Product Description
Leveraging her training as a traditional painter and printmaker, Bonny Lhotka brings new innovations and inventions that combine the best of centuries of printmaking techniques with modern technology to create unique works of art and photography. After years of experimentation and development, these new processes allow alternative photographers, traditional printmakers, and 21st century digital artists to express their creative voice in ways never before possible. Both by adding digital images to their traditional prints and taking their digital works into the tactile world, photographers, printmakers, and artists will find that they can easily add these processes to their studios.

The book covers the basic processes and materials to transfer images to a variety of surfaces, including wood, plaster, stone, and plastic. It moves on to allow the creation of images on metal through either direct printing or transfers using affordable printers.  More advanced processes include the creation of decals, skins, and complex mixed media compositions that are truly unique. For each of the more than 20 individual projects and processes, the book provides step-by-step instructions and tips suitable for professional photographers and artists, interested students, and enthusiastic hobbyists. ... Read more

Product Description
Over 50,000 photographers can't be wrong! John and Barbara Gerlach finally write the book their workshop attendees have been asking for!

Digital Nature Photography is a how-to guide for photographers who want to take their work to the next level. Written by professionals with over 20 years experience, the Gerlachs reveal enlightening techniques for shooting nature images in the field. The combination of artistic approach and impeccable technique will help you capture your next great image.

·Learn what equipment works best in the field, and why, as well as tips for superb shots
·Create sharp images at capture with detailed instructions for digital exposure
·Master the three factors that lead to excellent images: technique, subject and situation ... Read more

Customer Reviews (31)

Art and science it is.
I have been a John Gerlach fan for many years and still have amidst my photo gear a typewritten exposure guide that he handed out during a seminar I attended many years ago in Orlando. His emphasis then, which is repeated in this book, is an emphasis on getting the picture right in the camera - not depending on Photoshop to "rescue" haphazard results. Exposure and sharpness are critical and he demonstrates how to achieve the results. Comments on equipment are interesting since he shoots Canon and his wife who is now his partner in these endeavors shoots Nikon so you can gain insight into both systems. He will also reference Sony and Pentax now and then but on a more limited basis. Tips on composition are also quite helpful.

An excellent book to get the basics down but also some great content for those, like me who have been doing this for many years. (47 in my case) The cover shot alone is enough to keep one inspired!

Two areas might disappoint. First, there is little discussion of the use of software like Photoshop. As he points out, there are plenty of books on the topic and he would rather be out taking pix as opposed to siting in front of the computer. The second area that might disappoint is that there are no pictures or illustrations of equipment or accessories. This was less of a problem for me as an experienced photographer but some may wish to see exactly what a particular item such as an "L bracket" for off camera flash or a flash extender looks like. (I understand that given the rapid changes in technology that material may become dated - as opposed to the photos which are timeless!)

I found reference to this book in his column in Nature Photographer and ordered this and the one on landscape photography. Both were worthy purchases.

Somewhat disappointed...
I haven't finished the book yet, but am not really excited about it. It has some beautiful photos and good information, but where is the EXIF info on the pictures?When I'm looking at an instructional book, I'd like to know what settings were used, not just a 'stop down, open up, etc...' description.It actually aggravates me that this info isn't with the pictures, which is not a good thing when I'm trying to learn something from your book.

Another informative book from the Gerlachs
I am definitely a fan of John and Barbara Gerlach's, because they are wonderful teachers! As with their Digital Landscape Photography book, this book offers information on in-camera techniques that will save you time in post capture, I do not enjoy sitting at the computer for hours on end, trying to fix something I did not get right in camera and when I studied at school, this was definitely something we were taught, "get it right In camera" which takes knowledge and then practise to hone your skills. You will gain the knowledge from this book. There are those, now that the digtal and photoshop era has arrived, that believe close enough is good enough, cause it can be fixed later, not true, not if your serious about your photography. This book covers the skills, equipment and knowledge needed to take magic photos of wildlife, insects, flora and panoramas. it covers it all. Flash is something I have been wanting to master and a necessary component to nature photography, this book explains flash as the only light source, the main light source and as the secondary light source, multiple flashes and how to set them up, how to expose for each situation and they explain it so well, that I know, if I just go and practise what i have read, it won't be long before I am using flash with some degree of proficiency. I have found purchasing books written by these two gifted teachers, of great benefit in my pursuit of knowledge in this feild. They give sound advice on such practical and necessary things like, Carrying your Photographic Gear, pitfalls to look out for, simple things like, making sure your quick release plate is in the clamp properly on your tripod, maybe you only got one side in, I have done this myself and luckily, discovered it, before I had my camera fall to the ground, disaster! I was surprised to read that this happens a lot. Have you heard of a plamp, I hadn't, it's a plant clamp, how often have you tried to photograph a flower that is moving in the slightest breeze, or its in slightly the wrong position? a plant clamp could be the answer. They explain lenses and there uses, for differnet situations, there are sections on composition, leading lines, light, colour temperature, manual exposure, manual focussing, when and how to use aperture priority and shutter priority successfully. I have never used either of these, favouring manual, but through reading this book, I can see good reason for using one or the other, in certain situations. I love the fact that they remind us to tread carefully in nature, mind where you put your feet! There is so much to cover, that it would take all day to discuss, my advice is, buy the book and study it, you won't be disappointed!

Well written, good layout, and current
Recommended for (although not exclusively):
Digital photographers, beginners to digital cameras/dSLRs, nature photographers wanting to improve their skill level.


Comments:
Having read many photography books, from John Shaw's Nature Photography Field Guide to Mountain Light: In Search of the Dynamic Landscape, Tenth-Anniversary Edition, I find the sheer fact that the Gerlachs' book focuses on digital photography is worth buying the book alone.

They give details, in a simple and easy to understand manner, for the /digital/ photographer.Yes, it is useful to read about prints, negatives, and so forth, but they are to a certain extent, not as meaningful for a photographer with a digital camera (or, these days, for those who've never even handled film!).

However, the most important observation that I can make about this book, is that the technical details are easily understood by the amateur photographer.Other books, such as The Camera (Ansel Adams Photography, Book 1), can easily leave you scratching your head.Well worth the money!

Outstanding, in spite of the poor editing
A number of folks have downgraded their ratings of this book because of the poor editing.I have read some 20 photography books over the last couple of years and I would have to say this is one of the best.I agree the editing is very poor, among the worst I have see in a professional publication.But I was able to look past that and throughly enjoy this book.I learned alot from it and will likely read it again.If they were to issue a second edition with better editing I would probably buy a copy that is how good I found this book to be.Don't throw the baby our with the editor's bath water. ... Read more

Product Description
If you have ever felt the urge to paint the perfect zombie, or been morbidly compelled to capture the malignancy of a monstrous attack, then this is the book for you. Here, using the latest digital painting and modeling applications, expert horror artists show you exactly how they realized their nightmare visions. Each stage in the process is unveiled, from initial sketches through to fully rendered horror scenes that are more realistic and terrifying than ever before. The book spotlights Adobe Photoshop, Poser, Bryce 3D, Autodesk 3ds max, and Corel Painter, among other software products. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Great to look at, but not much to learn
It was more of a showcase of some great art, but it really didn't
show you how to do anything in particular. Then again, the cover of
the book doesn't have the words....."How to create...."

Surprised.A great find!
I was surprised at the level of detail and great organization of this book.I mainly do sci-fi/fantasy digital art in PS and this book delivers on some intersting techniques and workflows.This books is very organized and in most cases shows layer organization or explains it with many color illustrations.It has enough PS tutorials to get you started and has other 3D tutorials for programs such as Bryce.

Don't let the 2006 date fool you.This book is still relevant and very helpful.

Inspiring!
I'll be honest with you, this book is NOT for a complete beginner to art--there will be no line-by-line art instruction in here. Rather, this is for someone who is already an artist but would like to try creating a different genre of work--horror and macabre. And it does a wonderful job! The chapters are filled with information about the contributing artists, step-by-step tutorials on how they created certain pieces with the finished piece shown at the end, specifications for what software was used to create each picture, and galleries of professional horror and macabre artwork.

I am impressed by the wide array of different digital mediums that have been covered--photo-manipulation, painting and drawing from scratch, 3D landscapes and people, and even the skin textures for 3D model characters. It's an impressive book with many, many different styles of artwork inside, so as long as you want horror and macabre artwork (and if you bought a book with this title you must) then there's bound to be something in here that appeals to you.

