3D Studio Max 3.0 Workshop [Paperback]

Duane Loose (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 23, 2000

3D Studio Max 3.0 Workshop takes the approach of "beginning with the end in mind." This book teaches you 3D Studio Max basic design principles, as well as techniques for getting ideas out of your brain onto your computer screen. Chapters include information on backgrounds, set design and modeling, props and secondary scene elements, camera set-up and movement, and lighting. You'll also learn innovative techniques for creating 3D depth, texturing & reflection, specific material development, and dirt, wear and tear, smoke, water and other special effects, and character design and animation. Other topics covered include video post-production, making a demo reel, and getting a job as a CGI artist/animator.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

3D Studio Max 3 Workshop confidently leads beginning Max users through the dark forest of installation, interface introductions, and core concepts. Illustrating the design, construction, and final rendering of a single project, and introducing new features as needed, it drives toward a final goal and artistic vision that started out as a sketch on paper.

The first noticeable thing about this book is the keyboard/icon tear-out sheet, which is invaluable. Featuring every icon in Max's many toolbars on one side, and the most commonly needed keyboard shortcuts on the other, this two-page sheet printed on heavy paper helps the new user get more proficient in Max through keyboard shortcuts and by making it easier to decipher onscreen icons.

The 10 chapters illustrate the step-by-step process of creating and refining an idea, building the set, applying materials, adding lights and animation, and putting it all together in the final rendering. Each chapter is clear, concise, and designed to build on previous material while introducing new functions. The only downside is that the book has no color images--a few pages of color graphics would have been great for illustrating ideas that were presented in the chapter on lighting or surface materials, for example.

The real-world approach that is taken by 3D Studio Max 3 Workshop is encouraging and realistic. If you are serious about learning how to use Max and working professionally in 3-D computer graphics and animation, this book makes a solid teacher. Starting with an idea on paper and following through to final rendering, it gives an overview not only of how to use Max, but how to use it in the real world. --Mike Caputo

From the Back Cover

3D Studio Max 3.0 Workshop takes the approach of "beginning with the end in mind." This book teaches you 3D Studio Max basic design principles, as well as techniques for getting ideas out of your brain onto your computer screen. Chapters include information on backgrounds, set design and modeling, props and secondary scene elements, camera set-up and movement, and lighting. You'll also learn innovative techniques for creating 3D depth, texturing & reflection, specific material development, and dirt, wear and tear, smoke, water and other special effects, and character design and animation. Other topics covered include video post-production, making a demo reel, and getting a job as a CGI artist/animator.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 600 pages
• Publisher: Hayden (May 23, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789723433
• ISBN-13: 978-0789723437
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,081,565 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simple Awesome, June 5, 2000

By 

Steve Beck - See all my reviews

This review is from: 3D Studio Max 3.0 Workshop (Paperback)

From trying ot get your thoughts on paper to leanring eye catching tips for scene setup, you simpl cant go wrong. The author starts by emplaining basic concepts of scene setup and walks you thorugha very logical order of setting these up in max and explaining every little detail about what is happening and why it you are doing it. The ONLY gripe i have is, their seems to be a key scene that in the beginning the author needs you to load for camera setup, and it is missing from the cd. Other then that, this book walks you through an entire project of modelling, atmospheric setup, specials effects, compositing and sound integration. EXCELLENT JOB, but i want that TheEndCamera.max file! :))

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for Beginners and Intermediate Users, December 26, 2000

By 

M. Scott (Valleyford, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 3D Studio Max 3.0 Workshop (Paperback)

This was the second book on Max that I bought. The first was the Visual Quickstart Guide which helped me learn the interface, but left me unsure of how to make a real animation or scene of any complexity. Workshop is exactly what I needed though. It takes you step by step through the creation of an entire scene and along the way explains why to use certain techniques and tools. The author also throws in several useful sections on general art and design principles.

After reading this book I feel confident in making some simple animations and scenes that don't require any real complex modelling or animation. I also feel prepared to read intermediate books dealing more in depth with modelling, animation, etc.

The only hangup I found was near the beginning of the book where a camera just appears in the scene without the author making any mention of how to create it. This was easy to fix though by importing the camera from one of the scene files on the CD-Rom.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book to start out with!, August 13, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: 3D Studio Max 3.0 Workshop (Paperback)

I thought this book was absolutely perfect for me. I was just beginning to use MAX when I got this book, and it has taught me a lot. Some of the other reviews mention something about the missing camera file; it's true that it's missing, but it is very easy to replace. All you have to do is merge one of the .max files from the CD (example - "ExBGPyramid.max") and it will ask you what you want to merge into your scene, you simply select the camera and there it is. So to all the 3D Studio Max newbies out there, I urge you to purchase this book!