3ds max 4 Magic

Rating:
Summary: 13 fun projects to take the experienced user further
Review: 3ds max 4 magic is full-colour, glossy and packed with 13 projects covering a variety of common tasks, individually written by professional 3D artists. There are detailed chapters on for example simulating flowing water (without expensive plugins), creating realistic underwater scenes, using the new max 4 IK, churning out textures for games, and even a bit of camera matching. And as usual, they are detailed enough to be usefull but advanced enough not to be patronising and time-wasting for the experienced reader, for whom the book is intended.

The small critisism I may have centers around the lighting effects in certain chapters. They seem somewhat basic, explaining much to very little effect. In general though, the tutorials do expand on many of max 4's new features - and the accompanying CD features bonus materials and projects from those authors that got a little carried away. Good stuff!

Rating:
Summary: Impressed!
Review: I rented the last max magic book out from my college library; now working as a 3d artist I decided to buy this latest book. A fine improvement on the last max magic book, this one delves deeper inside max 4 and explains how and why every step should be taken. New features such as parameter wiring are used, and the cd is a wealth of information. This being said, one or two of the chapters do let the side down ever so slightly, mainly due to the end result not being too hot, but the techniques you learn through these chapters are what this book is all about.

Heartily recommended! Well done to the Max 4 Magic team!

Rating:
Summary: An excellent guide to advance your skills.
Review: If you are an intermediate level Max user, 3ds max 4 Magic, is a great resource. With concise and to the point directions, full color illustrations and tutorials that cover a wide range of Max's capabilities, this book can guide you to the next level. This book is not for a beginner. The authors assume that the reader is familiar with all of the tool sets available, at least to the extent of knowing where to look. Although the time that I have invested in this book's tutorials has been technically demanding the wow factor has made it well worthwhile.

Rating:
Summary: Mid Level Tutorials
Review: Some good tutorials, some really bad. Just like the first book its not written by designers but more by those techie guys who do beta testing :) But I got something out of it anyway.