Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Health Information or The Sovereign Individual

Health Information: Management of a Strategic Resource

Author: Mervat Abdelhak

Written for use in several Health Information Management courses within the HIA curriculum, this text emphasizes the deployment of information technology and the role of the HIM professional in the development of the electronic health record. With the AHIMA and U.S. government initiative for all patient records to go electronic, this text gives HIM students the education they need to work with the electronic health record. Each chapter begins with a chapter outline, key words, common abbreviations and learning objectives and ends with a key concept summary and references. The 3rd edition includes updated content plus instructional examples from diverse areas of health care delivery, such as long-term care, home health care, and ambulatory care. It also includes a new chapter on industry viewpoints.

  • Well-known and respected authors including former presidents of the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).
  • All chapters pay special attention to the electronic health care record to help students learn the electronic methods of organizing, maintaining and abstracting from the patient health care record.
  • Follows the new AHIMA curriculum for the four-year bachelor degree program and focuses on electronic health information management or e-HIM.
  • Textbook, Student Study Guide and Evolve website all tie content together in one complete package to give students a variety of learning experiences.
  • Includes instructional examples from diverse areas of health care delivery, such as long-term care, home health care, ambulatory care, and even large physician practices.
  • Privacy and Health Law chapter addresses HIPAA Privacy andSecurity information based on the new laws and regulations.
  • Research and Epidemiology chapter contains content on disease registries.
  • Managing Electronic Health Record Systems chapter includes content on the differences between project activities and operational activities.
  • Revenue Cycle and Financial Management chapter contains content on the chargemaster; case mix; and reimbursement and the revenue cycle.
  • Includes a new chapter on industry viewpoints - presented in a unique, conversational format - where several industry experts discuss such important topics as: the future of the HIM industry, international HIM, and the current state of the HIM professional.
  • Karen Patena

    This is a comprehensive text for the health information management profession, beginning with a historical review of healthcare delivery systems and the development of the HIM profession, and then building on the concepts of data as a resource, its transformation to information, and its future role in the computer-based patient record. Designed as a textbook, the focus is on four key areas: healthcare data; information management and use; management; and health information systems. It presents a fresh approach to today's fundamentals and future challenges of health information management practice. There is an emphasis on quality in practice throughout the text. Designed for health information management students and practitioners, it presents the expanded scope and domains of health information management practice today and in the future. It also informs other health professionals (administrators, information systems professionals, researchers) about the role of health information management professionals. The contributors represent the specialties of health information management, public health, and community medicine. The book is organized into six major sections. Each chapter begins with an outline, key words, abbreviations defined, and objectives. A glossary provides definitions of all keywords. There is a detailed table of contents and alphabetic index. Many two-color illustrations include tables, charts, examples of forms, and highlights of important points. The most useful point is that the book is accompanied by an assignment workbook, review manual, electronic test bank, and instructor's manual, which are outstanding. This extensive text for the health informationmanagement profession will probably become a classic for all educational programs in the field. It provides a much-needed update of the evolving field, stressing data and the technology, systems, and requirements to transform it to quality information essential to the future computer-based patient record. There is a great deal of material here, which some students may find overwhelming. The last chapter presents viewpoints of future health information management issues, written by experts, to stimulate discussion.

    Doody Review Services

    Reviewer: LouAnn Schraffenberger, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P (Univ of Illinois at Chicago School of Biomed & Health Info Mgmt)
    Description: The is both a textbook and reference for the health information management (HIM) professional. Healthcare data, information management and use, management, and health information systems are the four keys areas of the profession on which the book focuses. The chapters also address areas that are frequently the responsibility of health information managers such as risk management, legal issues, and financial management. This is the second edition.
    Purpose: Designed as a textbook for health information administration and technology students, this book can also be used by both the new professional and seasoned practitioner. The scope and domain of health information management practice and the role of the health information manager are described, as is the role of health information in the delivery of quality healthcare.
    Audience: The primary audience includes students and faculty in health reformation educational programs at both the bachelor and associate degree levels. The secondary audiences are health information management professionals working in the healthcare industry and related businesses. The four editors are experienced educators in well-respected health information programs. The 21 contributing authors include HIM educators and practitioners with a wide variety of knowledge and skills.
    Features: The five major section in which the book is organized are Foundations of Health Information Management, Health Care Data, Data Management and Use, Management, and Information Systems. A study guide is provided with pre-test and chapter review questions, 100 assignments, case studies, group exercises, and field experience activities. A CD-ROM included with the Study Guide has additional assignments and questions. The Instructor's Manual has answers to the assignments, educational tips, a Power-Point image library, and a large test bank of questions and answers.
    Assessment: Every health information administration and technology educational program must include this as a primary textbook. The Study Guide provides students with various assignments and questions to strengthen their learning experience. Teacher will find the Instructor's Manual a valuable resource with a wealth of materials to make their job easier. This book can be used in several HIM courses over the course of two or more years. Some of the educators in associate degree HIM programs considered the first edition "too advanced" for their students. I encourage these educators to take another look at this book as it is relevant for all HIM professionals. The book's value does not end at graduation, as it can be used as a reference by graduates as they begin their professional career. Any individual attempting to return to HIM practice should buy and read this book cover to cover to catch up with what they might have missed during their time away from the profession..

    Rating

    4 Stars! from Doody




    Book review: Crystal Reports 2008 or Photoshop CS2 for Dummies

    The Sovereign Individual: Mastering the Transition to the Information Age

    Author: James Dale Davidson

    Two renowned investment advisors and authors of the bestseller The Great Reckoning bring to light both currents of disaster and the potential for prosperity and renewal in the face of radical changes in human history as we move into the next century. The Sovereign Individual details strategies necessary for adapting financially to the next phase of Western civilization.

    Few observers of the late twentieth century have their fingers so presciently on the pulse of the global political and economic realignment ushering in the new millennium as do James Dale Davidson and Lord William Rees-Mogg. Their bold prediction of disaster on Wall Street in Blood in the Streets was borne out by Black Tuesday. In their ensuing bestsellar, The Great Reckoning, published just weeks before the coup attempt against Gorbachev, they analyzed the pending collapse of the Soviet Union and foretold the civil war in Yugoslavia and other events that have proved to be among the most searing developments of the past few years.

    In The Sovereign Individual, Davidson and Rees-Mogg explore the greatest economic and political transition in centuries — the shift from an industrial to an information-based society. This transition, which they have termed "the fourth stage of human society," will liberate individuals as never before, irrevocably altering the power of government. This outstanding book will replace false hopes and fictions with new understanding and clarified values.



    Table of Contents:

    CONTENTS

    1. The Transition of the Year 2000: The Fourth Stage of Human Society

    2. Megapolitical Transformations in Historic Perspective

    3. East of Eden: The Agricultural Revolution and the Sophistication of Violence

    4. The Last Days of Politics: Parallels Between the Senile Decline of the Holy Mother Church and the Nanny State

    5. The Life and Death of the Nation-State: Democracy and Nationalism as Resource Strategies in the Age of Violence

    6. The Megapolitics of the Information Age: The Triumph of Efficiency over Power

    7. Transcending Locality: The Emergence of the Cybereconomy

    8. The End of Egalitarian Economics: The Revolution in Earnings Capacity in a World Without Jobs

    9. Nationalism, Reaction, and the New Luddites

    10. The Twilight of Democracy

    11. Morality and Crime in the "Natural Economy" of the Information Age

    Afterword

    Appendix: Resources for Achieving Independence

    Notes

    Index

    Calculator Puzzles Tricks and Games or Planet Google

    Calculator Puzzles, Tricks and Games

    Author: Norvin Pallas

    Perform amazing feats of mathematical magic, answer clever riddles, and much more with this book and a handy pocket calculator. Scores of brain-teasers, puzzles, mathematical oddities, games and recreations to fill dozens of hours with fun and excitement. Answers to problems.



