Softimage|3D Fundamentals [Paperback]

Anthony Rossano (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 2002 | ISBN-10: 0970753055 | ISBN-13: 978-0970753052

Originally published as Inside Softimage 3D by New Riders, the complete guide to using Softimage|3D is back in print as Softimage|3D Fundamentals, updated for Softimage|3D v4.0 and with an additional all-new chapter on writing expressions. Softimage|3D Fundamentals covers the techniques and art of animating with Softimage|3D, but it is also so technically complete that Softimage licensed Fundamentals as the user manual included with the Softimage|3D 4.0 software!

Complete coverage of:
Exploring the Softimage Interface
• Moving in Space
• Producing Your First Animation
• Advanced Interface Concepts
• General Modeling Concepts
• Polygon Modeling
• NURBS Modeling
• Boolean Modeling
• Meta-Clay Modeling
• Duplicates and Instances
• Materials and Textures
• General Animation Concepts
• Shape Animation
• Animating with Deformations
• Animating with Inverse Kinematics
• Animating with Dynamics
• The mental ray Renderer
• NEW! - Expressions for Animation and Character Rigging

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Anthony Rossano is the Chief Executive Officer of Mesmer, Inc. After receiving his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Washington, Rossano went to work for the Microsoft Corporation. In 1988, Anthony Rossano deserted his post at Microsoft to found Mesmer, Inc.

Technically proficient in a wide range of authoring and animation programs, Rossano's expertise lies in Softimage 3D|Extreme, Softimage|XSI, and Alias|Wavefront Maya Composer. Anthony has taught all over the world, and counts among his training clients WildBrain, PDI, LucasArts, Electronic Arts, Microsoft, Monolith, ILM, DreamWorks, Boeing, Lockheed, and Lear.

Anthony is a certified Softimage Instructor, and has been working with XSI throughout its development and beta testing phases. Anthony is the author of XSI Illuminated: Character, XSI Illuminated: Foundation, the documtation set for Softimage|3D v4.0, and numerous magazine articles and web tutorials.

Product Details

• Paperback: 410 pages
• Publisher: Mesmer Inc (July 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0970753055
• ISBN-13: 978-0970753052
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,281,318 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is just a masterpiece for all beginners ...but ..., August 9, 2002

By 

Emmanuel Mouillet "sebastiankaine" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Softimage|3D Fundamentals (Paperback)

well this book is great ... but be careful this is the new release of inside softimage 3d . So i love this book the author work on the information not on beautiful color photo like in softimage 3d design guide . i love the présentation in black and white it's look like a scientifik book or a classroom book ... everithing has good information and the guy that write this book is a boss of softimage :Rossano work for mesmer one of the leader of the education of high end 3d software ... So if you want to learn softimage this book is the bible ... BUT , BUT there is a very big probleme (nothing is perfect ...) there is no CD rom, and this book would have been perfect ( i am french sorry for the ortograf ...)if there was a CD rom inside . If i take the best book for maya : "Maya 4 Fundamentals" there is great video that show you all . You learn to use the soft quick as light ... so this is a very dark point of this book no tutorial and no video explication ... but this book is a five Star manual without any hesitation !!! if you had to buy one buy this ...

1.0 out of 5 stars Complete, horrible and utter waste of time., July 23, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Softimage|3D Fundamentals (Paperback)

Tons of typos. Omission of an index and a CD-ROM with example files. Grainy photos where you sometimes cannot see the curves the photo is supposed to explain. Examples are based on v3.7 even though it states 4.0 on the cover -> some examples cannot be completed if following the instructions in this book, and new features such as vertex color authoring are not mentioned. Chaotic structure (requires textures and materials to be set as early as chapter two but doesn't explain their proper use until chapter twelve). Unclear and rudimentary explanations and outright mistakes (i.e. wrong axis given to revolve objects around) etc. etc....

Worst of all: instead of a proper printed manual you get this cheaply bound p.o.s. when you spend $$$ on the actual package. Softimage actually endorsing such a terrible pulp has just cost them any business with me for the forseeable future. Shame because 3D itself is a decent piece of software despite its age and awkward interface.

DO NOT GET THIS BOOK. ...

5.0 out of 5 stars No CD? It's got better than a CD!, August 21, 2002

By 

Brian Demong (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Softimage|3D Fundamentals (Paperback)

Emmanuel's review below is glowing, but states that this book's flaw is that it has no CD. That is one of it's strengths! It *does* have supplementary files for the tutorials, but they are available online for free download (look on the back cover for the URL). One of the biggest complaints about Inside Softimage (and computer books in general) was that parts of the CD didn't function. Well, if anything on the file download doesn't work, just email Mesmer and they can fix it!