Just looking through this book inspires me to create more art. =)

not what i expected
it's a good book if u know your way around photoshop. the artist featured in this book do this for a living so they don't waste the time in getting in detail on the techniques. if u are hoping for this book to teach how to draw horror characters u r for a surprise. this book it's towards to artist that can draw and they want to add special effects and enhance the image.
definetely not a teaching draw book. most of all the examples here were drawn in pencil and then scanned. so this book is aimed for those who has a good foundation in design.

Techniques Can Be Applied to Any Subject
Once you have mastered the basic tools of digital art software such as Adobe Photoshop, Corel Painter, Autodesk Maya or NewTek LightWave 3D, you might become curious about going beyond the basics when creating your own digital art. I discovered this book by Martin McKenna while I was searching for new books to review for BellaOnline. I was especially looking for books that did go beyond the usual drop shadow, bevel and other special effects and filters. I found what I was looking for in this book. As the title suggests, this book is about digital horror art and showcases the original artwork of several 2D and 3D digital artists. Each artist takes you step-by-step through their artistic process, from inspiration and conception to rendering or print, discussing the techniques they used to achieve their particular artistic style. But, don't let the macabre subjects dissuade you from considering this book. The techniques discussed here can be applied to any subject.

For those interested in expanding their skills in 2D digital art and photo manipulation software such as Photoshop and Painter, there are several examples in this book which will introduce new digital art techniques that you may not have considered before. For example, in his digital painting entitled Party Ghoul, Mark Gibbson used underlying gradient layers and blending modes to create subtle lighting. In a second example, Felipe Machado Franco discussed how he added texture to his painting using layers and photographs of textures from the world around him. On the other hand, in his work called The Forgotten Spell, the author of the book showed his traditional approach to digital painting in Photoshop which began with a rough sketch, then flat color was blocked in and finally texture and detail were added.

For 3D artists, there are many techniques showcased in this book. For example, in Medieval Resurrection by Sony Computer Entertainment's Cambridge Studio, the final image was made up of several 2D background layers and 3D foreground layers which were complied in Photoshop. Richard Force had a technique that I have never encountered before. In his work entitled Vampire Wretch, Force first modeled his subject in traditional clay and then photographed the sculpture. Once in digital form, he continued to work on his piece in Photoshop by adding texture layers with blending modes. In a third example, Howard Swindell worked totally in the 3D environment using several 3D software including Maya, LightWave 3D and Pixologic Zbrush to create his final work called The Creature.

Martin McKenna is a 15 year veteran illustrator and has been working in the game industry for some time. He is the author of Digital Fantasy Painting Workshop. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (21)

Lacks Teeth
While I think the book had some good general examples and images and the topics they used to cover the subject matter was good, I think the meat of the book was VERY general. This being a how to book I expected some very specific information that I could work with.

I already have a soft tent, lights and a Nikon D300 but I am a novice for sure. I was looking for some good information/examples on specific types of lenses, camera settings in different situations. His answers came out very soft/general. It was very much like he was afraid to be held to his answers. If your a subject matter expert than be the expert and teach.

In short, I was looking forward to the arrival of my copy Photographing Arts, Crafts, and Collectables to improve my current abilities but it came up very short.

Disclaimer: My wife says I have very high expectations so may want to take that into consideration when reading this.

Pretty but shallow
I was hoping for more information on lighting techniques specific to digital work - using polarizing filters, color shift, gamut grief, etc. If I didn't already know a fair amount about photography, I don't think I would have found this book particularly useful. Some techniques are well-illustrated, but others are sketchy at best.
But for an unfortunate coffee/book collision I would have returned this one.

an invaluable guide to taking better photographs
As a professional fiber artist creating both 2 and 3d work I have been struggling for years to find a good resource to help me not only understand how my digital camera works but how to use it to take high quality pictures that I know it has the ability to.This book is a fantastic guide to taking photos of of artwork created in any medium whether it be jewelry, sculpture, wall art, fiber, glass or wood.

The book opens with a nice easy to read and understand overview of digital photography.Types of lenses and cameras are followed by an explanation of image types, aspect ratio's, focusing systems, white balance and more.The chapter on light and the digital studio covers everything from the fundamentals, color temperatures, direction and quality to types of light, light modifiers, measuring light and what color background to use when.

Then the book moves into how to set up and take your photographs with separate chapters for both two and three dimensional artwork.Artists who make 2 dimensional fiber art will find the section on lighting fabric as well as photographing quilts particularly helpful.The chapter on 3d objects covers ceramics, glass, sculptures, jewelry, wearable art and objects that light up.Learn the best way to light and photograph tall objects, short ones and pieces with shiny surfaces.

This book is an invaluable guide for any artist, no matter what medium they work in, who wants to take better photos for juried show submissions, their website, portfolios or brochures.

Great Book
I photo a great deal of jewelry and have found this book very informing as well as learning allot about photography in general. A must read for anyone wanting to learn more about photography.

Excellent for beginners.
If you're new to photography this is the book for you. If, however, you know your way around your camera, this book won't teach you much. I was hoping for specifics on lighting but the gist of what I read was "try this and if it doesn't work, try something else." ... Read more

Product Description

Computer-generated visual effects are now used extensively in feature films, commercials, music videos, and multimedia. The backbone of this process, the final and most important step, is known as digital compositing. The Art and Science of Digital Compositing is a comprehensive reference that provides a complete overview of the technical and the artistic nature of this process. This book covers a wide range of topics from basic image creation, representation, and manipulation, to a look at the visual cues that are necessary to create a believable composite. Designed as both an introduction to the field as well as a valuable technical reference, this book should be of interest to both novices and professionals alike.

Written by a working professional in the visual effects industry, the book provides over 250 different images and illustrations (including a 40-page color insert) as well as a complete glossary of compositing and visual-effects terminology.Also included are in-depth case studies from well-known films such as Speed, Independence Day, and Titanic.

Balances fundamental "hard science" topics with the more qualitative/artistic challenges which face anyone involved in a digital composition project
Provides examples and illustrations from motion picture work
CD-ROM contains additional composition examples, illustrations, and development software
Includes 32 pages of colourAmazon.com Review
Digital compositing, defined here as "the digitallymanipulated combination of at least two source images to produce anintegrated result," is a huge field incorporating 2-D and 3-D stilland animated artwork. The Art and Science of DigitalCompositing homes in on a specific area--visual effects in film,multimedia, and commercials--and expands on it in a highly precise andtechnical fashion. The author, Ron Brinkmann, has applied hisexpertise to many projects, including such feature films as Jamesand the Giant Peach and Die Hard.

Here he teachesaspiring film, video, and multimedia artists how to create mattes;manipulate time; track, view, and analyze images; work with variousfilm and video formats; and understand the issues of quality versusefficiency. Brinkmann concentrates on improving what you've puttogether by manipulating color, brightness, perspective, lighting,cameras, and more. You can apply much of the introductoryinformation--resolution, bit depth, compression, color, and geometricmanipulations--to simple image-compositing projects. But then you'reoff into Hollywood territory, though the tone is one of seriousinsight, not whimsical observation. This is essentially a textbook forpeople who are looking for an in-depth discussion of technology foradvanced animation production. As such, it does an excellentjob. --Kathleen Caster ... Read more

Customer Reviews (26)

Awesome!!
This is the BEST book on composing ANYWHERE period. If you always wanted to know about composting, basics, history and the theory behind it - this is your book.I cannot stress enough how great this book is.Required reading for ANYUONE wanting to get into this very financially lucrative field!

A must
Even if I'm not working in vfx, so I haven't a great experience, I think this book should be in every comps shelf: very simple, well written, it deals with the math under every (even the simplest) operation you can do in your compositing package (it's quite software-indipendent). It explains several wonderful tricks too.
Globally, very useful in my opinion.

An essentrial for all CG artist
Ron goes over the very concepts of compositing that are essential to know in the computer graphics feild. I have bought several copies of this book as the disappear from my desk (no longer kept in public view)

Great Book but Where's the CD?
This book is exceptional and a must for anyone pursuing this area of interest. The only disappointment I had in purchasing this item is that it is supposed to come with a CD, and the CD was never shipped to me. What's up, Amazon?

A math mad must for Comps
That can I say about Mr Brinkman. Well he's one of the God's of compositing and VFX. Mad about the math behind Node based compositing software, which incidentally is a good thing. This is not meant to be a 'Shake' bible as it is supposed to be non software specific. However it uses 'Shake' language and node naming. This is not a criticism as 'Shake' is the meccano kit of compositing. Understand the mode and the math behind it and you can do anything. I would also assume that this will still be relevant when shake is 'reborn'.

This is also essential for other composing software where the math is hidden. If you've ever considered what happens inside that 'magic button' after you've clicked.

I also think that Steve Wright's 'Digital Compositing for Film and Video, Second Edition' is a must too. Another great book from a great man of VFX.

