3ds max 4 has much to offer, and learning to use all of its features can be a daunting task. Inside 3ds max 4 describes in detail all of the new features as well as existing ones, making this book a powerful ally for the new and old Max user.

Out of nearly 900 pages, the first 150 are dedicated to describing what’s new in the interface, modeling, materials, animation, and rendering. These sections are designed to bring the experienced 3D Studio Max 3.x user up to speed on what’s new in version 4.

The remaining seven parts are project-oriented tutorials designed to teach new and old users how to make the most of 3ds max 4. Beginning with an introduction to project workflow and progressing through modeling, rigging, materials and texture mapping, animation, lighting, and rendering, the book covers practically every feature of 3ds max 4.

The author writes in a clear, confident style, and each chapter is well illustrated with screenshots and sidebars. One change the book could use is a spiral binding so that it could lie flat on a desk. This is arguably one of the best volumes available for learning and using Max 4, so it is likely never to be relegated to the bookshelf. --Mike Caputo

Inside 3ds max 4 focuses on the information needs of intermediate to advanced professional users of the technology. It is NOT a book for beginners. As such, it does not cover basic functionalities. Rather, it explores changes in the program as well as more advanced functionalities and how they can assist the professional user in enhancing efficiency or output.

Inside 3ds max 4 is organized into units that mirror and actually step through the workflow of a 3D project. Moreover, where differences exist in the application of techniques between the broadcast/film and game/interactive applications, the authors present careful analysis to assist readers in making the right choices for their technical work.

A guide for use 3DSMax in film and game productions

As a beginner of both film and game developer, I found this book very useful. In fact, in all this book, I found a good comparison between film/broadcast and gate/interactive production design. Not only the technical aspects are considered, but also the workflows and management aspects. Based on author real experiences, this book is very useful as a 3DSMax advanced course covering important aspects of real productions, but a base knowledge 3DSMax is needed. I think the title of book is not the better: people think it is an entry level manual. Why not "A guide for use 3DSMax in film and game productions"?! The new "Inside 3DS Max 7", in fact, is not the same.

best max book till date

hi,
been using max for 5 years now and although i’m a little late in writing this review(read the book a year and a half back) credit has to be given.

this is by far the BEST max book around and the basic premise of the book is... if the authors havent used the tools in real world situations they wont blab about them and waste our time.This is meant to be an intermidiate to advanced level book(which is rare) and it really goes all the way.

it’s sad the author hasent had a follow up...these are the people who should be writing more books.

any way thanks for the book kim...i recommend it to most other maxers till date inspite of there being books on max 5.

thanks

b

best max book till date

hi,
been using max for 5 years now and although i’m a little late in writing this review(read the book a year and a half back) credit has to be given.

this is by far the BEST max book around and the basic premise of the book is... if the authors havent used the tools in real world situations they wont blab about them and waste our time.This is meant to be an intermidiate to advanced level book(which is rare) and it really goes all the way.

it’s sad the author hasent had a follow up...these are the people who should be writing more books.

any way thanks for the book kim...i recommend it to most other maxers till date inspite of there being books on max 5.

thanks

b

More bad than good

I picked up this book to get up to speed in modeling in Max 4. I’ve done production work with Max 4 in animation, lighting and rendering, so I can’t speak to those chapters, but the modeling is frustrating at best. reference images they use for back plane images are not on the CD and entire steps are skipped over with either the assumption you already have the knowlege (in the FIRST chapter on box modeling?) or just blatent neglict. I have to mirror "reader from New Jersey"’s feelings...did New Riders edit this, or just shove it out to be the first on the shelf?

More bad than good

I picked up this book to get up to speed in modeling in Max 4. I’ve done production work with Max 4 in animation, lighting and rendering, so I can’t speak to those chapters, but the modeling is frustrating at best. reference images they use for back plane images are not on the CD and entire steps are skipped over with either the assumption you already have the knowlege (in the FIRST chapter on box modeling?) or just blatent neglict. I have to mirror "reader from New Jersey"’s feelings...did New Riders edit this, or just shove it out to be the first on the shelf?

Horrid.

In a word this book is ... This book is nothing more than a waste of both your time and trees, if you are thinking of buying this book don’t. What this book is chock full of is errors and don’t plan on following the tutorials because you will soon find that you can’t as complete steps are missing, not explained or just plain wrong. I really regret having wasted my money on this poor title -- didn’t anyone at New Riders bother to edit it?
My copy is now being used as a door stop in my office, don’t make the same mistake. Avoid buying this book at all costs.

Horrid.

In a word this book is ... This book is nothing more than a waste of both your time and trees, if you are thinking of buying this book don’t. What this book is chock full of is errors and don’t plan on following the tutorials because you will soon find that you can’t as complete steps are missing, not explained or just plain wrong. I really regret having wasted my money on this poor title -- didn’t anyone at New Riders bother to edit it?
My copy is now being used as a door stop in my office, don’t make the same mistake. Avoid buying this book at all costs.

Not as bad as everyone says

I looked at all of the reviews and they all made it seem like this book is the worst thing ever. I’ll admit, if you’ve never used this program before, you’re going to be scratching your head. But if you’re at that "I’m three-quarters of the way there and just need that extra boost" stage, I could not imagine a better book. And I’ve read quite a few. I read the Max 4 Bible and found that it tried to cover so much that it didn’t REALLY cover anything. This book goes pretty in depth into the advanced essentials. It’ll tell you the pros and cons of patch modelling, poly modelling, and mesh modelling, but it’s going to assume that you know how to activate point-edit mode or hold down the shift key to extrude. Don’t bash the book if you didn’t know these these before you bought it, just do better pre-purchase research next time. Anyway, as I said before, incredible book and well worth the money.

Not as bad as everyone says

I looked at all of the reviews and they all made it seem like this book is the worst thing ever. I’ll admit, if you’ve never used this program before, you’re going to be scratching your head. But if you’re at that "I’m three-quarters of the way there and just need that extra boost" stage, I could not imagine a better book. And I’ve read quite a few. I read the Max 4 Bible and found that it tried to cover so much that it didn’t REALLY cover anything. This book goes pretty in depth into the advanced essentials. It’ll tell you the pros and cons of patch modelling, poly modelling, and mesh modelling, but it’s going to assume that you know how to activate point-edit mode or hold down the shift key to extrude. Don’t bash the book if you didn’t know these these before you bought it, just do better pre-purchase research next time. Anyway, as I said before, incredible book and well worth the money.

Dont waste your money!!

Thank you for all the people who wrote what I will write right right now. Please DON’T WASTE YOUR MONEY!!, this is the worst book of 3D max I ’ve ever read. First , is not for beginners neither for intermediate and if it’s for advance people, why they should buy it?. The explanations are very bad, they think that you as a 3D modeler should know and be in their heads to know what they are really saying and doing. The jump from one place to another is confusing, they just tell you to look at the picture and do it..nothing else!! what a waste of time trying to smash your head doing what is on the picture with just a comment. If you really want and advice, use the tutorials that come with your copy of MAX. It’s a pitty that my mother bought it as a gift and ordered from the USA just to bring it to switzerland for me and receive such a dissapointing book.