Web Development

  • The History of Graphic Design. Vol. 2. 1960–Today

    08

    Through the turbulent passage of time, graphic design―with its vivid, neat synthesis of image and idea―has distilled the spirit of each age. Surrounding us every minute of every day, from minimalist packaging to colorful adverts, smart environmental graphics to sleek interfaces: graphic design is as much about transmitting information as it is about reflecting society’s cultural aspirations and values.

    This second volume rounds off our in-depth exploration of graphic design, spanning from the 1960s until today. About 3,500 seminal designs from across the globe guide us in this visual map through contemporary history, from the establishment of the International Style to the rise of the groundbreaking digital age. Around 80 key pieces go under the microscope in detailed analyses besides 118 biographies of the era’s most important designers, including Massimo Vignelli (New York subway wayfinding system), Otl Aicher (Lufthansa identity), Paula Scher (Citibank brand identity), Neville Brody (The Face magazine), Kashiwa Sato (Uniqlo brand identity), and Stefan Sagmeister (handwriting posters).

    With his sweeping knowledge of the field, author Jens Müller curates the standout designs for each year alongside a running sequence of design milestones. Organized chronologically, each decade is prefaced by a succinct overview as well as a stunning visual timeline, offering a vivid display of the variety of graphic production in each decade as well as the global landscape which it at once described and defined.

    This collection of important graphic works represents a long-overdue reflection on the development of a creative field constantly changing and challenging itself. These key pieces act as coordinates through contemporary history, helping us trace the sheer influence of graphic design on our daily lives.

    Combined with Volume One―which spans from the field’s very beginnings until 1959―the tomes offer the most comprehensive exploration of graphic design to date.

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    £46.50£57.00
  • Murach’s HTML and CSS: Training & Reference

    Until now, my websites looked great but have been coded with what seems like duct-tape and bubble-gum’ methods, just for appearances and not for professionalism or compliance. This book taught me all that is possible with HTML and CSS coding. What a game changer! That’s what one web designer posted about a previous edition of Murach’s HTML and CSS. Now, this 5th Edition updates and improves all the HTML and CSS content in the book…and it’s in full color so it’s easier than ever to learn from it. In fact, whether you’re a web designer, a JavaScript programmer, a server-side programmer, or a rookie, this book delivers all the HTML and CSS skills that you need on the job. This book begins with an 8-chapter hands-on course that teaches you HTML and CSS from scratch, including the latest HTML and CSS features. This short course ends with a chapter that teaches you how to use fluid design and media queries to implement Responsive Web Design so your pages will look good and work right on any screen, from phone to tablet to desktop. After that, the unique design of this book lets you go on to any other chapter to learn new skills whenever you need them. For example, chapters 9 and 10 show you how to use Flexible Box and Grid Layout. Chapter 13 shows you how to work with forms and data validation. Chapter 14 shows you how to enhance a site with video clips. Chapter 15 shows you how to use CSS transitions, transforms, and animations. Chapters 16 and 17 show you how to design and deploy a website. And chapter 18 introduces you to JavaScript, a must-have language that’s the next step for many web developers. One final point: After teaching you all the HTML and CSS skills that you need, this book becomes the best on-the-job reference you’ve ever used.

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    £42.80
  • Adobe After Effects Classroom in a Book (2023 release)

    Learn video compositing, motion graphics design, and animation using Adobe After Effects

    Adobe After Effects Classroom in a Book (2023 release) uses real-world, project-based learning to cover the basics and beyond, providing countless tips and techniques to help you become more productive with the program. For beginners and experienced users alike, you can follow the book from start to finish or choose only those lessons that interest you. Learn to:

    • Create, manipulate, and optimize motion graphics for film, video, the web, and mobile devices
    • Animate text and images, customize a wide range of effects, track and sync content, rotoscope, manipulate timing, correct color, and remove unwanted objects
    • Customize cameras and lighting to create compelling 3D content
    • Design Motion Graphics templates for editing in Adobe Premiere Pro
    • Deform and animate objects and video using robust Puppet tools

    Classroom in a Book®, the best-selling series of hands-on software training workbooks, offers what no other book or training program does―an official training series from Adobe, developed with the support of Adobe product experts.

    Purchasing this book includes valuable online extras. Follow the instructions in the book’s “Getting Started” section to unlock access to:

    • Downloadable lesson files you need to work through the projects in the book
    • Web Edition containing the complete text of the book, interactive quizzes, and videos that walk you through the lessons step by step

    What you need to use this book: Adobe After Effects (2023 release) software, for either Windows or macOS. (Software not included.)

    Note: Classroom in a Book does not replace the documentation, support, updates, or any other benefits of being a registered owner of Adobe After Effects software.

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    £41.90£46.50
  • Getting Started in ZBrush: An Introduction to Digital Sculpting and Illustration

    08

    Getting Started in ZBrush is a gentle introduction to ZBrush, today’s premier digital sculpting program. Beginning with the fundamentals of digital sculpting as well as a thorough introduction to the user interface, Getting Started in ZBrush will have you creating a variety of professional-level 3D models in no-time. More than just another button-pushing manual, this comprehensive guide is packed with start-to-finish projects that ease you into the workflow of the program, while at the same time providing tips and tricks that will allow you to achieve certain tasks much more quickly. After progressing through the tutorials, you will be shown how to customize brushes, materials, scripts, and the interface so that you can utilize these tools to their full advantage.

    Special consideration is given to ZBrush’s integration plug-ins with Maya and 3ds Max, allowing you to properly import and export your models in all programs. Texturing, painting, mapping, decimation, baking, and topology are also fully covered so your Zbrush creations can come to life without sacrificing that high-resolution look.