Having not been personally taught by Mr. Brinkman and Mr Wright these books prove to be the next best thing. ... Read more

Product Description
If you are a digital artist, illustrator, cartoonist, graphic artist, designer, or serious hobbyist looking for new and interesting ways to use Photoshop, this is the book for you! You already know how to use Photoshop as an image editing tool; now, challenge yourself and discover the more artistic aspects of the program with one of the world's best teachers by your side.

In addition to four brand new chapters on real world projects, this new edition of award-winning digital artist Derek Lea's bestselling Creative Photoshop contains several brand new features such as "What you'll learn in this chapter" summaries, so you can quickly find projects using the specific tools you'd like to focus on, and supplementary information at the end of each chapter, containing useful resources and additional gallery images to provide further study and inspiration. As you work through Derek's fantastic artistic methods, be sure to visit www.creativephotoshopthebook.com for more information, including the project files for each chapter, available for download for you to work with, a reader forum, and more.

*Stunning images from award winning digital artist Derek Lea inspire you to push your own creativity further than you even thought possible
*Compatible with previous versions of Photoshop
*Explore Photoshop from an entirely unique perspective as you learn how to create graffiti, antique effects, stencil art, and so much more
*Fully updated throughout for CS4, plus four brand new chapters on real world projects that combine traditional art methods with Photoshop to create tactile images ... Read more

Customer Reviews (39)

Not for intermediate or advanced users
I think this book would be good for beginners. Perhaps people who have a basic knowledge of photoshop and want to start learning new techniques would get a lot out of it.
I work in photoshop every day at my job and this book was way too basic for me. Also, i agree with the other reviews: be careful, the style of the illustrations that are being taught could heavily dominate the work you create for clients and yourself. in some cases that might be okay in other cases it could be hideous. take the designs with a grain of salt ad don't forget your own designers eye!

great book, fast shipping, very happy
I felt secure when buying from amazon. transaction was fast.
But the book is awesome, easy to follow and takes you from ground to top (mid level would say) you have to know some photoshop it is not for beginners.

Fantastic resource
Couldn't find a copy of this locally (South Australia) to have a good look through before deciding to purchase, but was intrigued by the techniques noted and the style of art that Derek Lea used to explain his skill set. Am glad to have made the decision to grab a copy and recommend it highly. The examples shown cover a wide range of styles, effects, working methods and considered processes that clearly explain how Derek approaches and executes his art within Photoshop. I'm a fan of his 'look' and it appeals to me directly - however, I'm also equally sure that you don't need to necessarily love his subject matter to learn a lot and gain some useful and well defined knowledge. The book is very well presented and intelligently designed to make both a favourable impression and aid the learning process. Each technique section is independent of others, so you can read through individual projects in any order, rather then start at the beginning and wait to get to the bits you really want to read. If, just like me you're seriously considering a purchase, then I can only say that this is a great resource and a welcome addition to my library.

Regurgitated Material From Previous Book
Bought creative photoshop last year, bought creative photoshop cs4 a couple days ago. What a rip off. More than half of the book has the same materials and excersises fro the previous edition I bought. Avoid focal press and author Derek Lea. Not worth it.

Awesome Book
This book is well written. If you're the type of learner who does well with written step-by-step tutorials, then you will probably like this book. I was looking for a book that covered Adobe Photoshop CS4 exclusively and that's exactly what this book delivers. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (6)

A very good analysis of how to translate your brand online
Ian Cocoran does a great job in this book describing that you must first understand what your brand stands for on all levels and then decide how to best convey those core brand values online.He reinforces my idea that creating brand awareness does not mean much unless and until you communicate what your brand stands for and how that is unique so you create strategic brand awareness.Everything counts from what you present, how you present it, how your website feels, what it conveys about your brand and how your visitors will think and feel from the very first second they see your first page load.

Cocoran has reviewed many websites for [....] and infuses this book with many of those reviews along with screen shots to help us understand his analyses and insights as to how successfully these companies translated their brands online.

He ends the book giving us the intriguing concept of an emotionally intelligent website that artificially 'reacts' and responds to visitors' feelings and emotions based on their interactions with the site.The concepts sounds a little far out there at first, but after just a little thought we realize that the future he describes is not too far off and many are starting to create that future now.

I highly recommend this book to anyone involved in website marketing.

This book will allow you look at your site from a sideview
This is a great read, and I even did not expected, that in 2009 something new can be written about the brands & internet.
What is really great, that author uses a lot of examples, and in a way, of comparing a websites, like in first approach would be totally incomparable.
For example, how to compare Nabisco, Sega (those websites, by the way, are an examples of how you NO NEED build the web presence), with a such web portals as Hard Rock Cafe, Ferrari, Aston Martin and many more.
What I especially like, is that author shows the concept in a way, like you would choose a water in the shower. Like for the example, he shows website which is too cluttered, colorful, like a parrot, and then takes an opposite example - when all is a good and easy to spot, but very boring and does not engages you at all. And then as a summary, he finds a website, who has no any of 2 drawbacks before.
So, it's really a great way to present the information, since till now, books about similar topics praised for example amazon website, and then found some victim to kick, but here - author goes from -273 to + 273, and gives you "golden middle", where all is great.
I found also very interesting, how author ties in the text his personal life experiences, and how it can connects with a digital branding - after all it's also a great read.
I also want to emphasize, that here, if you search for the info, how to construct a landing page which will give you the best conversions, or what color for shopping cart gives the least drop rates - this is not a book you need in that case you can choose for example this title:

Landing Page Optimization: The Definitive Guide to Testing and Tuning for Conversions

Here, you will find something more ephemeral, conscious minded, and somewhat first impression related - like, author cites the M. Thacher, where she says, that "I make my mind up about someone within the first ten seconds and I very seldom change it"

So, I totally agree, that you can spend ages for SEO, and tons of money for PPC, or A/B split test all - in case the visitor will "do not like" what he see in first seconds, he will just press the "back" button

So, I would summarize, that this book gives a great overview how to get first impression, maximally good (consider mother's advice to daugther, going to first date - check his shoes first - if they are clean, then it's more likely than a man is OK too).

And then more on content, and usability issues are covered, deconstructing a lot of real world examples.

Blink and Branding
The Book on the Nightstand - July 08

The book falling off the nightstand this month is Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking. The take-away from this text is why and how we make snap decisions, and to what degree these decisions should be trusted. I walked away with a solid understanding of the why and how, but less so on the trust and accuracy of snap decisions. Statistically you should go with your first "gut decision", except when you shouldn't. The text left me feeling vague in that area.

The Art of Digital Branding contrasts the Margaret Thatcher quote "I make my mind up about someone within the first ten seconds and I very seldom change it" with the research of psychologist Alexander Todorov, that "most people actually make a judgment about someone based on his facial appearance within one-tenth of a second", (page 27).

How is this used in design? A study by the Human-Oriented Technology Lab at Carleton University shows that "people can make an instinctive decision as to whether a web site is good or bad in 1/20th of a second", (page 34). An on-line consumer has made a decision to purchase within the first 40 seconds of entering a web site.

The design and balance of the first or home page of a site is critical, one of the primary metrics of Google Analytics is the "bounce rate". Bounce Rate is the percentage of single-page visits (i.e. visits in which the person left your site from the entrance page). Bounce Rate is a measure of visit quality and a high Bounce Rate generally indicates that site entrance (landing) pages aren't relevant to your visitors. A high bounce rate from the main page reflects that people fled your site after a fraction of a second that your material was unsuitable for them. Like the Prime Minister, they probably won't be back.

A Great Intro to Digital Branding..
A great read for anyone looking to improve their branded website. This book
breaks down the digital branding process into a number of logical, easy to
understand steps and focuses on what's really important in the eyes of the
consumer. It's also written in a very fluid style so it's also an
entertaining read (not stale and crusty like some business books!). "The Art
of Digital Branding" will be of particular interest to students, General
Managers and Marketers who are looking to improve their knowledge of
branding online. Web designers may also enjoy it, but as it isn't
particularly technically focused they may not find it detailed enough for
their needs.

Digital Branding rocks
I am a business adviser and often get asked what constitutes a good website - in future I will just ask people to buy this book. Its an excellent reference for any company that wants to improve it's online image as it nails every concept and explains the likes and dislikes of the average web consumer in detail - including the emotional responses that certain aspects of the website are likely to generate. I also found it humorous and well written - a refreshing change from some of the stuff that's out there.

... Read more

Product Description
Visions of future worlds have always captured the imaginations.Images of towering cyber-cityscapes, awesome uninhabitable planetary worlds, sleek super-cars and space cruisers, strange mutant beings, and terrifying alien life forms have spilled from the feverish minds of fantasy sci-fi illustrators for as long as the genre has existed. Today, as more and more artists are switching from traditional media to the digital world of computers, the images being created are breathtakingly realistic.

