Book Description

Utilizing the combined experience of three traditional artists turned digital imaging pioneers, Digital Art Studio champions combining traditional art techniques with digital media. From their unique position as artists, educators, and technology consultants, the authors provide a wide range of ways to integrate digital processes, using them in unusual and challenging ways to reinvent traditional art techniques. The computer is profiled as the ultimate mixed-media machine, allowing the artist to readily combine an unbelievable array of media. The book covers the basic processes for preparing commercially available surfaces (canvas and watercolor and printmaking papers) and custom surfaces (handmade papers, wood, leather, and antique fabrics). More advanced methods are covered, including transferring digital images to absorbent surfaces and transferring digital images to three-dimensional surfaces. A showcase of the work of artists who have combined digital and traditional materials to produce outstanding work will inspire all artists, new and seasoned alike, to explore the new world of mixing traditional art with digital media. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Learn from Experience
The authors of this book have spent many hours trying different materials, surfaces, and techniques to create traditional art in a non-traditional way. Utilizing digital imagery and studio art materials, they teach us to create art for a modern world. By sharing the results of their trials, we are presented the tools and material lists needed to follow their detailed examples. As an artist looking to take full advantage of both a painting studio and digital production equipment, this book is the kickstart that I needed.

Beyond the Digital Print
Digital Art Studio is a must have book for artists who want to go beyond the straight digital print. The photographs are an inspiration to artists and the "how-to" information invaluable. I am a photographer who is always experimenting and this book is going to be my bible. Danny Conant danny@dannyconant.com

Digital output for multimedia artists
I just received my copy in the mail and I'm overwhelmed with the outstanding imagery and techniques that the three artists of Digital Atelier offer in this book by Karin Schminke, Dorothy Simpson Krause and Bonny Lhotka. 

These are the three artists of Digital Atelier, and their website is mindblowing (www.digitalatelier.com). Don't forget to check the links to the individual artist websites. They started with professional, expensive inkjet printers through corporate sponsorships and grants, and it took ten years since the time these artists started experimenting and exhibiting for the technology to catch up with consumer inkjet printers.

This book is process oriented and is recommended for intermediate to advanced mixed-media artists and photographers who want to explore digital artmaking. They show you how to use your inkjet printer, albeit more expensive and professional models, to print on practically any material: fabrics, plastics, metals, papers, etc.  The past few weeks, I've been studying the techniques and I've ordered the InkAid product so I can create my own substrates for the low-end desktop printer, the Epson C84 with Durabright inks.  InkAid is a special precoat and it was developed by the Digital Atelier artists (www.inkaid.com).  I've been able to create interesting prints with my printer that neither the artists nor InkAid support - but I'm happy to report that they've both been very responsive and helpful with my questions.

You'll still need to know the basics of digital design and composition, but if you ever wanted to make your artwork explode onto textures, layers, collage and 3-D surfaces - this book is it. This is a process-oriented book so you will still have to develop your own digital imagery, compose the layers, and prepare the surfaces before you can print. You will need to have some experience with image editing techniques such as Photoshop, and how to scan, capture or upload images to your computer. This book is concerned with output - and intimate knowledge with the capabilities of your desktop and wide- or large-format printers is necessary. This is not a quick artmaking process. Precoating to prepare various materials for printing on requires time to dry the layers but the effort is worth it.

You will learn various image transfer and "emulsion" transfer (similar to Polaroid) techniques as well as some unusual printmaking and layering ideas: gelatin transfers, frescos, digital overprinting and underprinting, and collage. There's a whole chapter on transferring or printing images onto fabrics for both wearable and non-wearable art. The three artists offer numerous options to pursue and don't promise that their techniques will do everything. Amazingly, they do offer a lot.

You can also work on your printed images with traditional art media - such as pastels, colored pencils, acrylics, even encaustics, but those techniques are not detailed too much. This book assumes you have your own expertise but it offers more possibilities for traditional and digital artists. They position the inkjet printer as a well-placed tool in the mixed-media studio. All the techniques build in complexity and they are demonstrated very well in step-by-step photographs and text. Examples of artwork is numerous and varied and so the art gallery is outstanding.

