If you're trying to build practical Adobe skills, the hardest part isn't finding a tutorial-it's choosing which software design course book actually matches the work you want to do. Do you spend your day cutting interviews, or are you more interested in motion graphics and compositing? That distinction points you to Premiere Pro or After Effects. And if your project involves older interactive animation, a Flash Professional CS6 introduction might still be useful. We compared four paperbacks that span two core video tools and one older animation tool, with a price spread that makes the lower end of the range an obvious starting point.
Quick take
Two of the four books are Premiere Pro guides, so the main difference is which price you're willing to pay. The After Effects guide is the one aimed at motion graphics, and the Flash CS6 title is the most specialized and the priciest.
Price comparison
| Product | Listed Price | Price Bar | Format / Condition | Primary Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adobe Premiere Pro : A Complete Course and Compendium of Features, Paperback | USD 40.48 | Trade Paperback, Brand New | Timeline editing and video workflows | |
| Adobe Premiere Pro: A Complete Course and Compendium of Features by Ben Goldsmith | USD 49.46 | Trade Paperback, Brand New | Timeline editing and video workflows | |
| Ben Goldsmith Adobe After Effects (Paperback) (UK IMPORT) | USD 74.04 | Trade Paperback, Brand New | After Effects compositing and 3D scene work | |
| NEW PERSPECTIVES ON ADOBE FLASH PROFESSIONAL CS6, By Luis A. Lopez | USD 157.49 | Trade Paperback, Good | Flash animation and interactive projects |
Decision matrix
- For cutting and assembling footage: choose one of the Premiere Pro paperbacks; the lower-priced copy is the natural place to start.
- For animating text, building 3D scenes, or visual effects: the After Effects guide is the only book here that targets that tool.
- For a structured Flash CS6 introduction: the New Perspectives title covers that specific platform, but it comes with the highest price in the group.
- For the quickest decision: if price is your main constraint, start with the lower-priced Premiere Pro copy.
Product notes
Adobe Premiere Pro: A Complete Course and Compendium of Features, Paperback
The lowest-priced book in this group is a full Premiere Pro training guide. It combines a complete course of projects and lessons with a compendium of features, so you can learn by doing and keep it as a reference. The lessons come from video editor and Adobe Certified Instructor Ben Goldsmith, giving them a practical, project-based feel. The main limitation is that another Premiere Pro copy here carries the same ISBN, so you should expect the same content; the only concrete difference between the two is the price. If you want to spend less, this is the one to choose.
Adobe Premiere Pro: A Complete Course and Compendium of Features by Ben Goldsmith
This second Premiere Pro option shares the same ISBN and author as the lower-priced copy, and the content is identical, from the projects to the reference material. It covers tasks like organizing interviews, splicing news clips, and building longer cuts. The reason to pick this one is if you're already looking at this version and the price difference is acceptable. The limitation is the higher listed price: for the same core material, you're paying more than you would for the other Premiere Pro copy. If price matters, start with the cheaper edition.
Ben Goldsmith Adobe After Effects (Paperback) (UK IMPORT)
If motion graphics are your focus, this After Effects guide is the only book in the set built around the After Effects workflow. It covers a full course of projects and lessons, with exercises that lead you through animation, text effects, and 3D scene work. The author is Ben Goldsmith, who also wrote the Premiere Pro guides. This UK import sits in the middle of the group's price range. The limitation is that it's not the right tool for pure timeline editing; Premiere Pro books are designed for that. If you mostly cut footage, the Premiere Pro guides are a better match.
NEW PERSPECTIVES ON ADOBE FLASH PROFESSIONAL CS6, By Luis A. Lopez
The most expensive book here is also the most specialized. This 416-page introduction to Adobe Flash Professional CS6 comes from the New Perspectives series, with Luis Lopez as the author. The book is in Good condition, so it may show wear or marks from previous use, and it carries a New Edition feature label. Its strength is structured, textbook-style instruction for Flash CS6 specifically. The limitation is the combination of a high price and an older platform; if you don't have a specific reason to learn Flash CS6, the Premiere Pro and After Effects guides offer more applicable training for today's video workflows.
Final recommendation by use case
For Premiere Pro fundamentals with the lowest listed price, choose the $40.48 Adobe Premiere Pro: A Complete Course and Compendium of Features, Paperback. If you want the same Premiere Pro content and are willing to pay $9.98 more, the $49.46 Adobe Premiere Pro: A Complete Course and Compendium of Features by Ben Goldsmith is the alternative. For After Effects and motion graphics, choose the $74.04 Ben Goldsmith Adobe After Effects paperback. For a structured Flash CS6 introduction, the $157.49 New Perspectives on Adobe Flash Professional CS6, Introductory is the only option, but the high price makes it a niche buy.
