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Rating: 
Summary: many pics, little knowledge
Review: High hopes, big disappointment. I expected to find some deep knowledge on composition and design strategies. What i found were many pictures, but no real design secrets. The text is a little bit like "i created this strange object, i kinda liked it so i then did this and that. That was not quite it, so i did another this and that, looks better now."
The authors are good designers, no doubt, but this book won't help you improve your own work. There is no concept behind this book, the authors don't even know why they are writing this book. There already isn't much text in this book and about a third of that is being wasted with the authors wondering what the publisher and the readers actually expect of them and what the other three authors will come up with.
And about chaostheory and nanotechnology and all that: you'll learn more by reading an editorial review on the back of a book on these...
Rating: 
Summary: Best Money I've ever spent.
Review: I am a 4th year industrial design student in Melbourne and reciently bought the 4x4 Chaos book. It is nothing short of brilliant and I recomend it to anyone who has a working knowledge of photoshop and 3dsmax. I was laging for inspiration and have always been interested in abstract style art. This book gave me a HUGE second wind and my work picked up instantly. I have read it three times now and enjoyed it every time. In fact I was so impressed that I have just a few days ago I bought the 'Light' and the 'Life' titles in this series. I also use flash and illustrator so I'm sure they will be just as helpful for that software. I feel that you dont even really need to be near a computer to enjoy and benefit from these books. If I was going on holidays or camping or whatever I would take the book with me and read it.....its that good. Like the reviews before me have said, these books are not step by step, far from it, they are more about process and methodoliges and therefore far more valuable. There are so many step by steps out there..... but how many personal process accounts?
Do yourself a huge favour.
Lawrie.
Rating:
Summary: Inspirational Artbook on How to Create "Trendy" 3D Artwork.
Review: I really enjoyed this book immensely, please note if you are new to Digital Art this book will be of help, BUT is not a step-by-step guide. This book is more for the intermediate-advance user who knows their way around a "Digital Computer". The book was written as a stepping stone, to explore and create your own art within the confines of Geometry and Chaos, which is really the merging of Photoshop and 3D Programs. If you are looking to be spoon feed, this book is not for you. There is a gold-mine of techniques in the book, and you only need your imagination, and some proficiency in Photoshop and sometype of 3D Program (3D Studio Max, Carrera, Infiniti-D etc.)If you have ever downloaded any wallpapers in this style, and admire these types of images, as well as like futuristic ideas, you will treasure this book!
Rating:
Summary: Unfortunate...
Review: I'm a little disheartened by this book. I had high hopes, and have enjoyed a number of Friends of Ed books. Photoshop and 3D was dissappointing. It did not offer anything of substance what so ever. The artists' essays were shallow, and the tutorials, even worse. The book needed to be twice as long as it was to adequately cover the material, and it would have been nice if the 3D programs used were standardized. Unfortunately what you end up with is a confusing mix of 3D programs, that are only lightly touched on, and almost non-existant Photoshop coverage. Screen shots were sparse, and more often than not were very confusing (i.e. short passages refer to shots on other pages).
Rating: 
Summary: missing the point!
Review: people dismissing this book because it does not provide step by step instructions are entirely missing the point of Brian and the other designers motivation in this book. You only have to look at a quote from him to see what I mean... "If you want to develop an individual look to your work, my advice is not to take the accepted capabilities of a piece of software. Decide what you want to achieve first, and figure out a way of making it happen." - Brian Taylor The book is inspirational, it shows what can be achieved, I find it strange that people expect a step-by-step account of how to create a work of art?!?!
Rating:
Summary: Its a shame.......
Review: that the first review written for this book is so negative.....
with that much said, if you are looking to learn, training manual style, this book will not help you. If that is what you want,buy a New Rider's 3DMax book and a Photoshop classroom in a book, study art and design for about a year, get cozy with the software, terms, etc, then come back and make this purchase, at $34.99 it is a steal. So, if you are interested in reading how some of the most creative(Brian Taylor is awesome - - check www.rustboy.com) minds in the design/graphic industry function, get this book quick. It is a book done buy creative folks for creative folks, it is not written by software technicians. IT IS NOT A USERS MANUAL!!!! I found the writing style of this book, like most Friends of Ed books (I have two others) to be extremely personal and inviting, I couldnt put it down. Add to that the gorgeous look, and HIGH QUALITY of the works displayed, it is truly a treasure. As a graduating design student working on my SeniorProject, this book could not have come along at a better time. chaos theory, nanotechnology, geometric analogies, awesome!!!!
the CD which accompanies the book is also excellent, it comes with fully editable Photoshop files, etc, so the tutorials are in there, and they are excellent!!! remeber all design/art students and admirers, the learning process behind the creation is more valuable than the software which carries it out. concepts.......................... this book is steroids for the designers mind.
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