As a new, self-taught collage artist, I am inspired to rework my best images and create new versions on various "canvases." This book as a great addition to my reference library. The only con to the book, and it's minor at that is some confusion I have with the materials needed for printing on or using as "carriers." Specifically, the list of polycarbonate, plastic sheets, polyester films. I have to take notes to keep track of which technique to try first as I shop for more materials but I am excited to start.

This book has been long-awaited by digital artists and I congratulate Digital Atelier on the launch and applaud the three artists for their generosity.

Digital Art Studio
Finally the perfect book for creative artists looking to combine the newest technology ( digital art) with unusual materials producing the most interesting works of art. Congratulations on those three women artists who have shared their secrets and produced incredible visual effects for the reader. As a photographer, I have recommended this book to every artist I know. Catherine Steinmann.

Simply the best!
Finally - a book for all of us out there who are trying to enter the field of computer art printing and just don't know how!
I am a photographer living in Switzerland using my computer and inkjet printer instead of a darkroom. I have always wanted to broaden my knowledge in the various printing techniques and to explore new possibilities to take my art yet another step further.
There are not so many good art courses on this subject out there- especially if you live in the mountains of Switzerland! - and no books to speak of.
This book is a dream come true! Comprehensive, concise, well structured and beautifully presented. The accompanying photos make it easy to learn the different methods step by step in a very inspiring way. You simply cannot wait to try it all out by yourself.
This book will become the Bible of Digital Art Printing!
A big "Thank You" to the authors for sharing their knowledge and expertise. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

"Theo is obsessed with his work and embarked upon a quest for an elusive ideal theater that can exist only in dreams. Each time that he makes a dream theater into a reality, no matter how stunning the creation, it never quite fulfills the ideal in his mind-and off he goes again in the enthusiastic pursuit of impossible perfection."-Dean Koontz

In the 21st century, more and more people "go out" to the movies at home. This lifestyle change has led to the biggest innovation in residential design today: the home theater, be it a custom-installed system or an elaborate private screening room. At the high end, Theo Kalomirakis reigns supreme as the leading designer of private theaters in the home.

Kalomirakis tailors each of his designs to fit the needs of a specific client, using styles that range from ultra-traditional to cutting-edge. His theaters even have their own marquee names: The Moonlight, The First Run, The Miami Beach. Great Escapes showcases nine of these incredible spaces through superb color photographs and descriptions of the technology that make this revolution in entertainment and design possible. Although Kalomirakis's extravagant creations are for wealthy clients, they will also serve as inspiration for home owners who want to integrate cinema quality with home comfort on a more modest budget. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A unique source of enduring ideas
Lavishly illustrated with one hundred gorgeous color photographs by Phillip Ennis, Great Escapes: New Designs For Home Theaters By Theo Kalomirakis by Steven Castle presents extravagant designs for "media rooms" in private homes. These are specialized entertainment oriented rooms set aside to take full advantage of surround sound, acoustics, and visual appeal to bring forth the same quality experience as visiting a theater. Great Escapes showcases the work of interior designer Theo Kalomirakis as it artfully presents his work in creating home theaters of celebrities such as Dean Koontz, Eddie Murphy, Roger Ebert, and others in this unique source of enduring ideas.

Just Amazing
This is a book to die for. The photography is amazing, the architecture out of this world and what Theo Kalomirakis does for his lucky clients will blow you away. I am already wearing out my copy and I only have had it for two days.

Great Escapes
Whether your interest is home theater, or movie palaces from the 1920's and 30's, Great Escapes is sensational!
Once I opened it, I couldn't put it down and trust me with 204 pages loaded with 140 color photos of breathtaking architectural eye candy, this book will demand your focus.
Kalomirakis brings the elegance of yesteryears movie palaces home with the help of writers Steve Castle, Dean Koontz and photographer Phillip Ennis.
You can truly see Kalomirakis' love for the big screen in the architectural details he adorns his private cinemas with. No details are spared in Kalomirakis' work from neon marquees and ticket booths welcoming visitors to his theaters to opulent lobbies adorned with domed mural ceilings and snack bars and timeless columns.
A few times while reading this book, I had to remind myself that the featured theaters I was viewing were in someone's personal residence.
I have to say my personal favorite theater in this book was created for author Dean Koontz called "The Moonlight." Koontz also has an introduction in the book.
Even though most of the theaters in this book take up more square footage than the average persons home. And even though theaters designed by Kalomirakis are beyond the financial means of most people, this book can serve as inspiration for those that want to bring home the silver screen on a lesser budget and do it in style.
Theo Kalomirakis' newest book Great Escapes definitely brings home the look of the movie palaces of yesterday. ... Read more

