publishing and books

This would not be the first book I would buy if you're just learning AE, but if you've been using it for awhile this is a fantastic book.

Beginners will probably agree that it's not the easiest way to get a handle on AE, a lot of the book is written in very simplistic terms .. not really explaining things. But if you're an intermediate to advanced user it's a nifty read that has many good idea's for designing in AE.

The design firm "Belief" wrote the book and take you step-by-step through one big project, breaking it down into pieces along the way. I for one, loved the way the book was set-up. However (and thus the reason for 4-stars and not 5), I don't think this book would be very beginner friendly.

For newbies, check out Trish and Chris Meyer's book on AE. Much better if you want to learn the in's and out's of AE.

But if you're looking to take the next step in you AE skills, this is a definite "must-buy!"

Having written training material myself, I know how difficult it is to write for every contingency, considering everything a novice might do wrong. The authors of this book have done a great job at presenting instructions clearly and completely, so that even an absolute newbie at After Effects like myself can follow every lesson. Various checkpoints allow you to verify that you are on the right track. The lessons are very clear and easy to follow, and I appreciate the continuity in presenting an entire project throughout the book, so that I feel I am really accomplishing something. After just a few lessons, I feel that I am grasping what After Effects is all about.

In general, these series of books are a great way to get hands-on experience with highly technical products, and I recommend them enthusiastically.

Disappointed with this text because of the single project through which this publication teaches After Effects. Compared to previous AE: Classroom in a Book books (earlier versions of After Effects) in which multiple creative projects unfolded as the learner used the tools, After Effects 5.0 teaches the program through one long project. The authors clearly guide the learner through important aspects of After Effects. However, if you are seeking a learn-and-do book that exposes you to a range of creative uses for After Effects, this book may be a disappointment.