The Kleper Report on Digital Publishing - Issue 11.3 May / June 2006

Issue 11.3 May / June 2006

Contents


CD/DVD Reviews

Dragon FliX (MAC)
Dragon FliX disc burning application that enables users to copy unencrypted 8.5GB dual-layer content (DVD 9) onto a 4.7GB single-layer disc (DVD 5), while maintaining audio and video quality. Single-layer media is significantly less expensive (under .20 each in quantity) than dual-layer (costing between $3-$5 each). The user has control over what is copied from the source disc, and can use multiple DVD burners to simultaneously burn multiple copies. $39.95

Contact: NewTech Infosystems, Inc., 5 Mason, Suite 150, Irvine, CA 92618, 949 421-0720, http://www.NTIus.com, fax: 949 421-0750.



Storage Device & Media Reviews

Verbatim Store 'n' Go™ USB HD Drive (MAC/WIN/LINUX)
Verbatim Store 'n' Go™ USB HD Drive (approx. 2.25" x 3") with capacities up to 8GB, is a convenient, compact, portable storage solution that can be used on virtually any computer with a USB port. The self-contained case includes a wrap-around USB plug. The drive comes pre-loaded with Ceedo's Mobile Launchpad (for Windows only) which is a Windows-like start-up menu that enables the user to launch applications, download additional content, manage and organize files of all sorts, and process files (such as print or view photos). The Launchpad also provides immediate entry to the Easy-Access menu, listing My Documents, My Pictures, My Music, and Favorites. The selection of the Eject button, located in the Compact Bar at the bottom of the Launchpad window, closes all programs and folders and ejects the drive from the desktop leaving behind no trace of the user session. 4GB lists for $244.40, 8GB lists for $304, with street prices considerably lower.

Contact: Verbatim Corporation, 1200 West W.T. Harris Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28262, 800 421-4188, 704 547-6500, http://www.verbatim.com, fax: 704 547-6609.



Internet Reviews

Browseback (MAC)
Browseback is an application that works alongside all popular Macintosh Web browsers, taking their History files as input, and presenting a dynamic display of all of the Web pages that have been viewed over a defined period of time. The pages appear like cards in a playing deck, fanned out across the screen in three rows. As the mouse pointer crosses each card, the card is enlarged, and detailed information, including a time and date stamp of when it was first viewed, appears in a display box in the middle of the screen. When a page is selected the user can opt to go to its Internet source, e-mail the page, view the page as a PDF file, save the page locally, or print the page. Pages are maintained within the program in PDF format. The user has flexible search capabilities, searching by subject, and/or displaying pages between a set of dates. The program is valuable for anyone who needs to keep track of their Web browsing and wants a flexible way to find their way back to particular information. In addition, it maintains page images even if the source has been removed from the Web, and maintains the complete Web page image, even if it is longer than what would normally fit on standard letterhead paper. $29.95

Contact: SmileOnMyMac, LLC, PMB 281, 25 NW 23rd Place, Suite 6, Portland, OR 97210-5599, http://www.smileonmymac.com, e-mail: info@smileonmymac.com, fax: 408-884-2320.



Utility Reviews

NTI Shadow v3.0 (MAC/WIN)
NTI Shadow v3.0 is the latest version of this always-on data back-up solution. The program works with all resident and attached storage devices, including USB Flash drives and the U3 smart drive. The program includes Smart USB Device Detection so that transfers are only made when the unique target device is attached. Data transfers can be composed easily using the step-by-step wizard. $29.99

Contact: NewTech Infosystems, Inc., 5 Mason, Suite 150, Irvine, CA 92618, 949 421-0720, http://www.NTIus.com, fax: 949 421-0750.


SuperDuper 2.1.2 (MAC)
SuperDuper 2.1.2 is a disc back-up utility that makes fully bootable discs that are exact duplicates, or "clones" of their source. The program can be a life saver when a start-up disc is exhibiting signs of failure, or a given disc experiences a fatal crash. Users who want to replace their undersized start-up drive with a new larger capacity drive can also benefit from this remarkable application. We used it to replace an aging drive, copying its contents, and then swapping the drives. It worked flawlessly, and in the fastest possible time.

The user interface is very simple, listing the source drive on the left, and the target drive on the right. The user can elect to copy all files, or selected files, and can even schedule the back-up so that the duplicate disc is always up to date with the source. This on-going back-up process ensures that a business can continue working with minimum disruption should a given start-up drive fail. The very survival of an enterprise can depend on this kind of proactive planning. $27.95

Contact: Shirt Pocket, http://www.shirt-pocket.com.

 

Database Reviews

EasyCatalog CS2 (MAC/WIN)
EasyCatalog CS2 is a plug-in for Adobe InDesign CS2 that enables the flexible use of database output within the page layout environment. Data can be imported from virtually any source, and with the use of an optional module, from an ODBC database.

The plug-in simplifies the production of complex catalogs, directories, price lists, and other database publications through the use of document templates which are designed as models of how database records are to appear on a page. The user can create any number of templates, and keep them stored for use or modification. The templates can be constructed using any of the typographic and table parameters that are available within InDesign, providing the ultimate degree of design variety.

Data is imported into an EasyCatalog panel into which it can continue to be modified and organized apart from its database origin. This workflow is different from most approaches, and it offers much greater flexibility in the creation of a publication. For example, the user can import data from a number of sources, unlike most database plug-ins. After data is organized to suit the purpose of the publication, such as changing its order, or hiding selected columns, it is dragged and dropped onto a template wherein it immediately takes on the preset appearance. The template can take the form of a text box or a table.