Book Description

Currently with no other book on digital SLR photography, photo enthusiasts have had to rely on books that concentrate only on aspects of the technology that are peripherally related to picture-taking.This book uniquely concentrates on creative techniques for the digital SLR photographer. Photography with Digital SLR and SLR-like cameras isnt exactly like conventional film SLR photography; nor is it exactly like digital photography with non-SLR cameras. DSLRs have special advantages, special features, and special problems that need to be addressed and embraced. In addition, users of these cameras tend to expect more from their photography and crave the kind of information that will let them wring every ounce of creativity out of their equipment. Anyone who has a Windows PC or Macintosh and a digital SLR camera will find advanced techniques in this book. Readers will cover various aspects of DSLRs including: why DSLRs work best for creative posing for group and individual portraits, using DSLRs to capture close-up scenes on the desktop using the digital cameras special capabilities, how to get great travel photos with a DSLR, and how to archive them when far from a computer. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Tim Hawkinson’s art is the sort of intense, highly personal and often self-referential work that manages through humor and sheer obsessive force to be both accessible and awe-inspiring. It’s often at least a little bit grotesque, but his sculptures and works on paper and canvas flirt with the sublime often enough that it really is worthy of multiple viewings, even though at first it often appears to be a cheap joke. In all of these senses, Hawkinson’s stuff is comparable to the works of Charles Ray, Tom Friedman and Mike Kelley. The companion catalogue to the Whitney Museum-mounted large-scale retrospective finally gives Hawkinson his due. Lawrence Rinder’s essay gives plenty of clearly-written art historical context to Hawkinson’s strange contraptions, while Howard N. Fox speaks of Hawkinson’s near monk-like "sacramental energy." The design is crisp and unobtrusive; the only quibble at all is the use of the Courier font and the fact that the book’s covers are made of a porous material, so be careful to wash your hands before you hold the thing. Inside you’ll find a functioning organ made out of plastic the size of a football field, a bird skeleton made out of nail clippings, a ball made of spoons, a functioning extension cord worn into a knot, a human skeleton fashioned from dog bones, and much more. Hawkinson really turns the world inside out.--Mike McGonigal ... Read more

Reviews (2)

With the artist's own commentary
Painter, sculpture, photographer, printmaker, and multi-media artist Tim Hawkinson is primarily known for his large-scale kinetic and sound-producing works. He has also created such eccentric art as a bird skeleton utilizing his own fingernail parings, a latex cast of his body inflated with air, and clocks fashioned from a Coke can, a manila envelope, and a toothpaste tube. Now for the first time, modern art enthusiasts can explore the art of this exceptional and versatile American artist in Tim Hawkinson by Lawrence Rinder (Adjunct Curator, Whitney Museum of American Art). Assisted by Howard N. Fox (Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, Los Angeles County Museum of Art) and Doug Harvey (art critic and writer for LA Weekly), Rinder has compiled this accompaniment to the display of Hawkinson's art and artistry showcased in an exhibit at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York. The 250 color illustrations are enhanced with three informed and informative essays, along with the artist's own commentary on more than 150 of his diverse, often ground-breaking work. Tim Hawkinson is an impressive contribution to both academic and community library Contemporary American Art History collections.

tim hawkinson is f'n awesome
I saw the show at the Whitney.It was one of the best I have seen in my whole life.This artist is working at an extremely high level.He's gonna be a giant for our generation.He uses some found materials and reworks things cleverly and beautifully.Conceptual, material, fresh. ... Read more

Book Description

Almost everyone can "see" in the conventional sense, but developing photographic vision takes practice. Learning to See Creatively helps photographers visualize their work, and the world, in a whole new light.

