3ds max 4 Bible [Paperback]

Kelly L. Murdock (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0764535846 | ISBN-13: 978-0764535840 | Publication Date: August 15, 2001

More than 100 step-by-step tutorials give you valuable hands-on experience under the expert guidance of 3D master, Kelly Murdock. Increasingly complex scenes will prove useful to all 3D MAX users, from beginners to advanced. 3ds max 4 Bible will help you learn and master the most popular 3D modeling and animation software.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

If 3ds max 4 can do it, you can do it, too ... Take 3ds max 4 to the max - and join the ranks of the pros who've created animations for some of today's hottest games, movies, and TV shows. Packed with expert advice, time-saving tips, and more than 150 step-by-step tutorials, this all-in-one guide gets you up to speed quickly on the basics - and provides expanded coverage of advanced techniques. With incisive insights into the next-generation enhancements to 3ds max, 16 pages of full-color examples, and a CD-ROM featuring exclusive plug-ins, it's just what you need to take your animations to the next level. Inside, you'll find complete coverage of 3ds max 4
* Get a hands-on introduction to 3ds max 4 with a Quick Start animation project
* Master the new features in 3ds max, from the enhanced modeling features to improved Inverse Kinematics
* Create sophisticated 3D models using NURBS, splines, patches, meshes, and compound objects
* Build intricate special effects using particle systems and Space Warps
* Master the Expression Controller and other advanced animation tools
* Simulate realistic materials and textures using the Material Editor
* Decrease total rendering time using a network
* Learn to program your own 3ds max plug-ins
Jam-Packed CD-ROM!
* Exclusive Furious Research plug-ins, including a Rainbow atmospheric effect and a Sketch render effect
* Sample 3D models from Viewpoint Database, Zygote Media, and more!
* Cool products including Rhino 3D demo and Poser 4 trial
* Complete tutorial files
www.hungryminds.com System Requirements: PC running Windows 98 or later, Windows NT 4 or later. See the CD-ROM appendix for details and complete system requirements.

About the Author

About the Author Kelly Murdock has been involved with more computer books than he cares to count - to the point that he avoids the computer book section of the bookstore, except for the graphics section, which still remains an obsession. His book credits include various Web, graphics, and multimedia titles, including the first edition of this book, the 3ds max 4 Bible. Other major accomplishments include Master HTML and XHTML Visually, JavaScript Blueprints, and co-authoring the Illustrator 9 Bible JavaScript. Kelly also co-authored Laura Lemay's Web Workshop: 3D Graphics and VRML 2 at a time when we all thought VRML was going somewhere. With a background in engineering and computer graphics, Kelly has been all over the 3D industry. He's used high-level CAD workstations for product design and analysis, completed several large-scale visualization projects, created 3D models for feature films, worked as a freelance 3D artist, and even done some 3D programming. Kelly's been using 3D Studio on and off since version 3 for DOS. He is also the creative force behind the children's Web site, Animabets.com at www.animabets.com.

Product Details

• Paperback: 1312 pages
• Publisher: Wiley (August 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764535846
• ISBN-13: 978-0764535840
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.6 x 2.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,412,782 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

63 of 63 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Literally, Step-By-Step, December 27, 2001

By 

Marcus Olson (Eagan. MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 3ds max 4 Bible (Paperback)

First, let me give you a brief description of my background. I'm a experienced 2D artist with applications like Photoshop and Illustrator. I've been doing 2D art for a few years, I figured its about time I transitioned to 3D. I purchased 4 books on 3D Studio Max. "Inside 3D Studio Max 4" , "3D Studio Max 4 Bible", "Modeling a Character in 3DS Max" and last, and least "3D Studio Max 4 Indepth". I recommend all these books except the last mentioned, its some kind of mix of intermeidate information at a begginers level. Nevermind that though.

3D Studio Max 4 Bible has been a excellent book, I've only read about half of it but so far its proved to be a excellent reference and tutorial based book. Some of the tutorials are a little to simple, but the author is trying to make sure you know exactly what hes talking about, and that you fully understand it. So simple isn't bad. At times its flow is a little disorianted meaning its hard to read a chapter and then say "Oh!, I want to try that" because its a little different then that. It goes into each aspect of 3Ds Max and lays out what each button and tool does. If your BRAND NEW to 3D Studio max and 3D Modeling in general this book is unmatched. I think my mom, having no computer knowledge what so ever, could sit down and follow the tutorials and create a spinning couch in a mater of a few hours, and understand exactly how she did it. Its a great book. At times you'll find your self yawning because it goes so into detail, but months from now, when your doing your first big scene your going to be happy you read that chapter on viewport configuring, because if you didn't your not going to realize "Hey!, theres a easier way to do this" and so on and so on. Plus if you skim the book because your so excited to make your 3D logo/character and you get lost while doing so, you can flip to the chapter that pertains to your question and it will start right from the beggining on that topic. Through out the whole book it rarely references back to something you previously read to make the writing easier, it always uses the menu standards so you don't get lost, ie File->Views->so on and so on. I'm in love, I haven't put the book down yet, but I will admit sometimes I find my self getting itchy fingers and paging ahead to the more advanced chapters on editing mesh's etc.

Anyways, I suggest this book to Absolute Begginers or people looking for an Excellent Reference book for all the commands/buttons/options that 3Ds Max has. If you really want to master 3Ds Max your going to need to purchase other books like Inside 3Ds Max 4 by New Riders publishing, books like those skip the "how to use the interface" type chapters and tutorials and move into the more advanced methods of doing things.

But remember, this will only teach you how to use the pencil, no book will ever teach you how to be a good artist, thats what imagination and patentice is for.

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Almost perfect ...for beginners that is..., February 3, 2002

By 

"step_jack" (Boston) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 3ds max 4 Bible (Paperback)

I based this book on the reviews from the users here on AMAZON, and I must say that they were accurate.

Here is what I've found after flipping through this book for about a week now:
It is an indispensible reference when it comes to things like "hey, what is this little button here?" or "how do I get to that particular rollout again?" You will not find insight into WHY you would use certain functions, you will only find WHAT they do. To reach the enlightened level of a 3D PROFESSIONAL, you are going to have to go to other books.
This book has a tutorial on nearly EVERY page, but these tutorials are JUST for the section you find them in, and do not go anywhere beyond the basics. THIS IS NOT A BAD THING! You just need to realize that this is a REFERENCE book, nothing more.

If you are one of those people who don't know what all the menus and buttons are for and want to learn THE BASICS of MAX 4 while sipping Scotch on your couch and not staring at a computer screen reading the help file, by all means, get this book.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book, a sigh of relief!, April 10, 2002

By 

Mat Brummitt (UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 3ds max 4 Bible (Paperback)

I'd just like to say that i am extreamly pleased to have bought this book. I am a begginer to 3d Max, and i have bought books on max's previous release (3) and have not understood much of what i was being "tought"... with this book, it has set me on the way and has made me more than competant, while making me understand most of what i have read. Im no professional, but this book has made me feel at ease, and like i am starting to know the program now, and how it all works....

i reccomend this book to anybody who is new to the program and who could use a reference book.