3ds max^TM 4 Bible

by Kelly L. Murdock

• ISBN13: 9780764535840
• ISBN10: 0764535846
• Edition: CD
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-08-01
• Publisher: Wiley

Summary

More than 100 step-by-step tutorials give you valuable hands-on experience under the expert guidance of 3D master, Kelly Murdock. Increasingly complex scenes will prove useful to all 3D MAX users, from beginners to advanced. 3ds max 4 Bible will help you learn and master the most popular 3D modeling and animation software.

Author Biography

About the Author Kelly Murdock has been involved with more computer books than he cares to count — to the point that he avoids the computer book section of the bookstore, except for the graphics section, which still remains an obsession. His book credits include various Web, graphics, and multimedia titles, including the first edition of this book, the 3ds max 4 Bible. Other major accomplishments include Master HTML and XHTML Visually, JavaScript Blueprints, and co-authoring the Illustrator 9 Bible JavaScript. Kelly also co-authored Laura Lemay's Web Workshop: 3D Graphics and VRML 2 at a time when we all thought VRML was going somewhere. With a background in engineering and computer graphics, Kelly has been all over the 3D industry. He's used high-level CAD workstations for product design and analysis, completed several large-scale visualization projects, created 3D models for feature films, worked as a freelance 3D artist, and even done some 3D programming. Kelly's been using 3D Studio on and off since version 3 for DOS. He is also the creative force behind the children's Web site, Animabets.com at www.animabets.com.

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
Acknowledgments	xiii
Part I: Getting Started with 3ds max 4	1	(130)
Quick Start: Animating a Fighter Jet Fly-By	3	(32)
Exploring the Max Interface	35	(40)
Working with Viewports	75	(24)
Working with Files	99	(32)
Part II: Working with Objects	131	(186)
Using Primitive Objects	133	(30)
Selecting Objects and Setting Object Properties	163	(24)
Cloning Objects and Creating Object Arrays	187	(22)
Grouping and Linking Objects	209	(22)
Transforming Objects	231	(34)
Using Modifiers	265	(52)
Part III: Modeling	317	(170)
Modeling Basics and Miscellaneous Tools	319	(14)
Drawing and Using 2D Splines and Shapes	333	(40)
Working with Meshes	373	(24)
Creating Patches	397	(18)
Building Compound Objects	415	(48)
Working with NURBS	463	(24)
Part IV: Materials and Maps	487	(128)
Exploring the Material Editor	489	(22)
Applying Materials	511	(34)
Using Maps	545	(44)
Working with Materials and Maps	589	(26)
Part V: Lights and Cameras	615	(70)
Working with Lights	617	(34)
Controlling Cameras	651	(16)
Camera Matching and Tracking	667	(18)
Part VI: Particle Systems and Space Warps	685	(62)
Creating and Controlling Particle Systems	687	(28)
Using Space Warps	715	(32)
Part VII: Animation	747	(136)
Animation Basics	749	(20)
Working with the Track View	769	(28)
Restricting Movement with Constraints	797	(14)
Animating with Controllers	811	(32)
Using Expressions	843	(18)
Creating a Dynamic Simulation	861	(22)
Part VIII: Inverse Kinematics	883	(38)
Working with Bones	885	(14)
Creating and Using Inverse Kinematics	899	(22)
Part IX: Rendering and Post-Production	921	(134)
Rendering Basics	923	(24)
Working with Environments and Atmospheric Effects	947	(20)
Using Render Elements and Effects	967	(32)
Network Rendering	999	(30)
Post-Processing with the Video Post Interface	1029	(26)
Part X: Customizing Max	1055	(72)
Customizing the Max Interface	1057	(30)
Using MAXScript	1087	(40)
Part XI: Extending Max with Plug-Ins	1127	(44)
Using Third-Party Plug-Ins	1129	(10)
Creating Your Own Plug-Ins	1139	(32)
Appendix A: Installing and Configuring 3ds max 4	1171	(10)
Appendix B: Max Keyboard Shortcuts	1181	(14)
Appendix C: Exclusive Bible Plug-Ins	1195	(12)
Appendix D: What's on the CD-ROM?	1207	(4)
Glossary	CD1-CD12
Index	1211	(43)
Hungry Minds, Inc. End-User License Agreement	1254	(2)
CD-ROM Installation Instructions	1256