    New interesting book: Fable II or Interconnecting Cisco Network Devices Part 1

    Planet Google: One Company's Audacious Plan to Organize Everything We Know

    Author: Randall Stross

    Based on unprecedented access he received to the highly secretive "Googleplex," acclaimed New York Times columnist Randall Stross takes readers deep inside Google, the most important, most innovative, and most ambitious company of the Internet Age. His revelations demystify the strategy behind the company's recent flurry of bold moves, all driven by the pursuit of a business plan unlike any other: to become the indispensable gatekeeper of all the world's information, the one-stop destination for all our information needs. Will Google succeed? And what are the implications of a single company commanding so much information and knowing so much about us?

    As ambitious as Google's goal is, with 68 percent of all Web searches (and growing), profits that are the envy of the business world, and a surplus of talent, the company is, Stross shows, well along the way to fulfilling its ambition, becoming as dominant a force on the Web as Microsoft became on the PC. Google isn't just a superior search service anymore. In recent years it has launched a dizzying array of new services and advanced into whole new businesses, from the introductions of its controversial Book Search and the irresistible Google Earth, to bidding for a slice of the wireless-phone spectrum and nonchalantly purchasing YouTube for $1.65 billion.

    Google has also taken direct aim at Microsoft's core business, offering free e-mail and software from word processing to spreadsheets and calendars, pushing a transformative -- and highly disruptive -- concept known as "cloud computing." According to this plan, users will increasingly store all of their data on Google's massive servers -- a network of a million computers that amounts to the world's largest supercomputer, with unlimited capacity to house all the information Google seeks.

    The more offerings Google adds, and the more ubiquitous a presence it becomes, the more dependent its users become on its services and the more information they contribute to its uniquely comprehensive collection of data. Will Google stay true to its famous "Don't Be Evil" mantra, using its power in its customers' best interests?

    Stross's access to those who have spearheaded so many of Google's new initiatives, his penetrating research into the company's strategy, and his gift for lively storytelling produce an entertaining, deeply informed, and provocative examination of the company's audacious vision for the future and the consequences not only for the business world, but for our culture at large.

    Publishers Weekly

    Starred Review.

    In this spellbinding behind-the-scenes look at Google, New York Times columnist Stross (The Microsoft Way) provides an intimate portrait of the company's massively ambitious aim to "organize the world's information." Drawing on extensive interviews with top management and the author's astonishingly open access to the famed Googleplex, Stross leads readers through Google's evolution from its humble beginnings as the decidedly nonbusiness-oriented brainchild of Stanford Ph.D. students Sergey Brin and Larry Page, through the company's early growing pains and multiple acquisitions, on to its current position as global digital behemoth. Tech lovers will devour the pages of discussion about the Algorithm; business folk will enjoy the accounts of how company after company, including Microsoft and Yahoo, underestimated Google's technology, advertising model and ability to solve problems like scanning library collections; and general readers will find the sheer scale and scope of Google's progress in just a decade astounding. The unfolding narrative of Google's journey reads like a suspense novel. Brin, Page and CEO Eric Schmidt battle competitors and struggle to emerge victorious in their quest to index all the information in the world.

    Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

    Caroline Geck - Library Journal

    Stross ("Digital Domain" columnist, New York Times; The Wizard of Menlo Park: How Thomas Alva Edison Invented the Modern World) here gives us an outstanding business history of Google from its humble beginnings through the dot-com era to current times. Although the term Google often elicits good vibes from individuals of all ages, genders, and lifestyles worldwide, Stross shows how Google's current goals are not entirely altruistic. In fact, Google is a formidable business enterprise that uses its vast advertising revenues to achieve market share and to attain advantage over competitors, such as Facebook, Yahoo!, and Microsoft. Google's underlying strength lies in the proprietary software algorithm behind its search engine that becomes smarter when users click to web page results. Google is venturing in many new directions to accomplish the founders' goal of organizing the planet's information, but its initiatives are usually hit or miss, and its current emphasis is on automated processes that are easily "scalable" rather than investments that rely on human capital. Stross explains all of this in a balanced portrait, including criticisms concerning copyright, privacy, and other ethical issues. Therefore, his book is recommended for all business collections, both public and academic.

    Kirkus Reviews

    Yes, the Googleplex is trying to take over the world, but in the end this vaunted company is just as fallible as the others. In his just-the-facts account, New York Times columnist Stross (Business/San Jose State Univ.; The Wizard of Menlo Park: How Thomas Alva Edison Invented the Modern World, 2007, etc.) assumes a judicious tone, avoiding the common extremes of either enthusing with childlike mania about the wonders of Google and its products, or expressing wild-eyed fear of its octopus-like reach in information gathering. This considered approach, combined with the author's relatively dry writing style, doesn't make for thrilling reading. The lack of any evident overarching thesis may also bother some readers, though perhaps not those whose knowledge of the organization doesn't extend much beyond the Web page they access daily. Stross paints a credible portrait of a company that, at least for a time, seemed poised to be the left-field candidate to supplant Microsoft as the most important technology purveyor in the world. The author comes at his subject elliptically, in chapters gathered thematically instead of chronologically, to discuss Google's brilliantly simple approach to its mammoth needs for storage capacity (lots of cheap servers networked together by themselves instead of the more expensive industry standard servers) or the paradigm-changing nature of its search software (known within the company simply as "The Algorithm"). Stross earns points by not fawning over the cuter aspects of Google culture that usually entrance journalists. Also, instead of attacking it for attempting world domination, he picks apart such missteps as the problem-plagued book-scanning program and earlymistakes with Gmail. In the end, the author suggests, the vaunted wizards of information could turn out to just be the next Microsoft. Occasionally pedestrian but always interesting take on the organization that simply wants to organize the world's information . . . all of it.



    Tuesday, December 30, 2008

    Sams Teach Yourself Visual Basic 2008 in 24 Hours or AutoCAD 2009 For Dummies

    Sams Teach Yourself Visual Basic 2008 in 24 Hours: Complete Starter Kit (Sams Teach Yourself Series)

    Author: James Foxall

    In just 24 sessions of one hour or less, you will be up and running with Visual Basic 2008. Using a straightforward, step-by-step approach, each lesson builds upon a real-world foundation forged in both technology and business matters, allowing you to learn the essentials of Visual Basic 2008 from the ground up. Step-by-step instructions carefully walk you through the most common questions, issues, and tasks. The Q&A section, quizzes, and exercises help you build and test your knowledge.

    By the Way notes present interesting pieces of information. Did You Know? tips offer advice or teach an easier way to do something. Watch Out! cautions advise you about potential problems and help you steer clear of disaster.

    Learn how to…

    • Use the powerful design environment of Visual Studio 2008

    • Design feature-rich interfaces using components such as tree views and tabs

    • Create robust applications using modern error-handling

    • Draw fast graphics using GDI+

    • Build a database application using ADO.NET

    • Distribute a Visual Basic 2008 Application

    • Manipulate the Windows Registry

    • Create, read, and write text files

    • Use event-driven techniques to build responsive applications

    DVD Includes: Microsoft Visual Basic 2008 Express Edition

    On the Web: Register your book at informit.com/title/9780672329845 for access to author code, examples, updates and corrections as they become available.



