Customer Rating: 
Summary: Cringe and Read
Comment: This book was one, if not the first book available for Apple's Aperture 2 software. Being a new Aperture 2 user, I was anxious to get more familiar with the tool, so I dove in to read this book.
As part of the Apple Pro Training Series, this book reads like a typical textbook. This is a self-paced, lesson based book, complete with a DVD of projects to work from (I never used the DVD, as I used my own photos so I cannot comment on the DVD itself).
It has 12 project based lessons, one for each chapter. At the end of each chapter, a list of questions are included. The chapters include: Exploring the Aperture Workflow, Evaluating Images, Organizing Your Project, Basic Edits, Working with Raw Images, Correcting Tone, Correcting Color, Repairing and Enhancing Your Images, Delivering Images for Client Review, Delivering Final Images, Showcasing and Promoting Your Work, and Aperture Automation. The authors also include two appendices: Advanced Media Management for Professionals, and Aperture and iPhoto Integration.
The content of the book adequately covers the basic functionality of Aperture 2, but I was disappointed for the following reasons:
* Some of the writing is not clear. I found myself having to read a step several times before understanding what the authors were trying to convey, and the book's layout didn't aid me.
* The writing style is too dry for my taste, and thus, I became bored quickly.
* The authors' tips leave little to be desired. Instead of "expert insider tips", most of the tips were fairly basic. Some, I could not even classify as a tip, e.g., "...click the Options & Prices button to view the latest pricing from Apple.com..."
I also was disappointed with the layout of this book. The layout makes it cumbersome for the reader to quickly absorb the information. Maybe this layout is typical of the "Apple Pro Training Series" books; if this is the case, the publisher should make it more palatable to users. Here are some examples of layout issues that really bothered me.
* Some of the critical steps do not offer a picture, which sometimes makes it so difficult to follow.
* Some of the pictures included just show the buttons or a portion of the screen being referenced in the step, and not where exactly the button is, forcing me to waste time, hunting around the screen to find these elusive buttons. I want to see the entire Aperture 2 screen first, with the button or function circled, and then a close-up of the circled item itself.
* I would much prefer a three column page layout for step-by-step instructions (a column for pictures, steps and tips).
* Only the chapter name is included in the header of the page, not the chapter number, which forces me to have to go back to the Table of Contents to find what I need. The chapter number and subchapter title should be included on each page.
* There are tips from the authors, but they do not stand out on the page (perhaps it doesn't matter anyways, since the tips are not very interesting to read).
Summary:
This book is targeted for taking the Aperture certification course, rather than being a good reference book. It provides a basic view of Aperture functions, but it does not really provide much in the way expert tips in using Aperture 2. I do open it, as needed, since it's the only Aperture 2 book on my shelf, but each time, I cringe because the writing style is a typical dry textbook style, and the layout leaves little to be desired, in my opinion. It is, however, better than simply relying on the little "Exploring Aperture Guide" that accompanied the Aperture 2 software.
For very beginning Aperture 2 users, this book may be somewhat useful. For savvier users, consider another book.
My thoughts:
Ease of use: Dry reading that is sometimes hard to follow. Content not well laid out.
Audience: Very beginning Aperture 2 users
Cost: Reasonable
Customer Rating:
Summary: A must read for anyone using Aperture
Comment: This book and accompanying CD provide an excellent, hands-on tutorial for anyone using Aperture to process digital images. Both the professional and amateur photographer will find it beneficial. I not only learned how to add impact to my photos, I learned how to take better photos as well. The lessons are easy to follow and readers can pace the instruction to their level of experience. For those using PhotoShop, the book also address editing with PhotoShop while working in Aperture.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Aperture 2 Book Is Excellent
Comment: This is an excellent instruction book for Aperture 2.
The book is thorough and well written. I use this program
daily and have learned a great deal.
Customer Rating:
Summary: no support?
Comment: if you're trying to teach yourself [ like me ] and hit a snag -like not being able to drag & drop keywords - then the learning is over [ page 92 for me ]. there is no way to contact ben long or the other authors. now, this expensive book gathers dust. a little support goes a long way for a joe snap like me.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Excellent Step by Step Guide
Comment: This is an excellent value for the money. It takes you step by step through the process of working with aperture 2. THe DVD that comes with this book is invaluable in learning how to use this program to its limits. It is excellent from beginner to advance user. One of the better books in Apples Pro Training series.