In addition to taking on the predefined typographic parameters, data conforms to user settings defining such things as numeric formats, and the treatment of images, as it is flowed onto the page. Images are automatically resized and aligned according to user specifications.

The placement of database fields is determined by the placement of Field Specifiers, which can be placed in any text box, or in an InDesign table. These are labels that represent field contents, and serve as variables which are replaced with live data from each database record. The user can apply InDesign formatting to them, save them in a library, and use them again and again.

The process is remarkably simple and direct, and belies its inherent power. Although no programming, coding, nor scripting is required, an optional scripting module is available. EasyCatalog, along with its various optional modules (priced separately), provides a complete database publishing solution that is logical, flexible, and most importantly, highly efficient. $1299

Contact: 65bit Software Limited, Meriden House, 6 Great Cornbow, Halesowen, West Midlands, B63 3AB, United Kingdom, +44 (0)8707 651891, http://www.65bit.com, e-mail: info@65bit.com, fax: +44 (0)8707 651861.



DTP Reviews

Print Explosion® Deluxe 3.0 (MAC)
Print Explosion® Deluxe 3.0 is a design software application that enables novices to produce professional-looking print and digital products such as greeting cards, posters, labels, flyers, certificates, banners, calendars, business cards, stationery, digital scrapbooks, and more. More than 13,000 designs are included as well as a library of more than 100,000 graphics (vector illustrations, fine art, photographs, and more) and more than 900 fonts along with hundreds of text effects.

The easy-to-use interface prompts the user through the design workflow, providing a simple and quick way to produce finished projects. The program integrates well with Apple iPhoto (for selecting and importing images), iTunes (for producing CD and DVD labels from playlists), and the Mac OS X Address Book, for the automatic personalization (mail merge) of greeting cards. $49.95

Contact: Nova Development Corporation, 23801 Calabasas Road, Suite 2005, Calabasas, CA 91302-1547, 800 395-6682, 818 591-9600, http://www.novadevelopment.com, fax: 818 591-8885.



Fonts/Font Management

Veritas Font Family (MAC/WIN)
Veritas™ is a very versatile font family consisting of eight styles designed by typographic craftsman Brian Sooy. The design has a relatively tall x-height, which makes it particularly appropriate for text matter, although its distinctive serifs and subtly narrow fit make it very useful for headlines. The four-weight family (regular, semibold, bold, and black) is highly legible and is a smart choice for publications that have critical space limitations and want a clean, sharp typographic profile. $150 for the family.

Contact: Altered Ego Fonts, 158 Cleveland St., Elyria, OH 44035-6155, 440 322-5142, http://www.alteredegofonts.com, fax: 440 322-5108.


FontAgent Pro 3.2 (MAC)
FontAgent Pro 3.2 is a popular font management system that simplifies the process of adding and removing fonts, and extends the ways in which users can categorize, view, and print font specimens.

The user interface is very clean and straight forward. Users import fonts into any number of libraries, which are physical folders into which the program stores fonts. As the fonts are imported, FontAgent neatly organizes them into alphabetized folders, and in the process examines them to be sure that all necessary components are present. The interface is, in reality, a front for the FontAgent Activator which is an application that operates in the background.

Fonts that have been imported can be organized into sets, which are sub-groups that contain aliases of fonts grouped for a logical purpose, such as a client, project, or font classification, such as "scripts." Fonts in a set can be operated on as a group, or individually, to be activated or deactivated, or viewed on-screen or printed on a specimen sheet.

Font selection is simplified with the implementation of WYSIWYG in the interface. Users can opt to display fonts in a waterfall, paragraph, ABC123, or custom layout. Two or more fonts can be selected to appear together for comparison, and the entire installed font complement can be reviewed in slideshow format using the Font Player.

A highly useful feature is the automatic font activation that works in most applications, including several that are critical to almost all digital publishers: InDesign, QuarkXPress, Photoshop, and Illustrator. As a document is opened, the fonts that it requires are automatically opened, assuming that they are part of a FontAgent Pro library.

Digital workflows are supported with the Font Export function which enables users to send font sets to print service bureaus and other destinations for output. Users can export libraries, sets, or individual fonts. Another workflow advantage is Font Sharing, using the Workgroup Edition, whereby FontAgent users on a network can activate, preview, and copy fonts. $99.95

Contact: Insider Software, Inc., 208 Granada Way, Suite 200, Los Gatos, CA 95032-1101, 866 366-8778, http://www.insidersoftware.com, e-mail: info@insidersoftware.com, fax: 760 804-9995.


Smasher (MAC)
Smasher is a very useful font utility that works in conjunction with a font management application, such as FontAgent Pro 3 or Suitcase Fusion. It performs a number of useful operations, the most significant of which is releasing fonts from old suitcases, so that they can be more flexibly managed, and the user can install only those fonts or font styles that they require. Minimalizing suitcases puts less stress on system resources and simplifies font menus.

The process of "smashing" fonts is very simple. The user can either click the "Add" button, select the "Add Suitcase" option from the File menu, or drag and drop suitcases onto the Smasher listing window. As the fonts are imported, Smasher checks their integrity and eliminates any corrupt files. Clicking on the Smash button, or dragging the fonts to the desktop "smashes" them, creating a new suitcase for use in Mac OS X. The program intelligently keeps the printer font with its matching bitmap screen font.