    Go to: Cup of Comfort for Breast Cancer Survivors or Omega Rx Zone

    AutoCAD 2009 For Dummies

    Author: David Byrnes

    AutoCAD 2009 provides all the tools you need to create presentable, usable, printable, and sharable drawings, but it’s not always easy to figure out which hammer to pick up or which nail to bang on your first try. That's where AutoCAD 2009 For Dummies comes in. It gives you the clear, easy-to-follow guidance you need to take charge of this powerful drafting and design application — first time and every time.

    People like you, who want to get the hang of AutoCAD quickly and without giving yourself a headache, have made previous editions of this book bestsellers! Here’s a simple guide to creating complex technical drawings with this complicated program. Moving up from an earlier version? Look for the icons marking the cool new stuff! You’ll discover how to:



    • Get going quickly while building proper AutoCAD techniques

    • Make the program work with you

    • Draw and edit objects

    • Zoom and pan for an accurate view

    • Apply text, dimensions, and hatching to clarify your design intent

    • Organize the objects you draw, including properties and files

    • Share work with other CAD users — in the office and over the Internet

    • Upgrade smoothly from previous AutoCAD editions



    Complete with savvy tips on how to avoid AutoCAD errors, a concise list of the differences between AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT, and juicy tidbits on how to make the time you spend in AutoCAD more enjoyable, AutoCAD 2009 For Dummies will make you an AutoCAD expert in no time!



    Table of Contents:

    Pt. I AutoCAD 101 9

    Ch. 1 Introducing AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT 11

    Ch. 2 Le Tour de AutoCAD 2009 21

    Ch. 3 A Lap around the CAD Track 51

    Ch. 4 Setup for Success 79

    Ch. 5 Planning for Paper 103

    Pt. II Let There Be Lines 117

    Ch. 6 Manage Your Properties 119

    Ch. 7 Preciseliness Is Next to CADIiness 139

    Ch. 8 Down the Straightaway 153

    Ch. 9 Dangerous Curves Ahead 167

    Ch. 10 Get a Grip on Object Selection 183

    Ch. 11 Edit for Credit 201

    Ch. 12 A Zoom with a View 225

    Pt. III If Drawings Could Talk 239

    Ch. 13 Text with Character 241

    Ch. 14 Entering New Dimensions 275

    Ch. 15 Down the Hatch 297

    Ch. 16 The Plot Thickens 309

    Pt. IV Extending AutoCAD 337

    Ch. 17 The ABCs of Blocks 339

    Ch. 18 Going Dynamic and External 355

    Ch. 19 Drawing on the Internet 377

    Pt. V The Part of Tens 393

    Ch. 20 Ten Great AutoCAD Resources 395

    Ch. 21 Ten Differences Between AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT 399

    Ch. 22 Ten System Variables to Make Your Life Easier 403

    Index 407

    Job Hunting Online or Secrets of Social Media Marketing

    Job Hunting Online: A Guide to Using Job Listings, Message Boards, Research Sites, the UnderWeb, Counseling, InterNetworking, Self-Assessment Tools, Niche Sites

    Author: Mark Emery Bolles

    The Internet can be an invaluable tool in any job hunt-but only when you know how to use it. Cowritten by career guru Richard Nelson Bolles and his son, nontraditional career expert Mark Emery Bolles, Job-Hunting Online helps job seekers navigate the overwhelming amount of information available on the Internet to find the most useful sites and avoid common pitfalls. Filled with hundreds of annotated website recommendations and newly reorganized to follow the action steps of a successful job hunt, this time-saving desktop guide is essential to an effective online job search.



    Table of Contents:

    Introduction     1
    Getting Started     10
    Resumes     38
    The Job Boards     52
    Contacts and Networking     81
    Counseling and Testing     114
    Online Research     129
    Sources     189
    Index     192
    About the Authors     200

    Interesting book: 365 Vegetarian Soups or Tra Vigne Cookbook

    Secrets of Social Media Marketing: How to Use Online Conversations and Customer Communities to Turbo-Charge Your Business!

    Author: Paul Gillin

    Secrets of Social Media Marketing is a handbook for marketers and business owners to use in deciding how to employ the new social media for online marketing. Social media has quickly moved from the periphery of marketing into the forefront, but this is a new and quickly-evolving field and there are few established formulas for success. Building on the lessons set out in Gillin’s acclaimed and oft-reviewed The New Influencers: A Marketer’s Guide to the New Social Media, this book provides practical advice on strategy, tools, and tactics. It is a hands-on manual that will educate marketers on how to extend their brands, generate leads, and engage customer communities using online tools.



    Monday, December 29, 2008

    Microsoft Office 2007 or The Distance Manager

    Microsoft Office 2007: Introductory Concepts and Techniques, Windows Vista

    Author: Gary B Shelly

    In Microsoft Office 2007: Introductory Concepts and Techniques you'll find features that are specifically designed to improve retention and prepare readers for future success. Our trademark step-by-step, screen-by-screen approach now encourages users to expand their understanding of the Office 2007 software through experimentation, exploration, and planning ahead.



    Table of Contents:
    Essential Introduction to Computers Microsoft Windows Vista
    1. Introduction to Windows Vista Microsoft Word 2007
    1. Creating and Editing a Word Document
    2. Creating a Research Paper
    3. Creating a Cover Letter and a Resume Web Feature: Creating a Web Page Using Word Microsoft Excel 2007
    1. Creating a Worksheet and an Embedded Chart
    2. Formulas, Functions, Formatting, and Web Queries
    3. What-If Analysis, Charting, and Working with Large Worksheets Web Feature: Creating Web Pages Using Excel Microsoft Access 2007
    1. Creating and Using a Database
    2. Querying a Database
    3. Maintaining a Database Integration Feature: Sharing Data Among Applications Microsoft PowerPoint 2007
    1. Creating and Editing a Presentation
    2. Creating a Presentation with Illustrations and Shapes Web Feature: Creating Web Pages Using PowerPoint Microsoft Outlook 2007
    1. Managing E-Mail and Contacts with Outlook Microsoft Office 2007 Integration
    1. Integrating Office 2007 Applications and the World Wide Web
    Appendices A: Project Planning Guidelines B: Introduction to Microsoft Office 2007 C: Microsoft Office 2007 Help D: Publishing Office 2007 Web Pages to a Web Server E: Customizing Microsoft Office 2007 F: Steps for the Windows XP User G: Microsoft Business Certification Program

    Interesting textbook: The Commanding Heights or Confessions of an Economic Hit Man

    The Distance Manager: A Hands on Guide to Managing off-Site Employees and Virtual Teams

    Author: Kimball Fisher

    Global business demands and new technologies have created a virtual workplace for many companies, with employees and teams routinely collaborating from distant geographical locations on the road, from home, at client sites—even on the other side of the globe. The Distance Manager provides practical information and tools to help managers bridge the communication gaps created by geographical separation, and get peak performance from employees they rarely see. This handbook is perfect for sales managers, project team leaders, senior managers, and anyone who manages people at more than one location. Key topics include:
    • Using e-mail, teleconferencing, and videoconferencing for maximum effectiveness
    • Mastering the people skills required to manage from a distance
    • Virtual team building, and strategies for managing multiple locations

    Kimball Fisher and Mareen Fisher are co-founders of The Fisher Group, Inc. and have worked with many Fortune 100 companies to implement high- performance management systems. They have consulted to clients in North America, Western Europe, Asia and Africa with companies such as Amoco, Apple Computers, Chevron, Corning, Delphi/Delco, Hewlett-Packard, Monsanto, Motorola, NBC, PepsiCo, Proctor and Gamble, The Port of Seattle, Shell, and Weyerhaeuser. The Fishers have trained thousands of managers. They are widely published and are popular speakers on teams, leadership and organization design. Kimball. Fisher is author of Leading Self-Directed Work Teams and co-author of Tips for Teams.



