Book Description
Get the most out of Lightroom with Tim Grey as your guide by reducing the time and effort you spend storing, selecting, and editing your digital images. Adobe’s new Lightroom software, together with this practical guide, explains everything from importing and cataloguing to processing and archiving. Whether you’re a professional photographer or advanced amateur, you’ll find ways to work efficiently with Lightroom in order to improve your productivity and get the results you want.
Customer Reviews:
Product walkthrough.......2007-07-05
This is a well written book, however talks less about workflow and more about Lightroom. if you are new to light room I highly recommend this book as it is a great introduction to the product and a walkthrough on all of it's features 1.0 (does not cover 1.1).
If you are looking for workflow and already know lightroom.... this book will teach you a few things you didn't know. I suggest taking a look at your local book store first to see if it is right for you.
Excellent intro to using Lightroom.......2007-05-29
Most folks who've been around digital imaging for any length of time know Tim Grey. An engaging, energy-filled, computer whiz who used to teach for George Lepp at the Lepp Institute of Digital Imaging and then got hired by Microsoft to head their professional photo expansion effort, Tim has a rare talent for clear, insightful writing about complex subjects. He's parlayed that skill into a whole series of books, of which this is one of his latest, and it carries on the tradition of being very thorough and easy to read and understand.
The topic of this book is one of a new breed of image editing tools that takes a fundamentally different approach to working with digital photo files from the King Kong of the industry, Adobe Photoshop. While Photoshop still is the industry leader by far, it has several serious drawbacks, including expense, complexity, and a very steep learning curve.
Enter Adobe Photoshop Lightroom. The concept for this new tool is to provide a more user friendly, efficient end-to-end workflow within one program that includes editing, optimizing, cataloguing, and output, allowing the photographer to spend less time in front of the computer and more time actually taking pictures. There are competing programs from other companies with a similar goal - Apple's Aperture (strictly for Macs), and LightZone from Light Crafts (for both platforms), but only Lightroom has near-seamless cross compatibility with Adobe's other creative products.
Lightroom has strong promise. One of its leading attributes is that it works nondestructively. When you make editing changes to images you are not altering actual pixel values within the image file but only adding a set of instructions for changes you wish to make and shows those effects on the fly. This makes files much smaller than when you create multiple variations in Photoshop, many times with many layers resulting in huge files. Many of its tools are both clever and intuitive as well, speeding the way to a polished product in less time.
There are some limitations however. While image adjustments are well mechanized, there is no provision in this version of the program to apply them selectively to parts of the image. For this type of work the file must be exported to another editing program. Also, there is no means for working on more than one monitor. A favorite approach for many who use Photoshop is to use two displays with the image on one and the palettes for various adjustments on the other; can't do that at this point with Lightroom.
Will Lightroom catch on? Very likely, especially for those photographers who yearn for a tool that gives good, quick results that increase their productivity. And when the global adjustments available within Lightroom aren't enough, it's easy to export to another tool for that kind of work. In addition, the simple digital asset management capabilities may be enough for someone whose file storage and cataloguing needs aren't too great. Furthermore, this is version 1.0, and there is every expectation that the program will grow and improve as the new conceptual paradigm gains acceptance, particularly with serious competition from at least two other quadrants.
So, how valuable is Tim Grey's take on the subject? About as good as it gets, I'd say. Tim has a rare talent for clarity of expression that leaves little doubt about what's being described. Throughout his books he makes suggestions about settings and states his personal preferences so someone new to the program has a place to start, which is far preferable, in my view, to just describing all the choices and leaving one hanging without a clue where to begin. If you purchase Lightroom, or are even just considering doing so, you should also acquire this book. It will save hours and hours of figuring it all out on your own and give you a running start toward becoming an expert with one of the best new editing programs.
Tim Grey's Lightroom book.......2007-05-24
Tim's effort is a noteworthy in clarity of writing style. Realistic workflow approach and sequencing in this book makes Lightroom's use far more understandable. Tech-writing of technical subject-matter always is a difficult job. Tim does it exceptionally well. Oddly, Tim's book... is the very material that - should - be included within Adobe's $300 product under the "Help" menu. User tips picked up from the book make it a worthwhile purchase. LR itself... the jury is still out on that issue. Noteworthy features, but quirky Raw conversions and exposure values and color balance readings. A product that attempts to be the proverbial "Swiss Army Knife" with the inclusion of many many functions... the number count tends to overload the user, even get in the way.
Great visual guide.......2007-05-17
There are so many Lightroom books available but I waited for Tim's because of his writing style. He's a technical guy who can also make us "visual" people understand.
Lightroom Workflow.......2007-05-13
A great book! Easy to read and helps make sense of Adobes new product. Tim Grey is one of the most knowledgeable experts on Lightroom and other
Adobe products for photographers. This bood will be an ongoing source of reference as I work in Lightroom. I would highly recommend it to anyone starting in Lightroom.
Book Description
Most of us know him as one member of the band Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, but what you may not know is that at the same time Graham Nash was rocking the world, he was also pursuing a parallel career in photography and digital imaging. Nash Editions—the world’s premier fine-art digital printmaking studio, which Graham co-founded with R. Mac Holbert—represents the pinnacle of those efforts. This book uses thought-provoking essays and glorious artwork to sum up not only Nash Editions’ achievements but also the state of fine-art digital printmaking. After a brief history of printmaking, you’ll reach the heart of the book: an essay by Holbert on the genesis of Nash Editions and fine-art digital printing (which details the studio's interactions with major artists like David Hockney); an essay by MoMA consultant Henry Wilhelm (which includes a technical comparison of traditionally and digitally prepared prints); and commentary from Nash Editions artists. The book’s more than 100 illustrations include Nash Editions artwork, photos of artists in the studio, images of the machines used in digital printing, and illustrations of the proofing process.
