Graphics Books

I love this book. It's a robust mix of exercises and software how-to, unique among all the FCP books I've read. I'm very glad to have it in my library.

I wrote this to Wolsky, might as well share it with the world:
Hi, guys. I met you at the fcpug last Weds and bought a (signed!) copy of your book. I haven't started to do the tutorial yet but I can't put the book down. It's so clear and easy to understand, and I'm already implementing the stuff I've picked up just from reading, "Now, did he say.... option X? Oh, wow, it works." It's the best book I've seen and I tend to look at everything in hopes that where one person confuses me another will set me straight. Anyway, this is a fan letter. And the writing is extraordinarily fine, literate and grammatical. Thank you.

The author is candid in his discussion about editing with Final Cut Pro. The most valuable information to me was his numerious comparisons between FCP and other editing software. For example, he points out those areas where other programs might be stronger in certain areas than FCP and specifies those programs. I read the book cover to cover and continually refer back to it as a guide and inspiratoin when editing.

Reading many, if not most, software instruction books, is akin to being clubbed by a thousand hammers...overload, overload. They are constructed as reference books, but one has to fight through tons on incidental material to figure out how to use the program.

Tom Wolsky's Final Cut Pro 2 book is, instead, a precise tool, which gets you cutting in no time. Wolsky's credits list him as an editor and a teacher, and his book make it clear he is outstanding in both regards.

At first glance you might think that this book is the same as the other FCP click-step books for the manual-adverse. You'd be wrong. Tom has crafted an excellent instructional work that richly supplements, rather than reiterates, Apple's enormous, exhaustive FCP 2 manual. Certainly he has featured many pages of clear dance-step instruction throughout the book. But, more noteworthy, Tom also incorporates a great deal of contextual insight into why certain features might be useful to the reader and draws upon his professional experience to give readers insights into the professional post-production process.

This book quickly became the mainstay of my FCP editing library. The only feature that would improve upon it is a spiral binding enabling it to lie flat while open!

I am honored to say that I have a signed copy of Forgiving Sam and even more honored to say that I have met the author. As I read this book I was astonished at how well written and descriptive the story was. This book pulls you in with an over powering sense of life, honesty, tragedy, and most importantly, a sense of inner self. I only wish I knew Oprah myself!!!! A book this well written and an author so talented should be both a "BEST SELLER" and a "HOUSEHOLD NAME"!!! Please do not hesitate to but this book; in fact, by a copy for everyone you know. I hope this review puts any doubts aside, it is more than worth the money!!!!!!!!!!!

Sam MacCauley is just nine years old when he is stolen away from his life of baseball, summer, and parental rules that seem too silly. For four agonizing days, a sadistic stranger tortures him in ways Sam never imagined possible. He is ready to give in to death when he is rescued by the most unlikely of allies.

Back in the arms of his loving family, Sam represses the memories as best he can and struggles to adulthood. By age thirty-five, he has a successful career, a talented wife, and two lovely children who adore him. But Sam remains tormented by nightmares and ghost memories of the kidnapping. He erects high, forbidding walls--some emotional, some physical--around himself and his family. Slowly the relationships he holds so dear begin to crumble under the pressures of the past.

If Sam is to save his family and himself, he must face what happened to him during those four lost days. Harder yet, he must find a way to forgive the violated nine year old who still lurks deep in his heart.

Author Powell Clark never falters in this fascinating, horrifying, and ultimately uplifting novel. Her characters are unique, sympathetic, and nearly impossible to second-guess. Her settings feel as real as the ground under your feet. The plot moves quickly as Sam and his family face one challenge after another. Most important, Forgiving Sam offers an emotional toughness and honesty sadly lacking in many works of fiction today.

I highly recommend Forgiving Sam to anyone looking for a novel of substance and intelligence.