    The Kodak Most Basic Book of Digital Photography or Adobe Dreamweaver CS4 How Tos

    The Kodak Most Basic Book of Digital Photography

    Author: Jeff Wignall


    With digital cameras selling faster every day, there are countless new owners desperate for a very basic overview. Problem solved: Kodak is here with a beginner’s guide that delivers a rich blend of information, inspiration, and visual interest that will orient the newcomer in the exciting world of digital photograpy. After whetting the novice’s appetite with an overview of the advantages of digital technology, it explains the fundamentals of camera resolution; the ins and outs of essential equipment; and a variety of techniques for utilizing flash and exposure settings, zoom features, and achieving great effects, indoors or out. There are even time-tested tips on how to see creatively, and comprehensive coverage of downloading, editing, and printing the pictures. Loads of images, charts, and illustrations show the way.



    Interesting book: Gluten Free Baking Classics or Living Cuisine

    Adobe Dreamweaver CS4 How-Tos: 100 Essential Techniques

    Author: David Karlins

    Adobe Dreamweaver CS4 is more than just the world's most popular and powerful Web design tool: As part of Creative Suite 4 (which includes Photoshop CS4 and Flash CS4), it's a key component of an overall Web design workflow that encourages users to rely on all of their applications to seamlessly create graphically rich content for the Web and motion graphics. This information- and image-packed guide lets users get right down to work by providing exact steps for the Dreamweaver CS4 features they're most likely to need and use, including new features like CSS-based page layout with Absolute Placement objects, Spry datasets for pages built with live data, Spry validation forms for collecting user input, and Spry effects. The book showcases each in a stand-alone tip, complete with a relevant hint or two and helpful screenshot. This is how readers can learn just what they need to know, exploring the program at their own pace to learn just the features and tools they need.



    Sams Teach Yourself Adobe Creative Suite 3 All in One Sams Teach Yourself Series or The Photodex Official Guide to Proshow

    Sams Teach Yourself Adobe Creative Suite 3 All in One [Sams Teach Yourself Series]

    Author: Mordy Golding

    In just a short time you can learn how to use all the components of Adobe Creative Suite 3 (Design Premium Edition) to design, create, and edit graphics, publications, and web pages of all kinds–everything from simple brochures to entire integrated ad campaigns.

    Using a straightforward, step-by-step approach, each lesson in this book builds on the previous ones, enabling you to learn the essentials of Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Flash, Dreamweaver, Acrobat, and Bridge from the ground up.

    “This book should be required reading for every introductory digital graphics course. Mordy has packed this book with great information for folks at all levels of expertise!”

     – Sharon Steuer, author of The Illustrator CS3 Wow! Book

    Mordy Golding has played an active role in the design and publishing environment since 1990. He worked at Adobe as the product manager for Adobe Illustrator and is currently a consultant and trainer specializing in Adobe Creative Suite. A production artist for both print and the Web for many years, he is an Adobe Certified Expert and Adobe Certified Print Specialist.

    John Ray is a senior business analyst and developer for The Ohio State University Research Foundation. He provides custom network, security, and programming solutions for clients across the country, including the National Regulatory Research Institute and the Brevard Metropolitan Planning Organization in Florida.

    Learn how to…

    • Choose the ideal Creative Suite 3 application for the job
    • Make accurate selections
    • Manage complex compositions with layers
    • Apply filters, effects, and transformations
    • Control color andtype precisely
    • Manipulate vector objects
    • Paint, draw, and animate objects
    • Prepare images for use on the Web
    • Create websites
    • Display and print your work anywhere–exactly as designed
    • Design brochures
    • Develop an entire integrated ad campaign
    <%END_COMM_GRP%>



    Table of Contents:
    Part I: The Suite

    Chapter 1: Overview: The Creative Process 3

    The Dream Team........................................................................... 4

    Adobe Bridge CS3............................................................ 4

    Adobe Photoshop CS3..................................................... 4

    Adobe Illustrator CS3....................................................... 5

    Adobe InDesign CS3........................................................ 6

    Adobe Flash CS3 Professional.......................................... 7

    Adobe Dreamweaver CS3................................................ 7

    Adobe Acrobat 8.0 Professional........................................ 8

    The Different Versions of Adobe Creative Suite 3.......................... 9

    Adobe Creative Suite 3 Design Premium............................ 9

    Adobe Creative Suite 3 Design Standard........................... 9

    Adobe Creative Suite 3 Web Premium............................... 9

    Adobe Creative Suite 3 Web Standard.............................. 9

    Adobe Creative Suite 3 Production Premium...................... 9

    Adobe Creative Suite 3 Master Collection....................... 10

    Summary..................................................................................... 10

    Chapter 2: So Many Applications: Which One to Use? 11

    Adobe Bridge CS3...................................................................... 12

    Where Bridge Came From............................................... 12

    What Bridge Does........................................................... 12

    When to Use Bridge........................................................ 14

    Adobe Photoshop CS3............................................................... 15

    Where Photoshop Came From........................................ 15

    What Photoshop Does..................................................... 15

    When to Use Photoshop.................................................. 19

    Adobe Illustrator CS3................................................................. 20

    Where Illustrator Came From.......................................... 20

    What Illustrator Does....................................................... 20

    When to Use Illustrator........................................................ 24

    Adobe InDesign CS3.................................................................. 25

    Where InDesign Came From........................................... 25

    What InDesign Does........................................................ 26

    When to Use InDesign..................................................... 29

    Adobe Flash CS3 Professional.................................................... 30

    Where Flash Came From................................................. 30

    What Flash Does............................................................. 30

    When to Use Flash.......................................................... 33

    Adobe Dreamweaver CS3.......................................................... 33

    Where Dreamweaver Came From................................... 34

    What Dreamweaver Does................................................ 34

    When to Use Dreamweaver............................................. 37

    Adobe Acrobat 8 Professional..................................................... 38

    Where Acrobat Came From............................................ 38

    What Acrobat Does........................................................ 38

    When to Use Acrobat...................................................... 41

    Summary..................................................................................... 43

    Chapter 3: The Game Plan: Developing a Workflow 45

    What Is a Workflow?.................................................................. 45

    Understanding Print, the Web, and Beyond.................................. 47

    Designing for Print....................................................................... 47

    Corporate Identity........................................................... 48

    Brochure......................................................................... 48

    Advertising Campaign...................................................... 48

    Designing for the Web................................................................. 49

    Web Banner.................................................................... 49

    Website........................................................................... 49

    Designing for Both Print and the Web........................................... 50

    Print/Online Newsletter.................................................... 50

    Interactive PDF............................................................... 50

    Moving to a PDF Workflow........................................................ 50

    Summary..................................................................................... 51

    Chapter 4: The Key That Makes It All Work: Integration 67

    Getting Started with the Creative Suite......................................... 67

    Real World System Requirements for Running the Creative Suite 68

    Quick Tip for Launching the Suite Applications................. 70

    Common User Interface............................................................... 71

    Panels and Docks........................................................................ 71

    Showing/Hiding Panels..................................................... 72

    Adjusting Panels.............................................................. 74

    Docking Panels................................................................ 76

    Custom Workspaces....................................................... 79

    Tools........................................................................................... 81

    The Tools Panel............................................................... 81

    Selection Tools................................................................ 84

    Drawing Tools................................................................. 91

    Keyboard Shortcuts.................................................................... 92

    Making Your Own Shortcuts....................................................... 94

    Moving Data Between Apps........................................................ 95

    Copy and Paste............................................................... 95

    Exporting/Importing......................................................... 96

    Native File Support......................................................... 96

    Creating PDF Files...................................................................... 97

