3D Modeling and Surfacing (Exploring 3d Graphics) [Paperback]

Bill Fleming (Author)

Book Description

Series: Exploring 3d Graphics | Publication Date: May 26, 1999

3D programs are a major investment, and making an uninformed decision on which technology to pursue can be a waste of time, effort, and money. 3D Modeling and Surfacing is your tool for navigating through the wide variety of products available for the graphics design professional. Emphasizing the modeling and surfacing aspects, this book covers the basics of 3D graphics. It provides an overview of all the existing graphics design technology and the software that implements them as well as pointing out the best uses for specific programs. Graphics expert Bill Fleming shows how to use and take advantage of common modeling and surfacing techniques and offers his advice on when and where to use them.
3D Modeling and Surfacing is an unbiased source of information for graphics design professionals who need to pick the right tool or technique for the job. The book can be used as a guide for the fledgling graphics design artist and as an objective reference for the seasoned professional.

Key Features
* Includes a CD-ROM featuring full-color versions of the images in the book, plus product demos, sample models and surfaces, and relevant freeware/software
* Discusses and demonstrates current graphics design technologies and provides comprehensive coverage of the software products that implement them

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Whether you're stepping up from 2-D or just want to delve into the 3-D arena, check out 3D Modeling & Surfacing. This book explores the basics of modeling and surfacing (much more than animation) and introduces you to the features and tools common to 3-D software programs. 3-D terms and techniques are demystified for beginners in a way that is terrific for those new to 3-D graphics.

The book teaches you polygon, MetaNurbs, and other modeling techniques, and it explores modeling tools such as beveling, Boolean operators, lathe, and extrude. You also learn about such surfacing methods as procedural textures and image maps, and about surface attributes like color, bump, and specularity. There are plenty of screen shots and illustrations, plus lots of in-depth discussion of techniques. While the book is disadvantaged by the lack of software-specific instructions (like those found in a manual), you can use the instructions on any program you want. --Kathleen Caster

From the Back Cover

3D graphics, the most exciting area of computer imaging, can also be the most daunting. 3D Modeling and Surfacing provides a one-of-a-kind guide to mastering the technology and techniques of 3D graphics, with emphasis on modeling and surfacing. This book goes beyond mere explanations and tutorials - it actually explains which tools and techniques to choose to accomplish specific goals. A comprehensive overview of 3D graphics software makes this book your tool for navigating through the vast array of products available for the 3D graphics professional.

Functioning both as an unbiased reference for seasoned designers and a tutorial for would-be professionals, 3D Modeling and Surfacing is truly for everyone interested in creating 3D graphics. The book includes:

• The basics of 3D graphics plus a comprehensive overview of graphics design technology and software
  
• Explanation of modeling and surfacing techniques, as well as when and where to use them
  
• Step-by-step tutorials that teach 3D modeling and surfacing techniques
  
• A CD-ROM featuring full-color versions of the images in the book, along with product demos, sample models and surfaces, and relevant freeware/shareware

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 340 pages
• Publisher: Morgan Kaufmann; Book & CD-ROM 1st edition (May 26, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0122604903
• ISBN-13: 978-0122604904
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,141,259 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not bad but tough to get into, December 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: 3D Modeling and Surfacing (Exploring 3d Graphics) (Paperback)

Difficult to get to grips with modelling at first; this book may prove to be a challenge, but if you stick with it, it can be quite rewarding. There are no real "tutorials" as such, rather you are given less detailed "walk-throughs" where you can just examine what techniques are used. I think any non-lightwave user will find this more of a struggle as, like with most of Bill's works, most of the walk-throughs are Lightwave based. It would have been nice if there were more detailed tutorials however and I would advise would-be readers to not just try and re-create the models in the book, but also try from an early stage to create their own, maybe more basic models.

21 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars This Book is not worth the money, August 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: 3D Modeling and Surfacing (Exploring 3d Graphics) (Paperback)

I bought this book as an avid 3D Designer. I use Lightwave, SoftImage, 3D Studio Max, and I have a degree in IDI. I found this book to be totally confusing, in the first few chapers they speak of walk throughs, but it never tells you when you're approaching tutorials so you become lost. I do not recommend this book to beginners or intermediate

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Methodology and Purpose are Great, December 8, 1999

By 

R. Loftis (NC, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 3D Modeling and Surfacing (Exploring 3d Graphics) (Paperback)

I found the book to be very useful for determining how to approach the aspect of modeling and surfacing objects. It covers most technologies found in 3D packages and shows when and where to apply certain techniques. There are no tutorials, but by the same token it is not geared to be a tutorial book. It is more of a project planning and reference book. The walkthroughs are there to reinforce the topics discussed, not to teach step by step modeling. Would recommend for anyone needing to know why something is modeled in a particular fashion.