Description:
3D Studio Max 3 Fundamentals unravels the intimidating maze of Kinetix's powerful animation software, bringing the special features of version 3 into focus. Although ideally suited for new users of Max, the author has sprinkled the book liberally with sidebars that help users of older versions get up to speed quickly with Max 3's new or changed features. The book opens with a very handy explanation of computer animation fundamentals and 3-D graphics terms, plus a tour of the Max interface. It also pays special attention to some of the new features found in Max 3, such as the new file annotation feature (File Properties) and Max 3's new ability to reference external files and use them in a scene without importing them (called "XREFs" for "external references"). Knowing that you have to be able to build your model before you put it into a scene, "Modeling Fundamentals" covers Max 3's five basic modeling methods--spline, mesh, parametric, patch, and NURBS modeling--in detail with examples. The advantages of each method are defined, and suggestions for when to use each method (spline for organic modeling vs. mesh for general modeling) are provided. "Scene Composition Fundamentals" explains basic composition concepts. Knowing which type of light to use, how to position and animate a camera, the focal length of the camera lens--these are some of the properties that impact the look of a scene. Plenty of illustrations and screen shots are used to demonstrate, for example, the difference in falloff values of lights, or the different rendering modes and how they impact the look of the final image. "Animation Fundamentals" lays out, in understandable terms, how to go about animating in Max and what properties you can animate (just about anything). Tools receiving expert attention and liberal use of screen shots include motion paths, function curves, and the new Track View window. The tutorials in this book offer a different perspective on how to use Max than the tutorials in Kinetix's own manuals, yet they drive home the same methodologies and procedures. Not only does this reinforce what an experienced user may already know, it helps new users climb the learning curve quickly, making "3D Studio Max 3 Fundamentals" an excellent supplemental book for any new user of the software. --Mike Caputo
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