Texturing Concepts & Techniques

by Summers, Dennis

• ISBN13: 9781584503002
• ISBN10: 1584503009
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-03-26
• Publisher: Thomson Delmar Learning

Summary

Texturing: Concepts and Techniques is about the aesthetics and design issues of creating and using interesting textures for digital 3D animation. This beautifully illustrated, full color book teaches artists how to create stunning and convincing textures using the popular 3ds max TM , Maya ? , and LightWave 3D ? programs. It describes the theory behind many aspects of the software, to give artists a deeper understanding of the technology, and its past, present, and future. It helps readers understand the limitations that 3D animation places on creating quality imagery, and details the artistic techniques behind creating convincing textures, not just realistic or photorealistic ones. The tutorials and techniques included throughout the book don't just show users how to recreate a texture, but take them deep into the tools of the programs to help them really understand how and why they work. After working through the tutorials, users will be able to take their skills to the next level and create their own stunning textures!

Author Biography

Dennis Summers (Royal Oak, MI) holds a BFA in painting and a BA in chemistry from Michigan State University, and an MFA in non-traditional media from The Ohio State University. He is an Associate Professor at Schoolcraft College, and is also a freelance animator

Table of Contents

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS	xiii
Preface	xv
How to Use This Book	xvii
What You Need to Know	xvii
1 VISUAL COMMUNICATION, GOOD DESIGN, AND AESTHETICS	1	(26)
Visual Communication	3	(2)
Good Design	5	(15)
Value	5	(2)
Shape	7	(2)
Motion	9	(1)
Relative Size	10	(1)
Figure/Ground	11	(1)
Color	12	(1)
Color Relativity and Color Constancy	13	(2)
Texture	15	(1)
Closure	16	(4)
Aesthetics	20	(6)
Summary	26	(1)
2 REALISM, PHOTOREALISM, AND WHEN BEING CONVINCING IS BEST	27	(18)
Realism	28	(8)
Linear Perspective	30	(2)
Aerial Perspective and Perspective of Disappearance	32	(1)
Preconceptions	33	(3)
Photorealism	36	(4)
The Frame	36	(1)
Two Dimensions, Not Three	36	(1)
Relationships Matter	37	(3)
Being Convincing	40	(4)
Summary	44	(1)
3 TECHNICAL ISSUES: THE DIGITAL ENVIRONMENT AND DELIVERY MEDIA	45	(26)
Color	46	(19)
Digital Color	46	(1)
Color Mixing	47	(1)
Color Space or Color Gamut	48	(4)
White Point	52	(1)
Gamma	53	(8)
Using Gamma as a Design Technique	61	(1)
Calorbars	61	(1)
Contrast Ratio and Ambient Light	62	(1)
Alpha	63	(2)
Pixels	65	(3)
Frames and Fields	68	(1)
Summary	69	(2)
4 MATERIALS: TECHNOLOGY AND USE	71	(20)
Some Definitions	72	(2)
What Does a Computer Think a Material Is?	74	(3)
It Is All About Light: Some Physics	77	(2)
What Does the Software Think a Material Is?	79	(2)
Software Interfaces	81	(1)
Shaders	82	(2)
Material Components	84	(1)
The Use of Image Maps and Procedural Maps	84	(2)
Complex Materials	86	(2)
Mapping and Unwrapping	88	(1)
Image Editing and Rendering	89	(1)
Summary	90	(1)
5 SHADERS	91	(20)
Surface Shaders: General Description and Examples	92	(6)
General-Use Shader Types	98	(2)
Light Response Attributes: The Big Three	100	(5)
Diffuse	100	(1)
Specular	101	(3)
Ambient	104	(1)
Other Common Shader Attributes	105	(4)
Bump Mapping and Displacement	105	(1)
Transparency, Refraction, and Translucency	105	(3)
Luminescence	108	(1)
Reflections	108	(1)
Correspondence Chart	109	(1)
Summary	110	(1)
6 MATERIAL CREATION INTERFACES	111	(26)
3ds max Material Editor	112	(9)
Material Editor Rollouts	115	(6)