This is the first book that I have actually wanted to write a review on because it was such a good book I just had to tell how much I loved it.
I have to say I bought this book because the cover and title intrigued me, little did I know that it was set in Alabama not far from where I live. I also couldn't believe how much talent the author had, and I had never heard of her before. I got the pleasure of meeting her not too long ago and because of her talent it was like meeting a celebrity to me!
This book has a touchy subject matter, but one that every parent or guardian should read.It is about a boy who is kidnapped and molested over the course of a few days. He finally escapes from his kidnapper, but realizes that he will not soon escape the harsh reality of what happened to him. The author takes us through Sam's life as he struggles day by day with what took place in his childhood and finally comes to terms with the fact that it wasn't his fault.
Don't let the subject matter scare you off, this by no means was a "dark" book. It is so beautifully written that one minute I was crying and the next I was laughing. When it ended I closed the book with a smile and the feeling that I was lucky to have read this story.

I have to agree with the other readers of this book! The author did an amazing job with the subject and characters in this book! It is definitely emotionally taxing, but worth the effort. The book is beautifully written about a horrendous subject. I highly recommend it, but make sure you have tissue near by!

This is a book that is hard to recommend because of the subject matter - not alot of people want to face such hard truths and facts during pleasure reading. This an absolutley amazing story - powerful, unforgettable and not to be forgotten. I loved the length of the book and the depth of the story. The reader really gets to know the characters. I wonder how Sam is doing now - when I finished FORGIVING SAM I realized I would miss him!

This is the best humor comic I have ever read, laughing out loud through every issue. Milk and Cheese basically hate everything and everyone with the exception of booze drinks, sharp objects, TV, Don Knotts, violence and Threes Company. They do what every person has wanted to do at least once in their lives (or several times a day for some)...maul and eye gouge their way through most segements of the population. Nobody is safe from these dairy products gone bad, they taget everyone from fat people to stand up comedians (with satisfying results)! That being said, keep the kids and the easily offended Sallys away from this one. The book is summed up best in their own words: "We hate what you hate, and we hate you!"

If you have a sense of humor and a strong stomach, you need to buy this book. My friend and I both agree that "Armed and Hammered" should be read by everyone, so when you buy this sit it on your coffee table and make your guests read it.

MILK & CHEESE : Alcoholic dairy products filled w/ hate and aggression bent on correcting the status quo and the insipid (are they the same? They think so). It's downright hilarious and completely leftfield. An absolute *MUST* for anyone who sees a riotous playground in seeing an animated carton of milk and a wedge of cheese (my heroes) wreak havoc on everything and everyone.

This is the trade paperback that collects the first 4 volumes. Collect them all!

Abolutely the funniest comics in the world!!! Read all of their books now!!!

This is one of the funniest comics around today (another being DORK, also by M&C creator Evan Dorkin). Why is it funny? Because Milk and Cheese get away with something we all wish we could get away with: getting liquored up and beating the crap out of annoying people. That's all this comic is, but then that's all it needs to be. Well, maybe that, and a dash of talk-show viewing, but even to do that, they have to rend, pummel, lacerate, and bludgeon anyone who gets in their way. This is pure mayhem, a 2-man riot.

Hilarious dialogue only adds to the mayhem. It's apparent that M&C take their mission, to destroy all idiots, very seriously. The question is: how can Evan Dorkin take essentially the same storyline and make it entertaining over and over again? Believe me, he does it VERY well, and the little comments and asides add immeasurably to the fun. I would prefer to give this 9 of 10, so please forgive the 4.

Now if only he'd start collecting DORK in trade editions. I need more!