When suitcases are in the Smasher environment their contents are revealed, and each font can be previewed on-screen. Font properties, including the font format and style, foundry and copyright data, file permissions, etc. are all displayed. Users can opt to work with only the individual fonts that they require.

Users can easily move OS 9 fonts to OS X, and vice versa.

Many system-related problems can be attributed to fonts. In order for Mac OS X to function properly fonts must be activated and cached. When the font cache does not perform correctly it can result in a number of problems, such as incorrect text reflow, incorrectly generated PDF and PostScript files, and application slowdown. Smasher enables the user to clear font caches easily. $49.95

Contact: Insider Software, Inc., 208 Granada Way, Suite 200, Los Gatos, CA 95032-1101, 866 366-8778, http://www.insidersoftware.com, e-mail: info@insidersoftware.com, fax: 760 804-9995.



Digital Audio

Sound Pool DVD Collection 11 (MAC/WIN)
Sound Pool DVD Collection 11 consists of a diverse library of royalty- and copyright-free stereo sound loops produced by professional musicians and producers in 16-bit CD quality (44.1 kHz) WAV format. The loops are categorized as Disco /House, Techno /Trace, Dance/Electro, HipHop, Rock/Pop, Easy Listening, Soundtrack, Ambient, BigBeat, and Special Effects. $29.99

Contact: Magix, 1680 Michigan Ave., Suite 900, Miami Beach, FL 33139, 888-326-2449, http://www.magix.com, e-mail: us-info@magix.net.


NOTION 1.5 (MAC/WIN)
NOTION 1.5 is an amazing program, aimed at those competent and talented in musical scoring and composition. It joins a full-featured music notation system with interpretive algorithms with a proprietary playback engine that includes extraordinary samples of thousands of notes and articulations as played by the London Symphony Orchestra and recorded at Abbey Road Studios. There is support for 128 instruments.

By virtue of the NotionPlayer™, the user can "conduct" the software to accompany live performers. Users can enter, edit, and manipulate musical notation from their keyboard or MIDI musical instrument. Through the use of the MusicPrinter™ Plus, complex scores can be composed and printed. The application enables the user to playback, immediately, the notation that they have created, with truly brilliant sound reproduction. It can be used alone or with any combination of other players, live or otherwise. Prerecorded NOTION scores are available at additional cost and require NOTION software for playback. A free demo disc (with the Save function disabled) can be ordered at http://www.notionmusic.com/demo. $599

Contact: Notion, 201 S. Elm Street, Greensboro, NC 27401, 336 275-2994, http://www.notionmusic.com, fax: 336 275-9654.


Snowball (MAC/WIN)
Snowball is the first professional USB condenser microphone. It provides plug and play simplicity, deriving power from the USB port. The sound it produces is described by the manufacturer as "smooth open sound with a nice, natural high-end." The quality is comparable to audio CD, and is set to 44.1kHz/16-bit. Drivers are not necessary in Apple OS X or Windows XP, although additional control of digital signal processing and non-linear editing does require third-party software.

One of the unique features of the microphone is the three-setting switch on the back. The microphone can "hear" in omnidirectional mode (setting 3), picking up sounds at equal volume from all angles, or in cardioid mode (settings 1, 2), wherein full volume is captured only at the front, and other sounds are diminished as a function of their distance from the center of the mic.

The microphone was engineered for versatility, supporting both voice and instruments. It can be used for such diverse applications as podcasts, music production, dialog, sound effects, audio sampling, video sweetening, Internet telephony, teleconferencing, lectures, spoken word performances, and more.

The package includes the microphone, desktop stand, and USB cable. $159

Contact: Blue Microphones, 5706 Corsa Ave., Suite 102, Westlake Village, CA 91362-4057, 818 879-5200, http://www.bluemic.com, fax: 818 879-7259.


Wave Editor 1.1 (MAC)
Wave Editor 1.1 is a professional-level audio editor that incorporates a unique, patent-pending editing scheme that is in many respects similar to that used in page layout applications: Layers. An unlimited number of layers, each with its own alterable properties, can be controlled independently. The implementation of real-time "layered audio" in a document-based editor provides a new level of flexibility in separating various audio elements, manipulating them independent of the entire file, and then flattening the file for export.

The program works directly with AIFF, WAVE, Sound Designer, ACID, Apple Loop, and µLaw files, as well as the importation of MP3, AAC, AC-3 and other CoreAudio-supported compressed audio file formats, in any sample rate or bit depth, any number of channels, and as interleaved and split channel files.

The user can edit virtually every element of the file as well as use all standard Macintosh editing commands (cut, copy, paste, etc.). Other controls include volume, speed, repeat mode, playback time, and manipulation of gain, trim, fade (with true Bezier controls), sample rate, channel format, etc.

The program provides an exceptional number of sophisticated graphic views, such as the stereograph, spectrometer, and level meter, to enable the user to "see" the effects of audio edits. The Inspector and Analyzer windows provide precise read-outs of virtually every detail of the active file.

Users can also record directly in the program, using any connected mic source, and then edit the recorded audio immediately.

This is quite a remarkable program and worthy of serious consideration for digital publishers who routinely work with audio. $250

Contact: Audiofile Engineering, http://www.audiofile-engineering.com, e-mail: support@audiofile-engineering.com.



Additions/Extensions Reviews

ColorWasher (MAC/WIN)
ColorWasher is a plugin that is compatible with various Adobe applications, including Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, ImageReady, and Illustrator. The purpose of the plugin is to improve the appearance of digital images (photos, Web graphics, drawings, cartoons, etc.), either separately or in batch mode, through the use of an arsenal of automatic, semi-automatic, and manual tools that can be executed by both professionals and novices (using the Easy Mode). Through the use of proprietary algorithms identified as Cast Types, the software can intelligently restore lost colors and picture detail.