Featuring works from the world#146;s best sci-fi artists, Digital Sci-Fi Art begins with an examination of the traditional styles and sources of sci-fi imagery then analyzes the new digital tools available to today#146;s illustrators. The heart of the book comprises a detailed survey of the key techniques involved in creating digital sci-fi art -- with step-by-step walkthroughs showing how specially-created pieces are produced. The book ends with a showcase of some of the best contemporary work being produced anywhere in the world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Far from Step-by-Step
Step-by-Step is somewhat of a misnomer.It's more like a summary of techniques with a general guideline for how it's done in various commonly used graphics software packages.Once you get into the details, there's a lot missing unless you already know how to use the software.But the pictures are exquisite and worth the money just for inspiration alone.

What a P.o.S.
"A step-by-step guide to creating stunning, futuristic images" is on the front cover of the book. Yet none of the examples have more than ten steps. For images this detailed, there are about a thousand steps the "author" omitted. The artwork is excellent, but the tutorials are an absolute joke. Do yourself a favor and type in "sci-fi art" in google images, and save your money.

A collection of beautiful images
It is no more than this. It has some fair techniques on how to achieve several effects, but someone cannot expect to learn how to make digital sci-fi art.
Also, it seems a little outdated now, even though the copyright says 2004.

My opinion is do not waste money on some collection of outdated artwork and look for something else.

Sci
I really enjoyed reading this book and the pictures are marvellous.Also, the way it covers Sci-Fi with the usage of various software is revealing.Very good!

It is good
This book is really more of a book full of images that inspired me to do more sci fi art work. it has a cpl of pseudo tutorials that are good. If you are doing this for the first time i would suggest something else. But as a person who needs inspiration for actually sitting down and doing something I would suggest this book. It has a whole range of really well done artwork that u can get tons and tons of ideas from. ... Read more

Product Description

Meet some of the finest 2D and 3D artists working in the industry today and discover how they create some of the most innovative digital art in the world. More than a gallery book or a coffee table book- Digital Art Masters Volume 5 includes over 50 artists and 900 unique and stunning 2D and 3D digital art. Beyond the breath taking images is a breakdown of the techniques, challenges and tricks the artists employed while creating stunning imagery. This volume, much like the previous volumes is not your standard coffee table book nor is it our usual how-to-book. New to this volume will be 5 artist video tutorials. Five artists will specifically detail an aspect of their gallery image from start to finish, offering  further technique driven insight and expertise offering 2 ½ hours of additional inspiration.  With a click of a mouse, artists willbe able to apply the leading techniques to their own work with access to additional video tutorials, source files, textures and digital brushes at the companion website: http://www.focalpress.com/digital-art-masters/index.html.

Customer Reviews (1)

Another great volume of insight
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2QCAUXLUQXBUV Digital Art Masters: Volume 5 is another great compilation of top quality art and insightful tutorials. If you have earlier volumes, you pretty much expected that. I've a wonderful time going through this thick 288-page book.

This time, art is categorised into 5 sections: Sci-Fi, Scene, Fantasy, Character and Cartoon. As usual, you see work created from all sorts of medium (2D & 3D), across a variety of art genre gravitating towards concept art. There are 3D modeling on different subjects, digital and background painting and many more.

The featured illustrations and galleries are beautiful and detailed. I can't begin to imagine the amount of time spent to create some of these inspiring illustrations, especially so when some of them are just personal projects.

There's plenty to learn from as there are to see. The artists share their techniques as they go through their process of creating the featured illustrations. The book is filled with all sorts of tips, ranging from matte painting, scene composition to even portrait drawing.

You can also visit the publisher's website for some free video tutorials.

Volume 5 is a great addition. Highly recommended to 3D modelers, digital painting artists and art lovers.

(There are more pictures of the book on my blog. Just visit my Amazon profile for the link.) ... Read more

Product Description
From top Academy-Award-winning entertainment industry artist Doug Chiang, who has worked on such film properties as Star Wars, War of the Worlds, Terminator and Back to the Future.

Foreword by film industry heavyweight Robert Zemeckis (Monster House, The Polar Express, Back to the Future, Beowulf).

In this stunning collection of step-by-step lessons, award-winning entertainment artist Doug Chiang gives artists the inside scoop on his processes, techniques, and theories for creating eye-popping science fiction artwork. Readers will learn to draw the creatures, robots, vehicles and drama of distant worlds--perennial favorites in film, television, toys and games. With Chiang's expert advice, 25 step-by-step demonstrations using both traditional and digital techniques, and a stunning gallery showcasing his amazing visual style, artists have no choice but to be inspired to create their own phenomenal works of art.. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (24)

and now I can draw sci fi!
This book is incredible!I followed Doug's methods, and now I am turning out work that is leagues better than before.

Firstly, the book teaches you to draw sci-fi machinery. Maybe you thought you had to go to engineering school to work out the drive-train for a walking tank or a rocket-powered aircraft? Well, the book teaches you to invent and draw all the mechanisms and pseudo-engineering that make sci-fi machines look realistic. And Doug makes it fun. It takes practice, but he gives you simple guidlines to work it out.For example, you would use an actual photo of a tractor engine and drive-train construction to develop the design for the leg mechanisms of a walking robot, etc.

Secondly, this book does not cover 3-D digital imagery/auto-CAD/computer-generated-imagery.It does cover digital painting, but only as a method to color render designs; usually first rendered on paper in black-and-white. The book focuses on developing designs on paper, first.

The author often draws the designs on paper with full tone rendering, and then he scans them into the computer, and renders effects, color, texture, background, error correction, and much much more.

There isn't a great depth of technique discussion on digital painting, but the book does much to specifically detail many fundamentals of digital painting, with screen-shots to teach many tools and tips and tricks of digital painting.Still, it is the focus on paper-drawing that is exactly what I was looking for.

The methods are easy and versitile; yielding quite varied styles.
The author varies the sequence and combinations of mediums and techniques depending on the subject to be rendered.The mediums covered are blueline pencil, varied strengths of cool-grey markers (20%, 40%, 60%), a simple airbrush technique for background haze effects (optional), and finally digital painting 101. I was able to follow the majority of the digitial painting methods without using a computer drawing tablet! But, I have now purchased one, so my quality should improve all the more.

The paper-based methods covered in the book have been staples inconcept-drawing for decades, apparently.After viewing the book, I now recognize the techniques in concept-design drawings going back to the 80's.

The book covers many wheeled machines, space-ships, an ornithopter, 2 jet-fighters, and more, but the author is obsessed with walking machines/tanks/robots of all sorts.Personally, I think walking machines are a silly concept (1 leg down, and it ceases), but I have no complaints about this book!

The author discusses the impracticality of walking-machines, andwindows on a spaceship, and a steam-powered tank, but his focus is on aesthetic design, iconic design, and sellable designs.He's got to sell his designs to get them on the big-screen, afterall.You will appreciate and learn and enhance your own design ability!

Lastly, the book has a really strong plastic-coated dust-jacket that seems to hold up against abuse of all sorts, and the pages are printed in super high quality resolution of strong paper.

Soul less technique over ideas
I can admire the technique of the artist Chaing, but I am also immediately bored, as the images do not convey anything more than surface qualities.There are few engaging ideas or compositions in these paintings.Looks soul less, and anonymous.Sadly, the films designed by this artistare also soul less and bland.I'd have to attribute that as much to the lack of inspiration in these paintings as to lack of strong direction.

Great book
This is a great book on mechanical design.I like how the author shows a multitude of techniques with a small set of tools.There's lots of examples with clear and concise descriptions, and lots of unique designs to learn by.The book is beginner friendly, but will have something for the experienced artist as well.

Comprehensive and Engaging
Chiang does a very good job of covering the techniques he uses so well, while giving numerous, engaging examples. I found myself wanting to work the various examples just because the final art was so fascinating. I've been an illustrator for 18 years and I found some new tidbits that I could use. Well done.

Extraordinary!
I don't even know where to begin.From beginning to end, Doug Chang has provided a wealth of information containing step-step tutorials with fantastic instruction for both traditional and digital sketch, marker & paint styles.And each tutorial is a breakdown of some of the most awe-inspiring images. There is plenty to learn from this incredible artist whose earned numerous well-deserved accolades. A true expert and authority in his field. ... Read more

Product Description
Digital cameras, advances in color printing, and software tools have changed the landscape of photography forever. The challenge now is to go beyond the basic digital photograph and print, and move toward the next level of expression. For many, this means pushing the technologies available and combining the artistic tools found in both photography and painting.