Now totally rewritten, revised, and expanded, this best-selling guide takes a radical approach to creativity. It explains how it is not some gift only for the "chosen few" but actually a skill that can be learned and applied. Using inventive photos from his own stunning portfolio, author and veteran photographer Bryan Peterson deconstructs creativity for photographers. He details the basic techniques that went into not only taking a particular photo, but also provides insights on how to improve upon it—helping readers avoid the visual pitfalls and technical dead ends that can lead to dull, uninventive photographs.

This revised edition features the latest information on digital photography and digital imaging software, as well as an all-new section on color as a design element. Learning to See Creatively is the definitive reference for any photographers looking for a fresh perspective on their work.

* New edition of a best-selling title
* Updated to include digital
* All new artwork, and a totally revised and expanded text
* All-new section on color as a design element
* Written by one of Amphoto's bestselling authors ... Read more

Reviews (30)

Chiken Soup for the Photographer's Soul !!
I bought this book expecting to see rules of composition.Apart from one reference to the rule of thirds, I did not find anything. But I did find something else - "The art of looking at the picture through the viewfinder". As I had gotten into using more complex, advanced equipment, I had started looking at the picture instead of seeing. This book will make you think before you take your photographs. Most of the photographs in the book made me marvel at the guy's composition skills..even envy. But now when I take my pictures, some of the pictures from the book come to my mind, and I re-evaluate my composition. If this happens to you...youre well on your way to taking great pictures. The section on exposure is nice. The book is worth every cent you pay for it.

Banish those ho-hum, so-so compositions.
This is the most useful photography book I have read in a long time, and I have read a lot (and taken a few pictures along the way). True this is not a general book and does not cover the basics in film, aperture and shutter speed which of course are important (after all this author has written a book on these aspects), but lets face it there are plenty of these general books around already. What this book addresses in spades is what is often lacking in some others; composition.

If you are a beginner then this is a must read book. If you are more advanced and generally happy with your images then read this book anyway and look again. Were any of you images 'ho-hum, so-so'? Need to move on to the next level?

This is the best book on composition I have read. I believe this book has helped me and can help you improve your images no matter what level you are at. Yes, even if you are a point and shoot photographer. For me this one is a keeper. Enjoy. ASC.

A casual book for novices
Nice photo examples, although neither really inspiring nor stunning.
Technical details are superficial and sketchy.
Not worth keeping it as a reference book.

A must have book for reference, learning and enjoyment!
I own the previous edition of this book, so I waited with anxious expectation for its revision. This is more than a revision, it's a brand new book, a necessary addition to the theory and practice of implementing creative vision in making photographs. I recommend this book to all who wish to receive inspiration and mentoring in realizing their own creative vision in photography and even general artistic picture making. The text is written in Bryan Peterson's inimitable down to earth, friendly yet knowledgeable style. The photographs are truly inspirational. This book is a keeper!

Well worth the wait
When I heard that this book was going to be revised, I waited for it in anxious anticipation - it was well worth the wait!

Sometimes all that is needed to improve a composition is to change one's perspective, which is often pointed out in this book. This is something I'm learning to take advantage of, and can see the improvement in my pictures.

I was also happy to see a section added dealing with color and one on digital imaging.

If you've got a basic understanding of photography behind you, then I'd highly recommend this book! ... Read more

Book Description

Seventh heaven

Nothing could be more luxurious, pleasurable, or refreshing than pampering yourself in a sumptuous spa. The best ones are designed to look and feel like paradise—and they do. In this book, you’ll discover the most exceptional historical, thermal, thalassic, wellness & health, resort, new age, adventure, day, and hotel spas around the world—from Paris to South Africa, Bangkok to Texas—beautifully photographed and accompanied by pricing, service, and contact information. Use the book to scout out your ideal spa-destination and take yourself one step closer to nirvana. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A lovely book filled with photos and ideas
Nothing is more lovely or inviting than a spa, and the best mimic pools and lovely outdoors environments. Whether you're a traveler seeking the ultimate spa or a homeowner seeking ideas for reproducing paradise in your own backyard, Spa is the book of choice for locating both ideas and destinations. Spas around the world, from resorts and hotel spas to, are profiled and packed into a lovely book filled with photos and ideas. Spa prices and services will appeal to destination-oriented travelers, while the extensive color shots of spa surroundings, both interior and exterior, offer plenty of ideas for homeowners who would create smaller versions of paradise.
... Read more