Customer Reviews:
history.......2007-10-10
The history of digital photography has twists and turns, and the Nash Editions book gives us a record of some of the key events. Worth reading, and the images are splendid.
Inspiration Through Examples and History .......2007-06-16
With respect to the nature of this book's content and message Eric Burrows' review title hit the nail on the bean: "Not how to do it but how it happened". Don't buy this book with the expectation of learning technical tricks for printing. Rather, "Nash Editions; Photography and the Art of Digital Printing" is a retrospective look at the pathfinding inkjet printing work of Mac Holbert and Graham Nash. The book actually consists of several essays by various authors, including Mr. Archival Permanence himself, Henry Wilhelm.
I found this book to be a fascinating stroll down the relatively short (to-date) path of fine art inkjet printing. But I also found it strangely inspiring. After spending a couple of hours with this book I felt compelled to devote even more effort to my own printing.
A must have book, but ..........2007-06-14
Nash Editions deserves all credit for kick starting the fine-art/inkjet revolution but I'm not sure this book adds much to what is already well known. For sure there's lot of great images herein, but the presentation is a bit sloppy. We hear the same story over again from multiple participants and (in my copy at least) the more interesting narration from Holbert ends mid sentence. If you're interested in the history of the inkjet, this is a book you'll have to have but the lack of care/thought in its presentation does seem a little like exploitation.
High expectations.......2007-05-06
Just a few years ago the terms "art" and "inkjet print" weren't tolerated in communal context. Now, as with many media evolutions, sensibilities have to a large degree changed. One of the forces instrumental in altering the art community's entrenched mindset against the inkjet process has been a small digital fine-art inkjet photography studio by the name of Nash Editions. Through the collaborative pioneering of a handful of deep-pocketed, influential, and very determined artistic entrepreneurs, Nash Editions helped develop, refine, and establish broad acceptance for the digital fine-art inkjet printing. This is their story.
At first blush this lavishly printed (and expensive) book promises a consuming elegance that sweeps you away. It has star power too, with one of the leading personalities none other than Graham Nash of Crosby, Still & Nash fame. It also includes rich and very personal histories of the birth and labored growth of the digital printing service company, of permanence in various photographic media, and of photography itself as a medium of expression. The book also includes images by a broad selection of visual artists spread throughout in an eclectic smorgasbord.
But there are a few elements that detract somewhat from the book's rich objectives. With several authors contributing, certain parts of the story get repeated - several times in fact - and the tone at times begins to sound slightly obsequious and self-lauding, to the point that one is led to the impression that Nash Editions (the company) was pretty much the sole entity that dragged digital printing from practically nothing in the early 1990s to it's high level of sophistication and acceptance today. While Nash Editions can certainly claim historic "firsts" in several categories within the digital printing revolution, a thoughtful person might wonder if there weren't just a few other significant contemporaries working toward the same goals. And on a purely technical note, one of the sections of the book ends in the middle of a paragraph, leaving the reader guessing as to the intended conclusion; perhaps a little tighter editing would have been helpful.
So, should you buy this book? Yes, if you're a photographic artist interested in the history of the digital printing process or the concept and science of photographic media permanence. And of course it will serve too as visual stimulation and a contemporary two-dimensional artwork study; one can learn a great deal by looking carefully at other artist's work.
Not how to do it but how it happened.......2007-03-31
Although I knew roughly of Graham Nash's involvement in the early days of digital printing I did not know the detail. Having been fooling around with digital printing about as long as Nash, but without his money or expertise, I found the book fascinating. This book will not tell you how to get the best print, but it does tell the story of the people who had the vision and knowledge to start it all off. A good read with some good essays by photographers who were involved. I think that it is a worthwhile addition to my photographic library. An eye opener to those who just push the button and a good print comes out.
Book Description
Increasing use of digital signals for transmitting data in television, photography and printing means the reproduction of pictorial colour in the 21
st century continues to drive innovation in its development.
Hunt’s classic text The Reproduction of Colour has been fully revised and updated for the sixth edition to provide a comprehensive introduction to colour imaging and colour reproduction. New illustrations, diagrams and photographs ensure that both students and practising engineers using colour images can gain a full understanding of the theory and practical applications behind the phenomena they encounter.
Key features:
- Describes the fundamental principles of colour reproduction for photography, television, printing and electronic imaging.
- Provides detailed coverage of the physics of light and the property of colorants.
- Includes new chapters on digital printing and digital imaging, which discuss colour reproduction on HDTV and desktop publishing.
- Presents expanded coverage of the evaluation of colour appearance.
The Reproduction of Colour is already used as a basis for lectures in universities and specialist institutions and continues to be an essential resource for scientists, engineers and developers needing to appreciate the technologies of colour perception.
Reviews of the Fifth Edition:
"The book is beautifully written and superbly presented. It is a credit to both author and publisher, and deserves to be on the shelves of anyone who has any concern with the reproduction of colour."
From The Journal of Photographic Science, Vol. 43 1995
"Using his ability as a teacher, Dr Hunt has made potentially very difficult topics quite readable…he brings the insight that leads the reader to a greater depth of understanding."
From Color Research and Application, Vol. 23 1998
The Society for Imaging Science and Technology is an international society that aims to advance the science and practices of image assessment. A major objective of the Wiley-IS&T series will be to explain the latest scientific and technological developments in the field of imaging at a professional level. The broad scope of the series will focus on imaging in all its aspects, with particular emphasis on digital printing, electronic imaging, photofinishing, image preservation, image assessment, image archiving, pre-press technologies and hybrid imaging systems.
Customer Reviews:
The best book on color photogaphy I have ever read.......2007-04-29
In my opinion, this is the best book on color photography that I have read. Of course, it covers other topics, but it devotes a substantial amount of text, graphs and formulas to that topic. In recent months, I have acquired a fair number of books on the subject of photography and color theory, some of them very formula-intensive and some descriptive and math-primitive; but this one stands head and shoulder above the rest in its effort to describe the fundamental principles.
