Amazon.co.uk Review
3ds max 4 Magic is a hands-on project book for those who have already mastered at least the fundamentals of Discreet's professional 3D modelling and animation software.
To take advantage of the 13 projects (there are three additional projects and other material on the CD-ROM) you will at least need to have spent quality time with the 3DS manual and worked through the tutorials. Then you'll be ready to blow up a planet, create an underwater scene, make a rope swing, animate a human character, build a mechanical machine and whip up the perfect storm.
The purpose of the tutorials, apart from enjoying yourself, is only partly to show you how to achieve a particular effect. Each one demonstrates a specific feature including some of the new enhancements to 3ds max 4.
The rope swing makes use of the Flex modifier's new soft body springs and the character animation covers the new Inverse Kinematics (IK) tools and manipulators.
The involvement of many contributors means that each project is dealt with in a fresh and expert fashion by someone whose day job is not writing tutorials, but producing 3D animation and effects for the film and TV industry. The clean layout and colour illustrations make fast progress possible, even with complex subjects.
The choice of projects reflects real world challenges--these are the things 3D designers need to be able to do. And if you bought 3ds max 4 Magic you'll find sufficient new material here to justify a second bite. --Ken McMahon
Product Description
3ds Max 4 Magic follows the same project-based pedagogy that has made previous Magic titles a success. The primary goals are to present changes in functionality, best practices, and inspirational effects. Each project is 10 to15 pages in length and provides instruction as well as suggestions for enhancing or modifying the project/effect. Each page is designed in a 3-column format with step-by-step instructions on the left and corresponding graphics (or code) in the middle. The third column is used to provide additional tips and tricks. Any effect, technique, or tip can easily be customized to fit the readers'
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