Book Description

Not only is he one of the world’s preeminent architecture photographers, Robert Polidori is also--as his popular book Havana proved--a master of urban portraiture. The Montreal-born photographer has made haunting studies of bombed-out buildings in Beirut, decaying New York tenements, Versailles rooms in dusty disarray, Brasilia's paean to spare '50s modernism, and, most recently, the abandoned, contaminated cities of Chernobyl and Pripyat. Taken together, they add to his ongoing project: the interpretation of the interrupted urban landscape.

This new monograph combines the eye of a celebrated photographer with the distinctive voice of an artist and adventurer. Each breathtaking image--meticulously selected by the photographer from his own personal archive--is accompanied by a compelling first person account, based on interviews conducted by Martin C. Pedersen, executive editor of Metropolis magazine. Polidori tells behind-the-scene stories about the making of his photographs, takes us to war-torn Beirut and Brasilia and other world capitals, talks about what makes a building photogenic, how he shoots buildings he doesn’t like, his favorite architects, and his love of mosques. A look at the world’s great cities as seen through the eyes of a sharp social observer--and a great photographer.

Often considered an architectural photographer, Robert Polidori is in fact a photographer of habitat. On the surface, his subjects are buildings. But at the core his lens is focused on the remnants and traces of living he finds scattered in hallways, left in back rooms and worn on façades.--The Globalist

The most interesting things are always behind us. I look at everything as archaeology.--Robert Polidori

With Martin C. Pedersen and Criswell Lapin.

Hardcover, 11.5 x 10.75 in. / 128 pgs / 60 color. ... Read more

Book Description

Are your student's giving the speeches relevant to their lives and the world around them? Do your students understand that they can and will use these public speaking skills outside of the classroom? INVITATION TO PUBLIC SPEAKING will help your students acquire the speaking skills they'll need to succeed in your classroom and in the real world. Grounded in the rhetorical tradition while offering a fresh perspective, this text engages students in the public dialogue and shows them that they will use these skills beyond the classroom. Griffin also explains the reasons why certain things must be done and, most importantly, why students would want to speak publicly. Numerous pedagogical tools, speech-building exercises, thoughtful real-life examples, an invigorating art program, and an engaging voice, will help your students easily comprehend the text's basic concepts, apply them in and out of the classroom, and understand the importance of public speaking in their lives. Class-tested by more than 1000 students and reviewed by well over 100 Public Speaking Instructors, INVITATION TO PUBLIC SPEAKING, offers an exciting new approach to Public Speaking instruction. ... Read more

Book Description

Graphic Design Solutions, 2E, now in full color, demystifies the design process by outlining step-by-step procedures readers can apply with confidence to solve their own design or advertising problems. Projects and exercises featured throughout the book are interactive, allowing readers to experience a design element, principle or application. Exercises included are a work out - an informal nudge that fosters a willingness to experiment.Projects develop hand as well as critical and visual thinking skills.New projects include web design, web logos, annual reports, branding and new portfolio projects. This edition also features new samples of works by master and contemporary designers and offers guidance on how to objectively assess and critique designs. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Great Book for all types of designers...
This book covers every single topic with designing...I totally love it I read it over and over because of all the good advice the author gave out to us...I totally recommend this book for students and professionals...Good Luck and Enjoy!!

extremely helpful
Ms. Landa has done a terrific job once again. This book helps you to find different solutions to design problems you probably would'nt think of initially. In addition I'm proud to say I am a student of hers, and her classes are just as engaging.

the best out there!
this is the very best graphic design and advertising text on the market. The advertising chapter and branding chapter are worth the price alone! The examples and ideas are brilliant.

Brilliant!!!
This book is the essence of graphic design. It is a must for any design student. The book itself makes one of the strongest visual statements that I've seen in any Design text. It's great for both the experienced designer and those who aren't accustomed to the nuance that so many overlook. The best parts of the book are the exercises. With problems that are enjoyable and challenging, Ms. Landa has created something that Professors around the globe should take notice to. This is the bible for graphic design students and is a great improvement over the first edition (which was great in and of itself).

