Figures, Characters and Avatars: The Official Guide to Using DAZ Studio to Create Beautiful Art [Paperback]

Les Pardew (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1598638165 | ISBN-13: 978-1598638165 | Publication Date: March 16, 2009 | Edition: 1

Unlock your inner 3D artist as you create amazing 3D art using the powerful program DAZ Studio. "Figures, Characters, and Avatars: The Official Guide to Using DAZ Studio to Create Beautiful Art" will help you bring your artistic vision to life and enable even those who haven't mastered technical art skills to create beautiful, realistic art. Unlike other art software, DAZ Studio gives you the ability to compose striking scenes using a vast library of existing characters, props, and sets. DAZ Studio's easy-to-use toolset allows even beginning artists to set up an environment and populate it with characters that can move and interact. You'll discover how to construct, move, and pose figures, how to use lighting to make your art look lifelike, and even how to make the characters you create talk. Offering comprehensive coverage of the DAZ Studio software, "Figures, Characters, and Avatars" will help you become a better artist and show you how to stretch your creative imagination as you make unique digital art and animation.

Product Details

• Paperback: 227 pages
• Publisher: Course Technology PTR; 1 edition (March 16, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1598638165
• ISBN-13: 978-1598638165
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #120,214 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #34 in Books > Computers & Technology > Graphic Design > 3D Graphics

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Introduction to Digital Art, May 20, 2009

By 

J. Brown "game freak" (Festus, Missouri United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Figures, Characters and Avatars: The Official Guide to Using DAZ Studio to Create Beautiful Art (Paperback)

I've been creating digital art with Daz Studio for just over three years now, and there was always something missing from my renders. Although there are many tutorials online, none of them ever seemed to cover the basics of the program, instead jumping to the advanced parts while assuming you actually know what you're doing. Then I saw this book on here, and decided to buy it. That was possibly the best investment I ever made. Not only does the book help new and experienced Daz users create better art, but it also includes full versions of other commercial Daz programs, as well as model and content packs for the Victoria 4 model. I can't recommend this book enough, and I can't wait for the new Carrara guide book.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hard to rate, June 29, 2009

By 

Steve - See all my reviews

This review is from: Figures, Characters and Avatars: The Official Guide to Using DAZ Studio to Create Beautiful Art (Paperback)

The biggest problem with this book is the title. When you see " The Official Guide to Using DAZ Studio" you may expect an in depth guide to using the software... But that is not what this book is. This book gives a basic overview of the software and a basic overview of art principles relating to 3d art. Neither subject is dealt with in much depth and the content is limited.
The book is nicely formated, the instructions are clear and the images are full color glossy images.
The only other problem with this book is that it is very obviously written as a promotion for the software. There are to many adjectives throughout the book telling how wonderful the software is.
The most amazing thing is the content provided on the CD. If a person was to pay full price for all this software it would easily reach thousands of dollars. Of course as anyone familiar to Daz can tell you they have constant specials for their content so if you waited long enough you may pick up most of this for free or at a low price but as a bundle it is an extremely good deal. Be aware that the publisher neglected to include the serial numbers for the software so you will have to contact Daz with your invoice. And installing all the content can be mind numbingly dull.
So if a person has a desire to start creating 3d "poser" style art this is a very good place to start. An intermediate user would find some value and pickup some content not already in the library. Any one experienced in 3d art would not have much use for this book.
A very good book... if it fits your needs.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 3D for The Masses!, March 8, 2010

By 

Linda Fitak (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Figures, Characters and Avatars: The Official Guide to Using DAZ Studio to Create Beautiful Art (Paperback)

I just got this book the other day, installed the updated version (2009) of DAZ Studio, and what a great surprise when it transformed my internet-downloaded, gray, impossible program into exactly what the author, Les Pardew describes in his book! I chose the Quickstart, and with it, I was able to manipulate the pose, scenery and props. Since I just started the book, I'll have to write a sequel to this review when I finish it, but it sure is a great start! The book seems very user-friendly, and a good manual for someone pretty new to 3D, such as I am.