Books for people studying set design for film, tv, theatre, etc; prop making; scenic art; set decoration; and other behind the screen careers!
created by Fwilst
last updated June, 2026
1930s Scrapbook
Robert Opie
1970s Scrapbook
The 1950s Scrapbook (Best of the Decade Series)
The 1920s Scrapbook (Robert Opie's Scrapbook Series)
The 1960s Scrapbook
The Graphic Design Sourcebook: 200 Years of Glorious Graphics from the Robert Opie Collection
Art Nouveau: The Essential Reference (Dover Pictorial Archive)
Carol Belanger Grafton
The Art of Faux: The Complete Sourcebook of Decorative Painted Finishes
Pierre Finkelstein
The Prop Builder's Molding & Casting Handbook
Thurston James
Designs on Film: A Century of Hollywood Art Direction
Cathy Whitlock
Poster Art of the Disney Parks
Daniel Handke
The V&A Sourcebook of Pattern and Ornament
Amelia Calver
The Designer's Dictionary of Color
Sean Adams
The Performing Set: The Broadway Designs of William and Jean Eckart
Andrew B. Harris
Transforming Space Over Time: Set Design and Visual Storytelling with Broadway’s Legendary Directors
Beowulf Boritt
Set Design and Prop Making in Theater (Exploring Theater)
Bethany Bryan
Hollywood Sketchbook: A Century of Costume Illustration
Deborah Nadoolman Landis
Cinematography: Theory and Practice: Image Making for Cinematographers and Directors (Volume 1)
Blain Brown
Interaction of Color
Josef Albers
Rice's Language of Buildings
Matthew Rice
Drawing the Curtain: Maurice Sendak’s Designs for Opera and Ballet
Rachel Federman
Designing Broadway: How Derek McLane and Other Acclaimed Set Designers Create the Visual World of Theatre
Derek McLane
Unmasking Theatre Design: A Designer's Guide to Finding Inspiration and Cultivating Creativity: A Designer's Guide to Finding Inspiration and Cultivating Creativity
Lynne Porter
Art of Illusion: Production Design for Film and Television
Terry Ackland-Snow
Small Stage Sets on Tour
James Hull Miller
Theatrical Design and Production: An Introduction to Scene Design and Construction, Lighting, Sound, Costume, and Makeup
J. Michael Gillette
Harry Potter Page to Screen: Updated Edition: The Complete Filmmaking Journey
Bob McCabe
Fake Love Letters, Forged Telegrams, and Prison Escape Maps: Designing Graphic Props for Filmmaking
Annie Atkins
Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative
Austin Kleon
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