Visual Effects in A Digital World: A Comprehensive Glossary of over 7000 Visual Effects Terms (The Morgan Kaufmann Series in Computer Graphics) [Paperback]

Karen Goulekas (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0122937856 | ISBN-13: 978-0122937859 | Publication Date: August 10, 2001 | Edition: 1

As the visual effects industry has diversified, so too have the books written to serve the needs of this industry. Today there are hundreds of highly specialized titles focusing on particular aspects of film and broadcast animation, computer graphics, stage photography, miniature photography, color theory, and many others.
Visual Effects in a Digital World offers a much-needed reconsolidation of this knowledge. All of the industry's workers frequently need to understand concepts from other specialties, and this book-the only one of its kind-lets them look up and grasp the basics of any visual effects concept in a matter of seconds. It's a great way for everyone, regardless of experience, to find their way through the jargon and learn what they need to know.

* Authoritative coverage from a winner visual effects expert-winner of a British Academy Award and two Emmys.
* Cover topics such as computer graphics, digital compositing, live action, stage, and miniature photography, and a wide range of computer and Internet concepts.
* Offers job descriptions for positions found throughout the industry.
* Demystifies the jargon used by practitioners in every subspecialty.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

If you call yourself a computer graphics professional but aren't sure of the meaning of cukaloris, Lambertian reflection, or umbra, you might want to pick up a copy of Visual Effects in a Digital World: A Comprehensive Glossary of over 7,000 Visual Effects Terms. Educational, fun, and historically fascinating, this is one of those books that every pixel monkey should have on his or her shelf.

If you've ever wondered what, exactly, rotoscope means (it has three different meanings) or what to eat with a "metaball," this book is for you. Chock full of interesting tidbits and a 32-page color gallery of examples, this is probably one of the more interesting technical dictionaries you'll ever have the pleasure of looking through.

Perhaps you know the difference between an array and an Arri, but the producer you're trying to explain it to is clueless. The clear, concise definitions listed here can help elucidate these terms and others so that even the most dense suit will, if not understand, at least feel like you must know what you're talking about.

It's one thing to be able to know what buttons to push, but something else entirely to be able to stump your friends with the meaning of arcane terms like Lindenmayer System or octrees. Everyone knows you're a geek. Now you can prove it. --Mike Caputo

From the Back Cover

"Extensive, exhaustive, complete...Half the terms I didn't know! Every studio exec, director, producer, student and journalist should read this book cover to cover!"
-Scott Ross, Co-Founder/CEO, Digital Domain

"An indispensable tool for anyone working in the visual effects medium today."
-Marty Cohen, Post Production Executive, DreamWorks

"Karen has put together what will soon be referred to as the 'FX terminology bible.' Amazingly comprehensive and, as books go, a whole lot of words and very, very heavy."
-Steve Oedekerk, Director

Visual Effects in a Digital World is a comprehensive guide to visual effects terms and techniques that serves as a valuable resource for both novice and professional filmmakers from different generations, disciplines, and even different continents to be able to speak the same language. Written by award-winning visual effects expert Karen Goulekas, Visual Effects in a Digital World consolidates the knowledge of this rapidly expanding industry into a manageable, accessible reference guide. Covering over 7,000 visual effects terms and providing 177 accompanying illustrations, Goulekas has written what Visual Effects Producer Fiona Stone called "a comprehensive reference book for the modern-day film industry" and "an invaluable resource for the novice and experienced filmmaker alike."

Features:

*16 pages of color from blockbuster films to illustrate definitions of terms

*Covers topics such as computer graphics, digital compositing, live action, stage, and miniature photography, and a wide range of computer and Internet concepts

*Offers job descriptions for positions found throughout the industry

*Demystifies the jargon used by practitioners in every subspecialty

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 600 pages
• Publisher: Morgan Kaufmann; 1 edition (August 10, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0122937856
• ISBN-13: 978-0122937859
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,069,489 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exactly what I wanted, August 26, 2001

By 

Ben Folkman (Brisbane, QLD Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Visual Effects in A Digital World: A Comprehensive Glossary of over 7000 Visual Effects Terms (The Morgan Kaufmann Series in Computer Graphics) (Paperback)

Karen E. Goulekas has saved me quite some time with this book by providing a complete description for over 7,000 visual effects terms often referred to within the industry. In the past, I often had to search the net for certain terms and descriptions that had me baffled...but no more. For those of you who are considering buying this book, know that it isn't a book full of pictures (Although it does contain 32 pages of colour stills); It isn't a book detailing visual effects work in particular films; It is what is says - 'A comprehensive glossary of over 7,000 visual effects terms'. If this is what you're looking for, this book is for you.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great, extremely comprehensive reference, September 17, 2001

By 

Ron Brinkmann "-ron" (Santa Monica, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Visual Effects in A Digital World: A Comprehensive Glossary of over 7000 Visual Effects Terms (The Morgan Kaufmann Series in Computer Graphics) (Paperback)

I've watched Karen put this book together over the course of the last year or so (even had a chance to give my 2cents on a couple of terms) and so I can hardly be called an Unbiased Reviewer. But now that it's done, I'd have to say that just about anybody who is involved with visual effects (which these days means just about any aspect of filmmaking in general) will find this book well worth owning. And even if you HAVE been in the industry for a long time, I guarantee that you'll be able to learn a few new things (or re-learn a few old things) after thumbing through this book.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Dictionary of Visual Effects, August 19, 2001

By 

Kim, Cheol-Min (SEOUL South Korea) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Visual Effects in A Digital World: A Comprehensive Glossary of over 7000 Visual Effects Terms (The Morgan Kaufmann Series in Computer Graphics) (Paperback)

From the publisher of 'Art &Science of Digital Compositing'

First of all, This book is not a case by case study book. This is A-Z Dictionary about Visual Effects. I was disappointed by first impression. but it contains huge contents. including 16 pages color pics. May be very helpful students,people who in effects industry.