      • Ease your way into this complex subject with this straight-forward approach to ZBrush

      • Perfect your technique with step-by-step tutorials that allow you to create high res models from start to finish.

      • Expand your knowledge by visiting the companion website, which features video demonstrations, project files, texture and model files, scripts, customized menus, brushes, and additional resources.

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      £38.80
    • The Art Of Uncharted 2 Among Thieves (Art of the Game)

      06

      Ballistic Publishing has partnered with Sony Computer Entertainment America and Naughty Dog, Inc., to produce The Art of Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. The biggest Ballistic Publishing art book to date weighs in at 272 pages and features some of the hundreds of drawings, paintings, and sculpts that began the process of making Nathan Drake’s world real, and helped make Uncharted 2: Among Thieves Game of the Year. From concept art to character studies, environment art, character modeling, game art, cinematics, motion-capture, animation, and effects, The Art of Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is the ultimate companion to the award-winning PlayStation 3 game.

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      £38.60
    • Digital Painting Techniques: Masters Collection: 01 (Digital Art Masters Series)

      05
      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 offers digital 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.

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      £35.20£44.60
    • Elemental Magic , Volume 2: The Technique of Special Effects Animation

      03

      Design beautiful, professional-level animated effects with these detailed step-by-step tutorials from former Disney animator and animated effects expert Joseph Gilland. Filled with beautiful, full-color artwork, Elemental Magic, Volume II, breaks down the animated effect process from beginning to end-including booming explosions, gusting winds, magical incantations, and raging fires. He also breaks down the process of effects “clean-up,” as well as timing and frame rates. The companion website includes real-time footage of the author lecturing as he animates the drawings from the book. In these videos, he elucidates the entire process from blank page to final animation. See it all come to life like never before. Throughout the book, Joseph refers to and includes examples from his own professional work from feature films such as Lilo & Stitch and Tarzan.

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      £35.20£44.60
    • Production Pipeline Fundamentals for Film and Games

      03

      Every production is built on the backbone of the pipeline. While a functional and flexible pipeline can’t assure a successful project, a weak pipeline can guarantee its demise. A solid pipeline produces a superior product in less time and with happier artists who can remain creative throughout the grueling production schedule.

      Walk through the foundational layers of the production pipeline, including IT infrastructure, software development practices and deployment policies, asset management, shot management, and rendering management. Production Pipeline Fundamentals for Film and Games will teach you how to direct limited resources to the right technological initiatives, getting the most for every dollar spent.

        • Learn how to prepare for and manage all aspects of the pipeline with this entirely unique, one-of-a-kind guide.

        • Expand your knowledge with real-world pipeline secrets handed to you by a stellar group of professionals from across the globe.

        • Visit the companion website for even further resources on the pipeline.

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        £33.70
      • Animate to Harmony: The Independent Animator’s Guide to Toon Boom

        05

        Want to create studio-quality work and get noticed? Just coming off Flash and looking for a Toon Boom intro? Are you a traditional pencil-and-paper animator? From scene setup to the final render, learn how to navigate the Toon Boom interface to create animation that can be published on a variety of platforms and formats.

        Animate to Harmony guides you through Toon Boom’s Animate, Animate Pro and Harmony programs, teaching you how to create high-quality 2D animation of all complexities. The main text focuses onfeatures that are common across all three programs while “Advanced Techniques” boxes throughout the book elaborate on Pro and Harmony features, appealing to all levels of experience with any of the three main Toon Boom products.

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        £33.40
      • Games As A Service: How Free to Play Design Can Make Better Games

        06

        The games industry is serious business and the role of a games designer has dramatically changed over just the last few years. Developers now have to rethink everything they know about the creative, technical and business challenges to adapt to the transition to games as a service.

        Games as a Service: How Free to Play Design Can Make Better Games has been written to help designers overcome many of the fears and misconceptions surrounding freemium and social games. It provides a framework to deliver better games rather than the ‘evil’ or ‘manipulative’ experiences some designers fear with the move away from wasteful Products to sustainable, trustworthy Services.

        Oscar Clark is a consultant and Evangelist for Everyplay from Applifier.  He has been a pioneer in online, mobile and console social games services since 1998 including Wireplay (British Telecom), Hutchison Whampoa (3UK) and PlayStation®Home. He is a regular columnist on PocketGamer.Biz and is an outspoken speaker and moderator at countless games conferences on Games Design, Discovery, and Monetisation.  He is also a notorious hat wearer.

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        £32.80
      • Character Mentor: Learn by Example to Use Expressions, Poses, and Staging to Bring Your Characters to Life

        05

        You’ve researched your character extensively, tailored her to your audience, sketched hundreds of versions, and now you lean back content as you gaze at your final character model sheet. But now what? Whether you want to use her in an animated film, television show, video game, web comic, or children’s book, you’re going to have to make her perform. How a character looks and is costumed starts to tell her story, but her body language reveals even more. Character Mentor shows you how to pose your character, create emotion through facial expressions, and stage your character to create drama. Author Tom Bancroft addresses each topic with clear, concise prose, and then shows you what he really means through commenting on and redrawing artwork from a variety of student “apprentices.” His assignments allow you to join in and bring your drawing to the next level with concrete techniques, as well as more theoretical analysis. Character Mentor is an apprenticeship in a book.