There is alot of stuff that happen sin this book. The main point being that Shun Mitaka is put out of the contention for Kyoko's affections. He does end up marrying Asuna, but the interesting part is how he ends up marrying Asuna. Also Kozue finally confronts Godai about the prospect of marriage because she has been proposed to by another man. Godai tries to tell herr that he is in love with someone else, but everything as usual ends up becoming a big misunderstanding. Kozue even kisses Godai, and of course Kyoko sees it, which fuels yet another jealous rage. Also Godai has to help out Akemi by paying the bill at a love hotel, but Kozue sees them coming out, and runs off and later tells Kyoko. Kyoko and Godai get in a huge fight in this book and it looks like everything could come to an end for their relationship. good stuff

With only one volume to go, things are rapidly coming to a head. At least one of Godai's problems seems to be solved as Coach Mitaka debates proposing to Asuna under the assumption that he made her pregnant while in the midst of a drunken stupor. He also begins to realize that he might just care for her. But Godai still has problems of his own as his teaching exams are rapidly approaching and he's on the skids with Kyoko. She's angry at him for not exerting any self-discipline to get ahead in life. She's also mad because he always gets into compromising situations with women because of his wishy-washy nature. Because of this, Kozue comes around again after she gets proposed to by a guy she's been dating. She tells Godai she doesn't know what to answer because she wants to be with him! With all the mess going on at Maison Ikkoku, Godai decides to move out and live at the Bunny Club until his exams are over. Of course, all of the residents don't think he's going to be able to stay away, much less pass his tests! But if he doesn't pass, he won't be able to ask Kyoko to marry him.

Finally, after 13 volumes, we're coming to the end and getting to see how this love triangle works out. That's not to say Maison Ikkoku wasn't an enjoyable series. It's a classic. I'm just looking forward to seeing what happens in the last volume. There's a point in this volume where Godai says that if only him and Kyoko would just talk and listen to each other, they could have avoided a lot of misunderstandings and pain. Misunderstandings are what comedy is made of though, and a large part of our daily lives. While keeping the comedy level high throughout its run, Rumiko Takahashi has also put in a layer of complexity dealing with the striving to be accepted by the one you love and the acceptance that there isn't just one love in your life. You can begin again.

The second last book in this outstanding series. Plot lines start coming to an end in this book. We finally get to see our hereo in a few kisses and embraces (ok the cover kind of gives it away). The end will simply have you begging for the next book.

Having read Ranma 1/2 and parts of Urusei Yatsura I was amazed by the maturity level of this series. The humour elements are certaintly their but it's raw human emotion that carries this series. At 14 volumes the plot is kept pretty tight (though i found the addition of the new tenant to Ikkoku extremely pointless) and doesn't have that drag on feeling like Ranma 1/2 does. Also the ending of this series will have more of an impact then the one Ranma 1/2 did.

Godai gets slapped...Godai runs away...Godai tangles with another girl...nosy tenants hound Godai...Kyoko lands on top of a man...Kyoko runs away...Godai gets slapped again...nosy tenants hound Kyoko...Godai gets in trouble with another girl...nosy tenants hound Godai again...Kyoko VERY NEARLY gets slapped...Kyoko runs away again...blah, blah! With all that mean-spirited gremlin-like timing in Ms. Takahashi's romantic slapstick comedy, perhaps both Godai and Kyoko would be much better off if they just forgot about each other altogether.

But - in the very last book right before the grand finale yet to come up, we personally witness the true maturing of the young Godai from a drooling girl-crazy kid into a solemn-faced, long-suffering hero with tenderness for small children and a grim determination to succeed at everything, no matter what - to win the affections of the pretty young Kyoko. But - on the other hand, however, Kyoko herself, though a seemingly perfect, self-contained young woman on the outside, she actually turns out to be a spitting hellcat when it comes to sexual jealousy. All in all, it's a very engrossing trip that will surely hold you fast until the very conclusion of the whole series finally comes right off the press!

Maison Ikkoku has been an consistently charming and witty read, more so than the better-known "Ranma 1/2" series (which isn't bad, either!). "Game Set Match" shows about 3/4's of what we voyeurs into the lives of these bumbling Tokoyo-ites have been waiting for since probably the vicinity of Vol. 3.