Geared for intermediate to advanced users, Beyond Digital Photography: Transforming Photos into Fine Art with Photoshop and Painter brings these once separate disciplines together in a beautiful and instructive book that uses time-honored design principles and basic drawing and painting skills, and applies them to digital photographs. The easy-to-follow, step-by-step format allows you to practice a variety of Photoshop and Painter techniques and gives you the confidence to achieve your own expressive goals with great results.

In this unique and inspiring book, you’ll discover how to transform your photos into works of art:

• Shoot and select photos with good composition and lighting for painting
• Emulate the look of pop art, woodcuts, and dry media texture
• Create Old Masters-style oil paintings, watercolors, contemporary paintings, and abstract art
• Add edge treatments and textured borders with brushwork
• Build creative compositions, such as collages, and traditional styles such as landscape, portrait, and still life paintings
• Use a pressure-sensitive tablet for gestural, expressive painting
• Find additional resources available at www.beyonddigitalbook.com

Customer Reviews (11)

An indepth review
In the Introduction, the authors state, "This is not a quick trick book, but a book where the authors take the reader by the hand and demonstrate the creative process in a conversational manner." This is a fair description, with the added caveat: this book is NOT for beginners. The intended audience seems to be artists who are intermediate to advanced Photoshop and Painter users.

This beyond-the-basics focus allows the book to cover ground not explored in other books on either Photoshop or Painter. These two programs really complement each other, so it's wonderful to finally have an in-depth book showing how Painter and Photoshop can be used together. Here's a detailed summary of the book, to help you decide whether or not this book is for you.

Chapter 1 - Getting Started

The chapter provides an introduction to the interfaces of Painter and Photoshop, as well as the Wacom Intuos 4. This seems odd, since this is not a beginner's book. Beginning with this chapter and continuing throughout, however, there is some good information about Photoshop Camera Raw. As the book's title implies, each exercise begins with a digital photograph. Most chapters show how to use Photoshop Camera Raw prior to painting. As you'll see, it's very powerful, and you'll want to include it into your workflow, if you haven't already.
Chapter 2 - Painterly Techniques for Non-Painters

This chapter, the longest in the book, is all about how to achieve good "uncomputerish" results with filters and automation. It's also your first look at a workflow that moves back and forth between Photoshop and Painter. Each section begins with the artist's thoughts on the subject and style at hand, along with details of the initial photography. You'll learn sophisticated use of multiple filters, combining effects via layers, layer masks, and blend modes. Similarly, Painter's Auto-Painting and Woodcut tools use multiple layers to add extra finesse to the process. Sections in this chapter include:

* Creating Pop Art (Photoshop and Painter)
* Using Filters for an Impressionist Watercolor Look (Photoshop)
* Flexible Auto-Painting for an Impressionist Treatment (Photoshop and Painter)
* Simplifying a Photograph to Achieve a Hand-Rendered Result (Photoshop and Painter)
* Using Filters for a Realist-Style Oil Treatment (Photoshop)
* Creating a Bold, Graphic Woodcut Look (Photoshop and Painter)

Chapter 3 - Emphasizing the Subject

One way to help your subject stand out is by blurring or softening the background. You'll see how to do this in Photoshop using a mask to selectively blur parts of the image, and in Painter by using the Restoration palette to bring back details after blending. This is followed by sidebars:

* Nondestructive Dodging and Burning - how to use an Opacity layer darken and lighten portions of an image
* Enhancing the Subject Using Saturation - copy part of an image to a separate layer to selectively apply an adjustment layer
* Sepia-toning a Background - similar to the previous step, but this time using the colorize option of Hue/Saturation

Chapter 4 - Adding Texture to Photographs

Composition and design are discussed throughout the book. Here, though, it gets special attention as you follow the artist through her thought process for cropping and retouching a complex snapshot, making it simpler and compelling. Then you'll dive into Photoshop's powerful Art History brush. Different brushes are used in combination with layer masking to move beyond a mechanical, computerized look.
Next, in Painter you'll learn about Dry Media and texture, as Cher paints one of her signature pastels (the image on the book cover, in fact). The final part gives you an approach to a black and white charcoal look.

Chapter 5 - Emulating the Look of Watercolor

This chapter (my personal favorite) shows two completely different ways to create the unmistakable look of traditional watercolor on paper. In part one, Cher shows how to edit for composition in Photoshop. Then, she moves into Painter to use the Smart Blur and Hue and Saturation tools built into the Underpainting palette. She lowers the detail and raises the image to a higher key, making it more suitable to the watercolor style she is about to use. Cher then gives a very good explanation of how Painter's Digital Watercolors work. The end result is just stunning. The second part has Donal Jolley using Photoshop alone to create a convincing hard-edged watercolor portrait. His main tool here is the Pattern Stamp with, of all things, a modified Dry Media brush. He gets a neat salt-resist effect by clever use of a layer mask, and finishes up with applying an Overlay layer containing a scan of an actual watercolor.

Chapter 6 - Achieving Acrylic and Oil-Painted Looks

Cher begins the chapter with a great demonstration of Painter's Real Bristle Brushes. She paints a beautful late afternoon seascape with fluffy cumulus clouds sailing overhead. She then takes on oil painting using the Old Master chiaroscuro technique, using Painter's Artist's Oils. The third part is another favorite, this time by Donal Jolley. In Photoshop, he uses a separate layer each for large, medium, and detail strokes. The usual approach would be to use different size brushes all on a single layer. But by this point in the book you're beginning to see the special advantages-and the added control-to using multiple layers. What I especially liked was how the three layers start out as blank (transparent). Paint is "pulled up" from a base layer, much the way cloning works in Painter. This works by use of the "Sample All Layers" checkbox. Very cool stuff. Jolley also explains the importance of noise for this technique, and a sidebar shows various ways to (excuse the pun) make noise. In the fourth part, Cher paints a virtuoso oil painting using Artist Oils. The conversational tone makes it seem like you're at a workshop, listening as the artist explains what she's doing-and why.

Chapter 7 - Creating Abstract Art from Photographs

As the intro to this chapter says, this chapter is about painting "in a simple, yet powerful way." It's time to loosen up and stop worrying about staying within the lines. The first project is a close-up large scale floral in bright colors, done in Photoshop. You'll use layers to create loose lines and bold shapes of color. This might be a fun project to do as a warming-up exercise. The second project is another sky painting, but with a difference. This time, Cher is more interested in capturing "movement and emotion," using Real Bristle brushes and even a Watercolor brush to evoke sheets of rain.

Chapter 8 - Compositing and Collaging

In this chapter, you'll watch as these two master artists assemble compositions from multiple photographs. Donal Jolley takes the first part, showing how he pieces together a complex of layers and masks to create a "simulation of reality." Eight images are used for this project! In the second part, Cher's project emphasizes strong, simple composition, beginning with a sketch to plan her piece. This project uses scans of paper texture combined with photographs. The collage is painted with chalks and pastels in Painter.
Conclusion

If you work with Painter and Photoshop, and you feel comfortable working with layers and layer masks, then you're probably ready for this book. You'll learn a lot about workflow and process when using these two programs together. The projects in this book are substantial, challenging, and exciting. Even if you're very familiar with these programs, you're still bound to learn a lot (I know I did!). Highly recommended.

Digital Art Academy review of Beyond Digital Photography
I am a geek. As such I love books. My reading habit is non-curable and I peruse books on many subjects, Art and Marketing are my favorite topics and in the world digital painting every book that is published (to my knowledge) I have been fortunate enough to read.
Beyond Digital Photography is another must have book for anyone serious about transforming their photography into painterly works of fine art. This book was written by Cher Threinen-Pendarvis and Donal Jolley and published by PeachPit Press.You most likely have heard of these two well respected artists and authors. Cher is the author of the popular Painter Wow! series and Donal has been featured in many publications including The Photoshop CS/CS2 Wow! Book,the Painter Wow! Book and other publications.
Beyond Digital Photography offers extensive step-by-step information on many topics. One of the coolest things is that time is spend with Corel Painter and Photoshop. Finally we have a book that highlights the use of Painter and Photoshop together!I believe one needs to have an intermediate level of skill with the programs in order to get the most out of this book.
Many different types of paintings and techniques are covered at length. There is a great area in Chapter Two that will show you how to obtain nice flowing painterly techniques for those that are artistically challenged. If you are looking for a few nice water color techniques shoot over to Chapter 5 where Cher gives and awesome explanation on how Painters Digital Watercolors work. Take a peek at the workflow she uses to prepare an image and make it more suitable for a high key watercolor emulation.
Finally my favorite Chapter is Six. Donal shares a unique approach to utilizing layers to achieve an oil painted look that you have to try as soon as you read it. There is also an awesome demonstration from Cher of Painters Real bristle Brushes.
All in all a smoking book.The next time you are about to spend 500 bucks on a workshop...cancel your trip, hole up in your studio or a hotel room for the weekend with your computer, Wacom tablet and this book. You will be glad you did.

not new info
This book was highly recommended for intermediate to advanced users. I am not a beginner, having used Painter and Photoshop type editors for over 10 years. I did not find anything new here. It was unclear to me how using different filters and techniques on different layers was any better than using each filter independently. After trying each example in the book, I concluded that the way I usually work is better for me. Others may find it helpful, particularly if they are beginners.

