3D Animation: From Models to Movies - Softcover

Watkins, Adam

9781584500230: 3D Animation: From Models to Movies

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1584500239 ISBN 13: 9781584500230

Publisher: Charles River Media, 2000

Creating professional-quality graphics and animations requires a combination of artistic and technical talent; but even before you can put these skills to work, you need a solid understanding of the digital 3D world. The hands-on instruction provided in this text teaches how to master the 3D world, and apply this understanding to the art of animation. Written for designers and students just beginning in animation, "3D Animation: From Models to Movies" provides concise coverage of the fundamentals of 3D to ensure that learning animation is a smooth and enjoyable journey. For those already working in 3D, taking a course, or just wanting to hone their skills, this resource should be useful. A variety of practical tutorials, teach everything from understanding 3D to modelling, rendering, texturing, lighting, and animation. The tutorials use a variety of projects and programs to illustrate the techniques. Maxon Cinema4D XL v6, Strata StudioPro 3D, and NewTek LightWave v6 are the primary programs used, but the techniques covered can be easily applied to other professional-quality programs including Animation:Master, 3D Studio Max, Maya, and SoftImage. Comprehensive coverage of 3D graphics fundamentals needed for animation exercises are included throughout the text to challenge and expand skills. Detailed tutorials cover modelling, texturing, rendering, lighting, animation, and special effects. A colour gallery displays the work of talented students and artists. The text covers cross-platform issues and explains how to apply techniques to a variety of software applications. The CD-ROM contains: a demo version of Maxon & Mac226's Cinema4D XL 6 (Win and Mac); a complete version of Strata Studio 3D (Win and Mac); all the book images in full colour; and tutorial support files. The CD requirements are: Windows 98/NT/2000; Pentium Processor+; CD-ROM Drive; Hard drive with 3 MB RAM and 20MB free space; Macintosh Mac OS 7.61+, PowerPC +.

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Review:

The main problem with embarking on a career in 3-D graphics is one of choice--the tools are many, and the avenues of work are all over the map. It's difficult to choose a specific type of work, and often you don't even know the kinds of questions to ask to get started.

Consider 3D Animation: From Models to Movies a compass, a roadmap, and even a means of transportation. This clearly written book puts the world of 3-D computer graphics into perspective for the novice who doesn't know a pixel from a polygon. Over the course of 15 chapters, the author discusses the very basics of computer graphics and how 3-D applications work, and then puts them in perspective against other applications of the genre.

On a journey that spans 15 chapters, 3D Animation introduces us to the digital workflow and how the 3-D world works--orientation, navigation, basic tools, expressions and features common to most 3-D applications. By the third chapter, the book is deep into practical matters by starting off with modelling basics. Subsequent chapters cover texturing, lighting, rendering and animation.

The best chapter is less about the craft of 3-D graphics and more about the business. Chapter 15, "Getting the Job", consists of a helpful five pages on how to get an interview, what job descriptions mean, generic dos and don'ts, and more importantly, demo reel dos and don'ts. (No flying logos or spaceships, please!) Learning a skill is one thing; finding a job is something else. This chapter offers solid advice for any first-timer.

There are few entry-level 3-D graphics books that come with a fully functioning 3-D application. The companion CD-ROM is a full working copy of the venerable Strata 3-D application.

If you don't own a 3-D application yet, this book and the software on the CD-ROM are a great way to get your virtual feet wet. --Mike Caputo

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