    Enhancing Integration with Metadata............................................ 98

    Summary..................................................................................... 99

    Part II: The Applications

    Chapter 5: Using Adobe Bridge CS3 103

    Finding Your Way Around in Bridge.......................................... 103

    Understanding the Bridge Window................................. 104

    Managing the Bridge Workspace................................... 105

    Browsing Your Files.................................................................. 106

    The Folders Panel.......................................................... 106

    The Content Panel......................................................... 107

    The Favorites Panel....................................................... 108

    Viewing Files, Setting Metadata, and Filtering Content................ 109

    The Preview Panel......................................................... 109

    The Metadata Panel....................................................... 110

    The Keywords Panel..................................................... 111

    Additional Metadata Settings......................................... 112

    Filtering Based on Metadata.......................................... 112

    Finding Files Based on Metadata................................... 113

    Accessing Professional Photography Services............................. 113

    Adobe Stock Photos..................................................... 114

    Adobe Photographers Directory.................................... 115

    Other Bridge Functions.............................................................. 115

    Bridge Home................................................................. 115

    Acrobat Connect........................................................... 116

    Get Photos from Camera............................................... 116

    Version Cue.................................................................. 117

    Creative Suite Color Settings......................................... 117

    Summary................................................................................... 119

    Chapter 6: Using Adobe Photoshop CS3 121

    Introduction to Photoshop CS3.................................................. 121

    Opening, Creating, and Importing Files....................................... 123

    The Open Dialog Box.................................................... 123

    Creating a New File........................................................... 124

    Importing Images............................................................... 127

    Customizing Your Interface with Workspaces............................ 128

    Working with Selections............................................................ 129

    Marquee Selection Tools............................................... 130

    Lasso Tools................................................................... 131

    Magic Wand................................................................. 133

    The Quick Selection Tool.............................................. 135

    Feathering..................................................................... 135

    Modifying Selections...................................................... 138

    Channels....................................................................... 140

    Paths............................................................................. 141

    Layers and Effects..................................................................... 143

    Layers 101.................................................................... 144

    Layer Groups................................................................ 147

    Layer Styles.................................................................. 147

    Layer Comps................................................................ 149

    Working with Masks................................................................. 151

    Layer Masks................................................................. 151

    Vector Masks............................................................... 152

    Quick Mask Mode........................................................ 152

    Applying Transformations.......................................................... 153

    Smart Objects............................................................... 154

    Digital Painting........................................................................... 156

    Choosing Colors............................................................ 157

    Gradients....................................................................... 158

    The Brush and Pencil Tools............................................ 161

    History Brush................................................................ 163

    Art History Brush.......................................................... 164

    Photoshop and the Web............................................................ 165

    Slicing........................................................................... 167

    Creating Simple Web Animations................................... 169

    Setting Type.............................................................................. 171

    Styling Text................................................................... 172

    Warping Text................................................................ 173

    Adjusting Images....................................................................... 174

    Auto Controls................................................................ 174

    Levels........................................................................... 174

    Curves.......................................................................... 175

    Shadow/Highlight........................................................... 177

    Adjustment Layers......................................................... 178

    Match Color.................................................................. 179

    Dodge and Burn Tools................................................... 180

    Retouching Images..................................................................... 180

    The Clone Stamp Tool................................................... 180

    The Healing Brush......................................................... 181

    The Spot Healing Brush................................................. 182

    The Patch Tool.............................................................. 182

    Red Eye Correction....................................................... 182

    Optical Lens Correction................................................. 183

    Blurring Images.............................................................. 183

    Sharpening Images......................................................... 184

    Getting Rid of Dust and Scratches.................................. 185

    Other Filters.............................................................................. 186

    Vanishing Point.............................................................. 186

    Filter Gallery.................................................................. 188

    Extract.......................................................................... 190

    Liquify........................................................................... 192

    Noise............................................................................ 193

    Smart Filters.............................................................................. 194

    Automating Tasks...................................................................... 196

    Actions.......................................................................... 196

    Scripts........................................................................... 197

    Photomerge................................................................... 198

    Crop and Straighten Photos........................................... 199

    Spot Colors............................................................................... 199

    Spot Channels............................................................... 200

    Monotones, Duotones, Tritones, and Quadtones............ 200

    Saving and Printing Files............................................................ 202

    Summary................................................................................... 203

    Chapter 7: Using Adobe Illustrator CS3 205

    Introduction to Illustrator CS3.................................................... 205

    Creating and Opening Files........................................................ 208

    Creating a New File....................................................... 208

    Creating a New File from a Template............................. 209

    Opening Files................................................................ 210

    Drawing Basic Vector Objects................................................... 211

    Drawing Closed Vectors: Shapes................................... 211

    Drawing Open Vectors: Paths........................................ 217

    Working with Selections............................................................ 236

    The Selection Tool......................................................... 236

    The Direct Selection Tool.............................................. 237

    Grouping Objects.......................................................... 238

    The Group Selection Tool.............................................. 239

    The Lasso Tool............................................................. 240

    The Magic Wand Tool................................................... 241

    Fills and Strokes........................................................................ 241

    Solid Colors.................................................................. 242

    Gradients....................................................................... 243

    Patterns......................................................................... 246

    Strokes......................................................................... 247

    Offset Path and Outline Path.......................................... 249

    Live Paint Groups...................................................................... 250

    Brushes..................................................................................... 252

    Calligraphic Brushes...................................................... 252

    Scatter Brushes............................................................. 254

    Art Brushes................................................................... 256

    Pattern Brushes............................................................. 257

    Organizing Your Files Using Layers............................................ 259

    The Layers Panel........................................................... 260

    Using Layers in the Design Process................................ 261

    The Appearance Panel............................................................... 262

    Masking Objects....................................................................... 263

    Clipping Masks............................................................. 264

    Layer Clipping Masks.................................................... 265

    Opacity Masks.............................................................. 265

    Applying Transformations.......................................................... 267

    Moving Objects............................................................. 268

    Rotate, Scale, Reflect, and Shear................................... 269

    The Free Transform Tool............................................... 274

    Transform Each............................................................. 275

    The Transform Panel...................................................... 278

    Transform Again............................................................ 278

    Aligning Objects............................................................ 279

    Defining a Key Object................................................... 280

    Using Symbols........................................................................... 281

    The Symbolism Tools.................................................... 282

    Working with Type.................................................................... 286

    Text on a Path............................................................... 288

    Formatting Text............................................................. 288

    Converting Text into Vector Shapes............................... 291

    Live Effects............................................................................... 291

    The 3D Effects.............................................................. 293

    The Rasterize Effect....................................................... 302

    The Stylize Effects......................................................... 303

    Warp............................................................................ 307

    Global Live Effects Settings............................................ 308

    Expanding an Appearance............................................. 309

    Distortion with Envelopes........................................................... 309

    Blends....................................................................................... 311

    Working with Raster Images...................................................... 313

    Vector Tracing.......................................................................... 314

    Charts and Graphs..................................................................... 315

    Creating a Graph........................................................... 316

    Graph Options............................................................... 318

    Ungrouping Your Graph................................................ 319

    Web Graphics........................................................................... 319

    Pixel Preview................................................................. 319

    Object-Based Slicing..................................................... 321

    Save for Web and Devices............................................ 321

    Saving/Exporting Files................................................................ 325

    Save.............................................................................. 325

    Export........................................................................... 332

    Save for Microsoft Office.............................................. 332

    Printing...................................................................................... 333

    Summary................................................................................... 334

    Chapter 8: Using Adobe InDesign CS3 335

    Introduction to InDesign CS3..................................................... 335