I bought this book primarily because I wanted to learn whether it is possible, and if it is, how to predict the RGB density values of negative film versus the CYM density of the photo enlarging filter. I believe that I have found my answers in this book. Yet I was also quite pleasantly surprised to learn a lot more about color photography and reproduction. As I was reading this book, many things to which I had had unanswered questions from reading those other books have fallen in their logical place.
I would highly recommend this book for anyone interested in color photography and who wants to learn not only the practical aspects of it (i.e. the result and the practice) but also the "why" of it (i.e. its scientific and experimental fundamentals). You do, though, have to have some knowledge of linear algebra and chemistry, although I would not call this book math-intensive.
The definitive reference on the reproduction of color........1997-09-17
The author has an impressive array of initials after his name; he is, amongst other things, a Doctor of Science, a Member of the Imperial College, an Associate of the Royal College of Science, and a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society as well as a Visiting Professor of Physiological Optics and of Colour Science, and a former Assistant Director of Research at Kodak. He has also been Chairman of the Colorimetry Committee of the International Commision on Illumination, and Chairman of the International Colour Association.
First published in 1957 and now in its much enhanced 5th edition, The Reproduction of Colour is the most comprehensive single resource available. Two quotes from the preface to the 5th edition describe what it is about:
"The object (is to present) the fundamental principles of colour reproduction, whether by photography, television, or printing in the hopes that all those engaged in producing, selling, buying, or using colour pictures will be able to see the nature of the problems they encounter. Those who want a general statement on colour reproduction will find it in the first part, and those who want a more detailed discussion of any one application in which they are particularly interested (will find it) in the later parts."
and
"The reproduction of colour involves physiology, psychology, physics, chemistry, and technology. presents complexities, (and) involves a wide variety of enterprises".
Even though there are individuals skilled in processing and printing their own color film, and DTP bureaux had taken over some of the work of traditional printing houses, color reproduction was, until not so long ago, the province of technicians in the photographic, printing, and television industries, Now we have crossed the threshold of a new era in which a massive technology transfer is taking place, putting effective control over color into the hands of a much wider range of users. Even home users now have available to them very powerful tools that enable production of images that are, to the ordinary eye, indistinguishable from quality photographic prints.
That brings with it a need to understand the technology of color reproduction, and the definitive text is Dr Hunt's book. I have rated it 10/10 because of the remarkably wide range of disciplines covered and its astounding technical depth.
Without it most of the information presented would have to be gleaned from numerous other books, professional journals, and published papers. Further, one does not have to have a scientific background to gain some understanding of what is involved in the reproduction of color. The fields covered television, photography, and printing are becoming less discrete with the application of digital technology; those who use computerized systems for the reproduction of color images will find relevant information spread throughout most parts of this book.
It is not a popular account, a color-for-cretins guide, or a how-to manual. This is a technical resource written in a style that makes it readable without diluting its professional integrity. Not all readers will need, or even want, to know the chemical structure of cyclic methylene magneta couplers, but may want information about the effects of signal processing on color reproduction. In what other recently published text would one find a comparison table of film speeds that includes the Weston system?
The Reproduction of Colour should be in any library with holdings on technical subjects; professionals in DTP, printing, photolabs, television, and digital imaging should have it; and anyone teaching or studying graphic arts, computer science, photography, printing, or subjects related to television technology should be aware of this edition. A check of some large libraries suggests that librarians may think earlier editions are good enough, but new developments demand this latest edition. Teachers of science in sub-tertiary institutions may well find this a useful text for its practical application of science to topical real-life problems.
The book is divided into parts: Fundamentals, Color Photography, Color Television, Color Printing, and Evaluating Color Appearance. Each chapter opens with an introduction that provides a succinct overview of the topic.
Reviewed by Major Keary [majkeary@netspace.net.au]
Book Description
'Raw Workflow from Capture to Archives' provides specific, practical explanations and how-to instructions for the digital photographer mastering this process. The most comprehensive book devoted to simplifying raw workflow, this guide will demystify raw functions in the camera, raw converter, image processing and enhancement software, and digital asset management programs. Not restricting itself to a single workflow this valuable resource discusses the latest applications that deal with raw files, including special plug-ins, stand alone programs and custom applications. Shooting raw gives you complete creative control over your images and is the hottest topic in digital photography today. Learn how to take advantage of the benefits of raw to increase your creative control and streamline your raw workflow in this informative guide.
*The how-to guidebook on RAW file capture, processing and creativity!
* Straightforward example workflow solutions for Adobe Photoshop CS2, Adobe Photoshop Elements 4.0, Aperture and Lightroom and other software innovations for raw imaging
* Demystifies raw functions in the camera, computer, during download, and conversion, and finally during image processing
Customer Reviews:
Raw Workflow from Capture to Archives.......2007-07-07
Surprisingly, there are few if any books that cover RAW workflow these days; so any book that covers this important subject for the digital photographer is to be welcomed. Not surprisingly though, Focal Press have been the first to fill the niche with this excellent guide written collaboratively between Philip Andrews, Yvonne Butler, and Joe Farace. The book covers all subjects RAW, from capturing images through to archiving them. The initial chapter is aimed at the newcomer to RAW imaging, explaining what RAW is, the various formats, and the advantages and disadvantages of using it. In addition, for the beginner there is a chapter outlining the step by step procedure for capturing your first RAW images. There are two whole chapters devoted to getting the most out of Adobe Camera RAW, one for Elements users and one for CS/CS2 users. These chapters are probably the most informative and helpful I have read on the subject, with clear descriptions and examples of what each of the controls in the software do. Camera manufacturers' own RAW conversion software is also discussed, along with "Third Party" converters like Capture One and Pixmantec Rawshooter. The chapter discussing how to establish your own RAW workflow is also very helpful for beginner and more experienced alike. The "new kids on the block", when it comes to processing RAW files i.e. Lightroom from Adobe and Aperture from Apple are covered in some depth, again very informatively. These two pieces of software are the future of RAW image processing, as they allow you to perform the entire workflow using only the RAW image. The final two chapters give some useful advice on organising your images and suggestions on archiving them. This book is again of the same high standard that Focal Press is renowned for, with full colour throughout, clear screenshots and examples in abundance. For those new to RAW imaging you will find a mine of helpful information here to guide you through an oft-perplexing subject. The book's skill however, is to not only lead the beginner through the subject, but also to teach the more advanced user a few new tricks.
