Customer Reviews

Flash MX 3D Graphics Bible

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I recently picked up this desperately needed niche book. I bought Plasma specifically because I wanted to create 3d for Flash MX and Director MX. Plasma is practically built for both of them, however, plasma's documentaion is weak and lacks intuitive examples for use with Flash MX. This book is EXACTLY what is needed in the marketplace on this subject right now.

I commend John Wiley & Sons for publishing this niche product and using an author who is obviously a veteran of the products. Matthew uses extensive case studies and examples detailing how to integrate 3d content in Flash MX. Swift 3d is covered as well (which I don't own so I skipped the chapter), but half the book covers Plasma to Flash MX integration. There is even a chapter dedicated to integrating Plasma 3d content and Director MX. Basically, this book should be packaged with Discreet's Plasma for anyone interested in integrating 3d content with Flash MX and Director MX.

Waste of time and money. Pretends like it's going to tell you how to set up a 3d graphics engine and does no such thing. There's a little matrix math at the end of chaper 4 pretending to be a 3d manipulator BUT THERE'S NO CORRESPONDING CODE ON THE CD! The OTHER chapters have their code on the CD, but not this one. It makes me wonder if this one little bit of seemingly honest 3d code ever actually even worked. The matrix equations on pages 142 and 143 are totally screwed up like a proofreader never even LOOKED at the thing. Whole rest of the book is a pointless rehash of how to use Flash, Swift, Plasma and stuff you could get out of the respective user's manuals.

A very poorly written book that ended up raising many more questions than answeirng them. I really question whether or not I was instructed in the correct way at all. Perhaps it was rushed, or perhaps the author just does not know the subject. From how it was handled, I am pretty sure the latter at least is true to some extent. I will have to find another book, I think.