Amazon.com Review
A full-color, well-organized guide,
Getting Started with 3D gives the reader an artistic and technical overview of 3-D graphics, explaining both drawing concepts such as perspective and foreshortening, and technical concepts such as extrusion, lathing, and Boolean operators. This book targets graphic designers and illustrators--both beginners and experts--who are looking for an introduction to 3-D computer graphics.
The authors don't reference any specific 3-D programs; instead, they emphasize universal modeling techniques. They provide advice on creating simple 3-D objects; transforming, aligning, and grouping objects; and creating figures and landscapes. Next, you learn about color and texture, lights and cameras, and rendering. The final chapter, "Using 3D in Design," shows how to work with 3-D type and use 3-D images in digital illustrations and photos. Throughout the book, there are lots of illustrations of models and scenes, which continually illuminate the authors' advice and provide ideas for creating your own images. --Kathleen Caster
From Library Journal
This book is not about using a particular 3D program like LightWave or SoftImage or Ray Dream but about the things that can be done with 3D modeling programs such as extruding, lathing, lighting, texturing, and rendering. These are the sorts of techniques that users often gloss over in the rush to use the tool and create the first sphere. A perfect introduction to 3D modeling in theory and practice, this would work as well for youngsters as it will for college students. Highly recommended.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.