The Visual Effects Arsenal: VFX Solutions for the Independent Filmmaker is a step-by-step 'cookbook' style instructional for various visual special effects in the digital realm.
You'll learn some of the techniques used in movies such as 300, Spiderman 3, Predator, and more. Learn how blood can be splattered digitally, or how to digitally chop off a limb. Make it appear as if actors are running from an explosion. Use the 'twin effect' to make the same actor simultaneously appear in 2 places. All of the most popular software tools are demonstrated: After Effects, Final Cut Studio, Photoshop, and Combustion.
This book's full of 4-color illustrations to help, and also has a companion DVD featuring project media files to allow you to immediately implement the techniques you've learned.