This exceptionally practical, project-driven book is written specifically for designersinterested in exploring the concepts and technology of animation. Exploring 3D Modeling with 3ds max(tm) 7 offers a thorough introduction to 3D design, including a simplified overview of the interface and components of Discreet’s(r) widely used 3ds max software, and the tools and commands that will lead users quickly to proficiency using the latest Release 7. Flexible, step-by-step tutorials are suitable for both practical industry and structured classroom learning, providing useful and entertaining applications to real-world 3D modeling scenarios. The book’s broad coverage introduces the important concepts of polygonal, spine, and patch modeling, as well as the materials and textures that are essential to generating photo-realistic projects. Basic and intermediate lighting techniques and rendering methods for finaloutput of projects are also explored in this one-of-a-kind introduction to the world of 3Dmodeling and animation.

An exceptionally practical and project-driven book, Exploring 3D Modeling with 3ds max 7 is written specifically for designers interested in exploring the concepts and technology of modeling. The book offers a thorough introduction to 3D design, including an overview of the interface and components of Discreet?s® widely used 3ds max software, and the tools and commands that will quickly lead users to proficiency using the latest release. Flexible, step-by-step tutorials are geared to get readers up to speed by providing useful and entertaining applications to real-world 3D modeling scenarios. Coverage includes the important concepts of polygonal, spline, and patch modeling, as well as the materials and textures that are essential to generating photo-realistic projects. Basic and intermediate lighting techniques and rendering methods for final output of projects are also explored in this one-of-a-kind introduction to the world of 3D modeling and animation.

ok I guess

I bought this alongside the bible, it really isn’t that good, quite short. There are several eal-life projects at the end of this, it’s ment to be aimed at the beginner but even with some experience with max, I foud some of the concepts a bit advanced. Its ok I guess but the bible covers all that this has and is better value.

Just what I was looking for

This book doesn’t contain a lot of jargon. It has pictures of how to do things and explains things in non-technical terms. Great for beginners but also useful as a refresher when you haven’t used some aspect for awhile. Well laid out index so easy to find what your looking for. These people have done a good job. Hope they bring out another one more advanced.

Great book for Newbies - Like Me!

I had no idea what the interface looked like or ANY idea about how to use 3DS Max; I just knew I want to learn how to do animations.

Well, I know this book isn’t going to have me making 3D animation movies, but it does give a great insight into the program’s basics.

Lots of hands-on exercises, just as I like. Lots of pictures too. The authors do an excellent job of spelling out the basics and telling you exactly what you need to do to complete an excerise. And, as you move further along in the book, they "neglect" to tell you how to do something they’ve already covered - just like a teacher would do in class. It forces you to explore, reread (if you don’t understand a subject) and practice with the program - what you need to do if you’re ever going to learn to use 3DS Max.

A very well written book about the basics of 3DS Max 7.

Excellent beginner book for 3ds max.

I highly recommend this book to the beginning 3ds max student. It was very helpful to me, as it explained more of the basics and gave more detail behind the steps. Also, the tutorials frequently used diffent tools to accomplish the same task. This showed how to use the graphical interface, quad-menus, toolbars, etc.

I found it the best of several books I bought to get my feet wet with 3ds max. It really helped with some of the basic lighting and material concepts. While, this book doesn’t even begin to touch all the features of 3ds max, it was a great primer and I’m glad I read it.

Great for Beginners!

This book is perfect for those just getting started in 3ds Max 7. There are a lot of easy to follow screen shots to accompany the text so it is possible to still follow along when you’re not in front of your computer. It is written with plenty of step by step explanations of what you are doing and why as well as a great accompanying disk to help with tutorials. It even tackles some of the more difficult aspects of 3d modeling such as composition, the dreaded material editor (it even throws in a side bar about UVW unwrapping) and lighting. It is written with the beginner in mind and does a great job explaining concepts and procedures without insulting your intelligence. It may, however, be a little below intermediate users, it can be a great tool to brush up on fundamentals. I can’t recommend this book enough for those looking to get their feet wet in MAX.

Perfect for newbies

The book by Till & O’Connell is great for newcomers simply because it doesn’t attempt to give you too much information but only what new users might need to learn the basics of max 7. I had never turned on max 7 and within a week I was amazed as to how much I had learned without having any previous experience with 3d softwares. This should be the first book you buy if you are starting from scratch with max 7.