Vue 7: From the Ground Up: The Official Guide [Paperback]

Ami Chopine (Author), Vladimir Chopine (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 7, 2009 | ISBN-10: 0240812263 | ISBN-13: 978-0240812267 | Edition: 1

Create lush terrains and atmospheres in Vue and enhance your knowledge of all the features in this software such as lighting, cameras, and Python scripting. Ami and Vladimir Chopine, from GeekAtPlay.com guide you through 17 stand-alone tutorials, each with a different focus on the key components of Vue. The companion website includes brand new video tutorials from Geekatplay as well as materials, atmosphere settings, image maps, models, project files, and completed images and animations.

* This officially certified guide takes you through the basic principles to lay a foundation for more advanced concepts such as the function editor, the new Metanodes, software integration, and Python scripting
*Companion website includes new video tutorials from GeekAtPlay.com, as well as project files, images, atmosphere settings, materials, models, image maps, and animations
*Written by Ami & Vladimir Chopine - the founders of GeekAtPlay.com

Product Details

• Paperback: 317 pages
• Publisher: Focal Press; 1 edition (May 7, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0240812263
• ISBN-13: 978-0240812267
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #536,410 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great intro to learning Vue 7 from the best teachers - geekatplay.com, May 20, 2009

By 

Jeff Hall (IL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Vue 7: From the Ground Up: The Official Guide (Paperback)

For those that want to learn Vue for use in their 3D art, you can do no better than Ami and Vladimir over at the geekatplay.com web site. They seem like professionals both in dealing with them and in the quality of work.

Vue 7 - From the Ground Up is a new book from them which is a beginners guide to learning the "Vue 7" software available from e-onsoftware.com. This book is mainly focused on starting the user out from square one and building on the fundamentals to learning Vue 7 in a logical and non overwhelming manor.

Each chapter is laid out in an easy to read and understand format that will guide you a step at a time to understanding what Vue 7 is and how to use the basic skills of this software. At the end of each chapter is a learning tutorial for you to do (which I HIGHLY recommend). These tutorials, including some FREE add-ons that you will need for some of the exercises are available for download (again all free) from the book's web site. Personally, I would suggest you finish the learning tutorials on your own, even though the finished product is supplied on the web site and just use the materials required for the exercises where needed. That way you really get a feel of learning.

The book and chapters are well laid out and there are several color photos for you to refer to. However, I would have liked to seen a few more photos showing some key references in the book that were just talked about but not pictured. This is not a detraction in any way, just something I think there could be more of.

NOTE: while this book is mainly aimed at those wanting to get up to speed and learn Vue from the very basics on, I feel it remains a valuable resource for most anyone using this software regardless. It gives you not only the learning fundamentals, but also the knowledge to build upon so you can go to the geekatplay.com web site and continue with their excellent free tutorials on more advanced topics.

Bottom line is this book is a must own for anyone that wants to or is using Vue 7 and I can think of no one better to recommend than geekatplay.com for doing so.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Part of a Winning Combination!, May 16, 2009

By 

V. Hutson (Duluth, MN) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Vue 7: From the Ground Up: The Official Guide (Paperback)

I've wanted to learn how to use Vue for the last year--and I finally found a fun and inexpensive way to do it!

1) BUY this book. It does a great job of explaining the features of Vue and how to use them. The step-by-step tutorials are very good. I have gotten lost a couple times, but I eventually was able to figure out what I either did wrong, or what the authors meant by the direction.

2) Visit the authors' website (geekatplay.com) to view their free online video tutorials! I was very impressed with both the quality and quantity of videos. Most people don't give this much stuff away free--especially when it is this good. It definitely shows they are committed to helping others learn these skills. If you are interested in animation make sure you watch their video tutorial "Flying Over Clouds." (Number 121)

3) Download the free Vue 7 Infinite PLE (Personal Learning Edition) version from the e-on software site. It has all the features of the full version which costs $895, and it doesn't expire. Obviously, there are some limitations connected to the PLE version. One of the major limitations is that when the files are rendered they have the software's logo and watermarked applied to it. And, the files won't work with other editions of Vue. However, if your goal is to learn how to use Vue 7 without spending any money on the software this is a great way to do it.

(If you are a student or educator, you can purchase a one year Education Version of Vue 7 Infinite for $99. I ordered mine this morning. You can also download the totally free Vue 7 Pioneer version, but I don't think it has features you need for doing many of the exercises in this book.)

After a year of thinking about learning Vue, I'm actually doing it! My next purchase is going to be the "Steam Punk flying ship" used in the "Flying Over Clouds" animation tutorial. Hey, it only costs $18.50 and I've already saved hundreds of dollars!

Update (June 24, 2009): I finished this book, and now I'm learning more with Richard Schrand's "Vue 7: Beyond the Basics." Thanks Ami and Vladimir for teaching me the basics. I love your website and I keep going back to watch more!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good value & quality title, May 19, 2009

By 

R. Macgillivray (Brisbane, AU) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Vue 7: From the Ground Up: The Official Guide (Paperback)

Vue7 From the Ground Up offers a pretty comprehensive guide to Vue7 and is targeted at beginner to immediate level users. The book authors offer many free video tutorials at geekatplay.com

The book offers full colour images on good quality paper.

The books companion website has several files for download including handy reference guides and example files for all tutorials within the book.

If you are intermediate or advanced user you may find the book a little light on advanced content which is understandable, however if you are new you will gain a great deal of valuable knowledge from reading and following the tutorials, and like any good reference book, returning to it from time to time to cement your understanding.

I have watched perhaps dozens of their excellent free online tutorials, and to me purchasing this book was also a small way of saying thanks for the hours & hours of effort the authors have put into helping the Vue community.