Unfortunately (and on purpose), it's not the most important stuff that we're shown. We're given resolutions to the Mitaka and Kozue issues but left with an incredibly unfair cliff-hanger...what will happen to Kyoko and Yusaku? Of course, it had to be arranged thusly...but it still annoys the heck outta ya to be left dangling like that.

At the time of this writing, the final issue (in trade comic form) has been in stores for a few months now. I hope that before summer hits, we'll be given a chance to sit down with a loved one and finish out this incredibly engrossing series.

(One final question...will we *ever* know exactly what it is that Yotsuya does for a living?)

Read this book! Garfield shows you who is the boss

I thought this book was one of Garfie's funniest. I'm beginning my collection now. And I have also realized that Garfield's stories does lighten up your day, you know? Sets you in a good mood. Any Garfield fan will not be dissapointed with this book...

It is the best of the numberd Garfield books.

Garfield,Jon, and Odie are it again except Garfield is fatter and funnier then ever. Book number 33 of the best series ever and this is the best one yet.If you love Garfield's books you well just love this one.

Everybody out there keep buying Garfield books! They can be worth a lot of money someday and can become collector's items! I'm always going to keep all of mine so when I have kids they can read them!

This "Treasury" is a collection of Sunday Garfield comic strips from October 1984 through November 1986.

This treasury collection also shows the final morphing by creator Jim Davis of Garfield and his friends into what we see today in the comic strips.

This book is a nice anthology of some of Garfield's funniest moments. Really enjoyable

The first time I read this book I was only 8 years old Garfield has done wonderful things for me. He has given me a companion. Even if he is a cat.

Speaking as a writer of humor/satire/parody (most recently, Scratching the'Net: Web Sites for Cats - a book answering the question, "What would the internet look like if it were run by cats?"), what can I say except that Garfield is truly a cat's cat. And it's all here in this excellent collection.

Garfield is back in living color for the fourth time and it's funny. In this book, Garfield and Odie run away from home and do several other things in color. Garfield makes me laugh all the time and I'd recommend this book, as well as his mini-books and other treasuries. Funny.

Unlike so many other Garfield books coming out this one had all original material in it. You'll find it quite funny and enjoyable.

Just like the title for my review- this is the funniest book ever written. Our whole family has really enjoyed Garfield and his sense of humor.This is a book that the whole family will love from child to adult. This book is for everyone. It will leave you laughing till you cry. Enjoy.

I bought this book for my girlfriend since she's a Garfield Fanatic and she loved it. I read it also and it was very funny. Eventhough you expect it to be a kids book, adults can have a good time reading it.

I always enjoy garfield's sarcasm, and in this books he makes funny of everything. This book has more text han comics, pay attention if you're looking only garfield comics.

I bought this book as a gift for a friend. She loves Garfield and immediately fell in love with this book. Funny stuff, great find.

I was going to avoid reviewing this book because I'm too close to the authors and my copy was free so I thought I would be too biased, but the book merits a stellar review...bias aside.

Generator concepts are in bite size chunks and easy to follow, yet not so easy that they bore the reader. The book follows a natural progression in complexity and will be usefull to developers of all experience levels stepping up to the Generator plate.

The level at which the author's stand in the developer community gives them the opportunity to bestow their knowledge in "we know it all" manner, but instead they maintain a humbleness that says "hey, we're just developers like you who've had a lot more time on our hands."

Chock full of all the essentials, and the non-essentials, this book is a must have for the Generator developer (or the developer wanna-be) and looks to have a long shelf life.

Chris, Phil, Mike-nice work!

Finally someone to really take the shrink wrap off two of the best tools in the business. It shouldn't surprise anyone that the eccentric behind flashenabled.com would be able to show all of us common men how to take the next step with Flash and Generator. Awesome.

I was going to avoid reviewing this book because I'm too close to the authors and my copy was free so I thought I would be too biased, but the book merits a stellar review...bias aside.

Generator concepts are in bite size chunks and easy to follow, yet not so easy that they bore the reader. The book follows a natural progression in complexity and will be usefull to developers of all experience levels stepping up to the Generator plate.