Also recommended: The Education of a Graphic Designer(Heller), Design Discourse, The History of Graphic Design(Meggs)

A great guide to Graphic Design.
A well-illustrated step-by-step guide to the process of designing graphic images. The author covers the basic components of design, the effective use of type, how to produce a layout, and how to design specific categories of work (i.e. logos, posters, packaging, etc.). Twelve pages of color are included. ... Read more

Book Description

The Longman Anthology of Drama and Theatre is a fully-integrated text/anthology of drama with a global emphasis. Divided into two parts: Part One covers the origins of drama: genres, conventions, styles and descriptions of roles; and Part Two is a six chapter anthology of plays, including plays from around the world with a solid core of western plays. Each chapter in Part Two includes visuals, maps, timelines, biographical and contextual headnotes, and an overview of the history and conventions of each period that help readers gain a better understanding of the drama and theater being presented. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

An Important, Useful Anthology
I'm very pleased with this anthology partly because of its international scope, but also because it provides useful theoretical documents that augment and support the plays the authors have chosen. The introductions to each period and country are detailed, interesting, and easy to read.

The students in my undergraduate theatre history course have almost unanimously agreed to keep this text as part of their permanent collection--a rare reaction indeed! The choice of plays was excellent, combining some wonderful translations of important Western European texts with interesting, hard-to-find world theatre classics.

I highly recommend it as a teaching resource--particularly for theatre history, world drama, and intro to theatre courses. Your students will thank you (and they'll keep this one!).

A Milestone in Drama Anthologies
American theatre has been slower than any of the other arts to recognize the need to pay attention to what's going on outside the United States and Europe. Most introductory theatre texts make only passing mention of the theatres of Asia, Africa and South America. Anthologies of drama published in the States have likewise generally failed to address the dramatic literature of these regions. Consequently, most Americans, including theatre students, are woefully ignorant of the rich theatrical traditions of two thirds of the world's people.

In the context of this vast blindness, the Longman Anthology of World Drama is a milestone work. It includes both traditional and modern plays from China, India and Japan (integrated into the historical sequence rather than tagged on as appendices.) It treats of African theatre in connection with African-American diaspora theatre. It represents Latin and South American theatre with interesting works from the 16th century to modern Hispanic absurdism. On top of this remarkable diversity, it provides a very solid foundation in the traditional Western canon, with a particularly good sequence tracing the rise of modern realism out of romanticism.

There is an enormous amount of material in this tome, and much to commend. The only serious shortcomings are a sparseness and lack of clarity in the historical background articles (these will confuse students with no framework to build on), and some poor choices in excerpts of supporting criticism (the Victor Turner article will go completely over the heads of the uninitiated, and the excerpt by Zeami is a dull genealogy of the ritual roots of Noh theatre rather than any of the more interesting bits on the art of the performer.) ... Read more

Book Description

Communication helps readers see the relationships among the concepts, skills, theories, and contexts of communication by anchoring all discussion around five fundamental principles. Written by experienced and highly regarded textbook authors and teachers, Communication:Principles for a Lifetime provides readers with all the theory and skills necessary in the introductory course - in a manner that will help them to apply what they learn throughout their lives. Understanding that the challenge of basic communication is learning the myriad of skills, principles, and theories, Beebe/Beebe/Ivy emphasize five key principles of communication throughout their book: Be aware of your communication with yourself and others.Effectively use and understand verbal messages.Effectively use and understand nonverbal messages.Listen and respond thoughtfully to others. Appropriately adapt messages to others. For anyone interested in the art of communication. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

How to find more reviews
This is a great book. I found it much easier to read than the other LaTeX books I looked at, most of which, in my opinion, are very poorly written. I came to rely on it very heavily as I wrote my thesis, and am very glad that I bought it. For more reviews on the book, do a search for "kopka daly latex" in the standard amazon search box. There are 23 reviews for the third edition, which should be relevant to this edition. ... Read more

