form Z is an essential tool for visual effects artists, and this book explores its power and functionality in depth. The tutorials and examples covered in the text show how to maximize form Z for the creation of digital effects and animations. Included is: detailed coverage of production workflow from sketching and storyboarding to editing and media output; coverage of special topics from animatics and volumetrics to layering strategies and geometry mangement; an explanation of how to integrate form Z with animation environments; 3D Studio Max, Cinema4D XL, ElectricImage, and Lightwave; and coverage of complex surface construction and character modelling. The CD includes demonstrations of auto des sys' form Z, RenderZone and RadioZity 3.0, and Cinema 4D XL. It runs on Windows 95 and Macintosh 7.0 and higher. and contains a mini-manual for the demo, and demos of other related animation programs into which form Z models may be imported. It also includes files for the tutorials covered in the book.
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
FormZ Modeling for Digital Visual Effects and Animation is a valuable reference for Auto-Des-Sys's complex and versatile modeling tool. The book explores using FormZ for many types of modeling, including terrain, mechanical, and organic character modeling.
The book uses the first three chapters to discuss preconstruction considerations such as working from model sketches, using storyboards, building animatics, and building stand-in models. Building models in layers and integrating FormZ with other 3D programs is also explored. It's great to see important topics like this covered--3D modeling and animation is hard enough without having to reinvent the production wheel every time you start a project.
Specific FormZ modeling techniques, such as profile lofting, surface trimming and blending, and conformal modeling, are explained in the next set of chapters. Each chapter contains a generous number of illustrations, complemented with an eight-page color plate section in the middle of the book.
The latter half of the book is a set of tutorial projects that utilize previously covered techniques and introduce some new ones. This is the fun section, where one builds entire landscapes (terrain modeling), a sports car (mechanical and contour modeling), and hands and a face (organic modeling). The accompanying CD-ROM includes the project files for each chapter in case you're having trouble following along or just want to tear apart a project without worrying. Overall, this is a solid book for new users of FormZ. --Mike Caputo
From Library Journal
Rindner, a 3D artist and instructor who is assisting the development team with Form Z 3.0, has written a practical guide to using this modeling software. The accompanying CD-ROM contains demos of related animation programs into which Form Z models may be imported as well as files for the tutorials covered in the book.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good Advanced Technique, But Not A Primer,
By Alex Harris (St. Louis, MO) - See all my reviews
This review is from: FormZ Modeling for Digital Visual Effects and Animation (Graphics Series) (Paperback)
Rindner's book is a very clear, understandable (but not condescending) manual on modeling techniques, but assumes you're already up-to-speed with the use of Form*Z. If you're a new user looking for a primer that will help you learn Form*Z from the ground up, this isn't the best choice. If you already know how to use Form*Z and you want to improve your modeling skills, this is an excellent manual.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Real world techniques - Excellent,
By A Customer
This review is from: FormZ Modeling for Digital Visual Effects and Animation (Graphics Series) (Paperback)
Finally your FZ book arrived this morning. What can I say except 'thankyou' for writing this book. I think it's the only one in the market that reveals such advanced techniques for modelling. Truly your hard-earned career experience is shared here without reservations. I could not accept FZ's claim that 'Anything you can imagine can be modelled in FZ' before, but now after seeing your working techniques, I can. My eyes are opened. Instead of simple examples that rehash the User's manual, this book's examples are quite complex, typical of real-world requirements. Learning the techniques from the Automobile chapters alone will enable one to use the concepts presented there to build any other model thereafter. Cons? Maybe absolute beginners will find this book a bit daunting, but it's stuff that every beginner must learn to progress.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Advanced, Meaty and Really Fantastic!,
By Dan Shear (Maryland, USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: FormZ Modeling for Digital Visual Effects and Animation (Graphics Series) (Paperback)
Rindner has done a spendid job with this advanced book on formZ. He offers valuable process methods, advanced modeling descriptions through real world examples and how to prepare formZ for standard Animation apps. Rinders' modeling techniques alone are invaluable to the intermediate to advanced formZ user. What impresses me most about the book is that it is not just for digital visual effects and animation. Many design disciplines will find this book to be a strong technical resources.
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