The program provides extensive capabilities to deal with a wide array of image correction problems such as image noise, overexposure, low contrast, chopped histograms, etc. Five automatic methods are provided for dealing with photos that have specific types of color problems. The 12 different Split View modes allow the user to overlay stripes and grids over an image to adjust color or exposure. The list of other features is extensive and can be viewed at http://www.thepluginsite.com/products/photowiz/colorwasher/index.htm. A demo version can be downloaded at http://www.thepluginsite.com/products/download.htm. $49.95

Contact: The Plugin Site, Harald Heim, Tucholskystr. 120, 90471 Nurnberg, Germany, 49 911 868516, http://www.thepluginsite.de, e-mail: info@thepluginsite.de.


TypeFitter 1.0 (MAC)
TypeFitter 1.0 is a plug-in for Adobe InDesign and InCopy. As any skilled typographer knows, it is characterfit, the expert use of space, and attention to detail that determines the quality of a typographic treatment. Even sophisticated page layout applications, such as InDesign, which have precise controls over the fit of characters and overall spacing settings, are dependent, ultimately, on the exercise of human judgment and the use of a trained typographic eye.

TypeFitter provides easy and direct control over hyphenation and justification (H&J) settings that can be applied in small increments to either tighten or expand text to fit comfortably within its assigned space. The process is visual, applied by pressing buttons that are used to "nudge" type to fit a given space while maintaining proper fit. The buttons are used to tighten more, tighten, restore, loosen, and loosen more. The user retains the ultimate decision as to the proper setting of the text.

The application supports the creation of type-fit styles that can be used repeatedly, and can be shared with other TypeFitter users. Styles help to ensure uniformity for a given publication, or that a House Style can be maintained for an organization. First and foremost, styles save valuable production time. Style settings are affected by modifications that the user makes to Word Spacing, Letter Spacing, and Glyph Scaling and Tracking. In each style the user can also set the number of characters that define a widow.

The TypeFitter palette also includes buttons for finding the next overset text box, and the next widow. This is an inexpensive add-on that can positively affect the appearance of all of a digital publisher's typographic output. $59

Contact: Teacup Software, 350 Fifth Ave., Suite 4404, New York, NY 10118, 212 563-9288, http://www.teacupsoftware.com, e-mail: info@teacupsoftware.com, fax: 646 219-2326.



Book Reviews

Ajax Hacks
Perry, Bruce

Ajax, a new Web technology that combines HTML and JavaScript with HTTP communications and XML, invigorates Web pages so that they act like a desktop application, and do not require complete page refresh. The author provides many hacks that enable the Web site developer to implement the next generation in site construction.

Online demos of the hacks can be accessed at: http:www.parkerriver.com/ajaxhacks/

Available for on-line ordering at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=thekleperreporto&path=ISBN%3D0596101694

0596101694 414 pp. $29.99

Contact: SitePoint Pty. Ltd., 424 Smith Street Collingwood, VIC Australia 3066, http://www.sitepoint.com, e-mail: business@sitepoint.com. In the U.S.A.: O'Reilly & Associates, Inc., 1005 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol, CA 95472, 800 998-9938, 707 829-0515, http://www.oreilly.com, e-mail: info@oreilly.com, fax: 707 829-0104.


Degunking™ Your Mac, Tiger Edition
Ballew, Joli

Here is the book for adherents of the philosophy to "get ahead of the pain" by proactively heading off potential problems. The author has done an exemplary job of amassing a treasure trove of tips, tricks, and advice that can help readers avoid disasters, and make their Macintosh run faster and more reliably. Readers learn what files they can safely delete, and how to keep their computer properly tuned with the least amount of effort.

Available for on-line ordering at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=thekleperreporto&path=ISBN%3D9781933097053

9781933097053 396 pp. $24.99

Contact: Paraglyph Press, 1238 East Cambridge Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85006, 602 749-8787, http://www.paraglyphpress.com, fax: 602 388-8192.


Digital SLR Photography with Photoshop CS2 All-In-One For Dummies®
Ames, Kevin

A collection of five, full-color minibooks covering the use of the digital SLR camera, the digital photograph, the digital negative, working with photos in Photoshop CS2, and preserving pixels. The collection encompasses virtually everything that a digital photographer needs to know in order to capture, compose, edit, and publish images.

Available for on-line ordering at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=thekleperreporto&path=ISBN%3D0764595776

0764595776 480 pp. $34.99

Contact: Wiley, Professional/Trade Group, 111 River St., Hoboken, NJ 07030, http://www.wiley.com.


Don't Get Burned on eBay
Wright, Shauna

A very smartly written guide to the dark side of buying on eBay. Readers are informed on a wide variety of scams and devious practices that can cost them dearly. This is a very instructive and interesting book for anyone who buys on eBay.

A sample chapter can be seen at http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/dgbebay/

Available for on-line ordering at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=thekleperreporto&path=ISBN%3D0596101783

0596101783 174 pp. $16.99

Contact: O'Reilly & Associates, Inc., 1005 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol, CA 95472, 800 998-9938, 707 829-0515, http://www.oreilly.com, e-mail: info@oreilly.com, fax: 707 829-0104.


