to direct and look much more natural.

   Another good thing about this book is that it does deal with issues such as assigning textures to your characters and shows you multiple ways to reach the same goal so that you are able to work with the style that suits you the best.

   All in all, a definite must have in any serious animators' library and it should be put right next to the Maya 4.5 Bible




3. MAYA Character Animation by Jae-jin Choi is a book that covers a huge amount of information and advanced techniques. This book is not a good choice if you're still a beginner but it's not so hard to understand either. It is exellent if your intermediate. It does have some good new tricks for advanced users.
   The book covers polygon, nurb and subD modelling although you should know about modelling a little bit before reading. It covers facial expressions, skin binding, *good* rigging, texturing, some rendering and of course animation. It has very valuable information scattered around on topics like fluids, fur, and new things on Maya 4.5 that of course persist on Maya 5. It even has a tutorial on Deep Paint 3D. Full color and filled with pictures that aid the text perfectly. You get to work with different characters and many settings. The information and data on the CD is a big ++.
   Not to go any further I would like to say that everytime I open this book on ANY page I learn something new. Im a 3D veteran and a Teacher on Character Animation that came into 3D from the world of comic pencilling and inking and this book I can tell you is one of the few books I find useful and believe me... I'm close to compleating all the book list you'll find here at Amazon.com... IF YOUR SERIOUS ABOUT MAYA BUY THIS BOOK!!! (check my list for other great books)



4. This book is in dire need of an editor, preferably one with Maya experience. While it is obvious that Mr. Choi posesses a vast knowledge of Maya, his skills at communicating this knowledge are severly lacking. Grammatical errors abound, and his prose is often repetitive and confusing, if not downright incomprehensible. Many of the images are utterly superfluous, and sometimes they even contradict the text. Also, on a number of occasions, the information given is just plain wrong. Going through the 800+ pages of this book was an utterly frustrating exercise, and as such, I have already advised several friends to stay away from this book.



5. Well, I must say that this book is very very good. Nice tutorials, some are dificult, but with some practice, you're there!
   If you want to learn caracter modeling, this is it! and also forget the "inside Maya 5"...that's really is NOT for begginers :D

5 comments about Foundation Macromedia Flash MX.

1. The foundation books feel like my sons preschool class. Very fluffy, project oriented reading, but useless as a reference. Just get to the point and show me how to do it! There's a balance between example and reference that make tutorial books valuable, this book and other "Foundation" or "Friends of Ed" books I've bought or looked at weigh in too heavy on the example side and the "how do I do this" part is mucked up in the mire of examples.

   If you have NO flash experience what so ever, then this might (might) be for you, but if you've decided to finally get to learning the details of flash and start getting something out of it, then perhaps the Flash MX Bible would be a better choice, that was my choice and I'm much happier with it. My choice for ActionScript is Macromedias' Advanced Flash MX Actionscripting. It's not really advanced, but it is very clear and gets to the point.




2. The reasons that the other reviewers found as cause for complaint about this book are the very qualities that I needed: Bite-sized lessons and lots of explanation. These are the things that were missing in my other Flash MX tutorial book (Flash MX Training from the source) that got me really stumped!

   I don't mind this humble approach at all. I didn't expect Foundation Flash MX to take me to the details of Action Script or other technical stuff or turn me into a guru like some of your guys. (In my dreams!) That would be work enough for other books and very propitious events like the next ice Age. Just like in baseball, I just needed to swing my bat, hit the ball right, get on the first base and be ready for the next run. Exactly what Foundation Flash MX does for me.

   I recommend this book to those who are learning on their own and can't seem to come to grips with the software.




3. I used this book as a classroom manual and was exceptionally pleased with it. The pace was exactly right. The project approach helped the students master a bit at a time. The only complaint was that the Case Study could be confusing at times, but the book is basically error free. I would recommend this book to the person who needs a step-by-step, tutorial-oriented approach done right. Thanks to Friends of Ed for a job well done.



4. This book is a VERY GOOD BOOK for those needing solid grounding in Macromedia Flash MX. It's so good that buying this one book replaces all the other books on the shelf to get solid grounding with how to use Flash. The language is easy to understand, without jargon that clogs your brain and tire you out before they get to the point.

   If you're like me, you probably suffer from attention deficit disorder that is the trademark of the digital generation. Things come at you so fast, technologies popping up at you at speed of thought, and before you know it a new version of the software that promises miracles is out.