        Professional artists from a variety of media offer their experience through additional commentary. These include Marcus Hamilton (Dennis the Menace), Terry Dodson (X-Men), Bobby Rubio (Pixar), Sean “Cheeks” Galloway (Spiderman animated), and more. With a foreword by comicbook artist Adam Hughes, who has produced work for DC, Marvel Comics, Lucasfilm, Warner Bros. Pictures, and other companies.

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        £32.40
      • Clockwork Game Design

        02

        Only by finding and focusing on a core mechanism can you further your pursuit of elegance in strategy game design.

        Clockwork Game Design is the most functional and directly applicable theory for game design. It details the clockwork game design pattern, which focuses on building around fundamental functionality. You can then use this understanding to prescribe a system for building and refining your rulesets. A game can achieve clarity of purpose by starting with a strong core, then removing elements that conflict with that core while adding elements that support it.

        Filled with examples and exercises detailing how to put the clockwork game design pattern into use, this book is a must-have manual for designing games.

          • A hands-on, practical book that outlines a very specific approach to designing games

          • Develop the mechanics that make your game great, and limit or remove factors that disrupt the core concept

          • Practice designing games through the featured exercises and illustrations

           

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          £31.60
        • WordPress: The Missing Manual: The Book That Should Have Been in the Box

          03
          Whether you’re a budding blogger or seasoned web designer, WordPress is a brilliant tool for creating websites–once you know how to tap into its impressive features. The latest edition of this jargon-free Missing Manual shows you how to use WordPress 5.0’s themes, widgets, and plug-ins to build just about any kind of site. The important stuff you need to know: Setting up WordPress. Configure WordPress on your web host or get it running on your home computer. Create your site. Get hands-on instructions for building all types of websites, from blogs to business sites with ecommerce features. Mix in multimedia. Add picture galleries, slideshows, video clips, music players, and podcasts. Add features. Select from thousands of plug-ins to enhance your site’s capabilities, from contact forms to a basic shopping cart. Build a truly unique site. Customize a WordPress theme to create a site that looks exactly the way you want. Attract an audience. Use SEO, site statistics, and social sharing to reach more people. Stay safe. Use backup and staging tools to protect your content and avoid catastrophe.

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          £31.50£38.00
        • The Complete Guide to Photorealism for Visual Effects, Visualization and Games

          This book offers a comprehensive and detailed guide to accomplishing and perfecting a photorealistic look in digital content across visual effects, architectural and product visualization, and games.

          Emmy award-winning VFX supervisor Eran Dinur offers readers a deeper understanding of the complex interplay of light, surfaces, atmospherics, and optical effects, and then discusses techniques to achieve this complexity in the digital realm, covering both 3D and 2D methodologies. In addition, the book features artwork, case studies, and interviews with leading artists in the fields of VFX, visualization, and games. Exploring color, integration, light and surface behaviour, atmospherics, shading, texturing, physically-based rendering, procedural modelling, compositing, matte painting, lens/camera effects, and much more, Dinur offers a compelling, elegant guide to achieving photorealism in digital media and creating imagery that is seamless from real footage.

          Its broad perspective makes this detailed guide suitable for VFX, visualization and game artists and students, as well as directors, architects, designers, and anyone who strives to achieve convincing, believable visuals in digital media.

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          £30.80
        • Designing Games: A Guide to Engineering Experiences

          08

          Ready to give your design skills a real boost? This eye-opening book helps you explore the design structure behind most of today’s hit video games. You’ll learn principles and practices for crafting games that generate emotionally charged experiences—a combination of elegant game mechanics, compelling fiction, and pace that fully immerses players.

          In clear and approachable prose, design pro Tynan Sylvester also looks at the day-to-day process necessary to keep your project on track, including how to work with a team, and how to avoid creative dead ends. Packed with examples, this book will change your perception of game design.

          • Create game mechanics to trigger a range of emotions and provide a variety of play
          • Explore several options for combining narrative with interactivity
          • Build interactions that let multiplayer gamers get into each other’s heads
          • Motivate players through rewards that align with the rest of the game
          • Establish a metaphor vocabulary to help players learn which design aspects are game mechanics
          • Plan, test, and analyze your design through iteration rather than deciding everything up front
          • Learn how your game’s market positioning will affect your design

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          £30.40£38.00
        • Lighting for Animation: The Art of Visual Storytelling

          02

          Lighting for Animation is designed with one goal in mind – to make you a better artist. Over the course of the book, Jasmine Katatikarn and Michael Tanzillo (Senior Lighting TDs, Blue Sky Studios) will train your eye to analyze your work more critically, and teach you approaches and techniques to improve your craft. Focusing on the main philosophies and core concepts utilized by industry professionals, this book builds the foundation for a successful career as a lighting artist in visual effects and computer animation. Inside you’ll find in-depth instruction on:

           

          • Creating mood and storytelling through lighting

          • Using light to create visual shaping

          • Directing the viewer’s eye with light and color

          • Gathering and utilizing reference images

          • Successfully lighting and rendering workflows

          • Render layers and how they can be used most effectively

          • Specific lighting scenarios, including character lighting, environment lighting, and lighting an animated sequence

          • Material properties and their work with lighting

          • Compositing techniques essential for a lighter

          • A guide on how to start your career and achieve success as a lighting artist

           

          This book is not designed to teach software packages—there are websites, instructional manuals, online demos, and traditional courses available to teach you how to operate specific computer programs.  That type of training will teach you how to create an image; this book will teach you the technical skills you need to make that image beautiful. 

           

          Key Features

            • Stunning examples from a variety of films serve to inspire and inform your creative choices.

              • Unique approach focuses on using lighting as a storytelling tool, rather than just telling you which buttons to press.

