CompuServe Messages

Hi Doug: I hope my book is perfect for you. You were exactly the market I was trying to hit when I wrote it so I'll be bummed if its not. I'm currently using it in a class I teach on 3DS for UCLA. So far its working out well. I do some tutorials and some labs in class, assign others for lab time. You can order the book directly from the publisher by calling (216) 891-3115 – ask for Crista Zull. They have special pricing for multiple copy purchases – and I think you should let her know that you want to examine a copy of the book for use in a class – they may make it really easy for you. As you may or may not know: 3DS Applied is a sequence of eleven tutorials which illustrate 3DS used in a variety of applications: Corporate Logos, Mechanical Models, Forensics and Archtectural Animation…These tutorials are staged (going from easier to more complex) are designed for classroom and self training specifically, have tips and tricks incorporated. There are three laboratory chapters: Light, Color and Shadow (how lights, colors and shadows work – i.e. what happens if you mix a red light with a green light — what happens if you shine a red light on a blue object — what exactly ARE ray traced shadows…) Materials Laboratory – creating materials (bump, reflection, opacity, texture maps, transparency, self illumination, etc). Video Post – how to combine animations, composite images, etc. [I tell people that if they aren't using Video Post they may be wasting many hours of rendering time and missing out on some of the best 'tricks' 3DS has to offer.] Thre are three appendices, the most important of which discusses DXF input in to 3DS. I hope you like the book. Call me if you have any troubles. Cool! N.