More next time
I own other books by Cher Threinen-Pendarvis, in my opinion, this one falls short of the standards she set in the past, please, more advanced material in the future publications. Beyond Digital Photography: Transforming Photos into Fine Art with Photoshop and Painter

Covered two complex different painter software programs
I was under the false impression that the book would use the two programs - Photoshop for preparing and printing the "painting" and Painter to actually "paint" the photo.Anyone that has spent time with the programs understand the strengths of these programs and primarily use them as stated above.

However, this book pretty much covered both as "painter" books.Perhaps I should have used my local Barnes and Noble to preview the books but I didn't and just went by what I could find on the internet - my bad!But I was hoping the book was advanced enough to guide me to the strengths of each program in turning my photo's into paintings.

As well I'd like to include I was shocked to even receive the book.The free shipping took almost 2 weeks and when I received the book it had no wrapping on it whatsoever.The only way they could find out where to deliver the book was a small receipt slip with my address inside the front cover. ... Read more

Product Description
"Complete Digital Painting Techniques" promises to be an invaluable tool for readers new to digital art creation technology, as well as those more experienced. Readers will learn how to simulate and replicate traditional art-creation techniques - from dry brush and wet-into-wet to crosshatching and graffiti - using digital applications. Featuring step-by-step instructions using popular programs such as Adobe Photoshop and Corel Painter, this encyclopedia of techniques will be a bookshelf staple for designers, illustrators and fine artists alike. ... Read more

Product Description
Discover the tips, tricks and techniques that really work for concept artists, matte painters and animators. Compiled by the team at 3dtotal.com, Digital Painting Techniques, Volume 1 offersdigital inspiration with hands-on insight and techniques from professional digital artists. More than just a gallery book - within Digital Painting Techniques each artist has written a breakdown overview, with supporting imagery of how they made their piece of work.Beginner and intermediate digital artists will be inspired by the gallery style collection of the finest examples of digital painting from world renowned digital artists. Start your mentorship into the world of digital painting today with some of the greatest digital artists in the world and delve into professional digital painting techiques, such as speed painting, custom brush creation and matte painting. Develop your digital painting skills beyond the variety of free online digital painting tutorials and apply the most up to date techniques to your digital canvas with Digital Painting Techniques for Animators.

* Mentor with some of the greatest digital artists in the world and delve into professional digital painting techiques, such as speed painting, custom brush creation and matte painting.

* Inspiration and technique in one digital painting book! Be inspired with a gallery style collection of the finest examples of digital painting from world renowned digital artists and explore the step by step tutorials that explain the digital painting techniques.

* Develop your digital painting skills beyond free digital painting tutorials and apply the most up to date techniques to your digital canvas with this complete guide to digital painting.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (31)

Great Book
Great book! I read a few reviews with complaints about not enough detail regarding how to do some of the actions in Photoshop, but don't find this to be accurate. Simple actions like how to create and save a new brush are described clearly, for example. Other actions may require learning Photoshop-but this book is about digital painting, not how to use Photoshop in detail.
The artwork is beautiful, and with great instructions! This book is a must have!

Excellent for advanced Photoshop users !
As a digital artist for 15 years, this book gives you key insights and techniques to home in and master your skills. At times some tutorials do require some basic knoweldge onto how photoshop works (pertaining to creating brushes and the required sizes). But overall the book is very vivid on details and examples so you can easly follow each walkthrough. On the contrary I would not recommend this book for beginners, due to the fact that there can be a overwhelming sense of complexity to each walkthrough. None the less if your intrested in this book pick it up for the hell of your collection, I guarantee you woun't be disappointed.

Not much different than looking it up online
This is a good book if you don't like to do online searches or don't know of online resources for this kind of information.

Pros:
- Color pictures
- Shows different techniques
- Emphasis on practical

Cons:
- Information is limited
- Online might be a better source for this

Overall, if you find the names of the artists and look them up online you'll get the same (and more) information about them. Typically I expect a book to have more information than a website, but the book doesn't go in depth of any topic. It didn't feel like I was learning much. A bit generic.
The collection of work and variety is decent, and the it has enough good color prints but I'd have a hard time recommending this to most people.

Great book!
This book is basically full of useful Digital Painting tutorials. It has a ton of information, i still haven't gone through all of it. I especially enjoyed the tutorials on making custom brushes and the one about anatomy. If they compile a second volume i will definitely buy it. I think it's a must buy for digital painters.

Fantastic
This is one of the best books on this subject that I have ever encountered.I recommend this book to any student of mine that has a decent grasp on the software.
No, it doesn't teach you detailed button pushing, but if that's what you need then you should find something else to do.
Anyone can be taught to push buttons, this book helps in the creation of art.
So, if you are serious about your digital art and you have the ability to THINK, this book is very good for the beginner to intermediate, if you want a book that holds your hand during steps one through ten, find something else to do with your time, you aren't cut out for digital art anyway. ... Read more

Product Description
From the author of the bestselling Becoming a Graphic Designer and the editor of Adobe Think Tank comes this clear overview of the field of digital design

This complete guide to the evolving digital design disciplines opens the door to today's most sought-after job opportunities in Web, video, broadcast, game, and animation design. Featuring over 45 interviews with leading digital designers and more than 225 illustrations, the book covers everything from education and training, design specialties, and work settings to preparing an effective portfolio and finding a job. This is an ideal starting point for anyone considering a career in the digital design world.

Steven Heller (New York, NY) is the co-chair of the MFA Designer As Author program and co-founder of the MFA in Design Criticism program at the School of Visual Arts, New York. He is the author or editor of over 100 books on design and popular culture, including Becoming a Graphic Designer (0-471-71506-9). David Womack (New York, NY) writes about trends in design and technology for numerous publications and consults on digital strategy for leading organizations. He is the editor of Adobe Think Tank. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Exploring new graphic frontiers
Not finished with this book but so far a witty and insightful book which focuses on graphic design beyond printed matter.This book explores the world of digital graphics and looks at new dimensions of graphic design and how designers will become part of a dialogue with the public. A scenario in which they receive feedback from an audience and perfect there design solutions based on feedback from viewers reactions etc.
And of course Heller has become an authority on Design Culture so this book is informed and up to date. ... Read more

Product Description
Digital Textile Design covers everything students and practitioners of textile design will need to learn about designing and printing digitally.

Textile designers are beginning to realize the creative potential of digital textile design and are fast catching up with graphic designers who have taken to working digitally. New digital textile-printing technology is enabling designers to work with an almost unlimited palette of colors to produce work of staggering detail in relatively short timescales.

Written specifically for textile designers, Digital Textile Design provides the know-how for students and professionals who wish to use Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator as design tools. A series of inspirational tutorials, presented in step-by-step format, guide the reader through the process of creating designs that will be suited to both the traditional textile production process, and to the new industry of digital printing onto fabric.

Against the backdrop of the development of digital print, the book discusses how designers can access this new technique, looks at the work of those currently exploring its possibilities, and also features the craft of embellishment that is being used to offset the apparent flatness of print. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Don't waste your money
This is a waste of money. The print quality is low and there is nothing innovative about it at all. A complete joke of a book... don't waste your time!

Loads of Industry Information!
This book contains a plethora of wonderful information ranging from current and future textile industry printing techniques and technical knowledge, to a range of Photoshop and Illustrator tutorials with a focus on creating textile patterns.

It a must read for anyone interested in the textile industry, printing techniques and wants to learn how to put patterns into repeat in Photoshop and Illustrator. I would recommend though that you have a standard knowledge of Illustrator and Photoshop in order to follow along with the tutorials. For more experienced Textile Designers who currently work in these programs and in the industry, the tutorials will likely be things you already know. There is however so much wonderful industry information, that I found it quite engaging, and learned quite a bit, even with being in the industry for over 10 years.

Below is more in-depth information regarding what's inside in order to help you decide if it is the book for you.

CHAPTER 1: Textile Design and Print in the Digital Age
This chapter introduces and explains digital printing in the fashion industry.

