In this guide to Apple’s revolutionary motion graphics software, commercial artists Damian Allen, Bryce Button, and Mark Spencer teach you to create cutting-edge animations, show opens, promos, logos, and effects while you learn Motion 3. As with the other titles in the Apple Pro Training Series, each chapter represents a complete lesson with a commercial-quality project to work through as you learn. The authors begin with generators and quickly move on to Motion’s behavior-based animations, particles, filters, effects, replicator, tracking, and matchmoving. The best-selling book is fully revised to take advantage of the software’s new features: you’ll create sophisticated 3D environments, design painterly elements using customizable brushes and strokes, automatically create motion paths from moving images without tedious frame-by-frame keyframing, remove camera shake, and animate text with 3D effects. Includes companion DVD with project and media files.
Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review
Excellent Manual , August 13, 2008
By
Jeremy D. WanekThis 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!
This is a great book, April 9, 2008
By
PUNCHNow 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!
Apple has a true competitor in the compositing market with Motion 3.0, March 1, 2008
By
Jeremiah Long (Knoxville, TN)
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.
BAD Book (Wish there were more options)!!!!!, February 24, 2008
By
Mike Mannarino (Studio City, CA)
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! :(
Motion 3 book training... worth the purchase, January 28, 2008
By
kirei90 (Tokyo Japan)
Apple Pro Training Series: Motion 3 book is a solid foundation into the introduction of the use of the Apple Motion software package version 3. It is well written, is easy to follow and well laid out as well.
It covers the GUI, the use of adding effects, time-remapping, baking clips out of motion, basic use of the replicator, basic use of the particle emissions. As well as going from Final cut pro to motion and out to dvd studio pro. Other topics include match moving and keying and audio effects.
Overall, its a solid book and well worth the money giving the user enough knowledge and confidence to further explore the software without guidance.
My personal quibbles:
3/4 of the projects work a lot with dvd design and I see that the last thing I would use motion for. Would have liked to see a more broadcast approach to all the projects.
The replicator and particle emissions and the paint tool deserved detailed use of there applications in an appendix to the book. They are perhaps the most useful tools that motion has to offer.
The Optical flow example (time-remapping) did not work well in the book example it looked like a displacement effect added to the work. It looked worse than the frame blending workflow.
