Books are wonderful resources and we'd like to share some of our favorites with you. We know you have some great recommendations, as well. If you'd like to share them with us, we'll give you online recognition and a big thank you.

Leatrice Eiseman

Color: Messages and Meanings is a follow up to the PANTONE Guide to Communicating With Color.

The book contains all new material to help you make effective, unique and credible color choices. Based on research and filled with hundreds of color combinations and illustrations, this book present color expert, Leatrice Eiseman’s insights on color and emotion, and addresses how best to integrate these qualities into your work.

Experience inspiration through the most effective combinations for communicating moods, ranging from assertive to provocative or intimate, and many other moods.

These essential guidelines and illustrations can be applied to so many of your projects.

Publisher: Hand Books Press (December 2006)
ISBN-10: 0-9714010-6-3

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Tony Seddon

For many graphic designers, problems with sourcing and storing images are a major cause of frustration, expense and delay. Images is a consolidated resource manual, arming designers with a thorough understanding of creative asset management procedures to ensure smooth-running projects and success in producing all forms of illustrated design work.

Combining the latest technical expertise with sound professional advice, from the most basic, practical issues to in-depth, technical considerations, the book offers hands-on advice for avoiding – and solving – problems.

Illustrated throughout with examples of dynamic professional work, this is an inspirational sourcebook for all areas of graphic and online design.

Publisher: RotoVision (September, 2007)
ISBN-10: 2940361479

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Olga Gutierrez De La Roza

An Eye for Color teaches readers how to develop their color sense by presenting a unique, easy-to-follow system that the author developed to create effective color patterns.

You’ll learn how to build your own color index by "dissecting" a gorgeous selection of works used by master painters, graphic designers, fashion and furniture designers and craftsmen—all selected for their exceptional use of color.

In every spread, the author first presents the work of a designer or painter then breaks down the color palette of the work, providing color squares on the page in both RGB and CMYK configurations. Finally, readers build a personal rolodex-style system to be used as color inspiration.

Publisher: Collins Design (September, 2007)
ISBN-10: 0061210064

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Michael Bierut

This book brings together the best of designer Michael Bierut's critical writing – serious or humorous, flattering or biting, but always on the mark. Covering topics as diverse as Twyla Tharp and ITC Garamond, Bierut's intelligent and accessible texts pull design culture into crisp focus.

He touches on classics, like Massimo Vignelli and the cover of The Catcher in the Rye, as well as newcomers, like McSweeney's Quarterly Concern and color-coded terrorism alert levels.

His experience as a design practitioner informs his writing and gives it truth. In Seventy-nine Short Essays on Design, designers and nondesigners alike can share and revel in his insights.

Publisher: Princeton Architectural Press (May 2007)
ISBN-10: 1568986998

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Von Glitschka

Most designers don't have the time or the money to commission original photography or illustration, so they must turn to stock.

Crumble Crackle Burn provides an affordable tool for transforming stock images with textures and for using the textures as an illustration and typographic tool. The textures are general enough that all designers will be able to use them in their work to create unique images and effects.

The book features 60 textures with beautiful full-color examples of how each texture can be used. Plus, the included DVD contains an additional 60 textures that you can also use in your day-to-day design work.

Publisher: How Books (May 2007)
ISBN-10: 1581809581

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Sandee Cohen

Using the task-based, visual approach that readers count on in the Visual QuickStart Guides, this volume introduces readers to all aspects of InDesign CS3.

Adobe InDesign CS3 for Macintosh and Windows: Visual QuickStart Guide highlights important new features and covers the ones designers have relied on in previous versions.

You’ll learn how to create and automate documents, import and style text and objects, manage long documents, export files for a wide variety of purposes, and much more.

Concise steps and explanations, along with the pictures that show you what to do, will have you up and running in no time.

Publisher: Peachpit Press (October 2007)
ISBN-10: 0321503066

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Mark Hampshire and Keith Stephenson

From glossy corporate brochures to gritty fanzines, paper is the default medium. It is also a source of inspiration: design ideas and solutions can come from the qualities of a particular paper or from an innovative printing or finishing technique.

This book showcases the very best in paper-focused designs, and gathers all the information needed for planning and executing a project in paper, from fold styles to paper sizes, binding techniques to packaging.

Projects are grouped by type, technique or theme. A swatch envelope, reflecting a full range of professional paper stock samples, is also included.

Publisher: RotoVision (October 2007)
ISBN-10: 2940361584

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Jeff Fisher

It’s not unusual for a business or organization to experience an identity crisis as the years go by and its public persona dulls.

In Identity Crisis!, the author gives you a behind-the-scenes look at the identity redesign process in 50 fascinating case studies.

You’ll see outstanding results that designers around the world have provided for their clients, including one-person businesses, retail operations, major corporations, restaurants, educational institutions, performing arts groups and more,

The book shows the creative and strategic thinking behind fresh design work and provides a powerful tool in showing clients what a difference a professional can make to their image.

Publisher: HOW Books (October 2007)
ISBN-10: 1581809395

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Chen Design Associates

Leave your own fingerprint on the world by exploring the fusion of the digital with the hand-wrought.

Described as an inspirational visual feast, Fingerprint is filled with examples of work that showcase a variety of design methods, including mixed media, illustration, letterpress, screen printing and collage.

