If you are new to Discreet combustion, or moving over to use this powerful animation and effects software from another effects package, then this is the book for you. It gives you all you need to know to get up and running with combustion, fast! It includes an overview of all the key features you need when starting out with simple and concise details on how to use them and how best to integrate the power of combustion into your workflow. An ideal Discreet combustion primer for computer graphics students or professionals with some prior experience in the field of computer graphics. Learn how to do many familiar concepts such as animating with paint and layers of video specifically in combustion. This guide will provide a jump-start into the major features of the software without going too in-depth about every single button in the program. Through the use of various samples and screen captures, you will learn why an artist would use one tool over another in addition to just what the different buttons do. Topics covered would include disciplines for motion graphics artists, broadcast designers, 3d animators, web artists, compositors and visual effects artists working for video and film based productions. People within the computer graphics industry of all sorts can take advantage of combustion because it is both a stand-alone application and also a bridge to several different disciplines including video editing, 3d animation, matte painting, 2d illustration and web design.

Software programs are complex, the books that explain them shouldn't be. This thoroughly illustrated, full-color guide explains everything you need to know to get up and running quickly with Combustion. Get a jump-start learning the major features or the software without bogging you down with unnecessary detail. The author shares his professional insight and extensive training experience to ensure you'll get the most out of all the professional paint, animation, editing and 3D compositing tools Combustion offers. Also featured are many workflow tips which show how to tap into the full power of Combustion 4 in your effects and motion graphics work. For useful tips and tutorials, visit the book's companion site at www.focalpress.com/companions/0240520106

No nonsense quick reference to get you started with Adobe Audition 2.

Software packages are complex. Shouldn't software books make it easier? Simplify your life with The Focal Easy Guide to Final Cut Pro 5! This short, full-color book lives up to its name by paring down the software to its essentials. It covers only the key features and essential workflow to get you up and running in no time. When time is of the essence, less is more. With this book you can start cutting immediately, whatever you edit, whatever the format. This is an ideal introduction whether you are a professional moving over to Final Cut Pro from another package or system, a new user, or just someone who wants to get the best results from Final Cut Pro, fast!

This highly illustrated, full color book tells you all you need to know to get up and running quickly using DVD Studio Pro to achieve professional results. All the essential areas are covered: preparing your assets, the DVD SP interface, setting up your DVD, adding tracks, building menus, adding markers, building slideshows, making subtitles and multiplexing. An invaluable first read for users of all levels who want to author DVDs professionally!

Software programs are complex, the books that explain them shouldn't be. This thoroughly illustrated, full-color guide explains everything you need to know to get up and running quickly with Adobe Encore DVD 2.0 without any extraneous information or complicated, detailed explanations. The author focuses solely on the key features you will need to start producing and mastering professional-quality DVDs immediately in order to avoid overloading you with too many details. Learn best practices for planning your project, importing video and audio assests, creating professional-looking menus, and adding custom project elements. Abundant illustrations, screenshots, and concise, results-driven text makes this the ultimate guide to getting up and running quickly with Encore DVD. The Focal Easy Guide Series: * Start working with new software immediately regardless of your level * Achieve professional results, learn practical skills from industry experts * Focused, user-friendly coverage of the key tools you need to know

If you don't know where to start in Photoshop and feel overwhelmed with the options, then this is the book for you. With highly visual step-by-step explanations, this concise guide gives you a solid grounding in using Photoshop to edit digital images and helps you develop a full understanding of the key tools and features of Photoshop CS2. Brad Hinkel guides you through a simple image editing workflow to get you up and running fast. If you want solutions quickly and easy access to any basic step of the workflow, this guide provides the essential knowledge you need. Filled with step-by-step projects and covering all the key new features of Photoshop CS2: Camera RAW, Reduce Noise, Smart Sharpen and Spot Healing Brush.