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Rating: 
Summary: Covers the essentials, then digs a bit deeper
Review: As a reasonably experienced DVD author, I just wanted to get up to speed quickly and see how Encore relates to the DVD spec. I have been trying to get a handle on button highlights and how to use them creatively. Understanding what they are and how to use them with motion video has taken my projects to a new level. The book was already worth the money, 350 pages, and a DVD with an hour of free advanced video tutorials is included. The advanced topics and integration principles alone make this a solid purchase. Highly Recommended!!
Rating:
Summary: Covers the essentials, then digs a bit deeper
Review: As a reasonably experienced DVD author, I just wanted to get up to speed quickly and see how Encore relates to the DVD spec. I have been trying to get a handle on button highlights and how to use them creatively. Understanding what they are and how to use them with motion video has taken my projects to a new level. The book was already worth the money, 350 pages, and a DVD with an hour of free advanced video tutorials is included. The advanced topics and integration principles alone make this a solid purchase. Highly Recommended!!
Rating: 
Summary: Needs updating and better thought
Review: I'm about 2/3 of the way through the book and the tutorials. Frankly, the author has a way of making simple things complicated. Encore is not a difficult program. Nothing like Photoshop, After Effects, Paint Shop Pro or even Macromedia Flash. But the author repeats himself so many times in slightly different ways that what you understood the first time becomes a little confusing by the last time. And I find his explanations overly complex and a little muddled as well. It is as if he thought to himself, "Hmmm...that explanation was really not to clear let me try again" only he kept all the previous explanations in the book as well. Fortunately, Encore is simple enough that you can usually figure out what is what for yourself. Also, the book consists mostly of screen shots many of the obvious. If the author would quite repeating himself and include only the necessary screenshots the book would be 1/2 as long. Finally, the book deals with Encore 1.0. The sticker on the front says visit the authors web site to see updates for 1.5. Well, as of 1/4/2005 there are not any updates but only a page saying there will be in the future. Having said all that, for $24 bucks the book does cover most of what you can do with Encore and you will have learned enough to use the program effectively. On the other hand, you can probably just go through the manual that comes with Encore. And please note, there are some changes between 1.0 and 1.5 that will take you some time to figure out. I also ran into what seemed to be one or two bugs in the tutorial but maybe I did something incorrectly. It seems there are not too many books out there on Encore (I have not read any others - just bought this because there were so many positive reviews. Must have been a bunch of friends) so if you have the extra $24, go ahead and buy it. But you might want to look at Adobe's Classroon in a book or some others first.
Rating:
Summary: Reads like a page turner novel
Review: I'm dutch. No good books in dutch hence the US language. I'm a novice to DVD authoring and I needed to jump start my knowledge.
I could understand this WITHOUT the software in front of me. It doesn't get easier. It saves a lot of time and prevents you from making those early mistakes. Big bang for a (cheap, vs euro) buck
Rating:
Summary: Great info and Helpful DVD
Review: I've been a Premiere user for a long time, and after toying with DVD production for the last year, I was looking for a book that would give me a better understanding of the process. This book did exactly that! It's very thorough, and covers everything I needed to know including planning, compression issues, and then building and burning the disc.The thing I liked most is that it gives actual examples that show important details about integration with the other Adobe applications. I don't use all the apps, but this book gave me excellent insight on the major features that apply directly to DVD authoring, like making my own buttons and adding motion to menus. All in all, this book gave me a lot of great ideas, and my DVD projects show it.
Rating:
Summary: Not a Dummy's Book
Review: I've had Encore since it came out and I have been looking to find some good training books on the software. I am always disappointed to see so many "dummed down" books that kind of insult my intelligence. This book really hit the mark. There's a lot of project based sections, where you work along using materials on the DVD. This always helps me a lot. I wouldn't say this book was for someone who doesn't use computers on a regular basis. Definitely for an intermediate to advanced computer user. I think what really puts this book apart from the others I've read is the fact that it pushes the integration of the Adobe Suite. Some of the materials I've seen focus on Encore as one program. Great section on Photoshop, basic shapes and figures, but since I don't use Photoshop a lot it was a great primer. There were even some great advanced tutorials on the project DVD. I think the biggest reason I wrote this review is because before I read this book I wasn't really confident with Encore. But now I feel completely comfortable and at ease with the program, and I finally finished the DVD I had been working on since I bought Encore in August '03. It turned out exactly how I wanted it. And if it worked for a "not so dummy" like me, I think this book will be a benefit to a lot of people working with the program.
Rating:
Summary: Best DVD authoring book I've come across.
Review: I've read all the major DVD authoring books, only recently purchased Encore. I was surprised how much good information there was on the DVD authoring process. Lots of tips and tricks, you can tell the author creates DVDs with the program. I expected an overview of Encore, but the way the information is preseted is quite digestable and there were lots of good tips on the overall authoring process. I would have liked to seen more advanced motion menu creation with After Effects, but I guess I can't expect this book to cover everything. A great deal and great book for 25 bucks!
Rating:
Summary: Best DVD authoring book I've come across.
Review: The basics of DVD authoring that begin the book are as useful as the Encore DVD tutorials. As an experienced video editor, I've had Encore for some time, but authoring a DVD is a very different process than editing linear video. The author lays it out in clear terms. Well worth the purchase.
Rating:
Summary: A must have for everyone who uses Encore DVD
Review: Wes's book helps anyone new to Encore DVD get great results. His tutorials show how to make the most of the integration between Encore DVD and Photoshop, Premiere, and After Effects. After reading the book, you will know how to push Encore DVD to its limits. And even if you have used Encore DVD before, Wes's insight into the DVD production process will improve your final discs.
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