Encyclopaedia of Fonts, The
Headley, Gwyn

This exceptional reference book lists over 10,000 fonts, and is a valuable repository for every digital publisher. The large population of available fonts makes selection a challenge. The author has devised an extensive classification system that forms the structure of the book. The major categories include Text, Uncial, Blackletter (Lombardic, Chancery, Fraktur, English, and Lineale), Serifs (Humanist, Garalde, Transitional, Didone, Slab, Glyphic, Misc., Engravers), Lineales (Grotesques, Neo Grotesques, Geometrics, Humanist, Misc.), Misc (Faux Fonts, Suites, Monospace), Scripts (Formal, Calligraphic, Handwriting, Poster, Kid, Misc.), and Display (Script, Lineale, Serif, Other, Woodcut/Western, Grunge, Moderne, Curly, Cutouts, Dot/OCR/Computer, Graphic, Psychedelic, Stencil). Fonts are identified by name, designer, nationality, date designed, foundries, and number of available weights. Designers can quickly thumb through the pages to find fonts that are appropriate for particular applications.

Available for on-line ordering at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=thekleperreporto&path=ISBN%3D184403206x

184403206x 496 pp. $24.95


Everyware: The dawning age of ubiquitous computing
Greenfield, Adam

An insightful view of computing and computation that takes place out of the computer, and takes place everywhere. The author offers his predictions about how the process of computing will become woven into the fabric of everyday life.

Available for on-line ordering at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=thekleperreporto&path=ISBN%3D0321384016

0321384016 267 pp. $29.99

Contact: New Riders Publishing, 201 West 103rd St., Indianapolis, IN 46290.


FileMaker 8 @ Work
Feiler, Jesse

The author leads the reader through a series of projects that reveal the various aspects and capabilities of FileMaker Pro 8. The projects are based on realworld applications, and show, step by step, how to produce them. The varied techniques can be applied to a wide range of database applications.

Available for on-line ordering at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=thekleperreporto&path=ISBN%3D0672328569

0672328569 229 pp. $29.99

Contact: Sams, 201 West 103rd St., Indianapolis, IN 46290.


FileMaker Pro 7 Advanced for Windows & Macintosh
Baron, Cynthia L.; Daniel Peck

This Visual QuickPro guide provides step-by-step instructions on accomplishing a wide array of advanced operations in FileMaker Pro 7. The authors offer concise text and numerous illustrations to simplify the sophisticated database procedures.

Available for on-line ordering at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=thekleperreporto&path=ISBN%3D0321199561

0321199561 443 pp. $29.99

Contact: Peachpit Press, 1249 8th St., Berkeley, CA 94710, 800 283-9444, http://www.peachpit.com, fax: 510 524-2221.


FileMaker® 8 Functions and Scripts Desk Reference
Love, Scott; Steve Lane, Bob Bowers

This is the book that serious FileMaker developers have been waiting for. The authors explain every FileMaker Script option, and provide realworld examples of how each is used. The book demystifies the scripting process and enables users to build robust database applications.

Available for on-line ordering at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=thekleperreporto&path=ISBN%3D0789735113

0789735113 446 pp. $29.99

Contact: Que Corporation, 11711 North College Ave., Carmel, IN 46032, http://www.quecorp.com.


Firefox and Thunderbird: Beyond Browsing and Email
Hipson, Peter D.

A guide to configuring and customizing Firefox and Thunderbird to enable faster performance and a more personalized look and feel.

Available for on-line ordering at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=thekleperreporto&path=ISBN%3D0789734583

0789734583 337 pp. $24.99

Contact: Que Corporation, 11711 North College Ave., Carmel, IN 46032, http://www.quecorp.com.


Flash 8: The Missing Manual
Vander Veer, E. A.

A solid introduction to the process of using Flash, on Macintosh and Windows, to create interactive animations on the Web. The book is written to address the entire Web site Flash production workflow.

Available for on-line ordering at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=thekleperreporto&path=ISBN%3D0596101376

0596101376 446 pp. $34.99

Contact: O'Reilly & Associates, Inc., 1005 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol, CA 95472, 800 998-9938, 707 829-0515, http://www.oreilly.com, e-mail: info@oreilly.com, fax: 707 829-0104.


Flickr Hacks: Tips & Tools for Sharing Photos Online
Bausch, Paul; Jim Bumgardner

The authors have exposed a wide variety of interesting hacks that can be accomplished using the Flickr photo sharing service, which is used by more than two million photo enthusiasts. The authors show how to extend the basic services of storing, organizing, and sharing through the use of dozens of clever hacks. A sampling of the simpler hacks, including "Post Pictures from Your Cell Phone," "View Flickr Photos on TiVo," and "Make a Flickr-Style Tag Cloud," can be viewed for free on-line at http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/flickrhks/chapter/index.html.

Available for on-line ordering at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=thekleperreporto&path=ISBN%3D0596102453

0596102453 368 pp. $24.99

Contact: O'Reilly & Associates, Inc., 1005 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol, CA 95472, 800 998-9938, 707 829-0515, http://www.oreilly.com, e-mail: info@oreilly.com, fax: 707 829-0104.


GarageBand: Easy Music Projects for Beginners
Gemmell, Keith

A useful compliment to Apple's GarageBand music creation software consisting of ten easy to follow projects. Each project is available on-line for download so that the reader can compare their work to that of the author.

Available for on-line ordering at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=thekleperreporto&path=ISBN%3D1870775163

1870775163 96 pp. $14.95

Contact: PC Publishing, distributed by O'Reilly & Associates, Inc., 1005 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol, CA 95472, 800 998-9938, 707 829-0515, http://www.oreilly.com, e-mail: info@oreilly.com, fax: 707 829-0104.


