After Effects 6 On the Spot: Time-Saving Tips and Shortcuts from the Pros

Rating:
Summary: Hits the spot!
Review: After reading other books on how to use After Effects, this is the only book I found that gave really great how-to tips and tricks that I can easily apply to future projects. I didn't have time to read another huge manual, but flipping through chapters in this book was a breeze. I highly recommend this to anyone using After Effects, whether you are a novice user or a pro, everyone can benefit!

Rating:
Summary: Not for beginners in After Effects
Review: I just got After Effects 6.5 and thought this book looked like what I needed to reduce the high learning curve of this software. Wrong! The description doesn't mention what is printed on the back cover "FOR INTERMEDIATE TO ADVANCED USERS". So the book sits there unused, and so does the software as the Adobe Manual is useless for newbies too.

Rating:
Summary: A Refresher Course
Review: I've been using After Effects since version 2, which is probably the last time I picked up the manual. Unfortunately Jean-Jacques Rousseau's quote suits me perfectly: "Men will always prefer a worse way of knowing to a better way of learning." Skimming this book pointed out shortcuts and reminded me how to use features I tiptoe around. It filled in my After Effects knowledge painlessly. This veteran finds it handy.

Rating:
Summary: Click on the Search Inside Button First
Review: There are lots of excellent books for new users getting into AE. Take a look ay books by Taylor and Harlan for example. This book is targeted for Intermediate to Advanced users looking to take their skills and speed up a notch. The negative review is unwarranted.

Click on the Search Inside the Book button and you will see the Table of Contents, the back cover, and a chapter excerpt. The title says it all "Time-Saving Tips and Shortcuts from the Pros." If you look at the sample pages and index, you discover that this book is DEFINITELY for the intermediate to Advanced user. Don't knock the book becuase you clicked buy before looking at it.

Its not the publishers fault that the book is above your level. Put it on the shelf, pick up the AE classroom in a book, Angie Taylor's, Rod Harlan's, or the Meyer's volume 1 as a place to start. No matter what your level, this book will make you faster and showcases several techniques that all levels of users can enjoy. But tips and shortcuts do not take a beginner into the land of being a full fledged user.

AE is a great program... stick to it and you'll be rewarded!

Rating:
Summary: I love these books
Review: These On The Spot books are great!
What a great little reference.
Organized and well thought out.
I use so many different software packages that it's almost impossible to keep it all in my head. I mostly use Final Cut Pro but there are times when I do need to switch over to AE. Thank God for this book other wise I'd be spending hours trying to dig through internet sites and specialized how 2 to find the feature that I need.
This book gives me the information I need in a fast easy to find format so that I can concentrate on being creative rather than finding the menu option.

Rating:
Summary: I love these books
Review: These On The Spot books are great!
What a great little reference.
Organized and well thought out.
I use so many different software packages that it's almost impossible to keep it all in my head. I mostly use Final Cut Pro but there are times when I do need to switch over to AE. Thank God for this book other wise I'd be spending hours trying to dig through internet sites and specialized how 2 to find the feature that I need.
This book gives me the information I need in a fast easy to find format so that I can concentrate on being creative rather than finding the menu option.

Rating:
Summary: Packed with great information!
Review: What a little treasure this is! TONS of great tips and tricks. The B&W pages and lack of DVD-ROM keep the price right! Easy to pick up and absorb when you have a few spare minutes (great for bathroom reading), and keep it handy by your workstation for a bit of reading during renders. Some of the tips I knew, but had forgotten and fell out of using, others were new to me! Great value!