You'll find inspiration in examples from outstanding designers and see how traditional elements can make a more powerful statement than anesthetized computer-only work.

Fingerprint also includes insightful essays on the power of the handmade by Debbie Millman, Jean Orlebeke, Jim Sherraden, Martin Venezky and Ross Macdonald.

Publisher: HOW Books (October 2006)
ISBN -10: 1581808712

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Mark Beach and Eric Kenly

Getting It Printed has been the resource for the production industry for over 17 years, offering practical, jargon-free information about how to stay on schedule, control costs, and get quality results.

Now in its 4th edition, this invaluable reference has been updated to include all the latest digital technologies and to reflect changes in the printing industry. Among the featured topics are:

• Information on working with printers – everything from estimates, pricing and negotiating to trade customs and quality guidelines
• Essential tips on choosing the right papers and inks
• Hard-to-find knowledge about proofing, output and color

Publisher: F&W Publications (August 2004)
ISBN-10: 1581805772

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Bryony Gomez-Palacio and Armin Vit

Graphic designers are always looking for ways to improve their creative thought-process, and this book provides them with simple — but intriguing — exercises for accomplishing that goal.

The book features 30 simple words and challenges readers to visually interpret each one.

There's a gallery of sample projects for inspiration, and designers can access even more exercises at the popular online graphic design community Speak Up.

This frequently updated site runs this same creative challenge every month — offering readers a place to share their work and receive feedback.

Publisher: F & W Publications (April 2007)
ISBN: 978-1-58180-925-1

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Scott Witham

This book showcases inspiring applications of print, binding and finishing techniques and explores the effective use of stocks, materials, textures and finishes across a wide range of formats and budgets.

It’s an approachable resource that will equip designers with a working knowledge of production and manufacturing techniques to enhance graphic creativity and ensure their design’s success, from self-promotional items to campaigns for multinationals.

For ideas on everything from mass-mail flyers, invitations, packaging and lavish catalogs to customized clothing, toys and badges, Print Production Finishes for Promotional Items is an indispensable sourcebook and a sound practical guide.

Publisher: Rockport (August 2007)
ISBN-10: 2940361681

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Claudia McCue

Print production expert Claudia McCue takes on the challenge of putting ink to paper, offering clear, authoritative guidance to print professionals.

The advent of desktop publishing granted new levels of power and control to the graphic designer, but it hasn’t eliminated the traditional pitfalls. In fact, it’s introduced a few new ones.

Sometimes managing the disparate elements of fonts, images and colors, while dealing with the quirks of various layout applications makes even the bravest designer and production editor long for the hands-on days of moveable type.

This book takes on the challenges of translating inspiration to the printed page.

Publisher: Peachpit Press (July 2006)
ISBN 0-321-41018-1

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Catharine Fishel

Mastering Materials, Bindings & Finishes is a how-to guide for the finishing touches to a successful design.

Designers love to incorporate special features into their designs to make them stand out. Often these special treatments are the elements that make the audience really connect with the design.

The challenge, however, is that these particular embellishments are usually expensive, and getting them right can be extremely difficult.

This book is a complete reference to hundreds of special treatments, with information on how to approach them in reference to design challenges.

Designers who have implemented each of the effects highlighted in the book share their experiences.

Publisher: Rockport Publishers (June 2007)
ISBN-10: 1-59253-324-8

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Ann Thorpe

The Designer’s Atlas of Sustainability crosses a lot of boundaries to bring together a concise, timesaving compendium of key concepts about sustainability and to explore these concepts in design terms.

This book doesn't fit into traditional design book categories. It has lots of pictures, but it's not a catalog or a collection of case studies. It's a design book that talks about finance and discount rates. It challenges designers to look outside the marketplace to pursue sustainable design and to really see materials.

It examines design’s role in consumer-image culture while at the same time acknowledging the “saint-sinner” dilemma inherent in sustainable design practice.

Publisher: Island Press (June 2007)
ISBN 1-59726-100-9

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Luke Herriott

The Designer’s Packaging Bible presents a compilation of inspiring graphic design work from across the globe.

Featuring the work of world-recognized designers such as Irma Boom (Netherlands), Hideki Nakajima (Japan), Ph.D (USA), Paula Scher (USA), Pentagram (UK/USA) Frost (Australia), Bohatsch (Austria), D7 DI Crew (Argentina) and Onio Design (India), the content is truly international and varied in style.

Showcasing more than 250 exciting packaging ideas and solutions, the book is a great source of inspiration for graphic designers, offering a one-stop reference book compiling a huge variety of design approaches from packaging commercial products to company reports.

Publisher: Rotovision (September 2007)
ISBN-10: 294036172X

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Patricia Belyea and Jenny Sullivan

This book provides all the vital information needed to create the perfect folder or envelope that is innovative, eye catching and functional.

Whether working on a full-blown media kit or a custom envelope, the packaging is what sets the tone of the project and provides the intended audience a perspective with which to view the materials.

Through inspired designs, Fantastic Folders and Exceptional Envelopes relays the secrets behind each of the wonderful examples presented and covers all the technical details that can make or break a job, including ideas for unique closures and flap styles, not to mention glue and paper choices.

Publisher: Rockport Publishers (September 2005)
ISBN-10: 1-59253-175-X

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