#Inside 3D Studio book
56 messages in this thread
Last Wednesday, I ordered "Inside 3D Studio" book with CD-ROM disk from New
Riders Publishing. I got the package yesterday from Prentice-Hall Computer
Publishing. I opened the package and found the thick book inside. I read the
book last night and went through some of the tutorials today. On the CD-ROM
disk, there are Paint Shop Pro 2.01 for Windows, Graphic Workshop 7.0 for DOS,
Autodesk Animator Pro Player, and Vistapro 1.0 programs. I installed the
Graphic Workshop and tried printing a graphic file on my HP Deskjet 500C
printer in color and it worked. I wish the book has more tutorials. The authors
tell you how to create realistic renderings and animations. Jeffrey.
Hi Jeffrey, long time no see. 🙂
>> I wish the book has more tutorials. << Its a great book as a reference and
has some advanced techniques for tutorials. Did you ever get the other book
that was recommended "3D Studio Applied"? Its got quite a few tutorials as
well.
-JE
Dear John, I have the "3D Studio Applied" book. I can't believe how thick the
"Inside 3D Studio" book is – I think it has about 1100 pages. I don't think I
could read the whole book and go through the tutorials to learn how to use 3D
Studio to create materials, renderings, and animations in a few days. I wish I
have the money to go to Autodesk Training Center to learn how to use 3D Studio
and AutoCAD. Jeffrey.
Jeffrey,
From the description of the type of projects you were working on several months
ago I would say you know quite a bit. "Inside 3D Studio" is a good book, one of
the best I've seen on any specific subject, but the plain fact of it is, there
is so substitute for experience. And animation is a complex art. Fortuneately
you have 3D Studio which makes it a lot easier than it might be otherwise. But
consider all the things one must learn to animate. Lighting, keyframing,
modeling, color, perspective, not to mention haveing a creative sense of
balance in motion. You are the Producer, Director, Camera man, Light man, Set
Designer, and in a sense the Actor. That's a lot of hats to wear, not to
mention a certain adeptness at understanding the interface you're working with
and the technical side of animating on a computer.
Many of us have been doing this for several years, but are still learning new
things, new techniques, style etc. It is such a diverse field that people
specialize in areas just like doctors and lawyers. This may be stating the
obvious but my point is that I get the impression that you already know quite a
bit and that while Autodesk University would advance your knowledge going
through "Inside 3D Studio" thouroghly it about the best short cut there is.
After that, you have to find ways to apply what you know, and once you can do
that, you'll know 3DS in a general sense.
However there are so many ways to use all the tools and features that nobody
can really know 3DS, not even the people who write it and work with it, live it
and breath it. Which is one of the nice things about the forum, in that we can
share experiences or techniques for achieving certain effects. It is a living
growing experience, which is what excites many of us. So pat yourself on the
back for what you've been able to achieve and realise that you've taken on a
very challenging interest. And plug through the books the best you can. The
more you do the more you'll get out of them and the less frustration you will
encounter in the long run. And let your imagination guide you. It can take
awhile but it does come together eventually.
-JE
Dear John, If Mommy doesn't make me go to work and rebuild carburetors, I would
stay home and learn how to use 3D Studio and AutoCAD. I don't have enough time
to learn how to use 3D Studio and AutoCAD. Jeffrey.
Jeffrey,
I understand, you just have to keep working at it.
-JE
Dear John, I read the first four chapters of "Inside 3D Studio" book where the
authors point out the difference between AutoCAD and 3D Studio programs. 3D
Studio doesn't have all the commands that AutoCAD has for making drawings of
objects in 2D and 3D but 3D Studio can create some 3D objects using 3D Lofter
that AutoCAD can't using its 3D commands such as boat hulls. I got to read a
few more chapters of the book. Jeffrey.
Jeffrey,
Some people find that AutoCAD with its precision is better suited to model
creation than 3DS. Other people such as myself find the tools in 3DS more than
sufficient for the task at hand. Remember that AutoCAD DXF models have a
tendency to be of a high face count, which is important for plotting and
precision but frequently less so for solid modeling, where the shaders are
efficient at creating smooth surfaces with a minimum of faces. Being proficient
in both AutoCAD and 3DS is quite a feat that few have mastered. But I think you
will find that AutoCAD will have some tools and features that will compliment
3DS very nicely, especially where precision in terms of scale and size is
concerned. I would like a few of the features of AutoCAD implemented in the
Shaper, such as being able to trim, extend and fillet for instance but there
are ways to get the desired result in the Shaper without using these functions.
I find that modeling in 3DS is more efficient in most cases. With highly
detailed or complex models being proficient with AutoCAD will certainly help.
-JE
Dear John, I read chapters 5 through 10 of the book today. Because 3D Studio
doesn't have all of the commands that AutoCAD have for making and editing
drawings, I prefer to make and edit drawings in AutoCAD and import them into 3D
Studio for rendering and animation. 3D Lofter can create interesting 3D objects
such as boat hulls and airplane wings that AutoCAD can't. I wish that I don't
have to go to work and rebuild carburetors because I want to stay home and
learn how to use AutoCAD and 3D Studio. Jeffrey.
