Introducing 3ds Max 9: 3D for Beginners

Video game and feature-film artists have used 3ds Max to create Halo 2, King Kong, Myst V, and more. Now you can harness this popular animation software with the clear, step-by-step instructions in this easy-to-follow guide. This book breaks down the complexities of 3D modeling, texturing, animating, and visual effects. Clear-cut explanations, tutorials, and hands-on projects help build your skills and a special color insert includes real-world examples from talented 3ds Max beginners. Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.

Table of Contents:
Introduction xii Chapter 1 Basic Concepts 1 How to Read This Book 2 What Is CGI? 2 Production Workflow 4 CG Workflow 8 CG Specialties 12 Core Concepts 14 Coordinate Systems 22 Basic Animation Concepts 23 Basic 3ds Max Terms and Concepts 27 Summary 30 Chapter 2 Your First Max Animation 31 Getting Around in 3ds Max 32 Project and File Management Workflow 32 The 3ds Max Interface 35 Jumping Headlong into Animation 41 Setting Up the Hierarchy 52 Summary 59 Chapter 3 The 3ds Max Interface 61 What Am I Looking At? 62 Managing Scene Objects 96 Summary 103 Chapter 4 Modeling in 3ds Max: Part I 105 Planning Your Model 106 Modeling Concepts 107 Look at the Mesh You Got Us Into! 119 Editable Poly Tools 129 Modeling a Chest of Drawers 137 Modeling a Hand 164 Summary 177 Chapter 5 Modeling in 3ds Max: Part II 179 Setting Up the Scene 180 The Editable Poly Tools 184 Lofting the Barrel 206 Lathing the Wheels 215 Using Snapshot to Create the Tracks 217 Summary 223 Chapter 6 Organic Poly Modeling 225 Setting Up the Scene 226 Creating the Basic Form 231 Adding Detail 254 Final Touches 271 Summary 273 Chapter 7 Materials and Mapping 275 Materials 276 The Material Editor 278 Mapping a Pool Ball 294 Mapping, Just a Little Bit More 302 Maps 305 More Mapping Exercises 309 Mapping Coordinates 315 Summary 323 Chapter 8 Introduction to Animation 325 Hierarchy in Animation: The Mobile Redux 326 Using Dummy Objects 330 Bouncing Ball 333 Using the Track Editor–Curve Editor 335 Track View 350 Anticipation and Momentum in Knife Throwing 354 Summary 364 Chapter 9 Character Studio and IK Animation 365 Character Animation 366 Character Studio Workflow 366 Creating a Biped 368 Animating a Biped 376 Associating a Biped to a Character 391 Using Inverse Kinematics 399 Summary 404 Chapter 10 3ds Max Lighting 405 Basic Lighting Concepts 406 Three-Point Lighting 408 3ds Max Lights 411 Common Light Parameters 425 Ambient Light 432 Creating Shadows 432 Atmospheres and Effects 438 Light Lister 442 Summary 443 Chapter 11 3ds Max Rendering 445 Rendering Setup 446 Motion Blur 455 Previewing with ActiveShade 457 Cameras 457 Safe Frame 462 Render Elements 463 Rendering Effects 466 Raytraced Reflections and Refractions 470 Summary 477 Chapter 12 Particles and Dynamics 479 Understanding Particle Systems 480 Setting Up a Particle System 484 Particle Systems and Space Warps 499 Using Rigid Body Dynamics 504 Using Soft Body Dynamics 511 Summary 514 Index 515

About the Author :
Dariush Derakhshani is an award-winning 3D animator, author, and educator. He has worked on movies such as The Fantastic Four and Pan's Labyrinth, the South Park TV series, and numerous commercials and music videos. He teaches 3D animation and is the author of Introducing Maya 7: 3D for Beginners (Sybex). Randi L. Munn teaches 3D animation at The Art Institute of California and has worked as a digital artist and technical director for games and movie projects with Gizmo Games, RJB Enterprises, and Sony.