Editorial Review

Written for experienced 3D Studio Max 2 users, this guide provides extensive help on creating sophisticated animations and on compositing and editing your final output. You start off by learning animation techniques such as using advanced transformation animations and animating with controllers, expressions, and multiple modifiers. Next, you explore character animation, setting up characters for movement, animating various walks (including four- and six-legged walks), animating with Biped and Physique, using mesh deformation, and creating facial animation. In the third part, you learn to enhance the environment by manipulating cameras, lights, and atmospheres and by working with particles, dynamic simulations, and space warps. In part 4, you use the Video Post module to composite scenes, edit animations, splice them together, and apply special effects. As with other books in the Inside series, there's an excellent combination of technique guidance, usage tips, and step-by-step help. The included CD-ROM has practice files for working along with projects in the book, as well as sample animations and working demos of a variety of plug-ins, including Bones Pro and Real Lens Flare. Read more

Reviews (11)

If you have a basic understanding, this book is AWESOME!
Well, Boss Hog may get confused easily, but don't let him shy you away from an excellent text.I still recommend this book to people learning Max 3. The tutorials in the first several chapters are very intelligentlywritten, and attempt to tackle very complicated concepts in a very concisemanner.The text has helped me master more advanced concepts and tools ofboth Max the program and animation in general.The section on characterwork, while a regurgitation of what you'll find in Illusion of Life, Timingfor Anim, and Foster's works, is still helpful to the beginner.The firstthird of the book is also an excellent source of principles that anybudding animator who's transitioning to 3D would be wise to read.I'vebeen animating professionally for 7 years, and I think that this text isgreat.If you get lost on the tutorials, then just read the text and LEARNthe PRINCIPLES since that's really the important thing that these expertshave to share with you!

Only good if you know the program
This book is a good reference but not for those who are not proficient already in MAX. As others have stated, the examples often skip steps, assume knowledge of the workings of the program and show "this is whatyou should end up with" pictures that don't relate at all to what theinstructions give. I get the impression also that each chapter was writtenby a different person because they cover material that has sometimes beendiscussed or later chapters cover basic material that was left out at thebeginning. If you are beginner, don't buy this.

A few problems aside, it's still fairly good.
I totally remember the Walking UFO project that Boss Hog had problems with.It drove my entire class insane, and only 3 people were able to finish it by just throwing the book out.The flow of several of theactivites is broken too much...The editors really should have had peopletest these things out over and over to iron out these hiccups.Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer Bks - Desktop Publishing    2. Computer Books And Software    3. Computer Graphics - General    4. Computer animation    5. Computer graphics    6. Computers    7. Computers - Desktop Publishing    8. Microcomputer Graphics   

Subjects:  1. Art & Art Instruction    2. Graphic Arts - General   

Subjects:  1. 3ds max (Computer file)    2. Computer Animation    3. Computer Bks - Internet    4. Computer Books: General    5. Computer Graphics - General    6. Computer graphics    7. Computers   

Reviews (3)

Amazing product, easy to install
I don't know what the guy from singapore was talking about. I got this working in ten minutes using internet explorer, and it has dozens and dozens of tutorials and free models.I got stuck on anadvanced lesson, emailed the publisher and they wrote right back with an answer. You can't buy a better training product -its better than any book I ever got.

Better off with a real book
This is a really bad buy, I would not advise any one to get this CD. Ithas some serious flaws in its use of the Internet Explorer web browser andclaims that Microsoft would have fixed it in the IE 5 version. This is verymis-leading mainly because they don't tell you this until you read the fineprint that comes with the CD. They even encourage you to use Netscape whichdoes not have any problems when using this CD. I think that they, as theauthor of this CD owe a responsiblity to the consumer to make this factknown before purchase and not to bundle such information with itsinstallation instrcutions. Further more I think they should have correctedthe problem themselves instead of shifting the blame to others.

3d studio viz3 and max3 training cd
having used autocad for a number of years i decided to look at the visualisation side of architecture and purchased a copy of viz3. but being new to this side of cad i need something to give me an instant start atproducing visuals so after much searching for the right help, i happenedupon the above title from opencad who are leaders in this sort of tutorial.i found the instant access and methodology of the cd both easy to use andintuitive and as a result i have managed to produce a few visuals albeitcrude ones given that i have only had the disk for a few days (3). i willdefinately be looking at the 3d max tutorials and would have no hesitationin purchasing further titles from opencad in the future. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animation   

Reviews (3)

I am here at amazon.com looking for a better book!
This book makes what is easy difficult, what is difficult almost impossible and does not introduce you to 99% of the program. As an example of how unhelpful it is I'll paraphrase what is written at thebottom of page 67: "push this button and see what happens". Furthermore, the examples are way below standard. In three words .....waste of money.