Illustrations with Photoshop: A Designer's Notebook
Bengal, Nicolas Bouvier, Benjamin Carré, Judith Darmont, Nicolas Fructus, Hippolyte, Joel Legars, Antoine Quaresma, Marguerite Sauvage

A collection of extraordinary artwork produced by nine world-class graphic artists. The works, which were produced exclusively with Adobe Photoshop, provide a rare insight into how professionals use the extensive set of Photoshop tools to create stunning works of art. The book is beautifully designed and printed in full color.

Available for on-line ordering at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=thekleperreporto&path=ISBN%3D0596008597

0596008597 96 pp. $24.95

Contact: O'Reilly & Associates, Inc., 1005 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol, CA 95472, 800 998-9938, 707 829-0515, http://www.oreilly.com, e-mail: info@oreilly.com, fax: 707 829-0104.


iMovie 6 and iDVD: The Missing Manual
Pogue, David

This full-color "how-to" contains information on the entire movie-making production and DVD mastering publishing workflow. David Pogue is eminently qualified to write this comprehensive guide to Apple's popular video production applications. He has created a comprehensive handbook that is logically arranged, well-organized, and not only clearly written, but entertaining.

A sample chapter, "Camcorder Meets Mac," is available at no cost at http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/imovie06tmm/chapter/index.html.

Available for on-line ordering at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=thekleperreporto&path=ISBN%3D0596527268

0596527268 512 pp. $34.99

Contact: O'Reilly & Associates, Inc., 1005 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol, CA 95472, 800 998-9938, 707 829-0515, http://www.oreilly.com, e-mail: info@oreilly.com, fax: 707 829-0104.


InDesign CS/CS2 Killer Tips
Kelby, Scott; Terry White

Here is the book that serious InDesign users need to sharpen their skills and improve their productivity. Each tip is clearly described and illustrated in full color. This book will pay for itself over and over again.

Available for on-line ordering at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=thekleperreporto&path=ISBN%3D0321330641

0321330641 261 pp. $29.99

Contact: New Riders Publishing, 201 West 103rd St., Indianapolis, IN 46290.


Java I/O, Second Edition
Harold, Elliotte Rusty

The author emphasizes the diverse set of I/O classes in the core Java programming API. I/O, or input and output, are a fundamental part of every computer operating system or programming language. Java's I/O facilities are very flexible and simple to use, and provide everything from simple binary and text output to USB and Bluetooth communication. The book includes practical examples of all aspects of I/O processes.

Available for on-line ordering at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=thekleperreporto&path=ISBN%3D0596527500

0596527500 700 pp. $49.99

Contact: O'Reilly & Associates, Inc., 1005 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol, CA 95472, 800 998-9938, 707 829-0515, http://www.oreilly.com, e-mail: info@oreilly.com, fax: 707 829-0104.


Learning UML 2.0
Miles, Russ; Kim Hamilton

The authors provide strategies for using the Unified Modeling Language for accomplishing software and systems development. The book goes beyond theory, showing how UML can be put into practice in the real-world.

Available for on-line ordering at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=thekleperreporto&path=ISBN%3D0596009828

0596009828 269 pp. $44.99

Contact: O'Reilly & Associates, Inc., 1005 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol, CA 95472, 800 998-9938, 707 829-0515, http://www.oreilly.com, e-mail: info@oreilly.com, fax: 707 829-0104.


Leo Laporte's Guide to Mac OS X Tiger
Laporte, Leo; Todd Stauffer

A densely-packed volume of information on the use and idiosyncrasies of the Apple Macintosh Tiger operating system. The book is divided into four major parts, the first dealing with the OS navigation, the second with interfacing, the third with networking, and the fourth with troubleshooting.

Available for on-line ordering at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=thekleperreporto&path=ISBN%3D0789733935

0789733935 394 pp. $24.99

Contact: Que Corporation, 11711 North College Ave., Carmel, IN 46032, http://www.quecorp.com.


Mac OS X Tiger for Dummies
LeVitus, Bob "Dr. Mac"

The single most useful book for those unfamiliar with Mac OS X to get up to speed quickly and become comfortable using this operating system. The author is well-known in the Macintosh community and has a reputation for his in-depth knowledge of the Macintosh, and his ease of communicating technical information. The book includes a tear-out reference sheet with information about computer viruses, useful Internet resources, keyboard shortcuts, and things to avoid.

Available for on-line ordering at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=thekleperreporto&path=ISBN%3D0764576755

0764576755 414 pp. $21.99

Contact: Wiley, Professional/Trade Group, 111 River St., Hoboken, NJ 07030, http://www.wiley.com.


MacDesign out of the box
Shalat, Andrew

The book for those Macintosh users who do not have access to professional design applications, and must instead rely on those that are bundled with their computer: iLife, AppleWorks, TextEdit, and more. Readers will be pleased with the broad range of publishing options that are provided with their Macintosh purchase. The full-color book provides lots of examples and how-tos.

Available for on-line ordering at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=thekleperreporto&path=ISBN%3D0321375742

0321375742 252 pp. $29.99


Macromedia Dreamweaver 8
Negrino, Tom; Dori Smith

One of the most comprehensive yet easy-to-follow guides to the use of Dreamweaver 8. The layout is unthreatening, and the text is supported with a companion Web site at http://www.dreamweaverbook.com which includes an excerpt from Chapter Six: Positioning Page Content. The authors have logically arranged the content, and listed each task in a step-by-step fashion with numerous illustrations and helpful tips. The book is excellent for learning how to use the software as well as serving as a handy reference.

