Product Description

Jumpstart your quest for mastering 3ds max 5 with beginner level techniques that will apply to many aspects of 3d design. The exercises will walk you through steps that introduce and reinforce productive workflow methods for all users. The techniques focus on exciting new tools and features in 3ds max 5.

3d environment artists, whether for gaming, web content, film and television, or architecture have a responsibility to set the foundation and mood for all other aspects of 3d design. There is a plethora of books on character design and animation while the majority of jobs in the marketplace are for building environments for those few characters to exist in. This book walks you through several scenes that form a basis for learning tools, work methods, and efficient techniques that will make you a more valuable artist in a wide range of job opportunities. More experienced max users can also benefit from the fresh perspective and a focus on amazing new modeling tools, Global Illumination and Radiosity lighting, and animation enhancements included in 3ds max X. The book will include a CD ROM that will have all the project files needed to go with the book.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #839545 in Books
• Published on: 2002-11-29
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 496 pages

From the Back Cover

Jumpstart your quest for mastering 3ds max 5 with beginner level techniques that will apply to many aspects of 3d design. The exercises will walk you through steps that introduce and reinforce productive workflow methods for all users. The techniques focus on exciting new tools and features in 3ds max 5.

3d environment artists, whether for gaming, web content, film and television, or architecture have a responsibility to set the foundation and mood for all other aspects of 3d design. There is a plethora of books on character design and animation while the majority of jobs in the marketplace are for building environments for those few characters to exist in. This book walks you through several scenes that form a basis for learning tools, work methods, and efficient techniques that will make you a more valuable artist in a wide range of job opportunities. More experienced max users can also benefit from the fresh perspective and a focus on amazing new modeling tools, Global Illumination and Radiosity lighting, and animation enhancements included in 3ds max X. The book will include a CD ROM that will have all the project files needed to go with the book.

About the Author

Currently, Ted Boardman's primary job description is that of a traveling Discreet 3ds max and Autodesk 3D Studio VIZ training consultant. Ted is one of a handful of Authorized Discreet Training Specialists. Training sessions are custom classes designed to increase 3D modeling and animation productivity for a wide range of clients, from architecture, to aerospace, to television and computer gaming.

An integral part of Ted's training process is authoring and co-authoring books for New Riders Publishing on the production issues encountered in using 3ds max and 3D Studio VIZ, including 3ds max 4 Fundamentals and several books from the Inside 3D Studio Max and Inside 3D Studio VIZ 3 series. Ted has contributed to several other books on the subject as well as Discreet Advanced Modules and currently has a monthly column covering topics related to max and VIZ at the http://www.cgarchitect.com Web site. Ted also had a column in Cadence magazine.

Ted is an award-winning speaker at the annual Autodesk University symposium covering CAD and visualization topics and is founder of the Boston Area 3D Studio User Group.

Outside the 3D world, Ted has traveled, lived, and worked in Europe for many years and, for nearly 18 years, ran a small architectural design/build firm that specialized in hand-cut post-and-beam structures. Long-distance bicycle travel and 28,000 miles of blue water yacht deliveries served as a diversion from work for many years. Photography, painting, and opera are other interests. Ted lives in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Customer Reviews

Don't waste your money if your new to Max!!
What ever you do, don't buy this book if your new to 3D Studio Max- the way the book is writen it assumes that you have prior knowledge of Max, so if your a newby you'll get completly confused. Also all the diagrams and screen grabs are in black and white making it EXTREMELY difficult to work out what the writer wants you to do. I've got about 3 years experience using Max, and I found it confusing at times.

NOT FOR BEGINNERS
This book is definately NOT for beginners. I've been using Max for quite some years now and this is probably the worst book I have bought. There are over 450 pages and maybe 100 of them, I found useful or learned from. The rest either did not interest me or I found bits confusing.

I think there could have been more on GI and photometric lighting, saying as lights can make or break your scene.
There was not a great deal in this book that you can't pick up from the online help.

Ted Boardman is a 3D master, but I feel he has let himself down with this book, or maybe it is down to Newriders. They usually produce excellent works, not this time I'm afraid.

Good book but would not suit a total newbie
I've read the past two versions of the Fundamental books and I found this book helpful in explaining some of the new features of Max 5. I liked the Poly Mesh tutorial but found the following lessons on the techniques of radiosity hard to follow. It's a good book to begin looking at new features but not suitable if you are starting to understand the basics, such as splines, pimitives, booleans, arrays, Track view and so on. There's no section on NURBs in this book which is annoying. It does exactly what it says on the cover really, this is a book about 3D Max 5.