Customer Reviews

Caligari Truespace2 Bible (Bible Series)

5 star:		(20)
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3 star:		(1)
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I purchased TrueSpace 2 because I was interested in 3D art. Like many others, I thought it was "cool". However, after struggling with the users manuals that came with the program, I set TrueSpace aside for about six months. Then one day, I happened to be walking through Fry's Electronics and spotted this book "Caligari TrueSpace 2 Bible". I always heard rave reviews about the Photoshop bible that is also published by IDG books. Well, I thought, if it is half as good as the Photoshop book, it might be worth taking a look at. I was not dissapointed. The book is excellent! I can hardly put it down. It explains things in laymens terms and before you know it you are creating complex objects and animations... easily! I love this book. It's got me hooked on 3D. Peter Plantec (the author) does a wonderful job of not only teaching through example, but really gets you excited about 3D modeling. It's like he is almost in the room with you, guiding you, teaching you. He makes it fun and has a gentle, and somewhat humorus way of writing. I can't recommend this book enough. -Brian M. Web Engineer Mountain View CA

I started using TrueSpace back when version 2 was the newest release. I figured I could play around and build some small videos for myself. This book walked me through many of the functions and allowed me to apply what I have learned. Practically from the first page, the author walks your step by step in creating your own object. Now with version 6 available, I wish this author would write an update to keep us all in the know. Even now I still refer back to this book for missing tips and function that I don't use offen enough to remember. If you like to use TrueSpace and really want to develop something not only recognizable, but high-end I suggest you start with this book.

Even though Caligari has recently released trueSpace 4, this book covering version 2 is a must have. The easy to follow and understand print will have you creating breathtaking graphics in no time at all. Caligari's trueSpace is truly outstanding only if you learn to use it properly. This book will do that for you.

The Caligari TrueSpace 2 Bible is an excellent and VERY thourough 3D animation information source. It's scope truly does compare to the bible, as its name implies, because it covers not only the essentials of mastering the TrueSpace 2 program, but a comprehensive introduction of how to use this tool to create art. Included is the psychology behind character developement and many in depth tips describing techniques that Hollywood cinematographers use, such as camera angles and pans, to engage your audience. The only thing I did not like about this book was the fact that the CD, which includes a 30 day trial demo of the program did not work due to its having been made in 1995 and I suppose only good for thirty days after its creation. Changing your system clock won't help. The guys that wrote publish the book will send you another for free or you can download the same demo from Caligari's site. This is actually a good idea since you can download the newer demo version, TrueSpace 3, and many others as well.

Of all the computer books I've bought over the years, this is the first that not only has taught me some new techniques, and clarified some rough spots I'd had, but also inspired me as an artist to improve my ideas as well. Even the new user could learn the program from scratch with this book! It's certainly for all skill levels, with everything from building models to adding special effects. Details like textures and lighting are covered in great detail, with input from other industry experts. You also go step-by-step through creating an animation: from getting your ideas out of that thick skull to writing a storyboard and creating your masterpiece. All written in a tone of encouragement by the author.

The examples included are wonderful, showing how such a reasonably priced program can create some stunning and beautiful art and animation. All it takes is some know-how and a heaping dose of creativity and a splash of inspiration, and Mr. Plantec shows you how to pull it together.

This book has a permanent spot next to my computer since the day it arrived! A definate read for anyone interested in 3-d computer art and/or animation!

Having bought TrueSpace2 with no prior knowledge of CGI, and being the world's worst artist, I was skeptical reading previous reviews. However I needn't have been.

The author gently takes the reader through from first principles to advanced modelling in a clear and concise manner, and in such a way that it gives you confidence to try something new.

I can't recommend this book highly enough.

Great book, it also taught TrueSpace in a matter of weeks instread of learning by exprimentation.

I think that this book is a great publication to anyone who wants to learn the art and science of 3D digital animation. When I read this book, it makes me feel like I'm being taught by a live teacher. Now that's a good book!

I have yet to complete the book, I am on chapter seven. The "Shark" project is incomplete. The CD does contain a COB file called Shark.COB but it is the wrong shark file. The picture in the book clearly dipicts a HammerHead shark. While this does not bother me too much, the fact that the alternate shark model does not perform the way the book says it should does. You can not select the tail of the alternate shark model to perform the tail-wagging deformation that the chapter focus on. I would appreciate anyone confiming my findings. More than that I would appreciate an e-mail of the propper Shark.COB file. The book is great so far and I have recommended it to several people.

This book teaches you everything the 3d artist wants to know. From tools to lights, it is a definite winner. Plantec overviews the tools and explains each in wonderful detail. After you know what the tools do, Plantec tells you how to make them work FOR you, great book, Thanks Peter