                • Comprehensive companion website contains lighting exercises, assets, challenges, and further resources to help you expand your skillset.

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                £30.20
              • Game Anim: Video Game Animation Explained

                02

                Game Anim teaches the technical and artistic fundamentals of video game animation and goes further to provide practical advice and industry insights to help you become a rounded and successful game animator. 

                Covering every stage of game production from the animator’s perspective, it is packed with the lessons learned from working on a variety of game types in both in-game and cinematic roles in animator, lead, and director positions. These have been successful across multiple studios regardless of team, size and culture.

                The 2nd edition includes a new chapter on 2D and Pixel Art Animation, an enhanced mocap chapter covering the latest developments in Motion Matching, and even more interviews with top professionals in the field. 

                Game Anim provides essential guidance to those looking to break into the industry and successful animators wishing to take the next step in their career. 

                Key Features

                • 20 Years of Insight: Accumulated knowledge from 2 decades of experience in all areas of game animation.

                • The 5 Fundamentals: Reinterprets the classic 12 animation principles and sets out 5 new fundamentals for great game animation.

                • Animator Interviews: Notable game animators offer behind-the-scenes stories, tips, and advice.

                • Free Animation Rig: Free “AZRI” maya rig, tutorials and other resources on the accompanying website: www.gameanim.com/book

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                £28.90
              • Pinnacle Studio 26 Revealed

                Learn to unleash the full power of Pinnacle Studio by following practical examples. As Studio develops, so does the Revealed series, with all the features of this popular software covered in detail. Start from scratch, or dip in and out – this book works both as a manual and a series of tutorials.
                From Basic Principles right through to understanding the latest additions to the program, Pinnacle Studio Revealed is packed with tips and examples, using both the sample footage and easily downloaded content. Topics include keeping your movies in sync, troubleshooting, Motion Titles, Masking and Motion Tracking, Multi-Cam, Split Screen templates and working with MyDVD as well as Legacy Disc Authoring.
                This revised version covers the 26.2.298 patch

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                £28.50
              • Transmedia Storytelling in East Asia: The Age of Digital Media (Routledge Research in Digital Media and Culture in Asia)

                This book offers a thorough investigation of the recent surge of webtoons and manga/animation as the sources of transmedia storytelling for popular culture, not only in East Asia but in the wider global context.

                An international team of experts employ a unique theoretical framework of media convergence supported by transmedia storytelling, alongside historical and textual analyses, to examine the ways in which webtoons and anime become some of the major sources for transmedia storytelling. The book historicizes the evolution of regional popular culture according to the surrounding digital media ecology, driving the change and continuity of the manhwa industry over the past 15 years, and discusses whether cultural products utilizing transmedia storytelling take a major role as the primary local cultural product in the cultural market.

                Offering new perspectives on current debates surrounding transmedia storytelling in the cultural industries, this book will be of great interest to scholars and students of media studies, East Asian studies and cultural studies.

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                £26.70
              • HTML, CSS, & JavaScript All-in-One For Dummies

                01

                A thorough and helpful reference for aspiring website builders

                Looking to start an exciting new career in front-end web building and design? Or maybe you just want to develop a new skill and create websites for fun. Whatever your reasons, it’s never been easier to start learning how to build websites from scratch than with help from HTML, CSS, & JavaScript All-in-One For Dummies. This book has the essentials you need to wrap your head around the key ingredients of website design and creation.

                You’ll learn to build attractive, useful, and easy-to-navigate websites by combining HTML, CSS, and JavaScript into fun and practical creations. Using the 6 books compiled within this comprehensive collection, you’ll discover how to make static and dynamic websites, complete with intuitive layouts and cool animations. The book also includes:

                • Incorporate the latest approaches to HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, including those involving new markup, page styles, interactivity, and more
                • Step-by-step instructions for new site creators explaining the very basics of page layouts and animations
                • Easy-to-follow advice for adjusting page color and background, adding widgets to a site, and getting rid of all the bugs that affect site performance
                • Bonus 6th book available at https://www.wiley.com/en-us/HTML%2C+CSS%2C+%26amp%3B+JavaScript+All+in+One+For+Dummies-p-9781394164721. 

                Web development is a fun, interesting, and challenging skill that can lead to a lucrative career (if you’re so inclined). And with the right help, almost anyone can learn to create engaging websites from scratch. So, grab a copy of HTML, CSS, & JavaScript All-in-One For Dummies and you’ll be designing and building before you know it!

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                £24.30£29.40
              • Learn to Produce Videos with FFmpeg: In Thirty Minutes or Less

                02

                This title was superseded by the 2018 Edition of the same name, which is now available on Amazon and other online booksellers. If you purchased this version, send proof of purchase to janozer@gmail.com and I’ll send you a free PDF copy of the update ($29.95 value). Note that the changes in the book are concentrated, with new sections on Bento4 in Chapters 10 and 12, and several new sections on live transcoding and AV1 encoding in Chapter 14. Otherwise, most of the book is the same, so having a physical copy of the old edition and a PDF of the new should not be a hassle. Note that if you wait and buy a physical copy of the new edition, you won’t get a PDF copy.

                This focused 120-page book teaches readers how to use FFmpeg to create full adaptive bitrate ladders and package them into HLS or DASH formats. The book also includes a primer on terms and technologies related to streaming and recommended settings for all parameters detailed in the book.