Lightwave Surface Editor	121	(6)
Adding Texture Maps	126	(1)
Maya Hypershade and Attribute Editor	127	(9)
Adding Texture Maps	133	(3)
Summary	136	(1)
7 IMAGE MAPS AND PROCEDURAL MAPS	137	(40)
Image Maps	138	(18)
Formats and Compression	138	(2)
Resolution	140	(3)
Aliasing and Sampling	143	(5)
Image Map Interfaces	148	(3)
Photoshop for 3D Artists	151	(5)
Procedural Maps	156	(19)
Checker(board)	157	(4)
Noise	161	(6)
Gradient/Ramp	167	(8)
Summary-Comparing the Two	175	(2)
8 PULLING IT TOGETHER: INITIAL TUTORIAL	177	(46)
3ds max Tutorial: Using the Material Editor	179	(14)
Lightwave Tutorial: Using the Surface and Texture Editors	193	(15)
Maya Tutorial: Using the Hypershade and Attribute Editor	208	(13)
Summary	221	(2)
9 LIGHT AND SURFACES	223	(42)
Some (Very Simple) Physics	224	(3)
Models of Illumination: Local Illumination	227	(1)
Models of Illumination: Global Illumination	228	(7)
Radiosity	228	(2)
Raytracing	230	(3)
The Two Together	233	(2)
3ds max Tutorial: Raytracing	235	(6)
3ds max Tutorial: Radiosity	241	(6)
Lightwave Tutorial: Raytracing	247	(3)
Lightwave Tutorial: Radiosity	250	(5)
Maya Tutorial: Raytracing	255	(4)
Maya and Radiosity	259	(1)
3ds max Tutorial: High Dynamic Range Image-Based Rendering	259	(2)
Lightwave Tutorial: Lightwave High Dynamic Range Image-Based Rendering	261	(2)
Maya	263	(1)
Summary	263	(2)
10 COMPLEX MATERIALS	265	(40)
Displacement	267	(1)
Double-Sided Surface Material	267	(1)
Multiple Surface Materials per Mesh Surface	268	(1)
Superimposing More than One Surface Material, Shader, or Texture	268	(3)
Additive and Subtractive	269	(1)
Difference	269	(1)
Multiply	270	(1)
Double-Layer SpecularShaders	271	(1)
Making Metallic Materials	271	(1)
Material Types for Compositing	271	(1)
Labels	272	(1)
Backgrounds	272	(1)
3ds max Tutorial: Tutorial 10A: An Outdoor Scene	273	(6)
Lightwave Tutorial 10A: An Outdoor Scene	279	(7)
Maya Tutorial 10A: An Outdoor Scene	286	(7)
3ds max Tutorial 10B: Fresh Mountain Tea	293	(4)
Lightwave Tutorial 10B: Fresh Mountain Tea	297	(4)
Maya Tutorial 10B: Fresh Mountain Tea	301	(3)
Summary	304	(1)
11 MAPPING AND UNWRAPPING	305	(40)
The Mapping Problem	306	(2)
The Mapping Solution	308	(8)
One Solution: Projection Mapping	308	(2)
Another Solution: Explicit UV Mapping	310	(2)
UVs Are Arbitrary	312	(2)
UVs Are Relative	314	(2)
Image Maps May Look Weird	316	(1)
Some Specific Software Information	316	(5)
3ds max	316	(2)
Lightwave	318	(2)
Maya	320	(1)
3ds max Tutorial: Creating the Read	321	(5)
Lightwave Tutorial: Lightwave	326	(4)
Maya Tutorial	330	(5)
3ds max Tutorial: Creating the Body	335	(4)
Lightwave Tutorial	339	(3)
Maya Tutorial	342	(2)
Summary	344	(1)
12 RENDERING	345	(28)
What Is Rendering?	346	(5)
Testing Animation	350	(1)
Some Rendering Tips	351	(3)
Delivery Media	351	(2)
Anti-Aliasing	353	(1)
Surface Texture Baking	354	(1)
Post Processing	354	(1)
Compositing	355	(2)
3ds max Software-Specific Information	357	(4)
Render Controls	357	(1)
Anti-Aliasing	358	(1)
Testing Animation	359	(1)
Optimizing Renders	359	(1)
Surface Texture Baking	359	(1)
Post Processing	360	(1)
Compositing	361	(1)
Lightwave Software-Specific Information	361	(4)
Render Controls	361	(2)
Anti-Aliasing	363	(1)
Testing Animation	363	(1)
Surface Texture Baking	364	(1)
Post Processing	364	(1)
Compositing	365	(1)
Maya Software-Specific Information	365	(5)
Render Controls	365	(1)
Anti-Aliasing	366	(1)
Testing Animation	367	(1)
Optimizing Renders	368	(1)
Surface Texture Baking	369	(1)
Post Processing	369	(1)
Compositing	370	(1)
Summary	370	(3)
A ABOUT THE CD-ROM	373	(2)
System Requirements	373	(2)
BIBLIOGRAPHY	375	(4)
INDEX	379