Too General.......2007-07-05
This book tries to capture too many products and really gives very few tips on workflow. I suggest looking else where.
Great for a beginner.......2007-02-07
I am not an expert, but as someone trying to improve my skills with Raw, this book definately covers the waterfront. I am very pleased. It has a very nice mix of text pictures and examples. Very easy to follow, and offers a wide choice of options for editors, setting up a workflow and covering the subject.
Excellent help.......2007-01-05
Helps a lot to understand raw's particularities and improves the "handling" of raw files.
Very good indeed
Across the Board.......2006-10-05
When a digital camera takes a picture it saves the information in a digital file. This file may be processed by the camera for easier viewing or use. RAW is the name of the file format for unprocessed data. This RAW file is capable of more manipulation when transferred to a computer than a processed picture, like one in the JPG format. This allows a photographer to make the file look more like his or her vision.
This book offers guidance on using the raw format, starting with set up of the camera for saving a picture in RAW, through processing, to archiving the image. There are several books in print that explain how to use the popular Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) software, which is part of Photoshop and Photoshop Elements, for processing RAW files. But ACR is not the only software available for processing RAW files, even if it is the most prominent. Unlike other books, this volume takes a step back and looks at the range of software available for RAW processing including independent software like Capture One, Raw Shooter and Bibble, and camera manufacturers' software like Nikon Capture. The authors also consider related software, like Adobe Bridge and Extensis Portfolio, as well as some new software that takes a different approach to handling RAW files, like Apple's Aperture and Adobe's Lightroom.
Unfortunately, this effort to take the long view has its problems. The authors look at different software packages for RAW processing, and point out the most important features of each, However there is not enough depth to allow readers to make a decision as to which package is best for them. If it is impossible to provide that much information in a book of this length, I would have liked to see the authors provide their comparative conclusions as to which software was most appropriate for photographers with different goals and bents.
The same problem exists with regard to other aspects of the long view. For example the author's note that both Extensis Portfolio and Adobe Bridge have the capability of searching archived files for keywords. But they don't make any comparison that shows the advantages and disadvantages of the two. I conducted an experiment to search one thousand files for a single keyword. With Portfolio the search took less than a second. The same search with Bridge took more than five minutes. Yet, if I were working in Bridge with a small file set, it would be more convenient to search keywords with Bridge than to start Portfolio. While I don't need to see this exact comparison, I would have liked to see a more detailed comparison than was provided.
At the other end of the scale, the authors give far more detailed instruction on the use of ACR than on any other converter. Unfortunately, it's just not quite deep enough. They show you how to manipulate the controls in ACR but leave out many of the fine points. For example, most experts recommend that you not sharpen your pictures in ACR. The authors also tell you this, although they do tell you how to adjust the sharpening slider. But it's easier to use the other controls if the picture is sharpened. ACR has a facility that allows you to view your file as sharpened, without actually applying sharpening. The authors don't mention this.
If you want to learn how to use ACR, for the beginner I recommend Mikkel Aaland's "Photoshop CS2 Raw" and for the more experienced user, Rob Sheppard's "Adobe Camera Raw for Digital Photographers Only". But if you want a broad overview of the entire RAW process, with an introduction to all aspects, including software, I haven't found a book comparable to this.
Product Description
This is a complete introduction to digital imaging for photographers, photo illustrators, and graphic arts professionals. From image capture through to manipulation and output, the book takes you step-by-step through the processes involved in digital imaging. Provides information on digital cameras, scanning, storing and compressing files, the digital darkroom and color management techniques. Includes a CD-ROM with examples of images taken from different digital cameras and sample versions of Adobe Photoshop and Acrobat software. 167 pp., illustrated in color and black-and-white. (C) 1998
Book Description
"A must-read for those who want to enhance their digital photography experience."
—George Schaub, Editorial Director, Shutterbug and eDigitalPhoto magazines
With a three or more megapixel digital camera or a good scanner, affordable image-editing software, and a photo-realistic printer, you have all the tools you need to create absolutely stunning images. But understanding all your options and getting the best possible results can be daunting. What features should you look for in a digital camera? What accessories do you need? How do you capture the best possible images with your digital equipment--and make corrections when you don't? What are the advantages of RAW capture? How can you get consistently great prints?
Peter K. Burian, coauthor of the best-selling National Geographic Photography Field Guide, has taken the digital plunge and lived to write about it. The result is a practical, accessible guide that demystifies the world of digital photography and imaging--a must-read whether you're a photography enthusiast making the leap to digital, a gadget lover looking for the latest technology, a novice photographer, or anybody who regularly works with images.