                Initial chapters focus on installing FFmpeg on Windows, Mac, and Linux computers, and basics of command-line programming. Then the technology primer, and individual chapters on bitrate control, resolution, frame rate, I-, B-, P- and reference-frame settings. These are followed by chapters on H.264 and HTTP Live Streaming (HLS), which includes instruction on Apple tools Media File Segmenter, Variant Playlist Creator, and Media Stream Validator. Also covered is encoding for DASH with MP4Box. Next up are chapters on encoding HEVC with x265, and producing VP9, with the final chapter covering miscellaneous operations like concatenating multiple files, or computing PSNR with FFmpeg.

                A downloadable zipped file includes all (Windows) batch files used in the book, which you can easily adapt for your own use, and a detailed Table of Contents and Index will help you find what you need. All these contents ensure that you’ll be able to Learn to Produce Videos with FFmpeg in 30 Minutes or Less.

                (Note: the email in the book for the downloadable files is incorrect. Please email the request to jozer@mindspring.com. Sorry for any inconvenience).

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                £23.70
              • The Muvipix.com Guide to Adobe Premiere Elements 2024: The tools, and how to use them, to make movies on your personal computer

                01
                From the basics of video editing with Premiere Elements, like capturing your media and building a timeline, to advanced functions, like creating customized effects and building projects for social media, videomaker support site Muvipix co-founder Steve Grisetti will show you:

                * How to use the Motion Tracking tool, Candid Moments and the Smart Trim tools to edit and enhance your videos.
                * How to navigate the streamlined Quick View editing space.
                * How to create and upload videos directly to YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Pinterest.
                * How to use the new Color Match tool.
                * How to create automatic Highlight Reels.
                * The magic of keyframing, Premiere Elements’ most versatile and powerful tool for creating motion paths and special effects.
                * How to use the options in the program’s Export & Share workspace to create movies and share your videos online.

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                £23.40
              • Marvel’s Spider-Man: The Art of the Game

                08

                An exclusive look at the art and creation of the PS4 exclusive videogame Marvel’s Spider-Man.

                The worlds of Peter Parker and Spider-Man collide in the action-packed Marvel’s Spider-Man videogame exclusively on the PS4. Marvel’s Spider-Man: The Art of the Game is packed with hundreds of exclusive full-colour images of Spider-Man, his suit and equipment, the allies he relies on like MJ Watson and Aunt May, and the deadly villains he battles. This wealth of material is accompanied by exclusive insight into the creative process from the talented developers, artists, and designers responsible for bringing Spider-Man’s world to vivid life.

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                £22.90£28.50
              • ‘Halo: The Great Journey – The Art of Building Worlds’

                08
                “‘The Art of Halo’; is the ultimate gallery of the Halo universe, with over 400 images including sketches and concept art by acclaimed artists such as Ashley Wood, detailed interiors and sweeping landscapes of Alex Chu, and Frank Capezzuto’s breathtaking spacescapes, plus commentary from the artists themselves and a Foreword from ‘the face of Halo,’ Frank O’Connor.”

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                £22.90£28.50
              • Animated Storytelling: Simple Steps for Creating Animation and Motion Graphics

                04

                Animation is a limitless medium for telling stories. Artists can create worlds, defy gravity, flip from factual to fantasy, and transport audiences to places they never imagined. The challenge is having the discipline to reel it in and be intentional about your storytelling choices. This book shows you how.

                In Animated Storytelling, you’ll learn how to create memorable stories using animation and motion graphics by following 10 simple guidelines that take you through the stages of concept development, pre-production, storyboarding, and design. Award-winning animator Liz Blazer uses clear examples and easy-to-follow exercises to provide you with the instruction, encouragement, and tools you need to get your designs moving.

                Whether your goal is to create exciting shorts for film festivals, effective messaging for broadcast or online, or simply to gain a deeper understanding of the medium, Animated Storytelling simplifies the process of creating clear and engaging stories for animation and motion graphics so you can get started easily.

                In Animated Storytelling, you’ll learn how to:

                • Write a creative brief for your project
                • Find and communicate your story’s big idea
                • Create a tight story using linear and nonlinear story structures
                • Use color to clarify and enrich your story
                • Define the rules for your animated world, and commit to them
                • Ease into the challenging task of animation
                • Make the work you want to be hired to do
                • Share your work with the world!

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                £22.80
              • Nikon Z8: Exclusive Guide for Beginners and Expert

                01
                Achieve New Heights with Your Photography!
                I’m pleased to introduce the Nikon Z8 Handbook; the comprehensive guide to making the most of the exceptional Nikon Z8 mirrorless camera. This book was written to give photographers of all experience levels in-depth knowledge, practical guidance, and cutting-edge techniques to advance their photography.
                Beyond the basics, this manual provides in-depth explanations of the Nikon Z8’s extra features and customization choices. Learn how to utilize the camera’s straightforward menu system, take advantage of the built-in image stabilization, and explore the benefits of the electronic viewfinder. With the aid of step-by-step instructions, you can adapt the camera to your particular shooting style, creating a smooth and efficient workflow.
                The Nikon Z8’s revolutionary full-frame sensor, which has an exceptional resolution, is at its core. This manual explores the capabilities of the sensor and explains how to enhance image quality, record minute details, and produce amazingly sharp images. Unlock the actual power of resolution by learning about the sensor’s cutting-edge technology, pixel layout, and efficient post-processing methods.
                In this Nikon Z8 Guidebook, the several choices offered by the Z-mount system are investigated. Discover a wide range of exceptional lenses designed particularly for the Z-series cameras and discover how different lenses may influence your capacity for creative expression. This book provides instructions on lens selection, usage advice, and methods to record your vision with the highest level of detail and accuracy.
                This manual explores the various autofocus settings, including as single-point, wide-area, and tracking, and explains when and how to use each setting effectively. Learn how to adjust focus settings, comprehend the camera’s subject identification algorithms, and perfect tactics for accurately and confidently shooting moving subjects.
                With the help of this Nikon Z8 Guidebook, you’ll be able to pursue fresh creative endeavors. Learn how to use cutting-edge shooting techniques like time-lapse and multiple exposure to efficiently create amazing visual storytelling. With the insights from the manual on composition, lighting, and post-processing workflows, you can unleash your artistic potential and create photos that are genuinely unique.
                This Nikon Z8 manual is your key reference for learning this remarkable camera, whether you’re a seasoned pro or a fervent enthusiast. This manual will enable you to push limits, capture amazing moments, and raise your photography to new heights of perfection with the Nikon Z8.

