Rating: 
Summary: A MUST for Compositors
Review: I've been reading this book this week, and it is incredible. I've read the Brinkmann book, and this picks up where Brinkmann leaves off. It's been incredibly useful, and I've only started. Having a working demo of Digital Fusion included, plus example plates, is an excellent way to learn the mechanics. I can't remember the last time I've read a technical book that's been as useful. I predict this text will become the standard for anyone involved in compositing.
Rating:
Summary: Great, hands-on book for anyone interested In Visual FX
Review: Just so there's no impression of bias, I'll mention that I co-wrote one of the case studies, and have a few photos in this book. That being said, I would HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn about and create visual effects. Compositing is one of the most crucual elements in the process, and this is the best book on the subject I've ever seen. Doug has written a book with a great combinaion of theory, practical advice, and clear, step-by-step tutorials. Better yet, there is sample software and clips that allow anyone with a decent PC (or Mac) to actually do the exercises. I've been doing visual effects for clients like Fox, UPN, and HBO for ten years, and I wish I'd had this book when I started.
Rating: 
Summary: Spread too thin....
Review: The title of this book is misleading: There is more *breadth* than actual "depth". This book has the potential of being the digital compositing world's equivalent of Trish and Chris Meyer's "Creating Motion Graphics with After Effects"--An invaluable *practical* bible for its field. Unfortunately, the author wastes way too much space by attempting to appease users of several different compositing applications at once. He tries to explain how to perform each compositing topic in Digital Fusion, Adobe After Effects, Newtek Aura, Nothing Real Shake, Puffin/Pinnacle Commotion, Discreet effect* and Silicon Grail Chalice. This wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for the fact that a great majority of the time (particularly in regards to Newtek Aura), you are told that if you want to do such-and-such compositing task, you'll need to "use another program" that does because "<insert app here> doesn't support it". It's so recurring that it almost seems like a joke whenever you get to the Newtek Aura section of each tutorial, and the book basically tells you that you're screwed if you want to do that particular compositing task in it. As other reviewers have mentioned, there is a heavy bias towards Eyeon Digital Fusion in this book. However, even as a heavy After Effects user, I didnt mind this at all, since its the *concepts* and techniques that matter to me more. If you understand these basic concepts, you can apply them to *any* compositing application. This is the book's main virtue. The in-depth discussions of Matchmoving, bluescreening, tracking and "cleanup" are very good, and haven't really been practically discussed at length in any other book, AFAIK. Theres also a lot of good information about the unglamourous side of CGI work--the "business" of selling yourself and getting work. If the author would have just narrowed his scope, application-wise, this could have been an absolutely killer book. The inclusion of Chalice and Shake in this book are particularly puzzling, since it would seem to me that anyone who is in a position to be actually /using/ these products is already doing high-end film compositing to begin with, and probably wouldn't need a book like this. The fact is that the vast majority of digital compositors who would even *need* a book like this are most likely using more common applications like Digital Fusion, After Effects and Commotion. If this book just concentrated on these apps, more space could be used to discuss each of thier strengths and weaknesses relative to the compositing task at hand, and in the end, it would make for a much more practical and useful book. All that being said, I still think this book is worth getting if you aren't already a battle-scarred veteran of digital compositing. Just be prepared to wade through a lot of chaff to get to the real useful bits. I would still recommend buying Brinkmann's "The Art and Science of Digital Compositing" first, though. Thats as close to a "bible" as you'll get right now. "Digital Compositing in Depth" is *almost* there....
Rating:
Summary: 5 Stars are not enough
Review: This book is for you if you want to experience real world projects in Compositing. Using Digital Fusion as software , you will go through many tutorials learning and understanding basic and advanced compositing concepts. You get 2 CDs full of tryout software, plugins and Project footage. If you like to master the power of Digital Fusion (with additional info. on Shake, After Effects and Effect) don't miss this book , it has much more what can be revealed in this review.
Rating:
Summary: Digital Compositing in Depth
Review: This book is pure Doug Kelly. Well written, well laid out and very informative. A great companion piece to his other books. This book covers a lot of ground, especially Digital Fusion. If you are an animator looking to take the next step, buy this book! it is well worth the price.
Rating:
Summary: A bit too old
Review: This is a good book but it is outdated. It does give basic concepts in compositing but a lot of things have changed since the book was written.
Rating: 
Summary: good book wrong title
Review: while i have no doubt this is a real written and researched tome, i must give this book 1 star based on the deliberately misleading title this book should be titled "digital fusion in depth" if you need to master digital fusion, by all means please purchase this title, however if digital fusion is not your compositor of choice DO NOT BOTHER! fight the power
Rating: 
Summary: oh good, more old stuff
Review: Why stop at Lee Stranahan? Why not have doug Kelly review it too? That should bump the # of stars up more. Like others I agree that this is a digital fusion book. There is way too much space taken up with "get another compositing package" there is page after page of listing what each comp package can't do. What really killed me was I saw stuff in there from Doug's other books. Let pad out the books with old stuff there Doug. We didn't see enough of that lamp composite in the others. I would have to say Ron's book is better.
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