Covering the new features and changes to Animation:Master for the 2000 edition, this text is a reference designed to help users hone their animation skills while mastering this powerful program. For the new, less-experienced user, there is a logical, structured format. For the more experienced users, all of the ideas and techniques from earlier versions have been expanded and updated including new tutorials and a new modelling resources chapter. The text covers everything from modelling, texturing, animating, and rendering, to adding constraints and effects. The modelling chapters contain new organic and mechanical modelling tutorials, and there is also an updated texturing section and expanded chapter on effects. An innovative case study examines an entire project from conception to finished product.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
The feature set of Hash's Animation:Master 2000 is nothing short of amazing, especially in light of the price of this 3-D animation system, but the manual that ships with the program hasn't matured as quickly as the software. Some features of the software are barely described in the text, and some aren't even listed.
Jeff Paries, a former Hash employee and an Animation:Master user extraordinaire, continues to fill in the blanks--and then some--with the third edition of The Animation:Master Handbook. The tutorial-based approach and clear, concise writing make the book a priceless asset to both new and old users of the software.
This new (third) edition of the handbook covers everything from the previous editions, in addition to new material, so you'll stay current with Animation:Master v8, a.k.a. AM2000. You get the scoop on new texturing options, soft and rigid body dynamics, and flocking/swarming of groups. New information on shag and fur shaders also is included.
For new or intermediate users of Animation:Master, this book makes an excellent resource and companion. It's full of useful information and tutorials, so most users will be able to get up to speed reasonably quickly by working through the book. That's the good news.
The bad news is that there are no color pages. All screen shots are in black and white, and any discussion of lighting and color is blandly illustrated and somewhat theoretical. Also, coverage of the new features, such as the hair materials or Dynamics features, is extremely thin. Dynamics in particular deserves deeper tutorials, especially the new Cloth and Springs features, because they are generally found in very high-end animation systems only.
Lastly, the included CD-ROM contains precious few example movies, although it does have all the project files and source material that's discussed in the book. Still, there's nothing like a nicely rendered movie to inspire a new animator, especially if there are explanations also of how it was created. --Mike Caputo
From Library Journal
Animation:Master is the new name for a piece of software previously known as Martin's Hash. This is one of the coolest pieces of 3D software on the market. It actually makes sense of 3D design, runs on both Mac and Windows, and is relatively cheap compared with LightWave and SoftImage. Paries's book is the perfect introduction to 3D design generally and Animation:Master in particular. From a total introduction for 3D novices, it quickly moves the reader into real design mode. It won't quite produce Toy Story, but the results will look better than South Park. The CD-ROM includes a limited version of Animation:Master that allows folks to learn 3D for less than $50. Cool software, cool book, great buy.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Animation Master 2000 Handbook,
By Ren Zai (Las Vegas) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Animation : Master 2000 Handbook (Graphics Series) (Paperback)
The only reason I bought this book was to learn how to use Animation Master. I have the Book that came with the software which is about a "2 ½ star" book. After much research and review of other animation programs, I have concluded that Animation Master is a "5 star" program with "2 ½ star support". Here is a simple analogy. A person needs to get to a street called "E street" and in order to get there they must know that there is an A,B,C,D, street. In comparison the author of this book constantly gives directions like take A,B,D, or A,C,D leaving out essential details thus leaving the student of this excellent animation program frustrated and confused. Basically the author of this book is probably an excellent animator and story teller. As a writer myself I remind the author that if the details of a story are left out a percentage of the audience will bail thus creating inappropriate and negative views about the potential of becoming animators and I believe that the author is trying to help people to become animation enthusiast not discourage them. If you want to be as good in writing your tutorials as you are hopfully an animator then please take the time to avoid assumptions about your readers. If on the other hand you have written the book to get quick cash because of very little competition. Then I will ask that someone who has more tolerance of beginners and understands the essential nature of including all of the steps A,B,C,D,E please take the challenge. In conclusion I believe that this is a program well worth the price of admission . I only ask for a larger group of us who are newer and can learn well with a more detailed tutorial book that someone please take on this needed to be done task. P.S. to Jeff Paries I an not trying to insult you. I'm simply asking for a more complete and linear set of tutorials from you or anyone else. There is a business need at this graphic revolutionary time even if you write two books. Beginning to Intermediate book one followed by Intermediate to Advance. Then we are happier to give the writer more money that they deserve and word of mouth advertising is expanded to a higher level. Thank you for your time. renzai@pdai.com
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Version One + Two + Addendum = A:M 2000 Handbook,
By Mark Seely (Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Animation : Master 2000 Handbook (Graphics Series) (Paperback)
I have two takes on this book. First, if your a beginner with no other reference other than the manual, this book will walk you through some of the basic features of A:M. It will introduce you to some of A:M's abilities plus it will provide some reference to support applications and plug-ins. My second take on this book is that if you've been using A:M for some time and are comfortable with many of the features of A:M I would strongly suggest that you re-think the purchase of this book. It lacks detailed instruction of many of the new features of A:M 2000 (springs and masses are the first thing that come to mind). Much of this book makes use of the same examples as seen in previous editions. Though totaly relevant to the subject to be discussed it seems a bit tacky and unaccetable when paying good money for a NEW handbook edition. The manual included with the software itself provides as much instruction as does the Handbook. The use of the mailing list plus accessing the tutorial sites will answer many of your questions and to superior levels of detail. To sum it up, having purchased both editions one and two, The A:M 2000 Handbook will be the last edition I'll be buying from this author.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Read this book with a lot of patience,
By Mr. "mark_18" (Berkeley, CA United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Animation : Master 2000 Handbook (Graphics Series) (Paperback)
Its not a question whether I can recommend this book or not. Why do I say this? Its because the original manual that comes with Animation Master is so awful that you have to buy this book to make sense of it all.Now in the case of reviewing the book, there is some good things to say and some bad things to say: First of all, Jeff Paries is extremely knowledgable on the subject matter. The book is packed with so much information (600 pages worth) so that makes it a valuable tool. The biggest complaint is that some of the tutorials need clarification. I went through a lot of them and I find bits of essential information missing. Somethings I have to improvise and experiment (which is not necessarily a bad thing but it can be frustrating). I think the author (and the editors too) should take some test subjects and let them go through the tutorials and point out any inconstancies in the text.
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