Inside you'll find:
- A buyer's guide to the essential equipment and software: learn the pros and cons of compact digicams versus digital SLR cameras; choose a suitable scanner; find the right imaging program for your needs; select the perfect photo printer
- Focusing, composition, and lighting tips for making snapshots that you'll be proud of
- Pro tips and techniques for using all your camera's advanced features
- Techniques for getting scans of exceptional quality, whether you're scanning prints, slides, or negatives
- Recommendations on upgrading your computer and peripherals for digital imaging
- Professional methods for fine-tuning your images in the digital darkroom
- Techniques for creating color or black-and-white prints of exhibition quality
- Tips on optimizing your images for use in e-mail, online albums, and web pages
Customer Reviews:
Very nice book by a very nice guy.......2006-11-21
I corresponded with Peter Burian briefly, six or seven years ago, getting advice on photographing my daughter ice skating. He was very nice, and very helpful. That same attitude comes through in this very attractive book. He covers all the important areas: cameras, scanners, software, and printers. This book will give you a solid and accurate understanding of all these areas. It's not going to give you up-to-the-minute details on Nikon and Canons' latest models, or try to convince you about which brand is the best. But if you haven't already made up your mind about one or the other, this book will give you the background to make sensible choices. This book is ideal for someone making their first move to digital, or moving up from snapshooting to something more capable.
A basic guide.......2005-05-16
I must admit that the book title had me fooled. The cover looked stunning and I believed that this would be a book that would, indeed, help one to engage deeply in digital photography.
However, the book turned out to be little more than a basic primer on getting started in digital photgraphy. In fact, it didn't go into sufficient detail on anything and, despite the excellent paper stock and beautiful color photographs, was an extremely disappointing buy.
Good overview, but becoming outdated.......2005-03-24
This book is best suited for people with little understanding of photography who are looking to get started with a digital camera; the first two thirds of the book are largely meant for this audience. However, there is quite a bit in the last third of the book for readers who are moving from film to digital or learning how to use digital editing software. For this more advanced audience, there is even some useful advice on picking a digital camera in the first sections.
Although the core concepts covered in the book should carry forward for sometime, much of the book is becoming outdated (for example there is no discussion of the new Adobe digital negative format as an alternative to compressed TIFF for archiving images, and camera specs are also behind the times). An updated version would be welcome for the intended audiences, and I would most likely rate that book 4 to 5 stars.
Because this book is a broad introductory text, and does not go in-depth into any topic, use of the word "Mastering" in the title, not to mention trademarking this one word, is inappropriate.
misleading title.......2004-11-20
this book is very very basic, most of what is covered ( software current cameras etc.)will be out of date soon. do not expect to learn anything regarding taking better pictures ( shutter speed , mastering the light meter , etc. ). if you have absolutly no idea of how - what or why regarding digital cameras then this book is for you , but if you have any knowledge then pass up on this book
Covered what you want to know about digital photography. .......2004-08-27
I carefully read through the book and found it is a very informative tool that gives the readers a lot of tips and advices.
For readers who like to buy or upgrade digital equipment, there are chapters that listed major considerations and technology differences of equipment categories. For readers who already own digital equipment, the book shows you how to optimize your equipment to get the best result. Readers who like to improve photography would found advices of taking better pictures, and technique of digital darkroom.
The book explained complicate but important concepts in simple language, with deep enough detail. I found the book easy to read and very helpful. I had a lot of "I see" and "Now I know why/how" while I read through the book.
If you are new to photography or moving from film to digital, this is a must-read book for you.
Book Description
The RAW file format is the uncompressed data file captured by a digital camera's electronic sensor. When your camera saves an image in RAW format, settings like white balance, sharpening, contrast and saturation are not applied to the image but are saved instead in a separate header. Because RAW files remain virtually untouched by in-camera processing, they are essentially the digital equivalent to exposed but undeveloped film.
This makes RAW an increasingly popular format with amateur and professional digital photographers, because it affords greater flexibility and control during the editing process-if you know how to work with RAW files.
Most digital camera manufacturers supply their own software for converting RAW data, as do some third party vendors. Increasingly, however, the RAW converter of choice is a plug-in included in the latest version of Adobe Photoshop, the most popular and widely-used digital image editing tool in the world. Adobe Photoshop CS2 is emerging as the best place to edit RAW images, and the best way to master this new format is with Photoshop CS2 RAW.
An important book dedicated to working with RAW in Photoshop, this comprehensive guide features a unique design that helps readers grasp the subject through visual instruction and prompts. The entire RAW process is explored, from shooting to using the Adobe plug-in converter and new Bridge navigation software. The primary focus of Photoshop RAW is, as the title suggests, Photoshop editing technique: automating RAW workflow, correcting exposures, extending exposure range, manipulating grayscale and working with the new DNG (Digital Negative) open standard that Adobe supports.
Presented by photographer Mikkel Aaland, a pioneer of digital photography and author of eight books, including O'Reilly's Photoshop for the Web and the award-winning Shooting Digital, Photoshop CS2 RAW investigates and instructs in an accessible visual style. Required reading for professionals and dedicated photo hobbyists alike.
Customer Reviews:
Photoshop Raw - M.Aaland.......2007-01-29
Minimum text balanced with excellent sidebar explanations, examples and illustrations made the book easy to read and understand, and to fully exploit the many features or RAW. Of particular interest was the coverage of colour balance, High Dynamic Range and Black and White conversion in RAW
Not bad for the second draft, but not ready for print.......2006-12-22
Hi,
Short about me:
I'm new to Adobe Raw/Photoshop and knew almost nothing about it. Very little knowledge about digital photography, however have extensive background in computers and film/SLR photography.
I absolutely hated this book, and I'm returning it now.
The wording is confusing, the terms are barely explained, sometimes not explained at all, I had to use Internet extensively to decipher the book.
Author keeps repeating the same things again and again, using the same abstract and confusing language.
The illustrations are small, really small, there is no way to see what is pictured, forget about seeing the supposedly shown effects.
Author many times refers to tools in Camera Raw/Photoshop, without clearly show where those tools are located, so for novice like me, it took some time to find out what is he talking about.
Author description of histogram and clipping is disastrous. I had to spend some time online to finally understand the terms.
The book needs another revision badly, or may be it should be rewritten from scratch.