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                £22.40
              • Minecraft Master Builds: The official illustrated book for experienced Minecrafters showcasing a world of stunning creations and exclusive interviews with the builders behind them!

                08

                The definitive book on Minecraft’s greatest creations.

                Minecraft is the global phenomenon inspiring people across the world to unleash their imaginations. Minecraft Master Builds showcases the creations that have taken the game to new levels, and introduces the builders behind them.

                Explore awe-inspiring vistas as the pages take you from stunning underwater sculptures to monumental space panoramas, or travel through time to visit grand medieval towns and futuristic cityscapes.

                Minecraft Master Builds is packed with beautifully rendered illustrations of each colossal creation, highlighting the painstaking details that make these builds masterful. Featuring exclusive interviews from the builders that provide insight into their design and creation, plus a foreword written by Mojang game tech lead and content creator slicedlime, this must-have book is perfect for Minecraft fans, aspiring builders, and anyone looking for inspiration!

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                £22.00£33.30
              • OpenCL Programming Guide (OpenGL)

                05
                Using the new OpenCL (Open Computing Language) standard, you can write applications that access all available programming resources: CPUs, GPUs, and other processors such as DSPs and the Cell/B.E. processor. Already implemented by Apple, AMD, Intel, IBM, NVIDIA, and other leaders, OpenCL has outstanding potential for PCs, servers, handheld/embedded devices, high performance computing, and even cloud systems. This is the first comprehensive, authoritative, and practical guide to OpenCL 1.1 specifically for working developers and software architects.

                 

                Written by five leading OpenCL authorities, OpenCL Programming Guide covers the entire specification. It reviews key use cases, shows how OpenCL can express a wide range of parallel algorithms, and offers complete reference material on both the API and OpenCL C programming language.

                 

                Through complete case studies and downloadable code examples, the authors show how to write complex parallel programs that decompose workloads across many different devices. They also present all the essentials of OpenCL software performance optimization, including probing and adapting to hardware. Coverage includes

                 

                • Understanding OpenCL’s architecture, concepts, terminology, goals, and rationale
                • Programming with OpenCL C and the runtime API
                • Using buffers, sub-buffers, images, samplers, and events
                • Sharing and synchronizing data with OpenGL and Microsoft’s Direct3D
                • Simplifying development with the C++ Wrapper API
                • Using OpenCL Embedded Profiles to support devices ranging from cellphones to supercomputer nodes
                • Case studies dealing with physics simulation; image and signal processing, such as image histograms, edge detection filters, Fast Fourier Transforms, and optical flow; math libraries, such as matrix multiplication and high-performance sparse matrix multiplication; and more
                • Source code for this book is available at https://code.google.com/p/opencl-book-samples/

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                £21.00
              • Layout and Composition for Animation

                02

                This essential, hands-on guide is filled with examples of what a composition should look like and example of poorly designed layouts. Spot potential problems before they cost time and money, and adapt creative solutions for your own projects with this invaluable resource for beginner and intermediate artists.  With Beauty and the Beast examples and Simpson character layouts, readers will learn how to develop character layout and background layout as well as strengthen composition  styles with a creative toolset of trick shot examples and inspirational case studies. A companion website will include further technique based tools, finalized layout and composition examples and tutorials for further artistic skill development.

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                £20.00
              • Pinnacle Studio 24 Revealed

                07
                Learn to unleash the full power of Pinnacle Studio by following practical examples. As Studio develops, so does the Revealed series, with all the new features of this popular software covered in detail. Start from scratch, or dip in and out – this book works both as a manual and a series of tutorials. From Basic Principles right through to understanding the latest features, Pinnacle Studio Revealed is packed with tips and examples, using both the sample footage and easily downloaded content.Topics include keeping your movies in sync, troubleshooting, Masking amd Motion tracking, Animating Titles, Multi-Cam, and working with MyDVD as well as legacy disc authoring.

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                £19.10£28.50
              • The History of Graphic Design. 40th Ed.

                01

                Through the turbulent passage of time, graphic design―with its vivid, neat synthesis of image and idea―has distilled the spirit of each age. Surrounding us every minute of every day, from minimalist packaging to colorful adverts, smart environmental graphics to sleek interfaces: graphic design is as much about transmitting information as it is about reflecting society’s cultural aspirations and values.

                With his sweeping knowledge of the field, author Jens Müller curates the standout designs for each year, a running sequence of design milestones. This collection of important graphic works represents a long-overdue reflection on the development of a creative field constantly changing and challenging itself. These key pieces act as coordinates through contemporary history, helping us trace the sheer influence of graphic design on our daily lives.

