Introducing 3ds Max® 2008

Introducing 3ds Max® 2008

Released January 2008
Publisher(s): Wiley
ISBN: 9780470184943

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Book description

Introducing 3ds Max 2008 breaks down the complexities of 3D modeling, texturing, animating, and visual effects. You'll jump right into the 3ds Max pipeline—from preproduction through postproduction—with clear-cut explanations, tutorials, and hands-on projects to build your skills. A special color insert includes real-world examples from talented 3ds Max beginners. From immediately creating your first animation to mastering poly modeling techniques and lighting final renders, you'll get a solid grounding in 3ds Max 2008. Build the knowledge you need for game, film, and TV production. Includes a companion CD.

Table of contents

  1. Copyright
  3. Acknowledgments
  4. About the Authors
  5. Introduction
    1. What You Will Learn from This Book
    2. Who Should Read This Book
    3. How to Use This Book
    4. How This Book Is Organized
    5. Hardware and Software Considerations
    6. The Next Step
  6. 1. Basic Concepts
    1. 1.1. How to Read This Book
    2. 1.2. What Is CGI?
    3. 1.3. Production Workflow
    4. 1.4. CG Workflow
    5. 1.5. CG Specialties
    6. 1.6. Core Concepts
    7. 1.7. Coordinate Systems
    8. 1.8. Basic Animation Concepts
    9. 1.9. Basic 3ds Max Terms and Concepts
    10. 1.10. Summary
  7. 2. Your First 3ds Max Animation
    1. 2.1. Getting Around in 3ds Max
    2. 2.2. Project and File Management Workflow
    3. 2.3. The 3ds Max Interface
    4. 2.4. Jumping Headlong into Animation
    5. 2.5. Setting Up the Hierarchy
    6. 2.6. Ready, Set, Animate!
    7. 2.7. Summary
  8. 3. The 3ds Max Interface
    1. 3.1. What Am I Looking At?
    2. 3.2. Screen Layout
    3. 3.3. Command Panels
    4. 3.4. Controls at the Bottom of the UI
    5. 3.5. The Viewports
    6. 3.6. Managing Scene Objects
    7. 3.7. Scene Explorer
    8. 3.8. Summary
  9. 4. Modeling in 3ds Max: Part I
    1. 4.1. Planning Your Model
    2. 4.2. Modeling Concepts
    3. 4.3. Modifiers and the Modifier Stack
    4. 4.4. Look at the Mesh You Got Us Into!
    5. 4.5. Editable Poly Tools
    6. 4.6. Modeling a Chest of Drawers
    7. 4.7. Modeling a Hand
    8. 4.8. Summary
  10. 5. Modeling in 3ds Max: Part II
    1. 5.1. Building the Red Rocket
  11. 6. Character Poly Modeling
    1. 6.1. Setting Up the Scene
    2. 6.2. Creating the Basic Form
    3. 6.3. Adding Detail
    4. 6.4. Final Touches
    5. 6.5. Summary
  12. 7. Materials and Mapping
    1. 7.1. Materials
    2. 7.2. The Material Editor
    3. 7.3. Mapping a Pool Ball
    4. 7.4. Mapping, Just a Little Bit More
    5. 7.5. Maps
    6. 7.6. Using Opacity Maps
    7. 7.7. Mapping the Rocket
    8. 7.8. Summary
  13. 8. Introduction to Animation
    1. 8.1. Hierarchy in Animation The Mobile Redux
    2. 8.2. Using Dummy Objects
    3. 8.3. The Bouncing Ball
    4. 8.4. Using the Track Editor-Curve Editor
    5. 8.5. Anticipation and Momentum in Knife Throwing
    6. 8.6. Summary
  14. 9. Character Studio and IK Animation
    1. 9.1. Character Animation
    2. 9.2. Character Studio Workflow
    3. 9.3. Creating a Biped
    4. 9.4. Animating a Biped
    5. 9.5. Associating a Biped to a Character
    6. 9.6. Using Inverse Kinematics
    7. 9.7. Summary
  15. 10. 3ds Max Lighting
    1. 10.1. Basic Lighting Concepts
    2. 10.2. Three-Point Lighting
    3. 10.3. 3ds Max Lights
    4. 10.4. Common Light Parameters
    5. 10.5. Ambient Light
    6. 10.6. Lighting the Red Rocket
    7. 10.7. Atmospheres and Effects
    8. 10.8. Light Lister
    9. 10.9. Summary
  16. 11. 3ds Max Rendering
    1. 11.1. Rendering Setup
    2. 11.2. Motion Blur
    3. 11.3. Previewing with ActiveShade
    4. 11.4. Cameras
    5. 11.5. Safe Frame
    6. 11.6. Render Elements
    7. 11.7. Rendering Effects
    8. 11.8. Raytraced Reflections and Refractions
    9. 11.9. Bringing It All Together: Rendering the Rocket
    10. 11.10. Summary
  17. 12. Particles and Dynamics
    1. 12.1. Understanding Particle Systems
    2. 12.2. Setting Up a Particle System
    3. 12.3. Particle Systems and Space Warps
    4. 12.4. Using Rigid Body Dynamics
    5. 12.5. Using Soft Body Dynamics
    6. 12.6. Summary
    7. 12.7. So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish
  18. A. About the Companion CD
    1. A.1. What You'll Find on the CD
    2. A.2. System Requirements
    3. A.3. Using the CD
    4. A.4. Troubleshooting
  19. Beginners' Gallery

Product information

  • Title: Introducing 3ds Max® 2008
  • Author(s):
  • Release date: January 2008
  • Publisher(s): Wiley
  • ISBN: 9780470184943