Designers Books

Sunset magazine April 2003 issue uses patterns from this book to create floor cloths (hand painted canvas used as a rug). Comprehensive collection of graphic elements from kimono, lacquer boxes, Samurai leather vestments, fans, umbrellas, screens, woodcuts based every day objects: water lilies, tools, waves, fish, butterflies. Edo period artists were sequestered from the outside world by Imperial edict, thus the elements are fresh, unique, untainted by concurrent artistic themes in Asia or the West. Thoughtful exploration of graphic simplicity expressed as repetitive elements.

I considered myself pretty familiar with my Mac. This book has taught me all those things I didn't know; And things I didn't know I knew. Just poking around my Mac, I've seen a lot of the extras Apple includes for the artistic user. The Mac has been a design tool since it's birth and Apple caters to that by putting many useful mini programs, accessories and utilities in to enhance the design performance.
I've seen some of those tools, used some and merely stared at others. That's where this book comes in. The author clearly lays out the what and how of all those tools. So every time I read a new section, I learn something about a tool I'm familiar with or am introduced to something I didn't know. This book is well organized and easy to understand. It's been well worth the price.

Visual feast for the eyes. Selected brand campaigns higlighted and displayed in a beautiful fashion.

I am borrowing someone's copy. I have used it for the past year and it is one the resources that we have for our engineers and project managers. It has a lot ot graphics and drawings.

What a crime that this excellent design book's weakest, tackiest page is the only one that most people will ever see: its cover. I grabbed this book as a joke, because its awful first page promised a Saturday afternoon of unintended laughs and head-shaking at astounding misuses of Photoshop. But the joke was on me--there's a treasure buried under that Photoshop-ravaged front cover.

The Designer's Guide to Astounding Photoshop Effects begins with a brief but concise history of photo manipulation, which was first achieved with physical tools like airbrushes and blades. A heroic propaganda poster from the 1950s and a silly, contemporary Weekly World News cover (headlined "LIPOSUCTION FOR WORLD'S BIGGEST BABY" ) invoke completely different psychological responses and seem as though they have nothing in common, but both were achieved by the deliberate manipulation of reality and are landmarks in the evolution of the technique. It was a great idea to include this section, because most Photoshop books show no interest in the historic or psychological relevance of manipulation; they just get right to the showoff stuff. Because, let's face it, that's what most Photoshop users want.

The Designer's Guide... is geared more toward people who appreciate photo manipulation when it's done with style, grace and purpose than people who are looking to lens-flare their every document. There are some tips and they're all pretty good, but you have to accept the fact that most Photoshop wizards--like traditional magicians--have no intention of revealing the secrets behind their best tricks. So if you're like me, you'll find yourself doing a lot of backwards engineering to figure out how they created those astonishing effects.

But before attempting any of the tricks in this or any other Photoshop book, I think it's important to ask yourself, For what purpose?. A great Photoshop artist should use his skills only when necessary, and always with discipline. Because it's just too easy and tempting to get carried away, and wind up making the kind of mess they made with this cover.

A thin reference to 60+ symbol and icon fonts available online, this book succeeds on all levels: high quality and tasteful printing and layout, great content, and an inarguably fair price (when compared to many books of similar content and quality.) In addition to being a reference to the 60 or so symbol/icon fonts described, illustrated, and utilized in this book, but it is a pleasure to look at - whether searching for a bit of inspiration for your own creative twist, or for finding professional symbol and icon fonts on the web. I am very happy I purchased this book, and look forward to using it for some time to come. I highly recommend this book to graphic or web designers.

This book is helpful for beginners and established designers. It contains great tips on how to fix and/or improve your design skills in a fast paced, budget and time constrained environment. It is also well designed and easy to read.

An excellent photo essay on this interesting subject. As in all of Cathorine Childers' books on the master jewelers, this one is no disappointment. Interesting bio's of founders and current designers, as well as fascinating history of these designers of time. Highly recommended for reading and coffee table display.

For a design book under $25 bucks, this book is a steal. It features a lot of contemporary designers, with great pictures, interviews, and a bit of art history to boot. Gives you a lot of ideas and a few things to chew on.

For a seasoned designer, this book may be kind of basic. However, for a student or a young professional, this book offers a wealth of information.

Graphic designers will appreciate an approach which covers the basics of how to survive in the profession. From obtaining strong copy and locating the right illustrator for the job to producing professional-quality photos and preparing digital files, this covers all the details necessary to build professional working relationships with writers, illustrators, Web technicians and others. An essential reference.