                About the series

                TASCHEN is 40! Since we started our work as cultural archaeologists in 1980, TASCHEN has become synonymous with accessible publishing, helping bookworms around the world curate their own library of art, anthropology, and aphrodisia at an unbeatable price. Today we celebrate 40 years of incredible books by staying true to our company credo. The 40 series presents new editions of some of the stars of our program―now more compact, friendly in price, and still realized with the same commitment to impeccable production.

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                £19.00£23.80
              • Sidemen: The Book: The book you’ve been waiting for

                08

                Billions of you have watched their videos and millions of you have followed them on social media.

                So here we go; it’s time to back up because YouTube superstars, The Sidemen, are finally here in book form and they’re dishing the dirt on each other as well as the YouTube universe.

                There’s nowhere to hide as the guys go in hard on their living habits, their football ability, and their dodgy clobber, while also talking Fifa, Vegas and superheroes. They’ll also give you their grand house tour, letting you in on a few secrets, before showing you their hall of fame, as well as revealing some of their greatest shames.

                Along the way you’ll learn how seven of the world’s biggest YouTube stars started off with nothing more than a computer console, a PC and a bad haircut before joining forces to crush the internet. And they’ll tell you just how they did it (because they’re nice like that) with their ultimate guide to YouTube while also sharing their memories of recording their favourite videos as well as a typical day in the life of The Sidemen.

                You’ll feel like you’re with them every step of the way, smelling the ‘sweet’ aroma of the boys’ favourite dishes in the kitchen, stamping your passport as you follow them on their trips around the world and kicking every ball as the boys gear up for the biggest football match of their lives.

                It’s going to get personal. It’s going to get intense, and JJ is going to have lots of tantrums, so take a moment to prepare yourself, because this is The Sidemen book you’ve been waiting for!

                Enter the Sidemen LUCKY DIP

                Submit your pre-order confirmation for a chance to win a selection of amazing prizes, including a trip to Gravity Force with the Sidemen! Go to sidemenbook.co.uk for all the details.

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                £19.00£23.80
              • Draw Anime Faces and Feelings: 800 facial expressions from joy to terror, anger, surprise, sadness and more

                02

                Drawing Anime Faces and Feelings is a great book for all abilities!

                Big facial expressions are essential to anime and manga. However, faces can be challenging.

                With this book, improve your anime-drawing skills with instruction for facial features and expressions for a wide variety of ages, character types, hair styles and activities. With 800 different facial expressions, you’ll be able to draw your character in any emotional situation or with any reaction.

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                £18.10£21.80
              • YouTube Channels For Dummies, 2nd Edition

                08

                Create a YouTube channel that draws subscribers with top-notch content 

                YouTube has the eyes and ears of two billion monthly users. YouTube Channels for Dummies, 2nd Edition offers proven steps to attracting a chunk of those billions to your personal or business channel.  

                This updated guide offers insight from a quartet of YouTube channel content creators, managers, marketers, and analysts as they share the secrets of creating great content, building an audience, and interacting with your viewers. The book includes information on: 

                ·         Setting up a channel 

                ·         Creating videos that attract viewers 

                ·         Putting together a video studio 

                ·         Editing your final product 

                ·         Reaching your target audience 

                ·         Interacting with your fans 

                ·         Building a profitable business 

                ·         Tips on copyright law 

                Written for both the budding YouTube creator and the business professional seeking to boost their company’s profile on the popular social networking site, YouTube Channels for Dummies allows its readers to access the over two billion active YouTube users who log on each day. 

                Learn how to create a channel, build a YouTube following, and get insight on content creation, planning, and marketing from established YouTube creators.  

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                £17.70£20.90
              • Getting Started with Processing, 2E: A Hands-On Introduction to Making Interactive Graphics (Make: Technology on Your Time)

                07

                Processing opened up the world of programming to artists, designers, educators, and beginners. This short book gently introduces the core concepts of computer programming and working with Processing. Written by the co-founders of the Processing project, Reas and Fry, Getting Started with Processing shows you how easy it is to make software and systems with interactive graphics. If you’re an artist looking to develop interactive graphics programs or a programmer on your way to becoming an artist, this book will take you where you want to go. Updated with new material on graphics manipulation, data, and for the latest version of Processing.

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                £16.70£19.00
              • UX For Dummies

                04
                Get up to speed quickly on the latest in user experience strategy and design

                UX For Dummies is a hands-on guide to developing and implementing user experience strategy. Written by globally-recognized UX consultants, this essential resource provides expert insight and guidance on using the tools and techniques that create a great user experience, along with practical advice on implementing a UX strategy that aligns with your organisation’s business goals and philosophy. You’ll learn how to integrate web design, user research, business planning and data analysis to focus your company’s web presence on the needs of your customers, gaining the skills you need to be effective in the field of user experience design.

                Whether it’s the interface, graphics, industrial design, physical interaction or a user manual, being anything less than on point can negatively affect customer satisfaction and retention. User experience design fully encompasses traditional human-computer interaction design, and extends it to address all aspects of a product or service as perceived by users. UX For Dummies provides comprehensive guidance to professionals looking to understand and apply effective UX strategies.

                • Defines UX and offers assistance with determining users and modelling the user experience
                • Provides details on creating a content strategy and building information architectures
                • Explores visual design and designing for specific channels
                • Delves into UX testing and methods for keeping your site relevant

                The UX field is growing rapidly as companies realise that meeting your business goals requires a web presence aligned with customer needs. This alignment demands smart strategy and even smarter design. Consultants, designers and practitioners must all be on board if the result is to be cohesive and effective. UX For Dummies provides the information and expert advice you need to get up to speed quickly.

