3D Studio Max 2 Fundamentals

This excellent book covers the basics of 3D Studio Max 2, making it a handy guide for newcomers to the 3-D-modeling and animation program, and even for those who are new to 3-D graphics. The book first introduces the fundamentals of 3-D graphics and workspaces, explaining coordinates, axes, lines, polylines, polygons, lights, cameras, animation, and rendering. There's also a thorough tour of the package's interface that brings viewports, commands, and selections to light. In the next part of the book, you learn the fundamentals of modeling, including spline-based, mesh (polygonal), parametric, patch, and NURBS modeling, and get advice on choosing a method. Next you do some actual modeling, working with splines; 3-D primitives; compound objects; object parameters; align, array, and mirror functions; and Modifiers and the Modifier Stack.

In the third part of the book, you learn the fundamentals of scene composition. In part 4, you learn about animation, starting with a discussion on animation concepts. The guide then assists you in creating basic animations. The book is an outstanding combination of discussion and projects. It includes plenty of screen shots, a glossary of 3-D computer graphics terms, and a CD-ROM that contains files to work on along with the book's projects. --Kathleen Caster