   You will learn all you need to build a website in Flash MX and have a new career waiting for you, if you're any talented in aesthetic design, but there is a catch; If and only if you are patient enough to sit through the entire thing. It took me months to get to Chapter 11, and that's not even the end yet. The first 6 chapters went through easily, but then I always have stamina problems going through really thick, technical books. I probably have about 6 more chapters to go, and although it has taken me this long and will take a bit more of my time, I found some Flash MX books a waste of my money.

   I have about 10 books on Flash MX in various forms, and this one is by far the best investment. Most books out there are robbing you in broad daylight, giving you a shaky foundation with so much jargon that it confuses you. Don't bother with the other beginner's books and buy this one instead. It will give you real skills, a real case study, and even some real-world Flash MX web development extras.




5. This book is relatively inexpensive (as compared to other similar books) because the files are for download (as opposed to including a CD).
   
   If you are trying to learn Flash this book, in my opinion, is the best tutorial because it doesn't just give you an exercise that you learn a technique by wrote memory...this book explains the feature how it works...so you end up understanding the basics of Flash. Once doing the tutorials in this book, the reader will probably be able to do, or figure out how to do, many things not included in the book, simply because they will understand how Flash works.

5 comments about Effective Web Animation: Advanced Techniques for the Web.

1. This is one great book! Picking it up and setting down in my usual lazy chair to read I quickly got a feel for how easy this book was to read. With beautiful pictures and easy to follow examples I quickly found it to be one of my favorite graphics books. This book covers almost everything you need to know about web animation, and best of all, it grows with you! As your skills get better the book explains more. From Gif89 animations to all out power house Flash animations that will make your site to die for! I loved every bit!



2. Having already worked for a number of years with the Internet I was hoping this book would provide me with such information as "Advanced Techniques for the Web" (as the books sub-title states). What I found though was the book is a fantastic resource for anyone who is a complete beginner right up to intermediate web developer.

   I was expecting detailed information on java scripting and Flash scripting however found that the book goes not much further than, for example, the handbooks and tutorials of Flash 4 and Dreamweaver 2.

   If you are an experienced web designer/developer with a solid grounding in the internet and are looking for more than basic java scripting and flash scripting, this book may prove to be too basic. With this all said, this is a valuable book and many colleagues who newer to the web are gaining much benefit from information in this book.

   5 stars for beginner - intermediate skill level

   3 stars for advanced skill level




3. J.Scott Hamlin is on the cutting edge of Web graphics design and his book Effective Web Animation offers a new look and fresh approach to incorporating animated imagery. According to Hamlin serious Web graphics design goes far beyond the simple GIF animations of poorer quality and performance that just about anyone can create. Image size, color quality, interactivity, accompanying audio, and faster delivery over the Internet are factors that have led to new Web animation technologies. Are we ready to face them?

   Hamlin lays a foundation for Web animation on the professional level for serious minded Web designers who must face new graphic design consideration demands. Hamlin offers detailed instruction involving the use of JavaScript, Photoshop, and Macromedia Flash and the results are phenomenal. This book contains many well-planned and beautifully designed graphic images and the tips and advanced techniques necessary to create comparable results. The accompanying CD features sample code, animations, demoware, and tutorials for further instruction opportunities.

   Web animation is making a comeback and Web graphics design has become serious business. Hamlin's contribution in the form of this book is essential for those designers who want to graduate to a higher level of Web design mastery and income. Clients are wising up to the many Web technologies available to them and are becoming more discerning about how they spend their advertising dollars. Don't be left behind. Consider animating your Web creations today. This is must reading!




4. I just read this book on 04/2001, and considering that this book was published on 99 it feels a bit old, but although it treats Flash on its version 3, is gives you an amazing background information, also the optimization section for animated gifs is amazing. I just wish i read this book on 99' I would be Hillman Curtis 2, i would've save me lots of learning. Great for Flash foundations. This for sure was the THE HIT back on 99'.



5. The others have said it all. This is truly a five star book, full of useful content. By now you should be in no doubt - buy it!

5 comments about Macromedia Flash MX: A Beginner's Guide.

1. I had no previous experience with flash, and within 8 hours of purchasing the book I had a professional looking flash design website complete with links, movies, animation, and buttons. Excellent book for the flash beginner.



2. I knew a few basics from the files that come with flash, and was able to do very few basic things. I read through this book, and I now have a solid background in all the flash basics. I like the layout too. Great book, excellent for beginners.



3. I was surprised at how easy it was to start understanding and using Flash with this book. It is organized very well, the language is concise and clear, and one can follow all the examples without having to go over the author's instructions again and again as with so many other books of this kind. In that sense, this book is a confidence builder and should be read by all who are starting with Flash.



