3ds Max 2012 Bible - Kelly L. Murdock [12]
Sound familiar? This process actually isn't much different from what 3D artists, modelers, and animators do on a daily basis, and, like you, I find satisfaction in the finished product.
Tutorials aplenty
I've always been a very visual learner—the easiest way for me to gain knowledge is by doing things for myself while exploring at the same time. Other people learn by reading and comprehending ideas. In this book, I've tried to present information in a number of ways to make the information usable for all types of learners. That is why you see detailed discussions of the various features along with tutorials that show these concepts in action.
The tutorials appear throughout the book and are clearly marked with the “Tutorial” label in front of the title. They always include a series of logical steps, typically ending with a figure for you to study and compare. These tutorial examples are provided on the book's CD to give you a firsthand look and a chance to get some hands-on experience.
I've attempted to “laser focus” all the tutorials down to one or two key concepts. All tutorials are designed to be completed in 10 steps or less. This means that you probably will not want to place the results in your portfolio. For example, many of the early tutorials don't have any materials applied because I felt that using materials before they've been explained would only confuse you.
I've attempted to think of and use examples that are diverse, unique, and interesting, while striving to make them simple, light, and easy to follow. I'm happy to report that every example in the book is included on the CD along with the models and textures required to complete the tutorial.
The tutorials often don't start from scratch but instead give you a starting point. This approach lets me “laser focus” the tutorials even more, and with fewer, more relevant steps, you can learn and experience the concepts without the complexity. On the book's CD, you will find the Max files that are referenced in Step 1 of most tutorials.
In addition to the starting-point files, every tutorial has been saved at the completion of the tutorial steps. These files are marked with the word final at the end of the filename. If you get stuck in a tutorial, simply open the final example and compare the settings.
I've put lots of effort into this book, and I hope it helps you in your efforts. I present this book as a starting point. In each tutorial, I've purposely left out most of the creative spice, leaving room for you to put it in—you're the one with the vision.
Eleventh time around
This book is now in its 11th edition, and the editors have requested some fanfare. We considered including a slice of celebration cake with the book, but someone in marketing decided that a CD full of good stuff would be better (if you look closely, you can find a tutorial that features doughnuts). This edition is packed with the maximum number of pages that can be bound into a paperback book, so if you're planning on taking a book to read on a subway ride, take this book and leave all the others behind. I'd hate to think that I caused some loyal readers back pain.
Several changes have been made in this edition. Many of the older tutorials have been retired to make room for the new features. I've also included a new Quick Start. And I've made room for new sections throughout the book covering the new features.
Although I've strived to make the book comprehensive, some features have fallen by the wayside and remain in the software only for backward compatibility. The Dynamics utility, for example, has been replaced with the much more agile reactor system. These deprecated features are mentioned but not covered in depth. If you need to learn about