From Book News, Inc.
This tutorial/reference text is designed for beginning to intermediate users, with a few advanced topics included for the more experienced reader. After an overview, coverage includes working with objects, modeling, materials and maps, lights and cameras, particle systems and space warps, animation, inverse kinematics, rendering and post- production, customizing, and extending with plug-ins. The accompanying CD-ROM includes a large selection of 3D models for readers to use in their projects, files for every tutorial in the text, and custom-built plug-ins developed for the text.Copyright © 2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR


Book Description
More than 100 step-by-step tutorials give you valuable hands-on experience under the expert guidance of 3D master, Kelly Murdock. Increasingly complex scenes will prove useful to all 3D MAX users, from beginners to advanced. 3ds max 4 Bible will help you learn and master the most popular 3D modeling and animation software.


From the Back Cover
If 3ds max 4 can do it, you can do it, too … Take 3ds max 4 to the max — and join the ranks of the pros who've created animations for some of today's hottest games, movies, and TV shows. Packed with expert advice, time-saving tips, and more than 150 step-by-step tutorials, this all-in-one guide gets you up to speed quickly on the basics — and provides expanded coverage of advanced techniques. With incisive insights into the next-generation enhancements to 3ds max, 16 pages of full-color examples, and a CD-ROM featuring exclusive plug-ins, it's just what you need to take your animations to the next level. Inside, you'll find complete coverage of 3ds max 4Get a hands-on introduction to 3ds max 4 with a Quick Start animation projectMaster the new features in 3ds max, from the enhanced modeling features to improved Inverse KinematicsCreate sophisticated 3D models using NURBS, splines, patches, meshes, and compound objectsBuild intricate special effects using particle systems and Space WarpsMaster the Expression Controller and other advanced animation toolsSimulate realistic materials and textures using the Material EditorDecrease total rendering time using a networkLearn to program your own 3ds max plug-insJam-Packed CD-ROM!Exclusive Furious Research plug-ins, including a Rainbow atmospheric effect and a Sketch render effectSample 3D models from Viewpoint Database, Zygote Media, and more!Cool products including Rhino 3D demo and Poser 4 trialComplete tutorial fileswww.hungryminds.com System Requirements: PC running Windows 98 or later, Windows NT 4 or later. See the CD-ROM appendix for details and complete system requirements.


About the Author
About the Author Kelly Murdock has been involved with more computer books than he cares to count — to the point that he avoids the computer book section of the bookstore, except for the graphics section, which still remains an obsession. His book credits include various Web, graphics, and multimedia titles, including the first edition of this book, the 3ds max 4 Bible. Other major accomplishments include Master HTML and XHTML Visually, JavaScript Blueprints, and co-authoring the Illustrator 9 Bible JavaScript. Kelly also co-authored Laura Lemay's Web Workshop: 3D Graphics and VRML 2 at a time when we all thought VRML was going somewhere. With a background in engineering and computer graphics, Kelly has been all over the 3D industry. He's used high-level CAD workstations for product design and analysis, completed several large-scale visualization projects, created 3D models for feature films, worked as a freelance 3D artist, and even done some 3D programming. Kelly's been using 3D Studio on and off since version 3 for DOS. He is also the creative force behind the children's Web site, Animabets.com at www.animabets.com.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Take 3ds 4 to the max - and join the ranks of pros who've created animations for some of today's hottest games, movies, and TV shows. Packed with expert advice, time-saving tips, and more than 150 step-by-step tutorials, this all-in-one guide gets you up to speed quickly on the basics - and provides expanded coverage of advanced techniques. With incisive insights into the next-generation enhancements to 3ds max, 16 pages of full-color examples, and a CD-ROM featuring exclusive plug-ins, it's just what you need to take your animations to the next level. * Get a hands-on intro to 3ds max 4 with a Quick Start animation project
* Master the new features in 3ds max, from the enhanced modeling features to improved Inverse Kinematics
* Create sophisticated 3D models using NURBS, splines, patches, meshes, and compound objects
* Build intricate special effects using particle systems and Space Warps
* Master the Expression controller and other advanced animation tools
* Simulate realistic materials and textures using the Material Editor
* Decrease total rendering time using a network
* Learn to program your own 3ds max plug-ins

SYNOPSIS

This tutorial/reference text is designed for beginning to intermediate users, with a few advanced topics included for the more experienced reader. After an overview, coverage includes working with objects, modeling, materials and maps, lights and cameras, particle systems and space warps, animation, inverse kinematics, rendering and post- production, customizing, and extending with plug-ins. The accompanying CD-ROM includes a large selection of 3D models for readers to use in their projects, files for every tutorial in the text, and custom-built plug-ins developed for the text. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

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