CHAPTER 2: Digital Design Tutorials

* Tutorial 1: Using Filters in Photoshop
* Tutorial 2: Creating Complex Color Blends (Illustrator)
* Tutorial 3: Building Floral Motifs ( (Illustrator)
* Tutorial 4: Cross-stitch Effects (Illustrator)
* Tutorial 5: Engineered Prints (Photoshop)
* Tutorial 6: Sequin Effects (Photoshop)
* Tutorial 7: Photomontage (Photoshop)
* Tutorial 8: Building a Brush Palette (Photoshop)
* Tutorial 9: Textured Effects (Photoshop)
* Tutorial 10: Creating a Color Palette (Photoshop)

CHAPTER 3: Patterns and Repeats

* Tutorial 11: Photoshop Basic Block Repeat
* Tutorial 12: Photoshop Block Repeat with Offset Filter
* Tutorial 13: Photoshop Simple Half-Drop Motif
* Tutorial 14: Photoshop Half-Drop Repeat
* Tutorial 15: Photoshop Gingham
* Tutorial 16: Photoshop Creating Stripes
* Tutorial 17: Illustrator Basic Pattern Swatch
* Tutorial 18: Illustrator Diamond Pattern
* Tutorial 19: Illustrator Plaid Patterns
* Tutorial 20: Illustrator Half-Drop

CHAPTER 4: Introduction to Illustration

* Tutorial 21: Texture-Mapping with the Pen Tool
* Tutorial 22: Texture-Map and Line Drawing
* Tutorial 23: Creating Graphic Silhouettes

CHAPTER 5: Digital Craft
This chapter includes information on combining digital techniques with traditional artistic methods. For example, hand painting & digital print, screen printing & digital print, foiling & flocking with digital print, digital print onto vintage fabrics, and many more. There are also Designer Profiles on Patricia Belford, Helen Amy Murray and Rebecca Earley.

CHAPTER 6: Technology for Digital Textile Printing
This chapter covers textile printing methods and technology for both traditional and digital printing. There is also a little bit of information regarding CAD software options, and how to work with color with regards to color management.

This book contains very well-rounded information for the Textile Designer and regarding the fashion industry. I highly recommend this book!

Great Resource for Anyone Interested in Producing Printed Fabric.
Thanks to the emergence of digital textile printing (DTP), we've all been granted access to world that was previously accessible to a few. Some people have opened the door and peeked in, but are too scared to jump in and explore. Some have jumped in, but failed to negotiate the new language and technology, and have left disappointed. Some are fully in, but are sticking to old-world customs and not exploring what the new world has to offer.

The book Digital Textile Design by Melanie Bowles and Ceri Isaac is your road map -- your Rick Steves<, perhaps?! -- to this world. For our timid first-timer, it offers basic tutorials for creating motifs, color palettes, and repeats in both Photoshop and Illustrator. Our disappointed experimenter might be encouraged to try again after reading about the more technical aspects of the process (like color management), which are presented in a manner accessible to the layperson. And our enthusastic adopter (along with everyone else) will be inspired by the multitude of images from fashion and interior designers who are fully embracing the endless color and scale possibilities that digital printing has to offer.

In fact, anyone interested in textiles, whether or not they plan on ever using DTP themselves, will find this book valuable. Most of the 23 tutorials (listed in detail after the jump) are applicable to pattern design in general, not matter your end use. Experienced textile designers may find the tutorials too basic, but there is still plenty to learn from the artist profiles and overview of the state of the art and technology of DTP. There is even a section about how artists and crafters are combining DTP with traditional surface design methods (handpainting, screenprinting, resist dyeing, burnout, flocking, embellishment) to bring hand-rendered touches to this mechanical process. The only thing I was hoping for that I didn't find was specifics on how to ensure your fabrics turn out with the colors you're expecting, but that makes sense since each printing service has different methods and requirements. Also, this book was written mostly for students who typically have access to a university-owned printer; lower-cost DTP services like Spoonflower, Karma Kraft, Eye Candey, and Fabric on Demand were just emerging as this book was published.

You can preview several sample pages on the Laurence King website, and even more on co-author Melanie Bowles' site. While you're there, check out her beautiful digital shibori work -- she also recently launched a blog, Make It Digital.

List of Tutorials

Photoshop:
Using Filters (tastefully)
Engineered Prints (filling sewing pattern pieces with designs)
Sequin Effects
Photomontage
Building a Brush Palette
Textured Effects (mending seams in an allover photographic print with good balance)
Creating a Colour Palette
Basic Block Repeat
Basic Block Repeat with Offset Filter
Simple Half-Drop Repeat
Allover Half-Drop Repeat
Gingham
Stripes
Texture-Mapping (how to map patterns onto photos of 3-D shapes)
Texture-Map and Line Drawing (mapping patterns into fashion line drawings)
Creating Graphic Silhouettes (mapping patterns onto a photograph of a model)

Illustrator:
Creating Complex Colour Blends
Building Floral Motifs
Cross-Stitch Effects
Basic Pattern Swatch (and creating a cheater print)
Diamonds/Argyles
Plaid
Simple Half-Drop Repeat ... Read more

Product Description
In Windows and Mirrors: Interaction Design, Digital Art, and the Myth of Transparency, Jay David Bolter and Diane Gromala argue that, contrary to Donald Norman's famous dictum, we do not always want our computers to be invisible "information appliances." They say that a computer does not feel like a toaster or a vacuum cleaner; it feels like a medium that is now taking its place beside other media like printing, film, radio, and television. The computer as medium creates new forms and genres for artists and designers; Bolter and Gromala want to show what digital art has to offer to Web designers, education technologists, graphic artists, interface designers, HCI experts, and, for that matter, anyone interested in the cultural implications of the digital revolution.

In the early 1990s, the World Wide Web began to shift from purely verbal representation to an experience for the user in which form and content were thoroughly integrated. Designers brought their skills and sensibilities to the Web, as well as a belief that a message was communicated through interplay of words and images. Bolter and Gromala argue that invisibility or transparency is only half the story; the goal of digital design is to establish a rhythm between transparency—made possible by mastery of techniques—and reflection—as the medium itself helps us understand our experience of it.

The book examines works of digital art from the Art Gallery at SIGGRAPH. These works, and their inclusion in an important computer conference, show that digital art is relevant to technologists. In fact, digital art can be considered the purest form of experimental design; the examples in this book show that design need not deliver information and then erase itself from our consciousness but can engage us in an interactive experience of form and content. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

It's a window of sorts and will tell you so many times
First, this book in not a novel.

Second, some reviewers miss the subtle points raised in this text.Perhaps if unfamiliar with the theoretical bases to the discussion--and it should be mentioned that the theory informing this discussion is acknowledged at the outset, but pointedly left aside in favour of practice--one might, in fact, not grasp the extent of the points raised here.

For example, it is rather beside the point that the discussion surrounds various installments at SIGGRAPH 2000--this should not be taken as an indication of an out-dated approach, as, again, some readers might be apt to think. In fact, what the authors discuss are the more generic (as in genre) questions and that digital art and design prompt, not to mention those raised by the historical and social imperatives "embedded" in a media-saturated culture like ours.

The use of metaphors like windows and mirrors might be a bit too cute and/ or convenient, and the writing itself tends toward the over-simple and somewhat plodding (to the extent that some readers might wonder whether,a writer declaring a preference for a non-theoretical text is an excuse for a prose style targeted toward highschoolers).This is, of course, in spite of the writers' apparent desire to appeal to as wide an audience as possible.

So, yes, the book is easy to read, and while this shouldn't take away from its overall impact, I think it can.IN other words, by writing for a wider, less theoretically-inclinedaudience, the authors may irk those who fail to grasp the bigger issues this book reflects.This, they do even while excluding (potentially) those looking for something more outwardly sophisticated and capable of sustaining a place in the discourse from which Bolter and Gromala both come.

All in all, however, Bolter and Gromala have brought us an interesting and thought provoking discussion that contextualizes digital design within the larger realm of the computer and its future as both a visible and an invisiblemedium of human (ironic, get it?) expression. ... Read more

Product Description
A practical and inspiring guide.

This Third Edition familiarizes readers with the traditional principles of composition and visual design. The jargon-free text provides practical techniques and innovative exercises for breaking with traditional concepts of design to enable the photographer to develop a keen awareness of subject matter and a personal direction.

Topics include:- Barriers to seeing- Learning to observe: rethinking the familiar- Learning to imagine: abstracting and selecting- Learning to express: Subject matter and the photographer- Elements and principles of visual design and more.

