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Summary: Adobe Acrobat for the Interactive Masses
Review: Adobe Acrobat as an interactive tool has found three champions in Patti Belle Hastings, Bjorn Akselsen and Sandee Cohen. Their book, Adobe Acrobat 5 Master Class, Interactivity and Multimedia for PDF, does a great job explaining in pictures and in words how things work in Acrobat 5 and more importantly, how to get some very cool things done in Acrobat 5. I'm also fond of the book as a book: I like the handsome design and printing of Master Class and feel a bit guilty that my copy has become dog eared with use.
One of the quiet strengths of the Master Class book are the authors' insights-that appear like reality seasoning throughout the volume-into creating interactive projects. I admire the will to say things like, "Put the customer's needs ahead of your prowess with the software." This has the ring of truth for me; this kind of advice helped me make something powerful out of a large PDF project I have recently completed. This kind of insight together with the excellent teaching of Acrobat techniques in Master Class made possible the successful completion of a year-long project to create an interactive PDF biography of a friend's grandmother. With Acrobat 6 ready to explode on the scene, I can only hope that Peachpit Press will invite the authors of Master Class back to serve as our guides to the about-to-be-redefined world of PDF interactivity and mulitmedia.
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Summary: Never need PowerPoint again!
Review: After hearing about this book, I realized that Acrobat was the perfect tool for creating my presentation for Macworld Expo. Without exception, every single question I had, and every creative technique that I wanted to achieve, was perfectly explained in the book. My presentation was a very sophisticated blend of print quality images, sounds, movies, and even Java Script commands. To design the "look" we were able to work in the programs we were familiar with (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator), then just finish it up in Acrobat. Thank GOODNESS I'll never need PowerPoint again. I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone creative who wants to produce interactive documents. Author of "Creative Thinking in Photoshop: A New Approach to Digital Art" (New Riders Publishing)
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Summary: Creating, enhancing, viewing, and using PDF work files
Review: Collaboratively developed and written by Adobe experts Pattie Belle Hastings, Bjorn Akselsen, and Sandee Cohen, Adobe Acrobat 5 Master Class: Interactivity and Multimedia for PDF a thorough, professionally produced guide to every aspect of creating, enhancing, viewing, and using PDF work files to create high-quality, professional-looking documents on the computer using Adobe Acrobat 5. Adobe Acrobat 5 Master Class is a first-rate, comprehensive, indispensable book and CD-ROM combination and highly recommended for Adobe Acrobat users at all skill and experience levels.
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Summary: The Best out of Four
Review: I bought four books on Acrobat 5, and this one is by far the best. It is written conceptually. It appeals to the senses as well as providing an education. Taking vast amounts of information and refining it so that it is presented simply yet thoroughly. I enjoy reading it.
I also bought Classroom in a book by the Adobe Creative Team and it is work. I am sure over time I will derive a lot from it, but Master Class is fun. You would never know that your working because you are too busy seeing all the cool stuff you can do with Adobe 5 and how to do it.
I also bought Real World PDF with Adobe Acrobat 5 by Anita Dennis, Industrial Strength Production Techniques, and that is a book for advanced students. It explains everything clearly, and is a big benefit for explaining the details on how to fit Adobe PDF into your print production overflow.
Adobe PDF is so much more than simply converting your files. It appears simple on the outside, but when you read Adobe 5 Master Class, you will be enthralled with how much more it does. Highly recommended for beginners and advanced students.
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Summary: Best Adobe Book Out There!
Review: I came here looking for a book that would give me the ins & outs of what you can do with Adobe. After reading many peoples' comments I found this book & bought it. It is so helpful! I leave it open on my desk & am constantly referencing it. If you are looking to get the most out of the Adobe Acrobat program, buy this book it's worth it!!
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Summary: Hands down, the best book on Acrobat
Review: I create PDF multimedia presentations and I own every book available on Acrobat 5.0+. Master Class is by far the best reference I own in terms of practical information. If you're creating complex forms or trying to master Javascript, you'll need Padova and Deubert, too. But if you're looking for ideas on how to create presentations that blow people away, this is the book to buy.
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Summary: A non-techie window on the world of computer graphics
Review: I happened across this delightful book when I had a quick question about Acrobat. First, I easily found my answer, then (unlike any other computing book I've ever seen) the text gripped me and I found myself reading a whole chapter, just for fun! The authors' style is jaunty and appealing - you get the feeling they've been where you're at. As a corporate writer I often have to handle clients' graphics - sending them back and forth or amending them. It's a frustrating life since I'm essentially NOT A TECHIE, and I often become embroiled in complex file translations. Reading this book pointed the way to a solution that had never occured to me. Henceforth, I'm an Acrobat woman. Send me your pdfs and I'm ready to go, with the help of Hastings, Akselsen and Cohen. I'm recommending this book to the graphics departments of all my corporate clients in the hope that, one day, we can all work from the same page, and it'll be a pdf file.
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Summary: One of the Best!
Review: I have to concur with the NY reviewer who said this is a manual that all others should aspire to. How to's and examples are often presented in multiple forms to aid in understanding. The illustrations are clean, clear, and exremely helpful. The writing is concise, clear, and actually fun to read! The included CD presents wonderful examples of state-of-the art pdfs. While hardly a geek, I found myself reading the book before bed at night simply because it was so interesting! Kudos to the authors! I highly recommend this book not only to anyone wishing to learn everything worth knowing about Acrobat but also to anyone who aspires to write a similar text. It's a master class in information presentation as well as how to produce pdf's.
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Summary: A Masterful Master Class Book
Review: I teach design and print production classes at a university in New York and have found Acrobat 5, Master Class to be an absolutely indispensible reference and teaching aid. Not only does it cover every imaginable aspect and capability of Acrobat, but it does it with great detail, clarity and thoroughness. In addition to the book being such an important technical resource, it is beautifully designed and thoughtfully organized and layed out. I highly recommend it.
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Summary: Adobe Acrobat 5!
Review: I've used Adobe Acrobat at work, but was not remotely aware of all the capabilities of the software till I opened this "Master Class." I found the book easy to use, inviting to read, and full of helpful examples. The design is beautiful. I like the fact that you can choose your own level, use the "quick guide" or go more in depth, if you choose. I highly recommend this book, both for beginners and more advanced users.
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