4. I am a java programmer, eager to learn Flash fast. This book was only slightly useful. I found the chatty style just long-winded and condescending.

   Here's one example (p.56):"You're probably wondering just what the panel is, anyway. In effect, a panel is effectively what is known as a nonmodal dialog box. That is, a panel can be thought of as a dialog box that does not need to be closed."

   In effect, this author needs effectively what is known as a good editor.

   The later chapters on actionScript are particularly weak. Too much ink spent defining terms and listing actions out of context. I needed more worked examples. I found the built-in lessons in the Flash Help more useful than this book.

   On a postive note, my tired old eyes really liked the large easy-to-read font used in this book. Why the heck do so many software texts have small fonts surrounded by acres of white space?




5. I got really frustrated with the book. Long chapters with little substance. Very hard to find what you are looking for.Unnecessary repetition is annoying. Definitely not a book for me.

No comments about A Guide To Web Development Using Macromedia Dreamweaver MX 2004: With Firework, Flash, and Coldfusion.

No comments about Brazil (World in Focus).

5 comments about Wavelets for Computer Graphics (The Morgan Kaufmann Series in Computer Graphics).

1. This is a fine introduction to wavelets for computer scientists, with many fun applications in computer graphics. Easier than other introductions I've seen, in part because it avoids the frequency domain. I'm using it in a graduate course, but it would be easy to use by yourself or in a special seminar for undergraduates in CS or math.



2. I shall be brief and skip saucy words and go to the main point: Why you should acquire this book? 2 Reasons. 1)Michael Lounsbery, Tony D. DeRose and Joe Warren, "Multiresolution analysis for surfaces of arbitrary topological type" 2)"Multiresolution curves", Adam Finkelstein and David H. Salesin.

   The authors offer their knowledge in an early stage and this honour them in the largest extent! This book provides an expleantion for these two papers and their branches(papers originating from these theories).




3. I noticed that Tony DeRose, one of the authors of this book,
   was a project lead in Pixar's wonderful film "Monsters".
   Computer graphics, especially at the cutting edge practiced
   by Pixar is deeply mathematical. This is certainly reflected
   in this book.

   This book covers a number of areas that are not covered outside
   of journal articles. For example, there are chapters on
   interpolating wavelets (e.g., wavelets built via splines or
   polynomials). The coverage of interpolation and splines to
   construct wavelet is good, but the authors quickly gloss over
   the other critical half of the problem: how to construct a
   scaling function for a given interpolating wavelet. I have
   read over this material several times and I have not found the
   answer. I have come to doubt that the answer is there, at
   least in a complete form.

   This characterizes much of the book. The authors cover
   important material, but if you are not already deeply
   familiar wavelet mathematics, it may be difficult or
   impossible to implement an algorith from the coverage
   provided in this book. Many practical issues are missing.
   For example, many wavelets calculated on a finite data set
   like an image can have edge effects. There is little
   in this book on minimizing edge effects.

   If you are already familiar with wavelet algorithms and their
   implementation, this book may be a great reference for wavelet
   applications in computer graphics. But it is by no means
   an introduction for the novice.




4. This is an easy to read book covering simple wavelets relating to computer graphics. This book also provides a very easy and fun explanation of subdivision.
   
   This book is primarily aimed at the application of wavelets, it contains simple and easy to follow illustrations of key concepts, and is very light on proofs. While I may be slightly biased, in that I have a degree in Computer Engineering, I really can't imagine an explanation of wavelets being any easier to read than this book is.
   
   Overall, the authors did an excellent job creating an introductory book on wavelets relating to computer graphics.



5. I'll start out by saying that I am a complete idiot who does not know the first thing about calculus, but I do have 10 years worth of software engineering experience and have no trouble following complicated data processing concepts when they are explained in terms of procedures rather than terse, obfuscated, squiggly equations. The introduction in this book looked promising in that it seemed to be taking a step-by-step "this is how you need to juggle the pixel values around" approach to the concept of wavelet transforms, but as luck would have it, the very next page AFTER the freely available sample is chock full of everything I can't read and didn't want. Of course, my own ignorance is neither the book nor the author's fault, but a better description and/or lengthier excerpt from the publisher could have saved me a lot of trouble ordering and returning this item since it's not something a lot of brick and mortar stores carry on their shelves. The price tag is also more than a little steep for its size, but I suppose the book's target audience is college kids who are used to throwing away hundreds of dollars on whatever their professors tell them to.
   
   I've no doubt that mathematicians will find humor in (and possibly be enraged by) my folly, but maybe this will save a fellow stupid code monkey a little time and money.