Amazon.co.uk Review
If learning to use a 3-D application is like a vertical climb up the face of a cliff, Peachpit Press's
3ds max 4 Visual QuickStart Guide is like the climbing guide that everyone hopes to hire. Concise, experienced and never overwhelming, this handbook is designed to lead an artist new to 3ds max 4 up the face of the cliff and help him or her plant a flag on the summit.
Fifteen chapters build a solid foundation for almost every aspect of 3ds max, starting with installation, interface navigation and the basics of creating, selecting and moving objects. Subsequent chapters include advanced modelling of objects, animation, working with lights and cameras, and using materials and maps. The final chapter, "Rendering", covers final output and how to add effects that are only visible in the final rendered frame, such as depth of field, motion blur, lens flares, glows and so on.
The most remarkable thing about the book is how thorough each section is, even though such a wide range of deep topics are covered in under 500 pages. It is impossible to find a favourite chapter--they are all-important, and all equally well written and illustrated. Some topics are simply not covered, which is a fine approach; there is more than enough material here to keep the new max artist busy for some time.
This book is for beginners. There is virtually no information on the deeper tools such as MaxScript or bones, or using inverse or forward kinematics, although a short section discusses using morph targets. However, it is ideal for someone brand-new to the program who needs to learn the basics as quickly as possible. There is no companion CD-ROM, but a section containing colour images offers inspiration.
3ds max 4 is a rich and mature application relied upon by professionals the world over, but understanding how it works and learning to use it can be daunting. 3ds max 4 Visual QuickStart Guide is designed to help any user new to max climb the curve and conquer the application. --Mike Caputo
Product Description
The market for skilled 3D artists is booming, and one of the most in-demand tools of the trade is 3D Studio MAX. This powerful rendering program is the tool of choice for PC-using animators and digital artists creating 3D images for print and screen, as well as animations for television, movies, and the Web. 3D Studio MAX 4 for Windows: Visual QuickStart Guide leads new users through the basics of MAX, from basic modeling and rendering techniques to advanced 3D animation tips. Visual, task-based lessons and plenty of screen shots provide an ideal way to learn this in-depth animation tool, even for readers with no previous knowledge of the software. In addition, even experienced animators will find this book a handy reference.
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