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Foundation 3ds Max 8 Architectural Visualization [Hardcover]

Brian L. Smith (Author)
3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)

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Book Description

1590595572 978-1590595572 May 3, 2006 1

Welcome to the world of 3D architectural visualizations using the most powerful and versatile 3D software package on the planet: 3ds Max. In just the last few years, the visualization industry has arguably become the fastest-growing 3D industry, and may soon overtake all others in total number of users. Just as the use of computer-aided design became the norm for nearly all architectural, engineering, and construction firms in the 1990s, 3D visualizations have become standard practice today.

This book takes you through the challenge of learning one of the most complex computer programs ever created, by way of easy-to-follow tutorials and instruction. It specifically focuses on those parts of the program you need to know to produce stunning architectural visualizations.

The intent is not to show you every possible way to accomplish a task, but rather some of the fastest and most efficient ways. At the end of the book, there is a guide to marketing your services, as well as 20 top tips that took the author almost 10 years to learn in a production environment—sometimes the hard way.

3ds Max is a large and complex application, but by learning just the features that apply to visualizations, you'll be learning everything you need to know to get ahead in the industry in the shortest possible amount of time.


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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Since 1997, Brian Smith has worked as a computer-aided design manager and animation specialist in architectural, engineering, and landscaping firms in southwest Florida. He started his own company in 2001, specializing in the production of architectural animations and renderings in 3ds Max. He is the cofounder of 3D Architectural Solutions in Sarasota, Florida, and is currently an instructor at the Autodesk Authorized Training Center, Planet Digital Education, in Orlando (www.planetdigital.com), where he teaches 3ds Max for the visualization industry. A portfolio of his work can be seen at www.3das.com. Brian graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point with a major in aerospace engineering. He served on active duty, and later in the Florida Army National Guard, including two years as a battery commander, responsible for a short-range air defense battery of over 100 soldiers. Following 9/11, he served in Washington, D.C. as an air defense artillery fire control officer, working closely with the U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Air Force, and the Federal Aviation Administration to provide air defense coverage of Washington, D.C. In 2005, he deployed numerous times with his unit to provide humanitarian relief to hurricane victims along the Gulf Coast.

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 584 pages
  • Publisher: friendsofED; 1 edition (May 3, 2006)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1590595572
  • ISBN-13: 978-1590595572
  • Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 8 x 1.3 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #702,863 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

 

Customer Reviews

16 Reviews
5 star:
 (7)
4 star:
 (2)
3 star:
 (2)
2 star:
 (1)
1 star:
 (4)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.4 out of 5 stars (16 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars Not a comprehensive guide for architectural visualization, August 12, 2006
By 
yu276047 (Manila, Philippines) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Foundation 3ds Max 8 Architectural Visualization (Hardcover)
The author lacks creativity in presenting effective tutorials for the reader. A simple house and a bunch of exercises on teapots, spheres and other built-in 3ds max objects. While I understand that the aim of these simple exercises is to showcase 3ds max features, he should have at least provided more challenging exercises (geared towards the architectural visualization industry) either at the end of each chapter or at the appendix section of the book. There were no tutorials on how to render an building structure using night-time settings, interior structure using both daytime and night-time settings, somehow the reader would have to figure-out the settings for himself/herself. There were no guidelines on a lot of topics that would be very helpful for people working in the architecture industry for instance there were no examples on how to superimpose a 3ds max building into a photograph (an important feature to showcase the proportion of a proposed building to adjacent existing structures) no examples on how to create lights using manufaturer's specs. and no examples on how to use third party plug-ins such as RPC from archvision to provide vegetation, trees, people, cars in your 3d building model. -Again these topics, you have to learn it on your own. The author has also a habit of applauding a particular 3ds max feature in architectural visualization but fails to provide exercises/tutorials on the other hand (eg. panorama exporter, hair & fur effect for 3d grass). If your local bookstore carries this product, find time browsing it before buying this book. Bottomline, this book is not a good reference for the architectural visualization industry and for people planning to study 3ds max 8.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars Title - misleading, August 12, 2006
By 
wave_admin (Toronto, Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Foundation 3ds Max 8 Architectural Visualization (Hardcover)
For people venturing into architectural visualization, this book is not for you. Not enough content for 3d modelling(building) and other architecture related stuff. I quite agree with the other guy that the title should be changed to 'Basic 3ds Max'. However, even this title is not appropriate since the author had not covered many important features of 3ds max. The exercises are so simple and won't help you very much in building up your confidence on 3ds max even after you finished reading this book. The book is expensive and lacks quality. I won't buy a book from 'friends of ed' publications anymore.
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Great resource and learning tool., May 23, 2006
By 
This review is from: Foundation 3ds Max 8 Architectural Visualization (Hardcover)
To my knowledge, this is the first text written specifically for architectural visualization using 3D studio max. This book is very well written and provides an excellent foundation for beginners and an indispensable reference for the more experienced 3D artist. As an architect, 3D artist, and educator, I would highly recommended this book for use in both the classroom and the office.
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Inside This Book (learn more)
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
diffuse color, clipping planes, advanced lighting, bounding box, bitmap parameters, soft selection, flat mirror, image file, preference settings, units setup, standard primitives, viewport configuration, wind strength, player configuration, key filters, track window, noise parameters, far attenuation, specular color, shape steps, attenuation color, queue monitor, fog color, isolate selection, named selections
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Material Editor, Render Scene, Quick Start, Map Browser, Video Post, Motion Blur, Render the Camera, Curve Editor, Select Objects, Render the Perspective, Compound Objects, Cancel Figure, Refine Iterations, Volume Fog, Click the Play, Edit Mesh, Volume Light, Depth of Field, Place Highlight, Object Properties, Align Camera, Key Info, Production Preset, End Time, Sample Radius
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