I am here at amazon.com looking for a better book!
This book makes what is easy, difficult what is difficult practically impossible and doesn't even intoduce you to 99% of the program! As an example of how unhelpful it is I'll paraphrase what is written at thebottom of page 67: push this button and see what happens! Furthermore, theexamples are incredibly below standard.In three words ... waste of money.

WAY TOO BAD~~~!!!!
this book is the 3rd book which i bought for reference~ i have perchase some other books, but i found this is the most annoying book for tutorial on 3dsmax. totally waste of money and time. keep away from this book even uare a begginer. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. CAD-CAM - General    2. Cad/Cam    3. Computer Bks - Desktop Publishing    4. Computer Books: General    5. Computer Graphics - General    6. Computers    7. Desktop Publishing    8. Desktop Publishing - General    9. Computer aided design (CAD)    10. Computer graphics software    11. Microsoft Windows   

Editorial Review

If you've struggled with trying to keep a thick computer book flat on your desk while working through its lessons, the Read more

Reviews (9)

AVOID THIS CD ~~ Serious Programmers Beware
I have gone through a few Studio Max books and I thought a CD may be more helpful in helping me train on this software that typically has a steep learning curve.I'm sure there is a lot of us who think the books on 3ds max generally leave much to be desired.I run into Nancy Fulton's CD on Amazon and ordered it right away thinking it's going to be great. Amazing Book!
I bought this CD for my son who is in college.I can't believe how fast he is learning MAX.The tutorials are completely step-by-step, the examples show practical things people reallyhave to do, and the CD is easy toinstall. I highly recommend this product.

We used this CD in Classs
I took a class in MAX and the instructor gave us this CD.It was great. All the info was tutorials, so it was easy to learn. Better than thosebooks that just say how to do things but do not show you how. I use it allthe time even though class is over. I reccomend it to all new MAX users.Some advanced stuff - but I wish it had more stuff for video games people. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animation   

Subjects:  1. Computers    2. Reference - General    3. Spanish: Adult Nonfiction   

Subjects:  1. Art & Art Instruction    2. Graphic Arts - General   

Editorial Review

There are many plug-ins for 3D Studio Max that greatly extend the already considerable power of this Windows 95/NT-based 3-D modeling and animation tool from Kinetix. Read more

Reviews (5)

3D Studio Max Plug-Ins Guide
View chapters Guide and Plug-Ins Lis

3D Studio Max Plug-Ins Guide
View chapters Guide and Plug-Ins Lis

Don't waste your money
This book is a big waste of time and money. It shows you pictures of mediocre plugins, and theplugin authoring section is completely pathetic. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer Bks - Desktop Publishing    2. Computer Books: General    3. Computer Graphics    4. Computer Graphics - 3D Studio    5. Computer Graphics - General    6. Computer animation    7. Computers    8. Microcomputer Utilities    9. Plug-ins (Computer programs)    10. Computer graphics software   

Editorial Review

This excellent book covers the basics of 3D Studio Max 2, making it a handy guide for newcomers to the 3-D-modeling and animation program, and even for those who are new to 3-D graphics. The book first introduces the fundamentals of 3-D graphics and workspaces, explaining coordinates, axes, lines, polylines, polygons, lights, cameras, animation, and rendering. There's also a thorough tour of the package's interface that brings viewports, commands, and selections to light. In the next part of the book, you learn the fundamentals of modeling, including spline-based, mesh (polygonal), parametric, patch, and NURBS modeling, and get advice on choosing a method. Next you do some actual modeling, working with splines; 3-D primitives; compound objects; object parameters; align, array, and mirror functions; and Modifiers and the Modifier Stack.Read more

Reviews (34)

Very good book to start with, you want more, more, more
I really enjoyed reading this book. It makes you aware of the unlimited possibilities of Max, but nothing more. You keep wanting to know exactly how things can be done. It is a very good starter though. A little moreattention could have been given to the material and mapping section. Ireally recommend this book to anyone who wants to get started seriouslywith 3D design.

A Thoughtful Book, but not enough calculators
I found that this book did not focus in on it's subject (ie. calculators). I think that they should have talked more about the different kinds of solar panels on calculators rather than on the buttons. Maybe it's justbecause I am an infintesmally small micron compared to the vast, endlessreaches of space. I am nothing. You are nothing. While we sit here anduselessly while away our pitiful, lonely lives deluding our selves thatanything we do makes even the smallest amount of difference to anything.So, next time you go for a 3 am swim with the pink elephants (wink, wink)remember to bring your spoon.