Any way if you are new to it like me, you won't find clear definition and descriptions. If you know what you are doing, this book will teach you nothing, get more comprehensive book
Photoshop CS2 RAW.......2006-08-15
I must admit, I took a long time switching to digital for photo work, and then I thought I was set. It appears that not only do a I have to master the camera for settings, but in those instances where the money talks, I have to learn about RAW format rather than the high res JPG format I thought was dealing me a good deal.
If you shoot professional photography in digital format, you best scurry on down to the local bookstore for this one (or order online d'oph).
RAW gives you the ground base to build and perfect the data that results in great photographs. Of course you have to be a great photographer to begin with, so that said, this is why professional photographers need this. Alright, its important for photo illustrators too, but if you photographers do not understand why its important to shoot RAW, then the illustator, or yourself cannot do diddly with the jpg in terms of coverting to RAW again.
Must for professional digital photographers and illustrators. Handy for designers dealing with photos. Not relevant to non photo centric people. Printers will have an intrest in this as it relates to client work.
Too much graphic art - too little substance.......2006-08-06
In the field of digital photography, capturing and developing "RAW" files is a hot topic, largely because this is usually the route to the highest image quality attainable. The subject can be a bit opaque because each manufacturer mechanizes in-camera RAW files differently. Also, there are many different RAW converters (software packages for developing the RAW files into optimized images) from both the camera manufacturers and third parties. One of the most popular RAW converters is Adobe Camera Raw (ACR), originally released by Adobe as a plug-in for Photoshop 7 and Photoshop Elements, and now integrated into both products.
Adobe Photoshop is the undisputed king-of-the-hill in digital image editing software and has spawned an entire industry of "how-to" books. The subject is so vast and so technical it's nearly impossible to put it all in one book that is actually readable, though many have tried.
In this case I believe the author tried to accomplish too much in too little space. To thoroughly cover the topic of digital RAW would require many more pages, and would be better served, in my view, by taking a more narrowly focused, more studious approach to presenting the information. The target audience is questionable too: too much complexity for beginners; too little real meat for advanced users.
I also found the layout of the book disconcerting. It's bright and colorful with lots of white space, and is visually attractive from a graphic artist's perspective, but primary topics are presented as snippets of information followed by a host of screen shots and illustrations and sidebars with explanations. This disrupted the continuity of the ideas and I had to keep backtracking to pick up the main thread.
There's no doubt that the author knows his stuff, but the book left me unsatisfied. If you're really looking to understand and use Adobe Camera Raw to its fullest capability, there are better texts available.
A nice introduction to RAW.......2006-05-24
I bought this book after reading the other 5-star reviews, so I thought Wow! This must be it! Well, it's almost 'it'. The book gives a well-written and useful explanation of what RAW is all about, and also shows some good examples of what you can do with RAW. It also helps you to decide when to shoot in RAW or when you'd better just switch to JPG.
Unfortunately, the images used in the book are of poor quality, both in terms of press and art. Actually they are just ordinary snapshots, for which JPG would be enough. The photos don't contribute so much to the text, because they are quit messy. Often it was not very clear what a certain change in Photoshop really does with the picture. The images are quit dull and smudgy.
Text however is clearly written, and after reading this book you have a very good impression about the power of RAW and how you can greatly enhance your photos by using Camera Raw and PhotoShop CS2. It gives you enough starting material to go on. Too bad the author didn't use more appealing pictures to show what awesome things you can do with RAW. From a award-winning professional, I expected high quality images and print.
Nevertheless I can recommend this book to anyone who wants to use RAW and who can work with Photoshop. You are able to master several important techniques with this book by your side. Then proceed to the next step: enhancing your finest pictures to exceptional pieces of art.
Book Description
This practical and easy-to-follow book showa you how to transform your 3D projects with your own digital photographs and enhance your 3D animation by adding photographs that you’ve composed, lit, and shot. The featured tips and ideas will quickly have you creating quality photographs for use throughout the 3D workflow. From the mechanics of megapixels to the tricks of lighting to the art of finding the best images to shoot, you’ll learn valuable techniques that will transform your designs.
Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.
Customer Reviews:
A wealth of information!.......2007-09-16
Dan Ablan is a great instructor, hands down! His books, courseware and support are far none the best in this industry. This book is truly a reflection of quality, quality that you'd expect Dan to provide.
Some of you might say that some of the chapters in this book are pretty basic. I am not here to bash any of you, I just want to write a review about this book, but... Not everyone will find these chapters "basic." They are what I call, informative!
This book provides a wealth of information. Some of it was information I already knew, but that's because I have been doing photography since I was a kid. His technique and ideations however, put a whole new spin on how I work with my digital photos. I admire Dan for his creativity and ideas. This book will definately give you a new perspective on how to use digital pictures and how to incorpoate them into 3d.
If you are looking for an excellent book to accompany your library, this book is it! I am an amateur at best when it comes to 3D animation. Owning this book, I see myself advancing past this "amateur" level. :)
If you like Dan's teaching style and his other books, you truly wont be dissapointed by this one! I would also like to suggest his courseware! Dan's courseware is just as good, if not better than his books!
There was nothing in this book that I did not enjoy or get bored with. However, if you are a pro working for Pixar or some professional company, this book might seem "basic" to you.. For the other 95% of us, this book is a great investment!
-Justin
An oddball collection of topics.......2007-09-15
I'm somewhat of a noob in 3d modelling and animation, and so this book really interested me. I was hoping to learn how to better use photography to do things like create effective reference images, textures, normal maps, bump maps, displacement maps, and such.
After reading through most of the book, I'm pretty disappointed. While the book does cover such topics, I feel that it gives those topics a pretty superficial treatment, and the focus of the book seems to be on other, what I'd consider, "oddball topics".
The book devotes a lot of time covering digital photography in general. It does this fairly well, but honestly, a book like "Real World Digital Photography" does that much better.