Book Description

If you're ready to get serious about editing video, this best-selling, Apple-certified guide to Final Cut Pro is the best place to start. Master trainer Diana Weynand starts with basic video editing techniques and takes you all the way through Final Cut Pro's powerful advanced features, delivering comprehensive training--the equivalent of a five-day course--in one project-based book. Each chapter presents a complete lesson in an aspect of video editing and finishing, with hands-on projects for you to complete as you go. All the files you need are on the DVD-ROM. After getting acquainted with the software's interface, you'll learn how to mark and edit clips, insert and adjust edits, and work with clips on the timeline, before moving on to complex topics like creating transitions and motion effects, real-time color correcting, and titling techniques. Previously published as Final Cut Pro 4, this revision has been updated for the HD interface.

Publisher¿s NoteIf you previously purchased Apple Pro Training Series: Final Cut Pro 4, there is no need to purchase this revision: All the project files and exercises in the previous edition can be used with Final Cut Pro HD.

Book Description

THEORIES OF HUMAN COMMUNICATION is considered the seminal text in the field. Littlejohn presents theories in a clear and accessible writing style while maintaining the high level of scholarship and analysis. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Thorough Overview Provided
Dr. Littlejohn does a masterful job of describing the various theories in human communication. The book is divided into manageable segments which place the theorists into understandable blocks. Before introducing the various theories, however, he discusses the nature of academic inquiry and what theory building is all about.

His various categories of theories include: general theories, thematic theories, and contextual theories. A person familiar with the writers in these various categories will find this book easy to follow, however beginning students need to be prepared to spend a little extra time with some of this material as it can be challenging when you're exposed to it initially.

Theories of Human Communication
It is a very intense book on multiple communication theories. Also a very good book if a person is studying in the communications field. Although, the overviews of each theory is brief, it makes room for most communication theories in the field. (For more in-depth information on some theories, you would want to consult a Communications Journal.) ... Read more

Book Description

Ross King has a knack for explaining complicated processes in a manner that is not only lucid but downright intriguing. . . . Fascinating."(Los Angeles Times)

By all accounts, Filippo Brunelleschi, goldsmith and clockmaker, was an unkempt, cantankerous, and suspicious man-even by the generous standards according to which artists were judged in fifteenth-century Florence. He also designed and erected a dome over the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore-a feat of architectural daring that we continue to marvel at today-thus securing himself a place among the most formidable geniuses of the Renaissance. At first denounced as a madman, Brunelleschi literally reinvented the field of architecture amid plagues, wars, and political feuds to raise seventy million pounds of metal, wood, and marble hundreds of feet in the air. Ross King's captivating narrative brings to life the personalities and intrigue surrounding the twenty-eight-year-long construction of the dome, opening a window onto Florentine life during one of history's most fascinating eras. ... Read more

Reviews (54)

Great Architect, Great Book
Anyone who has been to the ancient Italian city of Florence recognizes the big dome that dominates the city. It is atop the cathedral Santa Maria del Fiore, and is larger than the dome of the US Capitol, St. Paul's in London, or even St. Peter's in Rome. It was built before any of them, in 1436. The architect, Filippo Brunelleschi, solved many problems to produce the wonder. He did away with any central scaffold on which to build the dome, and his design for such machines as an ox-powered hoist were innovative and useful. 70 million pounds of brick, mortar, marble, and more were hoisted into the air. The dome gradually rose, while below it were plagues, wars, jealous arguments against Brunelleschi, and financial problems. The book is exciting as it traces the progress of the dome, and it brings out the personality of Brunelleschi well. It gives details of Renaissance life, such as guilds, food, transportation, and brickmaking. Fascinating.

Filled with the Renaissance spirit
Brunelleschi's Dome is the story of the construction of the great dome of Florence's Santa Maria della Fiore. Filippo Brunelleschi, the architect, studied ancient Roman buildings like the Pantheon in order to understand how to construct the mammoth project. Thus the story of the construction of the dome is a recapitulation of the story of the Renaissance itself, when Europeans sought to revive the ancient learning and skills of Rome and Greece.