A nice desk-side companion, but so is a cat
Of course, if you want to learn a program, you have to use it.This book is a nice compendium to draw from for somewhat savy beginners, but it can be, like all books of its ilk, stale and utterly uninteresting to read.Ifind I use it the most when I stumble across a problem I have while using3d Studio, and I need a quick explanation of a function or such, butotherwise I didn't find it too helpful when I was first struggling with theprogram itself.I guess I just lost interest when I sat down at mycomputer to to read/use it, but perhaps it's because I'm a hateful man. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 3D studio    2. Computer Bks - Desktop Publishing    3. Computer Books And Software    4. Computer Graphics - 3D Studio    5. Computer Graphics - General    6. Computer animation    7. Computer graphics    8. Computers    9. Microcomputer Graphics    10. Computer graphics software   

Reviews (1)

An easy way to 3D modeling & animation
I'm a multimedia student. I find this book very illustrative. The exercises are great plus it gives you an easy step-by-step insturctions, to this amazing 3D world. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer Graphics - 3D Studio    2. Education    3. Software - Art & Architecture    4. Teaching Methods & Materials - Science & Technology   

Editorial Review

Written for the artist new to 3ds max, Read more

Reviews (13)

The book.
3DS Max 4 In Depth is a book that I feel no serious artist working with 3DS Max should have -- even if they are working with a later version. While the tools shown in this book are refined and their locations moved, the descriptions of their use that you find within this book is priceless.
Wonderful learning aid for beginners
I found this book tremendously useful when I first started out using 3ds max.Of course, that was in it's previous max 3 incarnation, but it's usefulness to me has not diminshed.I teach 3d modeling classes at a technical college and I recommend this text to students who are looking for something more extensive then thier provided textbook, 3ds max 4 Fundamental Coursewares.While that book is quite useful in the tutorial respect, this book gives a more textbook reference approach to the subject.The book begins with the basics, things such as primative modeling and transform modifiers and builds from there into polygonal modeling, patch modeling and NURBS.Sections are well planned out and useful to me as a reference and teaching aid.Also, I found the sections about materials and track animation superb.I recommend this book to anyone who is starting in 3ds max or even to those that have used it for a while as a reference.

Hard to follow if your new
Im brand new to the 3d world. I had no clue how 3ds max 4 worked at all. I was clueless about what book to buy but for some reason i coose this one. I have only had it for a few weeks but it is so hard to follow its quite frustrating to use. Now it might just be a hard program to use but the book leads you though but you spend a lot of time looking for buttons, finding shapes and not really sure what the book wants you to do after you find it. I dont know if all the books are like this but i sure hope not. I just want to do fun stuff and it doesnt really look like the book even shows you how to. But im just in the begining so i have no ideas. Do you have an idea of a better book that wont take forever to lean? It looks quite exclusive in some of its progrmas. It needs to be shaped for the newbe in the beging of the book. I have spend hours with this book and got no were. You have to much dissifing to do. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 3ds Max 4 (Computer file)    2. Animation    3. Computer Bks - Desktop Publishing    4. Computer Books: General    5. Computer Graphics - 3D Studio    6. Computer Graphics - General    7. Computer animation    8. Computer graphics    9. Computers - Desktop Publishing    10. Film & Video - General    11. Interactive & Multimedia    12. Microcomputer Graphics    13. Performing Arts    14. Computer graphics software   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (11)

Money badly spent
I specifically targeted this book because of the disintegrate material effect but was unable to follow it cos of missing parts in the tutorials/scenes. upon trying to work it out my self ,I still havent I will have to put this book in the toilet as emergency toilet paper. I was really dissappointed when I sent emails to coriolis to try and get the proper tut file scenes (2 years ago) and still havent recieved any feedback, this is so frustrating. I'll never buy another coriolis text again.

My Favorite Max book
Wow, I don't know if they have awards for these kinds of books, but Jon Bell should be able to run away with this one. Great Book with Cool Textures, Models and Plugins!
If you want to get more out of 3D Studio MAX, then this book's for you. The chapters on advanced materials and lighting helped me create better-looking scenes immediately, and the special-effects stuff (includingthe great Greeble plugin) is well worth the price of the book. Highlyrecommended! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 3D studio    2. Cinematography    3. Computer Bks - Desktop Publishing    4. Computer Graphics - 3D Studio    5. Computer Graphics - General    6. Computer animation    7. Computers - Desktop Publishing    8. Games    9. Games/Puzzles    10. Microcomputer Graphics    11. Special effects    12. Video & Electronic - General    13. AutoCAD   

Subjects:  1. Computer Graphics - General    2. Computers - Other Applications    3. Computers / Computer Graphics / General    4. Graphic design