Summary: Cringe and Read
Comment: This book was one, if not the first book available for Apple's Aperture 2 software. Being a new Aperture 2 user, I was anxious to get more familiar with the tool, so I dove in to read this book.
As part of the Apple Pro Training Series, this book reads like a typical textbook. This is a self-paced, lesson based book, complete with a DVD of projects to work from (I never used the DVD, as I used my own photos so I cannot comment on the DVD itself).
It has 12 project based lessons, one for each chapter. At the end of each chapter, a list of questions are included. The chapters include: Exploring the Aperture Workflow, Evaluating Images, Organizing Your Project, Basic Edits, Working with Raw Images, Correcting Tone, Correcting Color, Repairing and Enhancing Your Images, Delivering Images for Client Review, Delivering Final Images, Showcasing and Promoting Your Work, and Aperture Automation. The authors also include two appendices: Advanced Media Management for Professionals, and Aperture and iPhoto Integration.
The content of the book adequately covers the basic functionality of Aperture 2, but I was disappointed for the following reasons:
* Some of the writing is not clear. I found myself having to read a step several times before understanding what the authors were trying to convey, and the book's layout didn't aid me.
* The writing style is too dry for my taste, and thus, I became bored quickly.
* The authors' tips leave little to be desired. Instead of "expert insider tips", most of the tips were fairly basic. Some, I could not even classify as a tip, e.g., "...click the Options & Prices button to view the latest pricing from Apple.com..."
I also was disappointed with the layout of this book. The layout makes it cumbersome for the reader to quickly absorb the information. Maybe this layout is typical of the "Apple Pro Training Series" books; if this is the case, the publisher should make it more palatable to users. Here are some examples of layout issues that really bothered me.
* Some of the critical steps do not offer a picture, which sometimes makes it so difficult to follow.
* Some of the pictures included just show the buttons or a portion of the screen being referenced in the step, and not where exactly the button is, forcing me to waste time, hunting around the screen to find these elusive buttons. I want to see the entire Aperture 2 screen first, with the button or function circled, and then a close-up of the circled item itself.
* I would much prefer a three column page layout for step-by-step instructions (a column for pictures, steps and tips).
* Only the chapter name is included in the header of the page, not the chapter number, which forces me to have to go back to the Table of Contents to find what I need. The chapter number and subchapter title should be included on each page.
* There are tips from the authors, but they do not stand out on the page (perhaps it doesn't matter anyways, since the tips are not very interesting to read).
Summary:
This book is targeted for taking the Aperture certification course, rather than being a good reference book. It provides a basic view of Aperture functions, but it does not really provide much in the way expert tips in using Aperture 2. I do open it, as needed, since it's the only Aperture 2 book on my shelf, but each time, I cringe because the writing style is a typical dry textbook style, and the layout leaves little to be desired, in my opinion. It is, however, better than simply relying on the little "Exploring Aperture Guide" that accompanied the Aperture 2 software.
For very beginning Aperture 2 users, this book may be somewhat useful. For savvier users, consider another book.
My thoughts:
Ease of use: Dry reading that is sometimes hard to follow. Content not well laid out.
Audience: Very beginning Aperture 2 users
Cost: Reasonable
Customer Rating:
Summary: A must read for anyone using Aperture
Comment: This book and accompanying CD provide an excellent, hands-on tutorial for anyone using Aperture to process digital images. Both the professional and amateur photographer will find it beneficial. I not only learned how to add impact to my photos, I learned how to take better photos as well. The lessons are easy to follow and readers can pace the instruction to their level of experience. For those using PhotoShop, the book also address editing with PhotoShop while working in Aperture.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Aperture 2 Book Is Excellent
Comment: This is an excellent instruction book for Aperture 2.
The book is thorough and well written. I use this program
daily and have learned a great deal.
Customer Rating:
Summary: no support?
Comment: if you're trying to teach yourself [ like me ] and hit a snag -like not being able to drag & drop keywords - then the learning is over [ page 92 for me ]. there is no way to contact ben long or the other authors. now, this expensive book gathers dust. a little support goes a long way for a joe snap like me.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Excellent Step by Step Guide
Comment: This is an excellent value for the money. It takes you step by step through the process of working with aperture 2. THe DVD that comes with this book is invaluable in learning how to use this program to its limits. It is excellent from beginner to advance user. One of the better books in Apples Pro Training series.