3ds max 5 for Dummies [Paperback]

Shamms Mortier (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2002 | ISBN-10: 0764516760 | ISBN-13: 978-0764516764

* Helps beginning and intermediate users gain the upper hand on the world's bestselling professional 3D graphics software, which is used by an estimated 170,000 animators in film, television, games, and other industries
* Covers the essentials, such as the 3ds max interface, navigation, and
* display tools, then moves on to modeling, modifiers, mapping surfaces, rendering, using lighting, and creating 3D animations
* o Clear explanations, example projects, and lots of illustrations help readers get up to speed fast
* o Explores the substantial updates and enhancements to 3ds max
* o Author has written more than twenty computer graphics and animation books

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Get going with 3ds max 5 the easy way

Build awesome animations and special effects for games, TV, presentations, and more!

Been itching to get started with 3ds max, the world's most widely used 3D animation software, but a little intimidated by its complexity? Don't be! Let this user-friendly guide lead you through all the essentials, from the interface and navigation to modeling, modifiers, and mapping surfaces. In no time, you'll become a 3D animation wizard.

All this on the bonus CD-ROM
* 3ds max, Version 5 demo
* Author-created materials
* Examples from the book

System requirements: PC running Windows 98 or later. For details and complete system requirements, see the CD-ROM appendix.

About the Author

Shamms Mortier, PhD, has been involved in computer graphics and animation since its inception in the late 1980s. Beginning as a traditional pen and ink illustrator and animator, he entered the realm of 3D modeling and animation beginning with 3ds max version 1. He has maintained a working relationship with 3ds max through its various incarnations, developing graphics and animation for government, academic, and professional broadcast clients through his studio in Bristol, Vermont, Eyeful Tower Communications and Earful Tower Productions (a soundtrack and audio FX production facility). He has authored more than 25 books on computer graphics and animation topics for the world market and teaches various classes on media and creative pursuits at colleges in his area.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies (November 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764516760
• ISBN-13: 978-0764516764
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 7.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,029,040 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This should be your first book to learning 3dsmax 5., January 15, 2003

By 

LatinMessiah (Berkeley, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 3ds max 5 for Dummies (Paperback)

This book is a great confidence booster and teaches you the basics so that you can create your own art in 3dsmax 5. It is VERY user friendly and the info is clear and useful. If you want complicated, headache inducing tutorials, search else where. To gain a better understanding of 3dsmax, in plain English, buy this book. Read from cover to cover for best results.
* Friendly note to 3D egg-heads: This book does not cover scripting.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Max 5 for Dummies -- Do You Really Want This Book?, July 21, 2003

By 

Steve - See all my reviews

This review is from: 3ds max 5 for Dummies (Paperback)

Caution, reader. Caution.
Buying this book means you have absolutely no knowledge of 3ds Max or any knowledge in 3D whatsoever. The author spends a lot of time spelling out what a polygon is, what normals are, etc. If you already know this stuff, get another book. Another thing to be aware of is the chapter's sub-heading are often goofy and have no relation whatsoever to the content of that section; this often makes scanning the pages a little difficult. Humor is good, but I'm not sure I want to go there with such a complicated program.

Finally, the lessons here certainly get you on your way, but this is by no means a definitive guide on workflow and procedures. The tutorials are a bit shallow at best. If you know anything at all about Max or 3D in general, skip this book.

1.0 out of 5 stars Why was this book written?, February 25, 2007

By 

Marco (Sydney, NSW Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 3ds max 5 for Dummies (Paperback)

A book in the 'Dummies' series written for Studio Max is a bit strange. The 'Dummies' books are pretty much written for people who barely know how to turn on a computer (my mother, for instance). Studio Max is a professional-level 3D application designed to create visual effects for games, movies and TV productions. Why would someone who barely knows how to turn on a computer buy a professional-level 3D application? Answer - they have just downloaded a pirate version of Studio Max from a warez web site.

The book follows Shamms Mortier's standard formula of filling the pages with padding, and hope that the reader is stupid enough not to notice its padding, all the time almost no information is being given out - because the author has no idea how the software works himself.

Avoid all books written by R. Shamms Mortier. The sooner publishers realise this guy has no idea what he's doing, the better. Even the manual that comes with the software is far better than this waste of paper.