    Creating a New File....................................................... 336

    Creating a New File from a Template............................. 338

    The Open Dialog Box.................................................... 338

    The InDesign Workspace.............................................. 339

    High-Resolution Preview................................................ 340

    Rulers and Guides.......................................................... 340

    Making Selections and Applying Transformations........... 341

    Placing Content......................................................................... 341

    To Frame or Not to Frame?.......................................... 341

    Placing Text................................................................... 343

    Text Threading.............................................................. 344

    Placing Images............................................................... 345

    Cropping and Scaling Images......................................... 347

    Managing Placed Content.............................................. 349

    The Power of Typography......................................................... 351

    Fonts and OpenType Support........................................ 351

    Character Formatting..................................................... 353

    Kerning and Tracking.................................................... 354

    Paragraph Formatting.................................................... 355

    Styles............................................................................ 356

    Setting Tab Stops.......................................................... 359

    Change Case................................................................. 359

    Converting Text to Outlines............................................ 359

    The Story Editor............................................................ 360

    Checking Spelling.......................................................... 361

    Using the Dictionary....................................................... 361

    Search and Replace....................................................... 362

    Text Frame Options....................................................... 362

    Working with Objects................................................................ 363

    Grouping Objects.......................................................... 363

    The Pathfinder and Align Panels..................................... 363

    Aligning and Distributing Objects........................................ 365

    Coloring Objects....................................................................... 365

    Fills and Strokes............................................................ 365

    Working with Swatches................................................. 365

    Spot Colors................................................................... 366

    Corner Options............................................................. 367

    Object Styles................................................................. 368

    Layout Techniques..................................................................... 369

    Snippets........................................................................ 369

    Creating a Text Wrap.................................................... 369

    The Pages Panel............................................................ 370

    Layers........................................................................... 371

    Working with Large Documents..................................... 372

    Creating and Using Tables......................................................... 375

    Modifying Tables........................................................... 375

    Styling Tables................................................................ 376

    Table Styles................................................................... 377

    Table Headers and Footers............................................ 377

    Using the Table Panel.................................................... 378

    Adding Interactivity.................................................................... 378

    Movies.......................................................................... 378

    Hyperlinks..................................................................... 379

    Bookmarks....................................................................... 380

    Saving, Printing, and Prepress.................................................... 381

    Exporting Files............................................................... 381

    Separations Preview...................................................... 382

    Preflight......................................................................... 383

    Package........................................................................ 383

    Cross-Media Export...................................................... 384

    Printing.......................................................................... 384

    Summary................................................................................... 387

    Chapter 9: Using Adobe Flash CS3 389

    Getting Started with Flash.......................................................... 389

    Navigating the Flash Interface........................................ 390

    The Stage...................................................................... 391

    The Tools Panel............................................................. 393

    The Timeline Panel......................................................... 394

    The Properties Panel...................................................... 396

    The Library Panel and Symbols...................................... 396

    Other Panels.................................................................. 397

    Drawing in Flash........................................................................ 399

    Tools............................................................................. 399

    Viewing and Modification Tools..................................... 400

    Creation Tools............................................................... 400

    Selecting and Transforming Objects........................................... 405

    Selection Tools.............................................................. 405

    The Eyedropper Tool.................................................... 406

    Transforming Scale, Rotation, Envelope, and Distortion.. 406

    Smoothing and Straightening Shapes.............................. 408

    Using Snap to Objects to Connect Shapes..................... 408

    Animation Basics and Terminology............................................. 409

    Frames and Frame Rate................................................. 409

    Frame Rate Versus the Number of Frames..................... 411

    Frame Rates of Different Types of Animation................. 411

    Keyframes and Blank Keyframes................................... 412

    Tweening....................................................................... 413

    Important Flash Document Properties........................................ 413

    Simple Frame Animations and Tools.......................................... 415

    Previewing an Animation by Using Test Movie............... 416

    Editing One Keyframe at a Time.................................... 416

    Using the Frame View Settings....................................... 417

    Using the Onion Skin Tools............................................ 418

    Incorporating Pauses..................................................... 419

    Advanced Animation Through Tweening.................................... 420

    Tweening More than Position......................................... 421

    Using Ease In and Ease Out........................................... 422

    Making a Shape Tween..................................................... 423

    Importing Graphics, Sounds, and Movies................................... 423

    Importing Graphics........................................................ 423

    Importing Sounds.......................................................... 425

    Importing from a File..................................................... 425

    Importing Video............................................................ 429

    Creating Buttons for Interactive Animations................................ 433

    Making a Button............................................................ 433

    Setting Button States...................................................... 434

    Using ActionScript and Behaviors to Create Nonlinear Movies... 435

    The Actions Panel.......................................................... 436

    Specifying Actions and Using Parameters....................... 438

    Frame Actions............................................................... 440

    Button Actions............................................................... 441

    Movie Clip Actions........................................................ 443

    Using Behaviors............................................................. 446

    Publishing Your Animation......................................................... 448

    Summary................................................................................... 449

    Chapter 10: Using Adobe Dreamweaver CS3 451

    Defining Your Web Project........................................................ 451

    Creating New Documents.............................................. 452

    Editing Individual Files................................................... 452

    Creating a Site............................................................... 452

    Navigating the Dreamweaver Workspace................................... 456

    Document Window........................................................ 457

    Insert Panel................................................................... 459

    Properties Panel............................................................ 460

    Other Panel Groups....................................................... 461

    Managing Your Workspace Layout............................... 464

    Creating and Editing Basic Pages............................................... 465

    Setting a Page Title........................................................ 465

    Choosing an Editing View and Using View Controls....... 466

    Adding and Modifying Page Content.................................. 475

    Working with Images................................................................. 479

    Adding an Image........................................................... 479

    Image Attributes............................................................ 480

    Adding Rollover Images................................................. 486

    Advanced Layout with Tables.................................................... 493

    Basic Tables.................................................................. 493

    Adding and Modifying Table Content............................. 494

    Using Layout Tables...................................................... 497

    Advanced Layout with Frames................................................... 500

    Adding Frameset Objects.............................................. 500

    Creating Arbitrary Frames............................................. 501

    Resizing Frames............................................................. 501

    Setting Frame Names and HTML Sources..................... 502

    Setting the Scrolling and Resize Attributes...................... 502

    Setting Borders.............................................................. 503

    Targeting Linked Pages to Open in a Specific Frame...... 503

    Advanced Layout with Layers and CSS..................................... 504

    Creating a Layer............................................................ 504

    Positioning Layers.......................................................... 505

    Layer Content............................................................... 506

    Using the AP Elements Panel......................................... 506

    Using Cascading Style Sheets.................................................... 508

    Internal Versus External................................................. 508

    Creating Tag Styles........................................................ 509

    Creating a Class Style.................................................... 510

    External CSS................................................................. 511

    Transferring Files to and from Remote Sites................................ 512

    Adding Your Remote Site Connection............................ 512

    The File Transfer Interface............................................. 516

    Importing an Existing Website........................................ 519

    Reusing Content in a Website by Using the Library..................... 520

    Creating a Library Item.................................................. 520

    Adding a Library Item to a Page.................................... 524

    Making Changes to a Library Item................................. 525

    Summary................................................................................... 526

    Chapter 11: Using Adobe Acrobat 8 Professional 527

    Introduction to Acrobat............................................................. 527

    Viewing PDF Files..................................................................... 528

    Setting File View Modes................................................ 528

    Navigation Tools........................................................... 529

    Other Panels.................................................................. 531

    Managing Multiple Windows.......................................... 534

    Creating PDF Files.................................................................... 534

