» Apple Pro Training Series: Motion 3

Apple Pro Training Series: Motion 3 Reviews

Customer Rating:
Summary: an acceptable introduction, needs proof reading
Comment: I struggled with whether to give this a 2 or 3 star rating...

Motion is a big beast with lots of complexity and I wasn't expecting for an introductory book to give me a complete view. This book did do a good job of surveying Motion. The examples/samples are generally pretty interesting.

However, I have similar comments to the other reviewers here...

1. The binding is bad. I am very careful with my books. I went through the book once and on opening it within a few days to refer to a section, the back half detached from the cover.

2. There are many errors in the book. When this happened, I would assume I had missed something and would then go back, restart the example and carefully follow ALL of the instructions. The bulk of the time, the error was in missing steps or in reversed steps. I think I remember a good half a dozen errors like this. (To the authors' credit, they have put in some helpful tips like 'if BLAH happens, remember to do BLAH' or 'don't forget to BLAH'.)

The other PeachPit Press Apple Pro Training books that I have gone through are very good - excellent really. When I got through those, I really felt prepared and able to use the tool. This one does not live up to those standards - book physical quality and proof reading and preparation for use of the tool. Again, beyond those issues, I would have liked a more detailed book giving me a deeper understanding to Motion but I understand the difficulty of that.

The book works acceptably as a survey of the tool, just don't get too frustrated by the errors.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Excellent Manual
Comment: This is a great book for anyone that wants to learn how to use Motion. I don't have any complaints. There are 14 ch.'s that cover every aspect of the program. After going through the chapters it's amazing what you can create from scratch in a matter of minutes or even seconds! I don't think Motion will be taking over After Effects but it can do some things better and faster than After Effects can.

I recommend this book to anyone that wants to learn an excellent motion graphics program!

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Customer Rating:
Summary: This is a great book
Comment: Now that Motion has 3D and doesn't crash, I thought, what the heck, I'll learn it. This book is great. Motion is a much deeper graphics app than I ever gave it credit for. I used to look at it as a big plug-in with some nifty effects. This book changed that thinking. It got me to stop tinkering with the program and really use it in production. I tend to loath step by step tutorials, but this book uses them well and does not forget to teach a broad understanding of the topics. So, no, it's not at all like following a recipe, it definitely teaches, reinforces (they do a great job repeating short cut keys) and leaves me feeling like a super power user wizard. Chapters are concise, projects are real world (sorry no flying saucer tutorials in this one) and its one of the few training books that I actually read cover to cover. Kudos and thanks to the writers!

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Apple has a true competitor in the compositing market with Motion 3.0
Comment: Apple Motion 3.0 is a true 3-D compositing masterpiece. It may not overtake Adobe After Effects CS3 Professional [Mac] or Apple Shake 4.1 Visual Effects (Mac) yet, but with a refined yet straightforward interface it is possible to do amazing things. But how can you learn to use it? Enter Apple Pro Training Series: Motion 3.0. This book starts from scratch, yet by the end (if you really study) your ready to take the Apple Certified User test for Motion. This looks great on a resumé.

Seriously, you can really learn to do compositing with this training book. If you are creative enough you can do most everything that After Effects can do, and once you get really good, pick up After Effects or Shake and really go crazy.

If you have ever read an Apple Pro Training book, you know that each chapter is a complete lesson. Just put a bookmark in it and come back when you get off work. Even if you get lost, most lessons have updated project file available mid-way through to pick up where you left off.

If you own Motion, or want to learn compositing you are required to get this book. Just go ahead and buy it, you will not be disappointed.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: BAD Book (Wish there were more options)!!!!!
Comment: How can the editors let a book that is this riddled with missing and inaccurate steps. I've done a lot of self-taught coursework... and this is the worst book I've ever used.

I can't wait til someone else publishes a book.

Some of the steps are actually backwards and don't give you the results that you need in order to cotinue on in the chapter's lessons.

MANY of the steps are poorly worded (confusing them with other options).

I would imagine that this book was "rushed to market" in order to capture those who wanted to learn the new version, but there really is no excuse for this piece of doody. Wait for another printing (if you dare) or wait for a different book from a completely differen publishing company (if you're smart).

You let us down Peach Pit! :(

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