The book also has large sections where it goes into great detail into how to create a 3d slideshow, and another on how to create a digital collage using After Effects. While these topics are kind of interesting, honestly, how often are you going to do something like that?
The book is kind of an interesting read, but after reading it I'm wondering who the intended audience for it actually is. Certainly not 3d animators or modelers like the title and the description of the book seem to indicate.
Training for beginners at its best........2007-03-19
While some may mistake this for a masterclass in 3D and digital photography, it is quite clearly geared towards beginners. But, it's value as a source of professional training does not stop there. What I found most profoundly useful about this book by Dan Ablan is that it not only helps newcomers to 3D and/or digital photography, but that it may also inspire those who may be intimidated by the depth and complexity associated with 3D to now pursue this wonderful medium to enhance their self expression and understanding. I have purchased many training materials written by Dan Ablan, from video tutorial DVD's to instructional books such as this one, and have always felt the wiser for doing so. I waited until I finished this book before sitting down to write this review. Contrary to other assessments, the techniques taught in this book are accurate for the uses stated in their related topics. If you want to dip your toes into the water of 3D while improving your digital photography skills, then I would highly recommend that you pick up this book. Read it thoroughly. I believe you will find yourself returning to it as a source of reference again and again, as I have. Enjoy.
Excellent & Informative.......2007-03-16
I was hesitant to get this book after reading the one review posted. But instead I got the book anyway. I have to say that the information is excellent. I've worked in 3D for a while, using Maya and Cinema 4D, but had not explored the use of digital photography to the fullest extent. I had emailed Dan Ablan and he replied right away. He told me this book was about ideas and that it helps bridge the gap between photography and 3D, two fields he's worked in for over a decade. He was right and I found that his example photos were outstanding and use of them even better. This book covers managing files which is a big deal as you start taking more shots such as textures and image maps. It covers how to create panoramas in more than one application, and it covers hdri and as Dan shows, works great in modo. I'm new to modo, but the project was cool. I was surprised that the book even covered image modeling using image modeler from [...]and then there was the after effects tutorial creating a heavily layered, animated montage all from photos using masks and keys and blending. I liked the use of 3D for animated photo slideshows and image mapping ideas.
What really surprised me the most was that even though the tutorial are geared towards beginners it has helped my 3D work immensely. What's cool is that Dan included hours of video training tutorials on the book's DVD to help you learn more and there's tons of sample images to work with and free demo software.
Top notch book!
Bad HDRI coverage, maybe OK for beginners.......2007-03-04
This is an important topic. The publisher should have found a more experienced author to write this book!
The coverage of HDRI imaging was full of mistakes. In a step-by-step tutorial, the author makes every mistake in the book: he focuses his camera wrong, he changes the f-stop between bracketed exposures even though this will change the camera's DOF and mess up the alignment of images, in assembling his High Dymanic Range Images with Adobe Photoshop PS2 he advises readers to change modes from HDRI to 16 bit and back, without mentioning that this means he is no longer creating a High Dymanic Range Image. The author doesn't seem to notice that the series of bungling mistakes he has made hasn't produced a HDRI map suitable for image based lighting, and instead acts as if he has achieved highly realistic results.
The author's mis-adventures photographing a Christmas Tree ball in his back yard to make HDRI are only one chapter in this book. He also attempts to make texture maps out of photographs (he gets to the color maps, doesn't go much further into how to derive bump or specular or other maps based on the color.) The book is also full of "filler" chapters that would only be useful to a beginner first using a computer. There's a chapter on image management, showing how you can use a program like iPhoto to organize your pictures, and explaining the difference between compressed and uncompressed image files.
Overall there's not much for a dedicated 3D artist in this book, although some beginners might find some of it useful.
Average customer rating:
- Worst quality I have EVER seen!
|
Hyperspectral Imaging: Techniques for Spectral Detection and Classification
Chein-I Chang
Manufacturer: Kluwer Academic
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 General
| Photography
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
Digital Photography
| Digital Photography & Video
| Computers & Internet
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Graphic Design
| Computers & Internet
| Subjects
| Books
Digital Image Processing
| Algorithms
| Programming
| Computers & Internet
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Software
| Computers & Internet
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Earth Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Geography
| Earth Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Geology
| Earth Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Applied
| Physics
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Imaging Systems
| Computer Technology
| Engineering
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Remote Sensing
| Computer Technology
| Engineering
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Earth Sciences
| Professional Science
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Geography
| Earth Sciences
| Professional Science
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Geology
| Earth Sciences
| Professional Science
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Look Inside Science Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
All Titles
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
Arts & Photography
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
Computers & Internet
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
Professional
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
Science
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Advanced Image Processing Techniques for Remotely Sensed Hyperspectral Data
-
Signal Theory Methods in Multispectral Remote Sensing (Wiley Series in Remote Sensing and Image Processing)
-
Remote Sensing Image Analysis: Including the Spatial Domain (Remote Sensing and Digital Image Processing)
-
Remote Sensing Digital Image Analysis: An Introduction
Accessories:
-
Digital Mammography: 8th International Workshop, IWDM 2006, Manchester, UK, June 18-21, 2006, Proceedings (Lecture Notes in Computer Science)
-
Computer Vision/Computer Graphics Collaboration Techniques: Third International Conference on Computer Vision/Computer Graphics, MIRAGE 2007, Rocquencourt, ... (Lecture Notes in Computer Science)
-
Biomedical Image Registration: Third International Workshop, WBIR 2006, Utrecht, The Netherlands, July 9-11, 2006, Proceedings (Lecture Notes in Computer Science)
ASIN: 0306474832 |
Book Description
Hyperspectral Imaging: Techniques for Spectral Detection and Classification is an outgrowth of the research conducted over the years in the Remote Sensing Signal and Image Processing Laboratory (RSSIPL) at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. It explores applications of statistical signal processing to hyperspectral imaging and further develops non-literal (spectral) techniques for subpixel detection and mixed pixel classification. This text is the first of its kind on the topic and can be considered a recipe book offering various techniques for hyperspectral data exploitation. In particular, some known techniques, such as OSP (Orthogonal Subspace Projection) and CEM (Constrained Energy Minimization) that were previously developed in the RSSIPL, are discussed in great detail. This book is self-contained and can serve as a valuable and useful reference for researchers in academia and practitioners in government and industry.