    Creating a PDF File from One or More Files.................. 534

    Creating a PDF File from Microsoft Applications........... 535

    Creating a PDF File from a Web Page........................... 535

    Creating a PDF File from a Scanner............................... 536

    Editing and Manipulating PDF Files............................................ 537

    TouchUp Tools............................................................. 538

    Checking Spelling.......................................................... 538

    Using Comments and Markup.................................................... 538

    Adding Text Edits.......................................................... 539

    Adding Sticky Notes..................................................... 539

    Stamp Tool................................................................... 540

    Advanced Comment and Markup Tools......................... 541

    Importing and Exporting Comments............................... 542

    Summarizing Comments................................................. 542

    Reviewing PDF Documents....................................................... 543

    Email-Based Review...................................................... 543

    Review Tracker............................................................. 544

    Enabling Review Features for Adobe Reader Users........ 544

    Using Sound and Movies........................................................... 544

    Adding Sound............................................................... 544

    Adding Movies.............................................................. 544

    Creating Interactivity.................................................................. 545

    Adding Bookmarks....................................................... 545

    Linking and Actions....................................................... 546

    JavaScript Support........................................................ 546

    Ensuring Accessibility................................................................. 547

    Using Forms.............................................................................. 548

    Creating Forms.............................................................. 548

    Performing Calculations................................................. 551

    Importing and Exporting Form Data................................... 552

    Security..................................................................................... 553

    Restricting Opening and Editing...................................... 553

    Encrypting for Certain Identities..................................... 554

    Digital Signatures........................................................... 554

    Certified PDF................................................................ 556

    PDF Presentations..................................................................... 557

    Creating a Slideshow..................................................... 557

    Full Screen Preferences................................................. 558

    Printing and Saving PDF Files.................................................... 559

    Saving........................................................................... 559

    Reverting....................................................................... 560

    Printing.......................................................................... 561

    Advanced Printing Options............................................ 561

    Preflight......................................................................... 563

    Acrobat Distiller........................................................................ 563

    Summary................................................................................... 564

    Part III: The Projects

    Chapter 12: Creating a Corporate Identity 567

    Creating a Version Cue Project.................................................. 567

    Creating the Logo...................................................................... 568

    Choosing a Typeface..................................................... 568

    Creating an Illustration................................................... 569

    Saving the Logo............................................................. 574

    Preparing a Photo...................................................................... 574

    Adjusting the Image....................................................... 574

    Saving the Image........................................................... 576

    Designing the Business Card...................................................... 576

    Creating a New Document............................................. 576

    Designing the Letterhead............................................................ 579

    Designing the Envelope.............................................................. 580

    Summary................................................................................... 581

    Chapter 13: Creating a Brochure 583

    Planning the Layout in InDesign.................................................. 583

    Importing the Text..................................................................... 584

    Preparing Images....................................................................... 586

    Designing the Cover................................................................... 589

    Text Effects................................................................... 590

    Additional Images and Text Styling................................. 592

    Creating a Text Wrap.................................................... 593

    Adding the Logo............................................................ 593

    Designing the Inside of the Brochure........................................... 594

    Adding a Background.................................................... 595

    Styling Text................................................................... 596

    Inserting Tables............................................................. 597

    Finishing Touches.......................................................... 599

    Summary................................................................................... 600

    Chapter 14: Creating an Ad Campaign 601

    Choosing and Preparing Images in Photoshop............................ 601

    Setting Up Pages in InDesign..................................................... 602

    Setting Up a Master Page.......................................................... 603

    Adding Common Design Elements................................. 604

    Adding Text.................................................................. 605

    Placing the Photos..................................................................... 605

    Exporting a PDF File for Review................................................ 609

    Adding Comments to the File in Acrobat.................................... 609

    Making Changes in InDesign...................................................... 611

    Exporting It As a PDF/X-1a—Compliant File.............................. 611

    Summary................................................................................... 612

    Chapter 15: Creating a Web Banner 613

    Creating a New Illustrator File................................................... 613

    Adding the Images..................................................................... 614

    Choosing a Web-Safe Color...................................................... 618

    Adding the Tag Line.................................................................. 619

    Adding the Logo........................................................................ 619

    Preparing the Layers.................................................................. 619

    Creating a Flash Animation........................................................ 620

    Summary................................................................................... 624

    Chapter 16: Creating a Web Page 625

    Creating Web Graphics............................................................. 625

    Header Graphic............................................................. 625

    Page Design.................................................................. 627

    Creating Web Graphics................................................. 632

    Creating a Site in Dreamweaver................................................. 634

    Choosing and Modifying a Layout.................................. 634

    Navigation–The Left Sidebar....................................... 639

    Main Content................................................................ 641

    Right Sidebar................................................................. 644

    Faux Column CSS Effect............................................... 645

    Previewing in a Browser................................................ 646

    Summary................................................................................... 647

    Appendix: Output: Sending Your Files to Print 649

    TOC, 0972329344, MF

    Interesting textbook: Adobe Photoshop CS3 Studio Techniques or Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi 450D

    The Photodex Official Guide to Proshow

    Author: James Karney

    With the amazing, easy-to-use features of ProShow, you can create polished multimedia productions that sizzle! Presentations are a growing part of everyday life, from the conference room to the living room, and today's viewers want presentations that pop. "The Official Photodex® Guide to ProShow®" is the solution. A comprehensive guide to ProShow for everyone from graphics and photography professionals, to educators and business professionals, and even novice home users, this book provides step-by-step, how-to-do-it examples with ample screenshots for effective instruction. You'll learn how to create stunning multimedia productions that can be shared using everything from optical media, to iPods, to streaming Web content, and more. Perfect your multimedia presentation skills as you cover the basics of design, the fundamentals of ProShow production techniques, and advanced tools to achieve professional results. Interviews with award-winning producers provide insight and ideas along with real-world examples and how-to tips from their work.



    Sunday, December 28, 2008

    Sams Teach Yourself Ajax JavaScript and PHP All in One or Adobe Photoshop Elements 6

    Sams Teach Yourself Ajax, JavaScript, and PHP All in One (Sams Teach Yourself Series)

    Author: Phil Ballard

    Sams Teach Yourself Ajax, JavaScript and PHP

    All in One

    In just a short time, you can learn how to use Ajax, JavaScript, and PHP to create interactive interfaces to your web applications by combining these powerful technologies.

    No previous Ajax programming experience is required. Using a straightforward, step-by-step approach, each lesson in this book builds on the previous ones, enabling you to learn the essentials of Ajax programming with JavaScript, PHP, and related technologies from the ground up.

    Regardless of whether you run Linux, Windows, or Mac OS X, the enclosed CD includes a complete Ajax programming starter kit that gives you all the programming tools, reference information, JavaScript libraries, and server software you need to set up a stable environment for learning, testing, and production.

    Learn how to....

    • Build better, more interactive interfaces for your web applications

    • Make JavaScript, HTML, XML, and PHP work together to create Ajax effects

    • Compile an Ajax application

    • Create and consume web services with SOAP and REST

    • Avoid common errors and troubleshoot programs

    • Use popular Ajax libraries to speed up and improve common programming tasks

    On the CD

    • XAMPP for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux—an easy-to-install package to set up a PHP- and MySQL-enabled Apache server on your computer

    • The jEdit programming editor for Windows, Mac, and Linux

    • Prototype, Scriptaculous, Rico and XOAD—popular JavaScript libraries for creating Ajax applications and effects

    • A complete Ajax, HTML, XML, and PHP tutorial reference library in searchable PDF format

    • Source code for the examples in the book



    Look this: Self Healing with Guided Imagery or Questions Answers on Death and Dying

    Adobe Photoshop Elements 6: A Visual Introduction to Digital Photography

    Author: Philip Andrews

    If you are an amateur or professional photographer who works with digital images and wants great results fast, this essential, easy-to-follow guide from world-renowned Adobe Photoshop Elements expert Philip Andrews is for you!

