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

Book Description
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.

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

About the Author
Karen Goulekas is a Visual Effects Supervisor for feature films in Los Angeles, CA and has been involved in the creation of visual effects for both film and video for over sixteen years. During her career, she has earned a British Academy Award and two Emmy Awards. Her credits include Godzilla, The Fifth Element, Titanic, Apollo 13, Strange Days, and the "T23D" stereo ride film for Universal Studios. She is currently working as a Visual Effects Supervisor on the upcoming Spider-Man feature at Sony Picture ImageWorks.

ANNOTATION

Audience: The intended audiences are professionals and students interested in any and all aspects of digital visual effects development. This included, computer graphics and animation programmers, visual effects supervisors, technical directors, producers, directors and students seeking insider knowlegde on the state of the art in digital effects development. This will be of great interest to a wide variety of digital artists and those that rely on digital effects to enhance their visual projects.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

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....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.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

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

Marty Cohen, Post Production Executive, DreamWorksAn indispensable tool for anyone working in the visual effects medium today. — Marty Cohen

Scott Ross, Co-Founder/CEO, Digital DomainExtensive, 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

ACCREDITATION