Deconstructing the Elements with 3ds Max, Second Edition: Create natural fire, earth, air and water without plug-ins [Paperback]

Pete Draper (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 2, 2006 | ISBN-10: 024052019X | ISBN-13: 978-0240520193 | Edition: 2

Get the most realistic effects from 3ds Max without having to spend more on plug-ins!

Boost your effects skill-set with this 3ds Max workshop. Tutorial lessons give you hands-on experience in creating realistic fire, earth, air and water effects. Updated to demonstrate production techniques suitable for any version of 3ds Max, this new edition is co-published by Autodesk Media and Entertainment, and includes new tutorials on entering the Earth's atmosphere, glaciers, lava eruptions and a Badlands landscape.

Inspirational color images cover every page of the book as the author shares his professional techniques and workflow processes. The companion DVD contains all of the required tutorial media as well as over 6 hours of video tutorials.


User level: Intermediate and advanced

· Realistic effects without plug-ins!
· Tutorial lessons demonstrate professional techniques and workflow processes.
· Companion DVD contains all of the required tutorial media plus additional video tutorials.
· Co-published by Autodesk Media and Entertainment.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'I congratulate Pete on this amazing accomplishment. I am certain that those of you who read this will find it incredibly useful, both as an educational tool and as a volume of reference. I encourage you all to read and absorb the information found within, and use it to help strengthen both your own skills, and to help strengthen and maintain our ever spreading 3D community.'
-Jason 'Buzz' Busby (www.3dbuzz.com)

Book Description

Get the most realistic effects from 3ds Max without having to spend more on plug-ins!

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 408 pages
• Publisher: Focal Press; 2 edition (May 2, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 024052019X
• ISBN-13: 978-0240520193
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 7.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,040,087 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Can't Wait, April 11, 2006

By 

Patrick Schaffer - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Deconstructing the Elements with 3ds Max, Second Edition: Create natural fire, earth, air and water without plug-ins (Paperback)

I am a student currently studying Digital Animation and Game Design. I first heard of Pete Draper's book from a fellow classmate who currently owns a first edition copy. Just thumbing through the tutorials my jaw dropped.

Deconstructing the Elements has fast become the keystone to many students personal 3ds Max libraries. (We have even been recommending it to our teachers) The tutorials are laid out fantastically and teach you as much about the concepts as well as `how to.'

Deconstructing the Elements is the best resource for anyone who wants to learn elemental effects and particle systems within 3ds Max. I can't wait for this book...

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great buy for anyone getting into the world of 3ds Max, December 19, 2006

By 

Nathan Harner (Gahanna, OH USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Deconstructing the Elements with 3ds Max, Second Edition: Create natural fire, earth, air and water without plug-ins (Paperback)

I have only recently started working with 3ds max, yet i could follow along with every single tutorial in this great book, simply because the book takes you through every single detail of the scene creation process. One of the best 3ds Max books I have come across yet.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful, Smart, Unparalleled, October 16, 2006

By 

Alex Bluesummers (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Deconstructing the Elements with 3ds Max, Second Edition: Create natural fire, earth, air and water without plug-ins (Paperback)

Deconstructing the Elements, 2nd edition is basically what you wish every reference book could be. The binding is strong even though it's a soft-cover and the pages are all color matte finish. Almost every step of every walk-through in this text contains an image of what you should be seeing in 3dsMax.

I was personally surprised to see that every technique is grounded in real-world observation. The cigarette smoke tutorial takes a full page to investigate how a real smoke trail acts before attempting to replicate it in 3d. Draper moves quickly but guides you along the way making for a very intuitive yet fast approach.

I believe Pete still has his web-site up and running at Xenomorphic.co.uk

If you're looking to create realistic effects and scenes in 3dsMax, you will not be sorry when you purchase this book.