    There are countless ways to use Adobe's powerful Elements 6 software, and Andrews helps you with the skills to conquer them all; from turning ordinary photos into extraordinary scrapbooks, calendars, and albums to making business cards, flyers, and other promotional materials for your organization quickly and economically. Real-life examples and precise, easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions will help you get up to speed with Elements 6 fast for the results you want in no time, whether your photographs are from your digital camera or scanned images from film and slides.

    If it's in Elements, it's in this book. Andrews covers tried and true tools which have been revamped to better suit photographers' needs, such as the Adjust Color Curves and Convert to Black and White features, the Brightness/Contrast feature, and a smoother workflow for the creation of photo projects such as Photo Books, Photo Collage, Online Galleries, CD/DVD Jackets, and CD/DVD Labels. He also dives into the exciting, all-new features of Elements 6 such as:

    *The Quick Selection Tool
    *Fantastic Photomerge technology for group shots and faces, which lets you combine the best pieces from multiple images
    *Direct copy to CD/DVD to speed up your workflow when you need to copy several images to disc quickly
    *The Guided Edit Workshop with interactive technique tutorials
    *Smart Albums, to automatically add photos that match certain criteria to your Album
    *The Refine Edge feature, which allows you to control how smooth or feathered the edges of your images appear
    *A Task Pane with five different Task Modes (Organize, Fix, Create, Share and Edit) to help you manage the processing of your images

    ...and much, much more.

    Whatever your organizing, editing, creating, and sharing needs are, you'll find clear-cut, no-nonsense answers in this introductory book/CD/website learning package. If you find yourself getting stuck, Philip is just a click away with over two hours of superb video tutorials on the included CD. Or, visit the book's website, guide2elements.com, for updates and more images that you can use to practice your new skills.

    Written by a photographer for photographers, this book is for those who want to know the techniques that get results and can be put into practice immediately.

    *Best-selling author and world-renowned Elements expert Philip Andrews guides you through the latest and greatest features in this incredible software with easy-to-follow, precise step-by-step instructions
    *Think again before you hit that delete button - beautiful, full color images show you how to rework ordinary shots into extraordinary pieces of art
    *Begin practicing your new skills immediately with over TWO HOURS of superb video tutorials included on the CD



    Table of Contents:
    Note that this is the table of contents from the current edition for Elements version 5.0. The author will adjust based on software updates (not yet released) as necessary, but basic structure will remain the same.

    The Buzz of Digital Photography; Introducing Photoshop Elements X; First Steps; Simple Image Changes; Hands on Techniques; Using Selections and Layers; Combining Text with Your Images; Using Elements? Painting and Drawing Tools; Photo Layouts; Creating Great Panoramas; Preparing Images for the Web or E-mail; Preparing Images for Printing; Photo Creations; Managing Your Files; Theory into Practice: Real Life Elements Projects; Where to From Here?

    ActionScript 3 in Adobe Flash CS3 Professional Hands On Training or A Practical Guide to Ubuntu Linux

    ActionScript 3 in Adobe Flash CS3 Professional Hands-On Training

    Author: Todd Perkins

    When Flash Player 9 released in June 2006, it introduced the new scripting language, ActionScript 3, which has already taken hold in the Adobe Flex application development community. In its latest release, Flash CS3 incorporates this new and much improved upon language into its development environment, giving Flash authors more flexibility than ever before. Now, they just need to learn how to use it and get started quickly. For the first time, the Flash experts at Lynda.com have poured their training expertise into this exciting book release. ActionScript 3 in Adobe Flash CS3 Professional Hands-On Training teaches readers all they need to know to get up and running with ActionScript 3 in Flash. It covers all the essentials and new features, including the brand new ActionScript debugger that allows users to step through a wide variety of properties in their code at runtime, with greater flexibility and feedback. Readers will also learn modern Web design and workflow techniques for developing their projects successfully with Flash using ActionScript 3. Accompanied by a CD-ROM loaded with classroom-proven exercises and QuickTime training videos, this book ensures readers will master the key features of ActionScript 3 in no time. Now that Flash is an integral part of the Adobe Creative Suite 3 Web Premium, Web Standard, and Design Premium packages, there is an even greater need for the clear, step-by-step approach this book offers.











    Table of Contents:
         Introduction                                  
     1   Introduction to ActionScript 3.0                                                                  
     2   Communicating to MovieClips, Variables, and People                                                             
     3   Using and Writing Functions                                  
     4   Responding to Events                                  
     5   Understanding Classes                                  
     6   Decision-Making and Repetition                                  
     7   Using Math...and Loving It!                                  
     8   Using Text and Arrays                                  
     9   Creating a Memory Game with What You Already Know                                  
     10  Using Advanced Graphic and Animation Tools                                  
     11  Working with Multimedia                                  
     12  Adding Advanced Interactivity                                   
          Appendix A: Technical Support and Troubleshooting                                  
          Appendix B: Flash CS3 Professional and ActionScript Resources   








    Interesting book: Special Diets for Special People or The Endometriosis Natural Treatment Program

    A Practical Guide to Ubuntu Linux

    Author: Mark G Sobell

    The Most Complete, Easy-to-Understand, and Useful Guide to Ubuntu Linux Desktops and Servers

    Ubuntu Linux is a state-of-the-art operating system, and you need a book that's just as advanced. Along with being the most comprehensive reference to installing, configuring, and working with Ubuntu, A Practical Guide to Ubuntu Linux® also provides extensive server coverage you won't find in any other Ubuntu book.

    Best-selling author Mark Sobell begins by walking you through every feature and technique you need to know, from installing Ubuntu – using the DVD included with the book – to working with GNOME, Samba, exim4, Apache, DNS, NIS, firestarter, and iptables. Sobell's exceptionally clear explanations demystify everything from system security to Windows file/printer sharing.

    Sobell presents full chapters on using Ubuntu from the command line and GUI; thorough system administration and security guidance; and up-to-the-minute, step-by-step instructions for setting up networks and every major type of Internet server. Along the way, you'll learn both the "hows" and the "whys" of Ubuntu. Sobell knows every Linux nook and cranny: He's taught hundreds of thousands of readers and never forgets what it's like to be new to Linux. Whether you're a user, administrator, or programmer, this book gives you all you need – and more.

    Don't settle for yesterday's Unbuntu Linux book…get the ONLY book that meets today's challenges and tomorrow's!

    This book delivers…

    • Deeper coverage of the command line and the GNOME GUI, including GUI customization
    • Coverage of important Ubuntu topics, such as sudo and the new Upstart init daemon
    • More practical coverage of file sharing with Samba, NFS, and FTP
    • More detailed, usable coverage of Internet server configuration, including Apache, exim4, and DNS/BIND
    • More state-of-the-art security techniques, including firewall setup using firestarter and iptables, as well as a full chapter on OpenSSH and an appendix on security
    • Deeper coverage of "meat-and-potatoes" system and network administration tasks–from managing users to CUPS printing, configuring LANs to building a kernel
    • A more practical introduction to writing bash shell scripts
    • Complete instructions on how to keep your Linux system up-to-date using aptitude, Synaptic, and the Software Sources window
    • And much more…including a 500+ term glossary, five detailed appendixes, and a comprehensive index to help you find what you need fast

    Print book includes DVD! Get the full version of the Ubuntu 7.10 (Gutsy Gibbon) release.