This edition of Photography and the Art of Seeing is updated to include technical guidelines adapted for both digital and film photographers and includes photographs from Freeman Patterson's personal collection. Extended captions include valuable technical information and personal commentary reflective of the superb craftsmanship and stunning photography from one of the most highly acclaimed and celebrated photographers worldwide. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (37)

This is not a Book on Photography
This is not a book on photography, it is a book on applied philosophy and one of the most important books I have read. I heartily recommend this book to anybody who has got her first digital camera and wants to go on a shooting spree. The book is beautifully printed on good quality paper, though the prints of images lack contrast could be much better.

Great "think different" ideas
Freeman Patterson walks you through concepts and practices to help expand your vision.I have been working on my (photo) compositional skills and this book has really helped me see things in new and creative ways.

Photography and the Art of Seeing
I thought this was going to be more of a instructional book vs. a picture book.

There are better books out there than a 25 year old reprint
There are better books on composition out there. This is an updated version of a 25 year old book. I it is totally dishonest to publish a book and than change the copyright year instead of writing that this is a reprint. Totally dishonest.

However, if you buy it you will still learn, but some of the other books on composition that I've reviewed are better. The book has too much text and very few illustrations.

I like books about composition and I have found that the best approach is to buy books from different authors. Many authors have multiple books, but they all tend to be kind of similar. So my key advice is to go for diversity. I would get the following: Within the Frame: The Journey of Photographic Vision, The Photographer's Eye: Composition and Design for Better Digital Photos, Learning to See Creatively: Design, Color & Composition in Photography (Updated Edition), and SSeeing Landscapes: The Creative Process Behind Great Photographs.

I just bought my first DSLR camera. I bought ten photography books on amazon. I'm evaluating these books from the perspective of a semi-advanced amateur. (On things I've learnt is that book by the

It took me 4 months to finally recieve this book but...
It was worth the wait. I'm not that far into it yet but I'm already seeing how closed off I've been to seeing what's around me. I'm positive that by time I'm done with the book it will have made me a better seer, maybe not a better photographer, but I will see things in new and exciting ways. I don't recommend this book to people who want to get better at technical aspects of photography. However, if you feel like you don't always take the best pictures you could because you aren't seeing whats around you than this book is for you.

Note: This is NOT a book about composition! Some reviewers are complaining about how poorly he covers the subject. This book is about teaching you how to see differently! If you want a book on composition by all means do not look to this book. If you want to start seeing things that others might not, this is the only book of it's kind! ... Read more

Product Description

From facial expression and body angles to camera optics and ideal lighting, this invaluable photography reference discusses all the facets of posing. Featuring 10 acclaimed photographers and their exceptional images, this detailed guidebook illustrates how each artist approaches the practice of posing and offers his/her advice on how to achieve more successful and visually appealing portraits. Business-related concerns are also addressed, ensuring that the professional photographer remains relevant and marketable in terms of composition and style.

Customer Reviews (5)

Excellent tips, beautiful images
A very helpful book loaded with insights and advice from many professionals that have made portrait photography their livelihood.There are many different styles ranging from black and white, candid, group, and carefully posed.One of the great attributes of this book is that there are many formulas for success that is illustrated by each photographer in their own way.Any combination of these different elements can only benefit those looking to improve their portrait photography.

More diverse than just POSING
Look at my profile and you'll see that I review a range of things.However, I find that I review most of my Amherst Media books because I really like them.Why?The are relatively easy to read, full of content, and supplemented with many worthwhile images to help convey the information being presented.Not all photography books do this....I know because I have a LOT!

What I like about this book is how it has assembled well known photographers and provides their tips and tricks.Yes, posing is discussed but it's not a major portion of this book.The title is a little deceiving.;-)

I haven't read others reviews of this but I would BET they say something similar.

This book is like a WPPI conference in 125 pages.It's very good.You will definitely learn something from it.I do with every book I read.

Beautiful and Inspirational, but not just about posing!
This book consists of a series of interviews with 10 famous portrait photographers.Many styles and types of photography are represented, from boudoir to maternity to child portraiture.While every photographer DOES mention posing, it is less than 25% of the overall content from each photographer.The rest of the interviews cover a wide range of topics such as business, getting started, making clients feel comfortable (which is an indirect part of posing I suppose), and general photography issues.The boudoir photographer did provide three sample poses, which she named, and had specific details about how to set up the pose.I would have loved it if each photographer could have come up with 3-5 of those pose cards!It would have been very useful to have specific ideas like that.

And tips on posing a large group are missing from this book -- to my everlasting dismay, since I get asked to do a fair number of large family portraits and would love to improve my posing there.

Well, I enjoyed reading this book very much, but that is because I am currently devouring EVERY book I can get my hands on about photography, and I find useful information in just about all of them.If you are specifically looking for a posing guide, this book is not it.

posing really is an art
Posing really is an art, and it's one that does not come naturally to everyone. This book offers great tips on the principles of effective posing. A great reference to look at again and again.

Great Posing Guide
This is an excellent posing guide for photographers at all levels. The author pays special emphasis on the details that help to create exceptional portraits.

The images are well done and illustrate the text very well. ... Read more

Book Description

Product Description
Empower your artistry in the digital environment

This unique Painter book addresses both creative and technical proficiency, helping you step ahead in today's world of photography, art, multimedia, and design. This lavishly illustrated guide speaks directly to all visual artists and shows you how to combine traditional and stateof-the-art media to capture the essence of your vision.

Fully updated for Corel Painter X and the newest range of Wacom graphics tablets, progressive, well-structured tutorials from beginner to advanced level, case studies, and examples of art will inspire your imagination at every stage. Let world-renowned Painter master Jeremy Sutton guide you step-by-step in how to experiment with creative ideas and techniques that you can adapt to your own style.

New time-saving tips, workflow strategies, and keyboard short cuts allow you to quickly transform your work with Corel Painter X's outstanding natural-media tools. From expressive paintings to evocative collage portraits, oil impressionism, live portrait paintings, and painterly effects for video, television, and the Web, you get the best techniques through...

*Clear explanations with colorful screen grabs and inspiring artworks that lead you
through the sophisticated and creative Painter tools
*Practical, hands-on tutorials, and project illustrations that show you every step in
image development, including multimedia artist techniques
*A CD-ROM packed with unique custom brushes, tutorial images, and additional art
materials not supplied with Painter X

Included on the resource CD:
*48 extra brushes including many unique custom brushes not supplied with Painter
*38 custom color sets
*Jeremy's SupaDoopa custom palettes to help speed up your workflow
*Collection of Jeremy's favorite Image Hose nozzles, paper textures, and patterns to greatly enhance the variety and richness of art materials available at your fingertips
*Gain instant access to Jeremy's interface customization and optimize your creativity with unique custom workspaces, new to Painter X
*4 QuickTime movies including a studio tour, artwork commentary, and details on Wacom tablets
*Have fun practicing with 28 tutorial images!

*Clear explanations with colorful screen grabs and inspiring artworks that lead you through the sophisticated and creative Painter tools
*Practical, hands-on tutorials, and project illustrations that show you every step in image development, including multimedia artist techniques
*Chapter endings with quizzes and questions to cement learning
*A CD-ROM packed with unique custom brushes, tutorial images for all projects, and additional art materials not supplied with Painter X ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Two thumbs up.
Wasn't sure whether the book is the right level for my daughter.She's been playing with the trial version of the software for a while.As soon as she got the book, she wouldn't let it go!

Extremely Helpful!
This one was of the first Painter books I bought (several years ago) and I still feel it is one of the best, if not the best out there. It teaches the basics, but it also shows how to create paintings from photographs and have them look like they were hand painted!In addition, most of the other books I have on using Painter don't seem to reach the "fine art" level Mr. Sutton does.It's the difference between looking at paintings in a gallery or at a craft fair.

Painter XI came out a bit ago, so I have already pre-ordered the version for that because I haven't been able to incorporate some of the extra material that is provided on the disk for Painter X into Painter XI.It may be possible--but I'll just buy the updated book.

Painter X Creativity by Jeremy Sutton
Very informative. I'm just learning Painter X and I use this book all the time.

May be good for some but I found it useless
I should really have guessed that I wouldn't like this book as I really dislike Jeremy's art (nothing personal, he seems like a charming & intelligent man, I just find his work very gaudy). Having said that I bought this because I'd heard good things about improving creativity etc etc.

It obviously works for some but has been utterly useless to me. Again this is probably my own fault because I can't get past the artwork.

In short if you like Jeremy's work this may be good for you but if you don't I'd give it a miss.

Outstanding book!
A wealth of information that would take you months to acquire otherwise. I worked in the past with Painter 4 & 5 years ago. I would have had trouble wading through all the new information.
The cost is a bargain. ... Read more