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                £16.10£19.00

                UX For Dummies

                £16.10£19.00
              • Beginner’s Step-by-Step Coding Course: Learn Computer Programming the Easy Way

                01

                The simplest, most visual introduction to coding for adults.

                Using a graphic method to break complex subjects into user-friendly chunks, computer coding has never been easier thanks to this programming book.

                Here’s what you’ll find inside the pages of this coding for beginners book:

                – To reinforce learning, practical coding projects are followed by suggestions and challenges for the reader to adapt and personalise a project
                – Step-by-step explanations visually break down each section of code and explain how coding works
                – Written and checked by a team of expert coders
                – Includes widely used languages, from introduction to career-useful

                From learning Python coding and Javascript to HTML and Scratch, Beginner’s Step-by-Step Coding Course brings the most essential coding skills within easy reach! Each chapter contains tutorials on practical programming projects designed to teach you the main applications of each coding language, such as building websites, creating games, and designing apps.

                You’ll learn to think like a programmer by breaking a problem down into parts, before turning those parts into lines of code. Short, easy-to-follow steps then show you, piece by piece, how to build a complete programme. This essential coding guide contains everything you need to get on the road to code! It’s perfect for anyone who wants to learn to code for a hobby or who wants to take their first steps towards a career in coding.

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                £15.50£19.00
              • Game Artist: The Ultimate Career Guide

                08

                HOW DO YOU BECOME A SUCCESSFUL GAME ARTIST?

                The ultimate career guide walks you through the pitfalls and power-ups of building a career in this multi-billion dollar but secretive industry. Brimming with practical advice, for both aspiring artists and the experienced, GAME ARTIST leads you through the tricky process of career building, boosting you to the next level.

                From experienced Art Director and Artist Paul Jones, GAME ARTIST provides you with the golden key to unlocking your full career potential. All you have to do is step through the door. This is a walkthrough and career guide rolled into one!

                This book is for you, if:

                • You want to learn the secrets of the games industry
                • You want to get into a video game art department
                • You wonder what makes a successful game artist
                • You feel stuck in your role and want to level up
                • You want to make the leap into team building and management

                You don’t know how to get promoted? That’s ok. It’s because you don’t know the rules of the game. Until now.

                Having worked for the last 25 years in the games industry, learning from the ground up, Paul has experienced a wide range of high-profile companies, Epic Games (Unreal Tournament 3), Rocksteady (Batman Arkham City), TTFusion (LEGO City Undercover) and the record-smashing Star Citizen with Cloud Imperium Games.

                Game Artist is split into well-defined sections, making it easy for you to pick and chose.

                Level One – Job Applicant
                Covering the basics – including finding your way into the industry, getting a killer portfolio ready, understanding what an Art Director wants to see, and finally, interview and salary negotiation skills explained.

                Level Two – Junior Artist
                Your first few months of working in a games company, paperwork and contracts, company benefits, perks and bonuses. Dive into game development pipelines and company hierarchies. What’s expected of you as a new recruit and how to succeed and avoid early burn-out, giving you a heads-up on self-care, keeping you productive, having fun and learning to climb the ranks.

                Level Three – Mid, Senior and Principal Artist
                Decide where you’re heading next while mentoring others and working widely with the development team. Clear career progression outlining which skills you need for the all-important Personal Development Review (PDR). How and where to upgrade yourself – communication and teamwork, creativity, productivity, self-confidence, mentoring. Chose to specialise (or not) and when it’s time for a change, how best to make an exit strategy.

                Level Four – Lead Artist
                Making the transition to managerial responsibilities. Development of management techniques, understanding both yourself and your team, how to build and drive a successful team, dealing with tricky situations, meetings, presentations, staff reviews and negotiation. Plus, a section dedicated to self-care – how to set time aside for thinking, planning, and artwork.

                Level Five – Art Director
                The high-stakes role of Art Director explained. Working with executives and publishers, team deadlines, leading from the front, managing your team and the creative process. Revealing internal and external team pipelines, concept and game team artists, outsource studios and how to get the best from them all.

                Packed with hard-won information, from studios around the world, in-depth interviews with seasoned industry professionals, and advice on being the ideal professional, GAME ARTIST is the helping hand you always wanted.

                No more messing, no more guessing – it’s time to level up!

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                £14.20
              • Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins–Caduceus Clay

                Death is never truly the end.

                Follow the origin story of the Mighty Nein’s Caduceus Clay in this beautiful hardcover graphic novel written by Kendra Wells (Tell No Tales), illustrated by Gus Allen (Lumberjanes), with colors by Eren Angiolini and letters by Ariana Maher. Created in consultation with the cast of Critical Role!

                Generations of the Clay family have tended to the careful rituals in the Blooming Grove. But when corruption begins to creep in on their sacred space, the Clays depart one by one to seek answers. Soon young Caduceus and Clarabelle are the only ones left, and when a dangerous burial quest falls to Caduceus, he must leave the Grove to do the family’s work.

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                £13.80
              • Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins–Beauregard Lionett

                From Mae Catt, and Critical Role’s Matthew Mercer and Marisha Ray, comes Mighty Nein member Beauregard Lionett’s origin story in a hardcover graphic novel.

                Despite her origins with a “traditional” family, Beau’s penchant for troublemaking was legendary.

                Outraged by her criminal activity, Beau’s father arranged for her to be kidnapped and turned over to the order of monks known as the Cobalt Soul for some much-needed discipline and direction. But the direction Beau takes–toward the Mighty Nein–isn’t what anyone anticipated!

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                £13.70

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