The book is very short but filled with interesting information on the dome's construction and on building techniques in general. It also provides a fascinating glimpse into Florence during the early Renaissance period, a time of great creative tumult and political turmoil. Perhaps only Irving Stone's The Agony and the Ecstasy matches Brunelleschi's Dome for its evocation of the glorious Italian Renaissance.

Wonderful narrative writing and historical account
Having lived in Florence for six months in 1976 and visited a number of other times since then, Brunelleschi's Dome is deeply engraved into my memory and heart. This book does well in giving one a better understanding of the difficulty in the construction of the dome and the background for the planning and construction. Well worth the read. I couldn't put it down except to sleep, thus finished it within two days.

Architect of Glory (God's & His Own)
I looked for this book after reading and enjoying Ross King's book on the Sistine Chapel ceiling, Michelangelo & the Pope's Ceiling. Now, I just wish I had read this before visiting the Duomo in Florence some years ago. This is an excellent description of the raising of the dome over the cathedral in Florence at the beginning of the fifteenth century led by the architect Filippo Brunelleschi.

There are three things that I particularly like about this book: first, it is an excellent description of the tremendous work invested by literally entire communities to raise a structure like a mediaeval cathedral. Yes, Brunelleschi was the genius behind the dome but it took thousands of workers decades to make his vision a reality. Thinking of the skyscrapers we raise today with the help of modern machines, raising these churches was an incredible achievement.

Second, this book shows how scientific and engineering discoveries are often lost and rediscovered. The Roman methods of building aqueducts, arches and domes (like the Pantheon in Rome) had long been lost and many of their methods are still only vaguely understood. Still, Brunelleschi was able to study these structures (much as his work is studied now), rediscover old methods and invent even better ones to produce his work. This is something seen over and over again in the sciences: a discovery is made and, because it is not understood at the time or the explanation is lost somehow, it is forgotten, only to be rediscovered later.

Third, this book shows how difficult it is to understand some of the amazing achievements of antiquity. Even today, though the dome stands as a monument to his genius, we don't fully understand how Brunelleschi was able to make it work. Engineers and architects still make pilgrimages to Florence in an attempt to understand how this dome was built and remains standing after nearly six centuries. Still, a full understanding eludes us. Part of this is due to Brunelleschi own penchant for secrecy but that doesn't stop it from boggling the mind--how modern technology cannot unravel the mystery of this structure.

Having climbed up into the dome myself, I felt very close to what King described in this book and would recommend it as a must read to anyone who has visited Florence or is thinking of doing so. Even without a visit, however, this slim volume is worth reading for anyone with an interest in science or architecture.

Fabulous construction
Ross King has done a terrific job of chronicling the construction of the dome of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence. Along the way he paints a broad-brush canvas of the entire Italian Renaissance.

Brunelleschi's construction techniques were nothing short of revolutionary, although many may have been reverse engineered from his Roman Empire predecessors. His personality was almost a caricature of the Renaissance genius--gifted, quirky, paranoid, and secretive. He and his contemporaries come alive as they compete for commissions, take time out for wars, and play practical jokes on rivals.

But, the most fascinating part of the story is the design and construction of the dome itself. As an engineer, I found myself asking, "How did he know how to do that?" ... Read more

Book Description

Much like the history of art, the history of interior design encompasses numerous styles, movements and the international political and social developments that have informed or challenged its evolution.This lavishly illustrated book will be of interest to anyone who appreciates interior design as well as antiques, furniture design, textiles, decorative objects and the general evolution of the space where we work and live.

The new edition contains 150 new photos, 35 new line drawings, 32 more pages, making it more lavish than the first. A companion web site filled with even more images is also new to this edition and offers great value. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Well worth the money-Entertaining, colorful & well-written!!
I love American Idol and I loved reading this book. The photos are great and so are the interviews. I read stuff in this book that I didn't hear anywhere else. Anyone who is an American Idol fan will really enjoy the inside look that this book provides. Kudos to the author and the photographer! The book gives great insight into the whole audition process and what it's really like to be a contestant trying out for the show. The free poster was a great bonus too!

I love American Idol!!!
This book is awesome. It has tons of great interviews and photos. I love this show and I love this book. If you want to learn all about American Idol and see behind-the-scenes stuff, read the book!!! ... Read more