Description:
The enormous complexity and depth of 3D Studio Max is explored in this installment in the In Depth series from Coriolis Press. Written by an experienced user and teacher, 3D Studio Max R3 in Depth reads like a handbook, course book, and reference manual, all in one. The book starts off with a general overview of how the program thinks and a rundown of the interface. "Working in Max," Part II, describes a working methodology for navigating the program, managing the interface, and using Max efficiently. Part III, "Modeling," is the strongest section in the book. Comprising six chapters, this section compares every method for modeling that's available currently in Max: using primitives, mesh-level control, modifiers, patch, and NURBS modeling. There's enough information here to help any beginner get his or her head around Max's modeling philosophy. The remaining sections discuss materials and textures (Part IV), lighting, camera control and rendering (Part V), and animation (Part VI). The accompanying CD-ROM includes 250 Max scene files that illustrate not only every topic that's covered in the book, but also virtually every tool in Max. Although the book is comprehensive and designed to take the novice to a fairly proficient level, it could easily have a sequel. Some areas not covered include animated texture maps, a deeper look at render effects, and (although the section on animation is good) character animation. The absence of these topics leaves room for deeper coverage of others, however. An inspiring gallery of color images includes some artful and abstract work that is almost worth the cost of the book. It's refreshing to see a program like Max being used in this way, and even more so when the images are given color press. This book might not be the best choice for a strong intermediate user who's looking to advance to the next level, but 3D Studio Max R3 in Depth would make a worthwhile addition to the library of any beginning Max user. --Mike Caputo
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