>> I wish that I don't have to go to work and rebuild carburetors because I >>
want to stay home and learn how to use AutoCAD and 3D Studio.
Don't we all!
Greg Pyros
Dear Greg, I can't believe it that you wrote the "Inside 3D Studio" book. I
found a few misspellings and wrong words such as "odor" instead of "color".
Some files are missing from the CD-ROM disk such as "STILLIFE.3DS" and
"DXF3DS.EXE". I read chapters 1 through 11 of the book so far but I didn't do
the tutorials yet. I saw the picture of your face on the inside of the cover.
Jeffrey.
Jeffrey,
Wow, you read fast! I didn't even proofread it that fast <g>. I remember your
reasons for using AutoCAD for certain situations – Chapter 11 should help out
considerably for making sense of the translatations. Sorry, no exercises
there – just raw explanation.
I also have to appologize that NRP didn't manage to get DXF3DS.EXE put on the
CD-ROM – you'll need to download it from here if you need it.
Hang in there, it's not quickly learned and it's not a spectator sport – but
the results can be fantastic. It's not uncommon to use 3DS (or AutoCAD for
that matter) daily for at least a year before feeling completely competent.
Hey, I learned a new technique just last Thursday and I know there's ALWAYS
more to learn and explore – that's why this is fun!
– Phil
Dear Phillip, I can't believe it that you wrote the "Inside 3D Studio" book. I
found a few misspellings and wrong words such as "odor" instead of "color".
Some files are missing from the CD-ROM disk such as "STILLIFE.3DS" and
"DXF3DS.EXE". I read chapters 1 through 11 of the book so far but I didn't do
the tutorials yet. I saw the picture of your face on the inside of the cover.
Jeffrey.
PMJI, but AutoCAD can easily create boat hulls or airplane wings. Although I
would use 3DS, AutoCAD could do it no prob.
Dave Mennenoh
Dear Dave, How can you use AutoCAD to create boat hulls and airplane wings?
What is PMJI? Jeffrey.
Jeff:
Haven't heard from you in a while, nice to see you're back on the forum.
"Inside 3D Studio" is quite a book. Did you ever get your subway animation
finished?
Bob
Dear Bob, I can't believe how thick the "Inside 3D Studio" book is – I think it
has about 1100 pages. I don't think I could read the whole book and go through
the tutorials to learn how to use 3D Studio to create materials, renderings,
and animations in a few days. I wish I have the money to go to Autodesk
Training Center to learn how to use 3D Studio and AutoCAD. About the subway
animation, I didn't finish it because I couldn't create a realistic subway
train and station. Jeffrey.
Jeffrey,
Thanks for your comments on the book.
It was difficult for us to strike a balance between tutorials and providing
clean compact information. Think how heavy that book would be with more
tutorials <G>. Much of the information in the book is delivered through
descriptive examples; you might try using these informal "tutorials" as a
guide for your own experiments.
I also agree with the suggestion that you check out Nancy Fulton's book "3D
Studio Applied". Her book contains many well written tutorials.
Steven
Dear Steven, I have the "3D Studio Applied" book. If Mommy doesn't make me go
to work and rebuild carburetors, I would stay home and learn how to use 3D
Studio and AutoCAD. I don't have enough time to learn how to use 3D Studio and
AutoCAD. Jeffrey.
PMJI
Here's a suggestion. Combine your knowledge of carburetors w/ the learning of
3DS; model and animate a carb. Show how it works. It could possibly take a year
to complete the project, but at the end of it, you would definitely have a good
grasp of 3DS, and, who knows, maybe Holly Carbs will hire you to do marketing
animations <g>.
Dear Wade, You gave me a good idea but I need to look at a real carburetor
before I can model and animate it. I am not sure if my bosses will let me take
a carburetor home. Jeffrey.
Never hurts to ask. Good luck.
Dear Wade, What if I ask my bosses to let me take a carburetor home and they
say no? Jeffrey.
No great loss. You could probably get a pretty good idea from a library book. I
had a VW bus repair manual that showed exploded views of carbs. Something like
that would probably work just as well.
Dear Wade, Volkswagon doesn't make buses. They make vans in passenger and
commerical versions. I tried to find auto repair manuals that have photos of
parts, not crude drawings. Jeffrey.
"Bus" is sort of slang for VW's camper vans.
PMJI
That what I'm doing I teach airplane mechanic and I start to make animation of
it. It's a huge work ! Since Xmas I got 3 1/2 minutes of FLI done ! I learn
3DS in the same time. It keep a guy busy ! So much to learn, Inside 3DStudio
will certainly help to get a professionnal touch !
A lot to learn indeed. Has the animation you created helped in your teaching
efforts?
I will know the impact of my work in a couple year ! My plan is to build a 20
minutes animation that will serve as a base for a kind of game. An airplane is
struck by a ligthning stroke, they decide to go back to the base. At the base,
robots will make a repair of the damage.
