Amazon.co.uk Review
Unlike many books trying to cover all things Max, 3DS Max 4 Media Animation focuses on a specific use of the popular animation system from Discreet: creating opening graphics and logo animation for video.

The book assumes the reader has some experience in using Max, and in creating animation for video. It focuses on the design and production of six different animated openings, and three of those are real-world on-the-air clips from networks such as MSNBC and NBC News.

Four main sections of the book cover the projects step by step. The user doesn't get a tour of the interface, and there is no history of computer graphics. Instead, each chapter methodically describes only the steps involved in creating each particular project. If you've used Max and know the difference between a viewport and a roll-out, this book is for you.

There are plenty of details to absorb, since each project is fairly complex. The "Funhouse" tutorial is more about lighting and texturing, with some emphasis on modelling. The "Voting Machine" project is mostly about modelling, while the "News Open" project is a combination of lighting and effects. Each chapter is liberally illustrated and clearly written.

While many animators despise the idea of having to create yet another flying logo, many more have already embraced this genre and have realised that a comfortable living can be made as a talented motion graphics designer--as long as your work stands out from the crowd. It is far more difficult to design and execute an attractive motion graphics opening than you think, and if you haven't yet done it, "3DS Max 4 Media Animation" is a good place to start. --Mike Caputo

Product Description

@SUMMARY= New Riders offers the most comprehensive coverage of 3ds max functionality of any publisher. No other book covers the start-to-finish process of developing media animations using 3ds max (the program of choice for media animators). And that is precisely what our marketplace wants! This book includes all new animations from Emmy Award Winner John Chismar.

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4 Reviews

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4.8 out of 5 stars (4 customer reviews)

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very helpful for beginner to intermediate level users, 12 Nov 2001

By A Customer

I thought this book was great. It is written in a informal US style, but not too over the top. The first two tutorials are definitely beginner level, step by step, but I found out some interesting things just by reading through them. There are also three real life case studies, which I found much more interesting.
This book could not replace a good overall guide to 3ds Max 4, but it is an excellent companion for a beginner / intermediate user interested in this field. I have been using 3ds Max 4 for a little over a year and now teach it to beginner students. I bought this book mainly because one of the students in my class is learning 3ds Max to make intros etc for his national television station. I would recommend this book if Media animation interests you.

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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another great book for 3ds Max media animation, 29 Jun 2001

By	blackmax@btinternet.com (UK) - See all my reviews

John Chismar follows on from his previous title for 3ds Max v3. The book consists of just three projects, but these are not small tutorials showing just one aspect of 3ds Max, the first project covers some 175 pages which are broken down into smaller sections covering many aspects of media animation. From conception through to the finish John discusses why,and gives out tips and tricks covering the pitfalls along the way.The projects covered are different from his previous book and his expertise in this field becomes apparent from his writing. Certainly a good choice if you are following this path in your career. Well worth the investment.

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for video and visual effects, 25 Jun 2003

By	Dharmesh Suraj Bali - See all my reviews

Well I went through this book and believe me, it is a must have for anyone wanting to learn 3ds Max 4. As the title says it, it is meant for 3d animators and modellers working for video. It is a good starting point for anyone wanting to get to know 3ds max for special effects and modelling. I am a freelance 3d animator who has learned a lot from this book. The book takes you through real projects and you get to learn basic modelling and effects production. I recommend it to anyone wanting to get to know 3ds max for video production.

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5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best Media Animation books for 3dsMax
This is refreshingly different from the authors previous book. Although only containing three projects they are not small, the first project spans some 175 pages, broken down into... Read more

Published on 4 Jul 2001 by blackmax@btinternet.com

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