Modeling Digital Dinosaurs (Charles River Media Graphics (Software)) [Paperback]

Ken Brilliant (Author)

Book Description

Series: Charles River Media Graphics (Software) | Publication Date: June 2002

Dinosaurs have fascinated people for centuries. Children are in awe of their incredible sizes and shapes, artists are drawn to their earthy colors and complex textures, and movie producers are inspired by their box office appeal. With today's powerful software and hardware tools, artists can bring these awesome beasts to life with amazingly realistic results. Modeling Digital Dinosaurs explores how to model these fascinating creatures, while teaching modeling skills that can be easily applied to a wide variety of modeling projects. Using a step-by-step approach, every detail of the modeling process is covered from researching the animals to model construction, texturing, and final rendering. All of the techniques are written from a non-software specific approach, providing a useful guide, regardless of your software preference (LightWave, Maya, 3ds max, etc.). You'll learn how to model a Pteranodon, texture the rugged skin on Tyrannosaurus Rex, and render the imposing horns of a Triceratops. And once you've worked through the other dinosaurs and their unique features, you can try creating your own favorite. So let your modeling adventure begin.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Ken Brilliant (Newbury Park, CA) is an award-winning artist, sculptor, 3D character modeler, animator, and instructor. He works in Hollywood in the film and television industry, and his work can be seen in a variety of movies and television series, including Jurassic Park 2: The Lost World, X-Files: The Movie, Interview with a Vampire, Roughnecks: The Starship Troopers Chronicles, and a variety of other films. He is also the author of Modeling Digital Dinosaurs.

Product Details

• Paperback: 375 pages
• Publisher: Charles River Media; 1st edition (June 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1584502096
• ISBN-13: 978-1584502098
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,009,381 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good job Ken and Charles River Media, July 2, 2002

By 

Mark S Solly (Spring, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Modeling Digital Dinosaurs (Charles River Media Graphics (Software)) (Paperback)

If modeling dinosaurs is your passion then I highly recommend this book. It is packed full of information on modeling and texturing. Authough the book is not software specific the Author does admitt that many of the models were created using Newtek's Lightwave software. No problem, I'm a dedicated LW fan. The CD doesn't have any models on it and it only has one animation that's lame (no secondary motions in its walk and its a pixalated low res). The textures on the CD are fine for use but they are not of a super high resoulution. That's ok because the book tells you how to make your own using Photoshop. This book also will not cover bone structures, IK setups or animation. That's really another subject so I'm not dissapointed. I bought the book for modeling and texturing and that just what I tought me. OH ya! It's easy to read but you need to know how your software works first because he is not going to tell you each step and every icon in a software. This is just technique that applies to many softwares on the market today. I'm very pleased and I would like to see Ken write more books. Good job Charles River Media.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars DIGITAL DINOSAURS, August 12, 2002

By 

glen southern (Biddulph, Staffordshire United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Modeling Digital Dinosaurs (Charles River Media Graphics (Software)) (Paperback)

Being new to Lightwave I have been buying as many books as possible to lessen the learning curve. The massive volume that is the Lightwave manual, whilst having all the great features listed, does not help a new user actually model very much. Enter Ken Brilliants new (and first) book. A 370 page romp through his very own Jurassic Park. The book is not software specific and Ken gives a list of software that can be used in conjunction with the tutorials and these include Lightwave, Maya, C4D, Amapi, 3DSmax etc. Any software, if fact, that has a polygon based set of tools.
He covers modeling, UVmapping and texturing and manages to help you create an Apatosauras, Dimetrodon, Pteranodon, Triceratops and of course the ubiquitous T-Rex. The tutorials start with very basic instructions and are written in a clear, logical manner. I found that I learnt more about my software of choice in one afternoon than I had done in the previous three weeks.

The book states that Ken works in Hollywood in the film and television industry. His work can be seen in a variety of movies and television series including Jurassic Park 2: the lost World, X-Files the movie, Interview with a Vampire, The Starship Troopers Chronicles and a variety of others. With a list like that it gives you an idea of the quality that is to be found in 'Digital Dinosaurs'.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The modeling book must with Lightwave!, March 4, 2003

By 

FX artist "inkboyt" (Redondo Beach, CA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Modeling Digital Dinosaurs (Charles River Media Graphics (Software)) (Paperback)

I am a designer who is attempting to delve into the world of 3D. In comes Brilliant's book on Dinosaurs, but the kicker is that what you learn in this detailed and simple to follow book can be applied to much more than dinos. Very well written and illustrated (great image files included on the CD). With a minimal knowledge of most 3D apps, you can start creating some neat stuff. I also like the fact that texturing is greatly discussed in later chapters. This book fills a definit publication niche specifically dealing with organic or creature modeling, dinosaurs in this case. I wish this book would have been included in most 3D application packages as part of their documentation...one can only wish!