Product Description

Digital illustration is a revolution, and this is a frontline report.

The Complete Guide to Digital Illustration covers the whole breadth of this exciting field, from the most stylized line-drawn artwork to photorealistic 3D animation. This comprehensive review is a must for anyone with an interest in the graphic arts.

This wonderful book showcases the most exciting and inspirational work from leading international illustrators, complete with 'behind the scenes' secrets.

It includes tips and practical workthroughs that make advanced techniques accessible. Discover how to work more effectively and expand your creative horizons.

Offers real-world advice on everything from buying the right hardware and software to exhibiting your work and developing a career.

Packed with beautiful, full-colour examples, The Complete Guide to Digital Illustration is a perfect introduction to this fast-moving world, and essential reading for the forward-looking professional.

In seven lavishly illustrated parts, The Complete Guide to Digital Illustration covers every aspect of the subject. Each section begins with a discussion of a particular area of digital illustration before providing invaluable information on the applications, styles and methods involved. Along the way, example images are broken down to give an insight into how even the most complex images can be created using easy-to-learn techniques. Where appropriate, the part ends with a showcase reproducing the most stunning work in digital illustration today.

Part 1 - The Basics is an introduction to the world of digital illustration. It begins with advice on buying computer hardware and software, then continues with a review of the fundamentals of digital painting and drawing, 3D graphics and animation.

Part 2 - Digital Painting explores in depth what can be achieved using painting applications such as Adobe Photoshop, including photo manipulation, photomontage and pixel art. Step-by-step projects cover advanced techniques and the creation of pop-art or line-action images.

Part 3 - Digital Drawing runs through the principles of building an image from lines, strokes and fills, then illustrates methods used for creating comic book images, maps and technical illustrations.

Part 4 - 3D Illustration begins with an introduction to the main applications and their specialized uses, and then delves into the basics of 3D modelling, texturing and lighting in a succinct approach that gets behind the jargon.

Part 5 - Animation covers the fundamentals of creating moving images on a computer, with a more detailed look at using digital methods to produce cartoons and stylized animated montages.

Part 6 - Professional Practice offers information on earning a living as an illustrator, with advice on building a profile, working with clients and navigating the copyright minefield.

Part 7 - Essential Reference. Everything the illustrator needs to know about resolution, colour modes and management, file formats and filters.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #154133 in Books
• Published on: 2003-10-06
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 192 pages

Kansas City Star, May 2003
...the result is so impressive that I could not put the book down...

Computer Arts Projects, Sept 03
...a sumptuous book that's punctuated with portfolios of some of the best digital art currently being produced - 5/5

About the Author
Steve Caplin is a freelance digital artist specializing in satirical photomontage. He has won several awards for advertising work, including a D&AD Pencil and two Campaign Poster Awards. A Contributing Editor to MacUser magazine, his previous books are Icon Design and How to Cheat in Photoshop.

Adam Banks has worked with digital imaging since the early 1980s, and contributes regular reviews and tutorials to a number of computer publications. As Editor-in-Chief of MacUser (1997-2000) , he championed the best and most provocative of the new wave in digital illustration.

Customer Reviews

Complete Guide to Digital Illustration
Computer graphics has been a growing hobby of mine for some time and I bought this book (at full price unfortunately) to fill in the gaps in my knowledge that had arisen as a result of being self taught. It is a useful text to anyone at my sort of level, that is to say intermediate beginner. Richly illustrated it is clearly aimed at showing the new user what can be achieved with computer graphics, and at this level I certainly enjoyed it. However it shows what can be done using the professional heavy weight applications like Photoshop, Illustrator, & 3D Max which exposes the book’s flaw. Most beginners do not have access to the sort of applications that this book focuses on, let alone actually use them so as a working instructional manual it does not work. However if you want a beautifully illustrated book that is very easy to read for inspiration, and to understand the basic principles of computer graphics then buy it, because at Amazon’s price it is excellent value