I've researched threads on here, trying to determine if this official AS guide is worth buying.
I bought the program for a specific project, so rather than do simple stuff, I'm going to dive head first into this 10+ minute short that I've written. I'm wondering if I'd get more out of a guide, or just posting specific questions here (the saving grace of this short is that I'm going to do it in an Aqua Teen/SeaLab style, using only profile angles and front angles for the characters, no fancy perspective stuff, backgrounds will be perpendicular to camera's axis). If the guide had things that aren't in the tutorials, relatively simple things that the tutorials overlook, that would make it worth it.
I'm definitely a beginner with the program, but a guide worth buying would have to go above and beyond the tutorials, and be fairly thorough. There are so many things that can trip you up in this program.
I don't know if any of the members here are video editors, but, for example, I have the Visual Quickpro Guide to Final Cut Pro 6. This is a nicely written book with all sorts of little tips and tricks, easy to search for a given topic. Something like this for AS would be nice.
Also, I don't know how many guides there are. I saw one on Amazon (is this the only one, so far?), but also saw that Vern was working on something (the thread shows his prospective outline for the book), which sounds intriguing.
book/guide worth it?
Moderators: Víctor Paredes, Belgarath, slowtiger
I suspect the guide would be worth it to you, based on what you are looking for.
If you are a very computer savvy person, who works through all the tutorials and is willing to spend the time to learn the program on your own then you may find the guide to simply be a reference manual of what you already know. This is my situation -- it took a few months but essentially I understand completely what AS can do. However, I'm still glad I bought the book, as it contained a tidbit or two I might have missed (and it's sometimes hard to ask questions about things you don't know exist, if you understand what I am saying).
It's also a little easier to refer to the book away from the computer to make sure your understanding is complete -- that's another value to it. Finally, while I learned what I needed to know about the program there were still some questions in my mind as to whether I had understood it properly -- the book confirmed that my take on it was correct and that was reassuring (although sometimes annoying so, as I was hoping I was wrong about the lack of some features).
If you have very specific questions about the program this forum is much more helpful -- there are tips and techniques from folks like Vern, Gary and Genete that are not contained even in the guide. My own feeling is you can't have too much information.
If you are a very computer savvy person, who works through all the tutorials and is willing to spend the time to learn the program on your own then you may find the guide to simply be a reference manual of what you already know. This is my situation -- it took a few months but essentially I understand completely what AS can do. However, I'm still glad I bought the book, as it contained a tidbit or two I might have missed (and it's sometimes hard to ask questions about things you don't know exist, if you understand what I am saying).
It's also a little easier to refer to the book away from the computer to make sure your understanding is complete -- that's another value to it. Finally, while I learned what I needed to know about the program there were still some questions in my mind as to whether I had understood it properly -- the book confirmed that my take on it was correct and that was reassuring (although sometimes annoying so, as I was hoping I was wrong about the lack of some features).
If you have very specific questions about the program this forum is much more helpful -- there are tips and techniques from folks like Vern, Gary and Genete that are not contained even in the guide. My own feeling is you can't have too much information.
Personally I think that those who are new to the program, just read the manual that comes with the program. Do the all tutorials. Then buy the book. What you didn't understand the book will cover it. Go through the book and look at each example and make sure that you understand what is being done. Also look at fiziwig tutorials. Give yourself the time to learn what can be done by doing simple animations and build your skills to get what you wanted when you bought the program in the first place.
Dale
Dale
I just looked at the book today at a local Barnes and Noble. I am I guess... what you call... a pro user... I would strongly reccomend this book for anyone just starting out or even someone who has been using it a while. I don't plan to get it myself because I think I pretty much know most of the stuff in it already. For anyone who still has trouble with certain features it covers EVERYTHING.
The one thing it doesn't cover is specific... advanced tricks and techniques. I didn't read the whole book mind you but I got the impression from what I did read that it covers all the basics very thoroughly. You can always come back here for advanced techniques or ideas.
p.s. I had to check out page 78 of course.
I guess now I can continue writing my own "Advanced" book and not have to worry about covering any of the basics.
-vern
The one thing it doesn't cover is specific... advanced tricks and techniques. I didn't read the whole book mind you but I got the impression from what I did read that it covers all the basics very thoroughly. You can always come back here for advanced techniques or ideas.
p.s. I had to check out page 78 of course.
I guess now I can continue writing my own "Advanced" book and not have to worry about covering any of the basics.-vern
Yes it goes through much much more than the online manual. I would go so far as to recommend it to someone without being able to preview it. It covers everything in a way even I would do it... probably better. I tend to make assumptions about what people already know and understand.
Keep in mind the author has written bunches of manuals for all kinds of software.
-vern
Keep in mind the author has written bunches of manuals for all kinds of software.
-vern
I went to Borders yesterday and pick up the only copy they had.
The online help file is more like a overview of ASP with some tutorials. The book, however, is more in depth study of features and buttons we've all stared at, and wondered, "What the hell does that do?"
The first few chapter are an overview of the ASP interface with references to later chapter for a more in depth study. It even has tutorials which you will need the disk which comes with the book. (Always check for the disk before you buy. Some store remove it so it won't get stolen.)
If you want to get the most out of ASP, buy the book! If you think you know enough already, still buy the book. You'll never know when you may need a bit of information or feature that isn't in the online help file.
F C Snow
The online help file is more like a overview of ASP with some tutorials. The book, however, is more in depth study of features and buttons we've all stared at, and wondered, "What the hell does that do?"
The first few chapter are an overview of the ASP interface with references to later chapter for a more in depth study. It even has tutorials which you will need the disk which comes with the book. (Always check for the disk before you buy. Some store remove it so it won't get stolen.)
If you want to get the most out of ASP, buy the book! If you think you know enough already, still buy the book. You'll never know when you may need a bit of information or feature that isn't in the online help file.
F C Snow
Precise Planning And Timing
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Never Suceeds Like Dump Luck.
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Víctor Paredes
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i know AS very well, but i have curiosity about the book. i'm in chile and i can't to see the book, tak the weight, etc. (i just can order it by amazon, and with a friend card).
would i buy it?
i'm always teaching AS, i have did a couple official classes at my university (with e-frontier authorization).
what do you think?
would i buy it?
i'm always teaching AS, i have did a couple official classes at my university (with e-frontier authorization).
what do you think?
As I said, I think I know AS pretty well and I got a few tidbits from the book.
I think it's useful even if it just confirms what you think you already know -- some of what we all know we learned by trial and error and might assume it's not the whole story. You'll find out it is <bg>.
One thing no one's mentioned but I might as well -- there are some very curious editing mistakes in the book, organizational wise. I don't have the book right in front of me (in the porcelein reading room) but things like letting an export chapter (that pretty obviously belonged with the other export chapters) slip into the Bones section, or some such. It doesn't affect content per se, but it may give you pause if you are attempting to use the book section by section (offhand I think this happened at least three times, but it may only be twice for certain).
I think it's useful even if it just confirms what you think you already know -- some of what we all know we learned by trial and error and might assume it's not the whole story. You'll find out it is <bg>.
One thing no one's mentioned but I might as well -- there are some very curious editing mistakes in the book, organizational wise. I don't have the book right in front of me (in the porcelein reading room) but things like letting an export chapter (that pretty obviously belonged with the other export chapters) slip into the Bones section, or some such. It doesn't affect content per se, but it may give you pause if you are attempting to use the book section by section (offhand I think this happened at least three times, but it may only be twice for certain).