The level at which the author's stand in the developer community gives them the opportunity to bestow their knowledge in "we know it all" manner, but instead they maintain a humbleness that says "hey, we're just developers like you who've had a lot more time on our hands."

Chock full of all the essentials, and the non-essentials, this book is a must have for the Generator developer (or the developer wanna-be) and looks to have a long shelf life.

Chris, Phil, Mike-nice work!

Want to learn Generator? This is it, bar none!
As a Generator and Flash trainer I always look for good material to add to class for future reading, this book will not only top the list but will be integrated into all future classes. Having used Generator since 1.0 I thought I knew many of the tricks but this book showed me a few that I have never seen before and will use immediately.
If nothing else know that the authors are top of their game and that the material for this book matches their excellence.

This book is a must-have resource for anyone interested in working with Generator. Mike, Phillip, and Chris not only know their stuff, but they did a great job at sharing their knowledge in a way that even a novice can understand. They are able to share their real-world experience, and make using Generator just a little (maybe even a lot?) more palatable for the average Flash user.

This final volume is fast and intense, which is a good quality in the conclusion of a series. The story was very well laid out so as to answer many questions that fans must have been pondering ever since the beginning. Even though I shed a considerable amount of tears over the last three chapters, I was satisfied at the ending, since Cain had not left anything unsaid or undone, and also because he was finally reunited with Riff- though only briefly. As such, it is evidence of the skilfulness of the author that she manages to generate so much sorrow and pity in her readers' hearts, merely by a few words and pictures, while still maintaining a dash of hopefulness and curiosity until the very end. The last few pages, for instance, were truly touching.
Although I prefer happier endings, I also accept the fact that it would not have matched the general feeling of the Godchild series if the ending had been too perfect and satisfying. Also, Miss Yuki has been careful not to explain everything word for word - she has allowed room for her readers' imaginations to take liberties with certain points in the story, and also regarding the futures of the characters. I believe these are features of a successful manga.
So, overall, I would say that `Godless' is an excellent conclusion to what, in my opinion, is the best shojo manga ever, and all those who have been following the story of Godchild should check this volume out as soon as possible.

Awesome product, highly recommended. Delivered quickly, and in top condition.

Beautiful story, a very good read.

This is my favorite volume out of the entire series. There are so many twists and turns. Cain faces his father as well as Riffeal and the other members of Delilah. The ending is just incredible and very compelling. I will never forget the end quotes and that last image. In my opinion it is so beautifully written and goes down as being the most memorable in manga history. The characters are so life like and you really feel what they are feeling. Never have I read a manga as intense and emotional as this. Truly a masterpiece and hopefully one day it will be made into an anime, because the characters practically come right off the page! The artwork, story, and, characters make this manga a real hit. If you love gothic stories, fairy tales, mystery and horror then do pick this up. It'll be an experience like you have never seen before! This manga will definitely be remembered for years to come. You'll go through this volume so fast you'll be amazed it's already over. This is Kaori Yuki at her best. Here's to hoping she also does a another series focusing on Oscar, Mary, and Crehador. I love those characters, too! ;)

This final volume is full of shocking events throughout the story; many twists and unexpected results for each of the the main characters.

The ending was spectacular. It wrapped everything up, leaving no loose ends. Cain finally confronts his father and Kaori Yuki did an excellent job of giving Alexis an almost human-esque side. By the end, I was starting to feel sorry for the guy. If for some reason you dropped this series half-way though, pick it up again because the ending will make all the money and time spent on this series totally worth it. You even get a glimpse into distant future to see how some of the characters ended up.

I really can't say enough good about this volume. Buy it, read it, and be completely satisfied with the ending.

Ample photos and interesting text...a fine book to own if one is interested in graffiti art in the LA area

By no exaggeration, this book is the best of its kind. It starts out with the history of gang writing then follows up with the evolution of the art including techniques, paint and cap types, run-ins with the law, etc. The pictures are as clear as can be, and the forever present artist commentary is the perfect compliment to the fantastic collection of pics. This is a must own for any fan of graffiti.