Available for on-line ordering at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=thekleperreporto&path=ISBN%3D0321350278

0321350278 514 pp. $24.99

Contact: Peachpit Press, 1249 8th St., Berkeley, CA 94710, 800 283-9444, http://www.peachpit.com, fax: 510 524-2221.


Macromedia® FLASH® 8: A Tutorial Guide
Armstrong, Jay; Jen deHaan

This is the official Macromedia Flash printed documentation designed for self-paced instruction. Following the step-by-step tutorials readers can learn how to apply virtually all of the important Flash capabilities. The text has been reviewed and approved by the Flash engineering team.

Available for on-line ordering at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=thekleperreporto&path=ISBN%3D0321394143

0321394143 290 pp. $29.99

Contact: Macromedia Press, 2414 Sixth St., Berkeley, CA 94710


Perl Hacks
Conway, Damian; Curtis "Ovid" Poe

The authors provide 101 hacks, each as a short lesson on the practical use of the Perl language. Most of the hacks consist of two parts: one providing a direct answer to an immediate problem, and one composed of a "deeper, subtler technique" that may be useful in solving other problems.

Available for on-line ordering at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=thekleperreporto&path=ISBN%3D0596526741

0596526741 273 pp. $29.99

Contact: O'Reilly & Associates, Inc., 1005 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol, CA 95472, 800 998-9938, 707 829-0515, http://www.oreilly.com, e-mail: info@oreilly.com, fax: 707 829-0104.


Photo Retouching with Photoshop: A Designer's Notebook
Niemetzky, Gérard; Dominique Legrand, Antony Legrand, Éric Mahé, Vincent Risacher, Francois Quinio, Thibaut Granier, Poisson Rouge, Cyril Bruneau

A leading group of French digital photographers and retouchers have contributed to a beautiful volume of work that shows in detail, and with step-by-step instructions, how they applied Adobe Photoshop, and other digital tools, to restore old images, composite multiple images, improve the quality of technically lacking images, and otherwise manipulate images to improve their quality and presentation.

Available for on-line ordering at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=thekleperreporto&path=ISBN%3D0596008600

0596008600 96 pp. $24.95

Contact: O'Reilly & Associates, Inc., 1005 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol, CA 95472, 800 998-9938, 707 829-0515, http://www.oreilly.com, e-mail: info@oreilly.com, fax: 707 829-0104.


Photoshop CS2 for Dummies
Bauer, Peter

This book has the distinction of being the first in the "For Dummies" book series to be published in full color. It is written by an instructor member of the Photoshop World Dream Team and as such he has crammed a full course of Photoshop CS2 essentials into this single volume. The author eases the reader through an introduction of the software to the fundamental operations necessary to accomplish basic image manipulation.

Available for on-line ordering at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=thekleperreporto&path=ISBN%3D0764595717

0764595717 392 pp. $24.95

Contact: Wiley, Professional/Trade Group, 111 River St., Hoboken, NJ 07030, http://www.wiley.com.


Quicken 2006 for Starters: The Missing Manual
Biafore, Bonnie

Packed full of screen images and step-by-step process instructions, the author has assembled a clear, easy-to-follow guide for literally every aspect of the Quicken application. The content includes all of the basic program operations as well as real-world context relating when to apply certain elements of the software.

Available for on-line ordering at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=thekleperreporto&path=ISBN%3D0596101279

0596101279 407 pp. $24.95

Contact: O'Reilly & Associates, Inc., 1005 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol, CA 95472, 800 998-9938, 707 829-0515, http://www.oreilly.com, e-mail: info@oreilly.com, fax: 707 829-0104.


Real World Color Management, Second Edition
Fraser, Bruce; Chris Murphy, Fred Bunting

This is an important book for those who are serious about implementing a reliable color management system in their production workflow. The authors provide their real world insights into the mysteries of carrying color fidelity from screen to press using industry accepted standards and processes, such as ICC profiles. Although written for an intermediate through advanced audience, the authors begin with an explanation of what color is, and progress through the production methods and techniques that bind digital cameras, scanners, monitors, proof printers, and presses.

Available for on-line ordering at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=thekleperreporto&path=ISBN%3D0321267222

0321267222 582 pp. $49.99

Contact: Peachpit Press, 1249 8th St., Berkeley, CA 94710, 800 283-9444, http://www.peachpit.com, fax: 510 524-2221.


Spam Kings: The Real Story Behind the High-Rolling Hucksters Pushing Porn, Pills, and %*@# Enlargements
McWilliams, Brian

A fascinating insider look at an odd assortment of individuals who unscrupulously market phoney schemes, bogus investments, fake medications, and counterfeit goods to millions of unsuspecting computer users via unsolicited e-mail, or spam. These are their stories, and those of anti-spammers who are actively hunting them down and turning them over to the authorities.

Chapter 1, "Birth of a Spam King," can be found on-line at: http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/spamkings/chapter/index.html

Available for on-line ordering at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=thekleperreporto&path=ISBN%3D0596007329

0596007329 333 pp. $22.95

Contact: O'Reilly & Associates, Inc., 1005 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol, CA 95472, 800 998-9938, 707 829-0515, http://www.oreilly.com, e-mail: info@oreilly.com, fax: 707 829-0104.


