Customer Reviews

DVD Authoring with Adobe Encore DVD: A Professional Guide to Creative DVD Production and Adobe Integration

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I've had Encore since it came out and I have been looking to find some good training books on the software. I am always disappointed to see so many "dummed down" books that kind of insult my intelligence. This book really hit the mark.

There's a lot of project based sections, where you work along using materials on the DVD. This always helps me a lot. I wouldn't say this book was for someone who doesn't use computers on a regular basis. Definitely for an intermediate to advanced computer user.

I think what really puts this book apart from the others I've read is the fact that it pushes the integration of the Adobe Suite. Some of the materials I've seen focus on Encore as one program. Great section on Photoshop, basic shapes and figures, but since I don't use Photoshop a lot it was a great primer. There were even some great advanced tutorials on the project DVD.

I think the biggest reason I wrote this review is because before I read this book I wasn't really confident with Encore. But now I feel completely comfortable and at ease with the program, and I finally finished the DVD I had been working on since I bought Encore in August '03. It turned out exactly how I wanted it. And if it worked for a "not so dummy" like me, I think this book will be a benefit to a lot of people working with the program.

As an experienced video editor and graphic designer I was looking to get into DVD menu design. I found this book to be a great read and very informative. If you're looking to make Encore your DVD authoring program of choice this book is a must-have. I highly recommend it.

I regret buying this book. The cover has a big sticky stating see his website for updates to Encore 1.5, but there is nothing there. I am following the first tutorial in chapter 4, and page 108, step 12 says "choose menu>new menu..... keep the black background for now.... Well my menu is not black, but is an NTSC_Radiant Menu with 6 chapter buttons already on it.It apppears Encore version 1.5 differs from 1.0 in this regard. In addition Tutorial.mpg length in time doesn't match what is depicted in the book, consequently GOP's occur at different times. MPEG requires Chapter points to be at GOP's. I find this misleading in that it doesn't follow his directives. I thought I could just do the tutorials and whizz bang be done, but this book is more trouble than it's worth. I wasted my money

Wes's book helps anyone new to Encore DVD get great results. His tutorials show how to make the most of the integration between Encore DVD and Photoshop, Premiere, and After Effects. After reading the book, you will know how to push Encore DVD to its limits.

And even if you have used Encore DVD before, Wes's insight into the DVD production process will improve your final discs.

As a reasonably experienced DVD author, I just wanted to get up to speed quickly and see how Encore relates to the DVD spec. I have been trying to get a handle on button highlights and how to use them creatively. Understanding what they are and how to use them with motion video has taken my projects to a new level. The book was already worth the money, 350 pages, and a DVD with an hour of free advanced video tutorials is included. The advanced topics and integration principles alone make this a solid purchase. Highly Recommended!!

I've read all the major DVD authoring books, only recently purchased Encore.

I was surprised how much good information there was on the DVD authoring process. Lots of tips and tricks, you can tell the author creates DVDs with the program. I expected an overview of Encore, but the way the information is preseted is quite digestable and there were lots of good tips on the overall authoring process.

I would have liked to seen more advanced motion menu creation with After Effects, but I guess I can't expect this book to cover everything.

A great deal and great book for 25 bucks!

I've been a Premiere user for a long time, and after toying with DVD production for the last year, I was looking for a book that would give me a better understanding of the process. This book did exactly that! It's very thorough, and covers everything I needed to know including planning, compression issues, and then building and burning the disc.

The thing I liked most is that it gives actual examples that show important details about integration with the other Adobe applications. I don't use all the apps, but this book gave me excellent insight on the major features that apply directly to DVD authoring, like making my own buttons and adding motion to menus.

All in all, this book gave me a lot of great ideas, and my DVD projects show it.

This book may have been good in its day, however, anyone using Encore CS3/4/5 are going to be disappointed. This book is focussed on the PC version only and all the material on the DVD for following the projects is unreadable for later version of Encore, particularly Mac users. Maybe the author needs to think about taking this off the market or developing an updated edition that covers both platforms.

The basics of DVD authoring that begin the book are as useful as the Encore DVD tutorials. As an experienced video editor, I've had Encore for some time, but authoring a DVD is a very different process than editing linear video. The author lays it out in clear terms.

Well worth the purchase.

My viewpoint on software books is predicated on my lack of schooling in computer software; with that in mind you know I'm hard to please, especially with a big program like Encore to work with. Howell's book is a general introduction to Encore, and as such misses the point. For example, my interest in Encore revolves about Manual Slide Shows---and Howell doesn't even mention this technique. Apparently I have reached the point in my working with Encore that I need more specific information, which I suspect many others working with Encore also need. In the above context two much better books areThe Focal Easy Guide to Adobe ® Encore DVD 2.0 (The Focal Easy Guide), and the Adobe Encore DVD 2.0 User Guide, which ships with Encore and isn't sold as a stand alone text, for whatever reason. I have a collection of 6 Encore instruction books and I would put Howell's book below the above referenced books.

What I would like to see is some sort of technical "cook book", wherein a person could look at experienced people's favorite routines and comments.