All I can say is get this book!!!!If you love that LA raw stuff.It's pretty well rounded,and gives you a whole look at what's going on past and present.If you have never been to LA.Here is your chance.Oh and it's focus is not on just one crew.Get this book first, on LA graff if you have to choose one.Plus an cd rom with photo's.You can't beat that.Good job Mr.Grody GOOD JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I bought this book for my bf, because he loves graffiti art, and used to have his own crew many years ago. He loves to look at the pictures, and see the deeper meanings that a lot of artists present in their graffiti along with murals. Finding the artist's tags in the art is also fun. We both enjoy looking through this book, and plan to buy similar items in the future.

Fifty years ago, graffiti was something written in restrooms and was relatively private. Now graffiti is an art form. You can think of it as vandalism; if it is your wall, or a public wall, and it is supposed to stay clean and undecorated, any unwanted spray-painting, no matter how fancy, is vandalism. But even if it is vandalism (and sometimes the owner of the wall invites the decoration, or the painting is done on canvas for a gallery), there is no arguing that graffiti now is some sort of art. This is especially obvious if you examine the hundreds of pictures in _Graffiti L.A.: Street Styles and Art_ (Abrams) by Steve Grody. Grody loves the graffiti of Los Angeles, and booms, "Along with the myriad styles these artists have created, they have also evolved world-class graphic skills now comparable to the best aerosol work anywhere." It seems funny that anyone would be comparing "aerosol work" from any locales, but you don't have to know about the styles elsewhere to enjoy the astonishing colors and designs found here. Grody examines the ethical issues of this sort of work, but it is clear that such evaluation is secondary to the art itself. He includes interviews with many of the artists (they call themselves "writers"), examines techniques and styles, and shows an appreciation of how this peculiar form of art has redeemed many of its practitioners, and redeemed some blighted public spaces as well.

The spray can is the choice of the writers because it is easily concealed and is portable. On the wall's surface, its effects can be controlled, but it can also cover an area quickly. The furtiveness of making graffiti necessitates the use of the spray can, but writers use it even in gallery work. It is also used, when no concealment is needed, on a "permission wall", a surface donated by its owner for esthetic reasons to be the site of an elaborate piece. The writers quoted here have much to say about the work of others; it is clear that they have examined styles carefully and can give intelligent critiques of what they have seen, and that they admire the works of competent competitors. They know "bad can control" or excessive imitation when they see it. The writers are in danger of criminal prosecution if they are not working on permission walls, and are in physical danger if they are working on some surface that is elevated. There is little tangible reward to this type of artistry, which is mainly a means of self expression with little other benefit. Grody writes, "It is this creative passion in light of all the obstacles that gives the best work its pop pulp energy." There are numerous stories here about members who were at risk of descending into drug use or crimes worse than artistic vandalism, but were saved by joining a group of like-minded artists.

The descriptions here of classifications of the work, the social forces at play, and the lives of the writers are all good for putting the pictures here in context, but the pictures are the show in this big and glossy book. Not all the pictures could even get in here, as with the book there is a disk included of hundreds more, along with audio interviews. It is fun to try to make out the letters, which are clear in some of the examples shown here, but are often so stretched and stylized that even if you know the crew that has put its name up, it is hard to pick the letters out. The depiction of figures or portraits is sometimes hyper-realistic, but usually in a comic book style, and is (to my eyes) far less appealing than the letters shaped into abstractions of extraordinary complexity and color. Grody has a couple of pages to illustrate some basic techniques, like cuts, 3-D, or letter blends, but there is no need to acquire a technical eye to enjoy the shows of kinetic mural energy displayed here. There is still some moral ambiguity about some pieces and their execution, but one picture after another shows that this is a vibrant and valid form of folk art.