Customer Reviews:
Worst quality I have EVER seen!.......2006-12-18
For a book about cutting edge, remote sensing techniques, the quality of the printing of this book is appalling! Images are blurry, and their text captions are often unreadable. Even the print quality of the normal text itself is often poor and misaligned - news papers have better quality than this book!
Book Description
Not long ago photographers considered digital pictures apostasy-but now film is increasingly being replaced as a great alternative medium for professionals, artists, and everyday snapshooters. Photography Reborn is the first comprehensive survey of this exciting new medium of visual expression-it is an essential reference for anyone who wants to understand this revolution.
In this important companion to a new art form, author Jonathan Lipkin chronicles the rise of digital technology and explores its impact as well as the limits of its possibilities. Every kind of digital image from MRI scans to fine art is highlighted here, from an obscure scientific application, through its adaptation by pioneer computer artists, to its acceptance by the mainstream of the art world. This seminal text-coupled with fascinating images and examples by contemporary artists Andreas Gursky, Thomas Ruff, Pedro Meyer, Nancy Burson, and Loretta Lux-is uniquely appropriate for anyone interested in visual communications, photography, and culture.
Customer Reviews:
Persuasive but not very inspiring!.......2007-10-16
This book achieves what it sets out to do, but I was disappointed in the author's uncritical enthusiasm. The survey of artists who use digital manipulation to make creative images is not very inspiring. The reproductions are high quality but there is much better work (pictures) out there being published. The text is even less inspiring because the author is so sold on digital imaging that he seems to be selling digital cameras and even sings the praises of cell phone cameras.
I agree that digital images are much easier to make and hence many more images are probably being made now than in the past, but the author doesn't seem to see much value in the sparkling resolution and breathtaking contrast of traditional hand-made prints from film, compared to the relatively flat digital prints the industry is trying to sell people. The author repeats commercial claims about the supposed quality of digital images but such claims have not been confirmed by independent tests.
Instead of technical virtuosity in the medium we are supposed to settle for aesthetic rhetoric about the thought-provoking nature of what are often uninteresting and unrealistic subjects. Digital imaging is certainly cleaner and more convenient than traditional photography, but let's not confuse those qualities with the vividness of a chemically processed transparency or silver or platinum print.
Modern abstract art has been criticized as a more efficient (cheaper) way to mass produce paintings for sale, and digital images can be accused of the same thing. This book is an uncritical look at the digital revolution, and that is not very educational.
A tour-de-force of What Can Be Done.......2006-01-12
The one thing you can say about digital photography is that it is certainly changing fast. And in this book Mr. Lipkin shows what a series of what you might call photographer/artists have done using digital images and computer manipulation of those images.
In many cases, you might view these images as closer to paintings than photographs. In other cases, the images are of things that we cannot see ourselves, MRI images from inside the skull of a living person, mountains on the surface of Venus. Other images are from somewhere in the mind of the producer. These might be composite pictures of several people, these might be images that start with a photograph but which now are so distorted and colors so changed that their origin is difficult to see.
This is not a book of techniques, it is a book of results, of ideas from the minds of people who are carrying digital photography into new areas.
The Digital Image.......2005-12-21
It is truly amazing the rate at which technology moves! Four years ago, the author thought that film photography was here to stay for a long while because digital cameras were expensive, not so good, and anyway, people would need fancy computers and printers to make accessible photos. Now easy internet business is routinely conducted with digital images. But, as Lipkin points out, in PHOTOGRAPHY REBORN, it is not only that digital photography takes the place of film. It does, but it also is a genuine new medium. This book tells how and why digital images can outmanipulate experience and reality, be a new aesthetic medium and be more subversive than film photographs in which Trotsky's image was removed from Stalin's. In fact, the book tells not only how digital photography works, but also is a great guide to what it promises to do in the future.
Books:
- Adobe Premiere Pro 2.0 Studio Techniques
- Adrift: Seventy-six Days Lost at Sea
- An Acrobat of the Heart: A Physical Approach to Acting Inspired by the Work of Jerzy Grotowski
- Art Deco Interiors: Decoration and Design Classics of the 1920s and 1930s
- Artful Applique: The Easy Way (That Patchwork Place)
- Ask And It Is Given Cards: A 60-Card Deck plus Dear Friends card
- Ben & Jerry's Homemade Ice Cream & Dessert Book
- Best Karate, Vol.5: Heian, Tekki (Best Karate, 5)
- Best Places Destinations Olympic Peninsula
- Bodies and Souls: The Century Project
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- An Ideal Husband
- Tattoos of the Floating World: Ukiyo-E Motifs in Japanese Tattoo
- Krik
- Moonsinger
- Into the Woods
- Principles of Modern Chemistry
- Montale's Mestiere Vile: The Elective Translations from English of the 1930s and 1940s
- Echoes of Alexander the Great: Silk Route Portraits from Gandhara : A Private Collection)
- Grand Canyon: Little Things in a Big Place
- Transnational Marketing in the Information Age
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Book for Digital Photographers,The (Voices That Matter)
Photoshop CS3 Workflow: The Digital Photographer's Guide (Tim Grey Guides)
The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Book: The Complete Guide for Photographers
Photoshop CS3 for Nature Photographers: A Workshop in a Book (Tim Grey Guides)
Adobe Lightroom for Digital Photographers Only (For Only)
![Digital Lighting and Rendering (2nd Edition) ([digital])](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/0321316312.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
