For those who want to learn more about computer animation without being swamped with complex mathematics, this is the book to read! Beginning with the relationship between animation, the human visual system, and computers, Essential Computer Animation fast takes readers through a broad exploration of the subject. Readers will learn all about computer animation techniques; computer animation hardware; animation software, such as Softimage, Maya, 3D-Studio, MAX, and Lightwave; post-production techniques; and animation applications.

This is a concise and informal introductory book on the mathematical concepts that underpin computer graphics. The author, John Vince, makes the concepts easy to understand, enabling non-experts to come to terms with computer animation work. The book complements the author's other works in the series (Essential Computer Animation fast and Essential Virtual Reality fast) and is written in the same accessible and easy-to-read style. It is also a useful reference book for programmers working in the field of computer graphics, virtual reality, computer animation, as well as students on digital media courses, and even mathematics courses.

Essential Dynamic HTML fast provides a step-by-step approach to DHTML and its techniques - providing everything needed to get a project up and running fast. In addition, it includes lots of tips on how to manage a dynamic site. Using a progressive approach, it describes how to build a dynamic website, starting from data management, to incorporating multimedia effects, audio, video, and animations. It explores the use of dynamic contents, dynamic positioning, the DOM (Document Object Model), and Scripting. Topics covered include: Common HTML Tags, Data Management, Frames, Interactive Sites, Multimedia Effects, Cascade Style Sheets (CSS), Dynamic Contents, Dynamic Positioning, Document Object Model (DOM), Layers, Managing Dynamic Sites: from layout to after design, Scripting.

This is an introductory textbook for those who want to learn Java 3D fast. It is packed with numerous examples and illustrations, including an 8-page colour section. The author takes readers through the different stages of writing a simple program in Java 3D and then shows how to modify and add features to the program. Indeed, one of the best way to learn any programming language is by writing programs. The examples in this book assume a working knowledge of Java and some background in 3D graphics. It is one of the first books to introduce Java 3D at an introductory level.

Macromedia's Flash 5.0 is one of the most dynamic and powerful design applications for interactive web-based animation. No doubt, the technology has given birth to a new generation of internet designers. This book reveals readers all the tips and techniques so that they can start designing quickly. Both old and new features are covered in the book. New features include: improved interface design, new creative tools, and action scripts for interactivity.

How to create dynamic web environments using the PHP language and the MySQL database! If you are familiar with the syntax for C, C++ and Java, then PHP will seem very familiar. Once you have got up to speed with this HTML embedded scripting language, you will soon be creating dynamic HTML database-enabled web pages quickly and easily. This quick and practical introduction explains: - how PHP works and what a dynamic web page is; - the software development environment; - the syntax and features of the language; - how PHP can be integrated with MySQL databases; - dynamic database applications. Clearly written, this book provides you with all the essential information you need to create your own dynamic web environments using PHP. Additional material is available from the Essential series web site: http://www.essential-series.com

Essential UML fast introduces the concepts of object-oriented analysis, design and programming, using the Unified Modeling Language (UML). UML is one of the best known modeling languages in the object-oriented software development world, and is fast becoming a standard amongst OO software developers. The book contains plenty of examples and detailed illustrations, making it easy for readers to get up and running with UML fast. In providing these examples the author relies on one of the well known use case tools, Select Enterprise. Advice is given on how to set up Select Enterprise as well as how to use it to speed up the modeling process of practical software.