Statistics Hacks
Frey, Bruce

This book of 75 statistics hacks brings to life many of the fascinating and useful ways that statistics can be used in everyday situations. The hacks are not only practical but some are actually fun. Readers will find that their knowledge of probability and event prediction will likely be enhanced.

Available for on-line ordering at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=thekleperreporto&path=ISBN%3D0596101643

0596101643 356 pp. $29.99

Contact: O'Reilly & Associates, Inc., 1005 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol, CA 95472, 800 998-9938, 707 829-0515, http://www.oreilly.com, e-mail: info@oreilly.com, fax: 707 829-0104.


Take Control of Font Problems in Mac OS X
Aker, Sharon Zardetto

Fonts are a mission critical part of the digital publishing workflow, and when they fail to work properly the entire process can break down and come to a halt. In this e-book, a companion to "Take Control of Fonts in Mac OS X," author Aker provides the preventative measures, methods of diagnosis, and solutions for dealing with all aspects of font management and use. Every Macintosh digital publisher who does not have mastery of font usage in OS X should buy this book. It is an investment that is certain to pay for itself.

Take Control e-books are provided in PDF format without copy protection, for maximum user benefits. They are well-designed, and easily navigated.

Readers of The Kleper Report on Digital Publishing are eligible for a discount of 30% by going to: http://www.takecontrolbooks.com/catalog.html?14@@!pt=REF-KLEPREPORT&cp=CPN60522KLEP, or by going to http://www.takecontrolbooks.com/catalog.html and inputting the following coupon code: CPN60522KLEP

1933671149 115 pp. $10

Contact: Take Control Ebooks, TidBITS Electronic Publishing, 50 Hickory Road, Ithaca, NY 14850, 402 323-6692, http://www.takecontrolbooks.com, Fax: 402-323-6691


Take Control of Fonts in Mac OS X
Aker, Sharon Zardetto

Fonts are at the very heart of the digital publishing process, and keeping them working correctly is an essential task. In this e-book the author deals with the real-world problems of installing and managing fonts in the Mac OS X environment. Ms. Aker ably leads the reader through the various procedures that are commonplace in a digital workflow such as installing and removing fonts, enabling and disabling fonts, working with fonts within the Classic environment, working with font collections and libraries, printing font samples, and much more.

Readers of The Kleper Report on Digital Publishing are eligible for a discount of 30% by going to: http://www.takecontrolbooks.com/catalog.html?14@@!pt=REF-KLEPREPORT&cp=CPN60522KLEP, or by going to http://www.takecontrolbooks.com/catalog.html and inputting the following coupon code: CPN60522KLEP

1933671157 255 pp. $20

Contact: Take Control Ebooks, 402 323-6692, http://www.takecontrolbooks.com, Fax: 402-323-6691


Top 100 Simplified Tips & Tricks for Photoshop CS2
Kent, Lynette

A full-color step-by-step guide to completing 100 tasks that can energize Photoshop users with methods and procedures that can make them more efficient and effective image manipulators. Each two-page spread includes minimal text and maximum illustrations.

Available for on-line ordering at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=thekleperreporto&path=ISBN%3D0764588419

0764588419 246 pp. $19.99

Contact: Wiley, Professional/Trade Group, 111 River St., Hoboken, NJ 07030, http://www.wiley.com.


Using Macromedia Studio 8, Special Edition
Nicholson, Sean

This book is billed as "The only Studio 8 book you need," and it is likely that. It chock full of code and technical details that help the reader to get the most from Macromedia Flash®, Dreamweaver®, Fireworks®, Contribute®, and ColdFusion Developer Edition. Web developers can access the sample code and other assets on a companion Web site hosted by Que publishing.

Available for on-line ordering at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=thekleperreporto&path=ISBN%3D0789733854

0789733854 722 pp. $39.99

Contact: Que Corporation, 11711 North College Ave., Carmel, IN 46032, http://www.quecorp.com.


Web Design in a Nutshell, 3rd Edition
Robbins, Jennifer Niederst

The complete desk reference to Web design, thumb-indexed, and with extensive detail and comprehensive coverage. This edition includes ten new chapters covering the use of Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) for presentation. If you are a serious Web designer, then this book belongs within arm's reach.

Information about the author, the TOC, index, and samples can be found at: http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/wdnut3/

Available for on-line ordering at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=thekleperreporto&path=ISBN%3D0596009879

0596009879 826 pp. $34.99

Contact: SitePoint Pty. Ltd., 424 Smith Street Collingwood, VIC Australia 3066, http://www.sitepoint.com, e-mail: business@sitepoint.com. In the U.S.A.: O'Reilly & Associates, Inc., 1005 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol, CA 95472, 800 998-9938, 707 829-0515, http://www.oreilly.com, e-mail: info@oreilly.com, fax: 707 829-0104.




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Copyright and Distribution Information The Kleper Report on Digital Publishing is (c)opyright 2006, Graphic Dimensions, Rochester, NY, all rights reserved. You may distribute portions of this document, up to 200 words in length, unmodified, provided that you also include this copyright notice and subscription information. The Kleper Report on Digital Publishing is published in Adobe Acrobat PDF format http://www.adobe.com. Each issue costs $4.95, with a 6 issue subscription costing $24.95. The free Acrobat reader is required for viewing. Past issues (more than 60 days old) of The Kleper Report on Digital Publishing are available on the Web at: http://www.printerport.com/kdp/. Comments and inquiries should be directed to: The Kleper Report on Digital Publishing, POB 20213, Rochester, NY 14623, USA. E-mail: kdp@printerport.com.