The students will have to find in aircraft manual the information to give to
the robots. If they got the good answer the fli continues, if they're wrong
there will be a question's sequence to bring them back on the road or in the
air !
I think I have for a couple year to put all this together. I dont even know
for now what will be the best software support for that kind of program ? With
that I hope they will be more interested to search in huge technical book
(about ten times Inside 3DStudio !).
And I do it for fun too !
I like your idea. Should be a winner.
As for suppport, this forum is the best you'll find for 3DS.
Steve
From your message I infer that you had something to do with the book "Inside 3D
Studio". I have "3D Studio Applied", and would like information on how I can
get your book as well. Thanks….
Grady
Grady:
>> I would like information on how I can get your book [Inside 3d Studio] as
>> well.
We carry "Inside 3D Studio", have a bunch in stock, and can ship it to you with
a credit card order. Call Ray at (714) 833-0334.
Enjoy it!
Greg Pyros
i received a copy of inside 3d studio yesterday and once i started reading i
couldnt put it down. every 3d studio owner should read this book!
thanks to the team of writers! (Greg, u can send the $5.00 to…)
William:
>> (Greg, u can send the $5.00 to…)
Can I just e-mail it?
Greg Pyros
I received my copy of Inside 3DS a couple days ago; wanted to thank you for
prompt service. What a book. I've been carrying it around since I got it and
already my biceps are hoooj.<g>
Wade:
Yes, that was always one of the fundamental reasons we wrote the book.
Animators are known for just sitting in front of their computers all day long
with no exercise whatsoever. Just carrying the book around does amazing things
to the physique!
Our next project is to replace the phosphors in monitors with a substance which
emits a bit of ultraviolet radiation to give you a suntan while you are
working!
Greg Pyros
"No more girlie animators around hea." a la Arnold (It's tough to do impression
here).
PMJI
I don't believe the suntan stuff ! Better to continue 3DStudio writing you can
that way make money to buy a suntan ligth !
Pierre:
But I'd rather be a poor animator, fits in better with the mystique!
Greg,
I must commend you on a well written book. A bit overpriced… but
isn't that always a problem.
I was looking at the pictures of you, Phillip and Steven… it i think the
three faces would make in interesting morph… You seem to be a mixture of Phil
and Steve… beard and glasses. 🙂 Be Well.
Too bad I don't own a CD-ROM.
Tom
Tom:
Glad you like the book.
As for that morph, it could look pretty scary!
Greg Pyros
I just got a copy of your book — very nice work. My only complaint is the
size. I think you would have been better off printing it as six smaller
volumes (G G G G).
Seriously, good stuff.
Michele
Wade,
> What a book. I've been carrying it around since I got it and
> already my biceps are hoooj.<g>
Just a safety note. The second printing of Inside 3D Studio will have the
following message on the front cover:
WARNING: Do not attempt to raise this book above your neck or head without
the assistance of a spotter to catch the book if you sould drop it. Also
maintain a straight back and consider using a wieght belt when lifting the
book from the floor.
Just trying to protect our loyal readers from gruesome injury <G>.
Steven
Hmmm.. I wonder what this bulge is on my abdomen.?.?
Really Wade!
> Hmmm .. I wonder what this bulge is on my abdomen?.?.
A lot of people have told me that Inside 3D Studio is exciting, but that kind
of reaction … OH! WAIT! You mean a hernia, right? <G>
Steven
Think I'll just leave that one alone.<g>
>> Just trying to protect our loyal readers from gruesome injury <G>.
You better watch out for the class action suit from the 15,000 owners of the
first printing! <g>
Hi Greg,
can you send me the price and shipping details/availability of Inside 3DS ?
To Australia?
Will do, Garry!
Greg Pyros
Greg,
I new to CompuServ and am not sure where to pose this question.
I am looking for a way to "animate" clip art that I have developed for use
as a screen saver. Any ideas?
Thanks in advance for your help.
Norm
Garry,
If it's any help I managed to order a copy of Inside 3DS from Dymocks bookshop
in North Sydney last week (they said it was due around the 10th)
Andrew
Grady,
I see that Greg already informed you that you can order the book from him.
Since Inside 3D Studio is now on back order again, ordering from Greg might
be the quickest way to get the book.
I have also seen the book at such chain stores as Barnes & Noble, Media Play,
and Super Crown.
Also, you can order direct from New Riders by calling 800-541-6789.
Steven
Steven:
Yes, a shipment just arrived of another 30 Inside 3D Studio books today. In
stock!!!
Greg Pyros
Greg,
I just received my stock on the "Inside 3D Studio" books. Nice work.
I noticed on page 57 that you picked the fan.3ds file from the CD-ROM as one of
your figures. I was the person that submitted the model for the CD-ROM….I'm
flattered that you refer to it as a "detailed model". Thanks.
I intend to use the books as curriculum for the 3D Studio training courses that
I deliver in this area.
Talk to you later…
-Jeff
Jeff:
Hope it works for you!
Greg Pyros
Is 3D Studio Applied brand new? Can you tell me who publishes it and what the
ISBN is and what you think of it? Thanks..
TOm