Customer Reviews

Deconstructing Web Graphics

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

<deconstructing web graphics.2> is an invaluable resource for web designers at any level. The authors, Lynda Weinman & Jon Warren Lentz have provided us with an overview of six unique and creative web sites. Each site was chosen for its' specific approach and unusual or different use of design resources. The reader/designer is presented, through these deconstructions, with a & Background etc.

The first chapter's site is Qaswa. This is the space-age site of designer/web developer Ammon Haggerty. Weinman & Lentz's opening choice is relevant to the flow of their book. Qaswa is a beautiful site that uses software most of us designers already have on our desktops, Photoshop and Illustrator. Included here is a step-by-step deconstruction of converting Illustrator paths to Photoshop. This task description is an ideal example of how valuable this book can be.

As a Web designer and teacher of web design I have found this book to be a marvelous asset to myself and my students. The authors take the reader through the design stages of each site, from rough conception to completion. They deal with team design, client satisfaction, and the creative process. This last aspect is rather unique for a "techie book". Those of us who do this, or any kind of design (and 'try' to teach it), know that the creative process can be quite weird. For Weinman & Lentz understanding the creative process is a requisite of any good designer.

The six chapters go into a clearly written deconstruction of each site in most cases showing us the code used. Following these six chapters is a concise "Web Graphics Appendix" including small, fast graphics; lots of JPEG stuff etc. <deconstructing web graphics.2> is a needed bible for anyone currently designing for the web or interested in learning "how do they do that"?

There are a lot of books about HTML and Web design out there, but few really distinguish themselves as essential. Deconstructing Web Graphics.2 is an exception, and should sit on every serious Web designer's shelf.

Like all of Weinman's work, the book strikes an excellent balance between inspiration and practical techniques. This is a good book for designers who have some experience with Photoshop or Fireworks and want to take the next step. Weinman focuses on case studies of various Web design challenges, and looks at such areas as DHTML, Flash, and Photoshop layers.

This is book, <dcwg.2> is pleasantly different from most of the other books that I've read in this subject area. My experience with those other books is twofold: not only am I left feeling burnt for having paid so much for so little, but also I also feel ripped off for having spent so much time trying understand and apply what the author failed to convey.

<dcwg.2> is easy to get into, and it rewards my efforts. It's well written from a Photoshop user's common sense point of view. My only complaint reading yours, which is really a high compliment, is that I want more time in my day to actually apply the neat things I'm reading/learning -- it's that inspiring!

A very intresting book, the use of case studies makes the subject more intresting. It also is a great source of inspiration, and the tutorials help all, even if you don't have a mac or photoshop.

A lucid, amply illustrated book that discusses, deconstructs and explains the art of design for the Web. A "case study" format means that readers get to see the work the author discusses. The combination of ideas and easy-to-use pointers means some good general tips as well as HTML code. It's also full of resources and URL's of interest. A great book for anyone who designs, project manages or just likes the Web.

I read the book in a html class title, "the electronic book" at california state school. The instructor passed the book around for everyone to read and learn from, but the only thing the book really has is pretty colors. The book is too simplistic and does not provide practical, useful, detailed analysis of how to create optimized graphics and html code. It is a good book for inspiration, but not a book for people who are serious about pushing web pages beyond where it is now.

While this book does contain some interesting "nuggets" and tips that are useful in the areas of compression and cross-platform compatibility, it is essentailly a beginner's book.

This book takes a look at several specific Web sites to analyze what processes made the graphics. But, as the title erroneously states, the graphics are not REALLY deconstructed. Certainly, processes are overviewed and the reader leaves with a basic understanding of some techniques, but no real hard-core knowledge. To hand someone with intermediate knowledge of the Web this book and all the necessary tools and tell him to "reconstruct" the graphics would be nearly impossible. There just isn't enough information!

On the plus side, she adopts a conversational style as so many of her contemporaries have, and she pulls it off well. In many cases, the captions are more useful than the text! In addition, Mac users will happy to see that all the snapshots are from a Mac (and mostly from Photoshop.)

Honestly, it would be naive to think that all the basic tenats of Web graphics would be contained is such a small book. This is a great place for beginners to start and learn how to mimic some useful techniques. Experienced designers will already know most of this information. The publisher would be well-advised to lower the price a bit to make it more accessible to the novices that it is suited for.

Weinman set herself up on a pedastal as a supposed genious of Web site design. Unfortunately and ironically, Weinman has about as much experience designing Web sites as my 8 year old, who dabbles in HTML!

What is even more amazing is that she admits her lack of experience in the introduction to her first book. Stating, she NEVER even created a Web site, YET there she is telling the world how to design web sites all the same! Weinman may have a background in graphic design, but graphic design and Web design are two different things.

To see just how much Weinman's Verve, Vivacity and Vision is crap, visit her web site. Not much originality and certainly NOT much in the way of a well designed Web site. I'd be embarrassed to publish her pages at my Web site.

The clear and concise explanation of how the math and science of additive and subtractive color display has help this print publishing professional immensely in transitioning to the Web. Anyone who has done any designing for the Web owes Lynda Weinman a debt of gratitute for her CLUT and thorough analysis of color display and how it relates to design theory and interactivity. I found this book a painless and effective way to understand how the science and math can determine the range of color and design choices. The author's background as a teacher at one of the nation's most forward-thinking art schools really shines through as "deconstructs" successful web sites, rather like an anatomy lesson. Frankly, I don't care how the author became an expert, which some of my fellow reviewers express concern about. The fact is that the Web is being created on the fly by those who analyze, experiment and build from scratch. I've learned a lot from this, and Lynda's other, books. They have helped this ink and paper person transision to HTML and gamma display. It's an excellent companion to her "Designing Web Graphics," which I rate a ten.

While an admitted novice of web design (I've seen her site and it's not exactly revolutionary), she gives designers what they most need: interesting sites with wonderful graphics and techniques and the code they used to achieve them. Anyone with any web experience at all knows the way to learn is to "surf, study and steal". Details and explanations are clear and straightforward, given in a language that is light and informative. I found this book an invaluable reference both for inspiration and for code. The web color charts in the back are alone worth the price (almost). I anxiously await the upcoming sequel (please, please)