Generally speaking, this book is a godsend. Written by Ron Brinkmann, a gentleman with an admirable career history whose film credits include Speed, Die Hard with a Vengeance, Last Action Hero and many more, this book will turn out to be an invaluable insight into the compositing process for aspiring compositors and experienced artists. The Art and Science of Digital Compositing is one of those incredible books that you come away from buzzing with new ideas, and most importantly ways to improve your work. A must-read for anyone serious about getting involved with visual effects and post-production.

The Art and Science of Digital Compositing by Ron Brinkmann. Book & CD-ROM Edition. San Diego, California: Academic Press/Morgan Kaufmann, 1999. 320 pages. ISBN: 0-12-133960-2. (US$54.95)

Paul Younghusband is editor-in-chief of Visual Magic Magazine, a publication focusing on the 3-D graphics and digital effects industries.