#Tips 'n Tricks
22 messages in this thread
A brief survey —
I am considering writing a series of Tips 'n Tricks booklets for 3D Studio,
and I would like to get a fair idea of how much interest there is.
I would write the booklets in conjunction with Glenn Melenhourst in
Melbourne. He's the one who did the Soy Life commercial with 3DS. Glenn
has a lot of experience with graphic design and animation, and is one of
the best 3DS users I have ever seen. He regularly produces photorealistic
animation with 3DS.
Each book would focus on a particular aspect of 3DS, such as lighting,
morphing, textures/mapping, photorealism etc. and would include 3-5
exercises to illustrate several tips and shortcuts. The price would be
somewhere around US$20 for each book.
For those who want to see before they buy, we will upload a GIF or TGA onto
CServe showing the scenes you will create with the exercises. If you see
something you like and want to know how to do it, you could then purchase
the appropriate book.
Interested? Please respond here with any comments or questions, or
privately on E-mail if you are shy. Also let me know if you have any
"special requests". The outline is still open.
I think this is a great idea. I'm all for it and I already can't wait.
Think about having data available on floppies along with the book. Topics?
I can think of enough to fill the Library of the Congress. Well, maybe my
local library. All right. What the heck!
Good luck. This promisses to be a very long thread…
Michele
Count me in! Also, most every dealer should provide your book of
tips with each copy of 3DS sold to cut down on the support calls (do you
think there are any dealers lurking?<g>)
I've been following your travel's on line here with envy, I spent
six years working my way around Europe, North Africa, and east to India in
the early seventies and I wouldn't trade the experience for any formal
education. Doing it "on the cheap" has real advantages as well, IMHO.
I've started a Boston 3DS User Group, so keep us posted on the
progress of your tips book so I can let the masses know. Stop by if you
ever swing the home turf on your way around the globe. Good Luck!
TedB
Sounds terrific!
Have you thought about including tips and tricks using IPAS modules as well
as native 3D Studio?
Danny…
Yes, I think a book on IPAS modules would be a good idea. That might take
a little more time to put together though, as the IPAS modules are so new.
MB
I've been building a few IPAS routines and would certainly be willing
to help edit or contribute to Tips.
– John Sosoka
Sounds great, Michele .. Go for it!
-Alan
Michele:
Count us in!
And I likes Gus' idea – either include a disk or download from CompuServe!
Greg Pyros
I agree, the disk idea is good. The pictures will be much better that way,
rather than trying to print them. This might increase the cost a tad, but
I think it will be worth it.
MB
Michele,
I'll see what I can find and Email the result, asap.
TedB
Michele,
Great Idea! In addition to dealers, I would think that the Tips and Tricks
book would be valuable to students taking 3DS courses and to members of
users groups, as well.
Good luck… keep us posted on your progress.
CT.
If you could get Glenn to put together _his_ 3DS tricks, the book would be
worth a FORTUNE!
(I've seen some of his recent stuff, and he constantly blows us away…)
– G
That's the idea. Glenn supplies the tricks, I just write 'em down. <g>
MB
Besides character animation, Glenn is a MASTER at lighting. I'd really
love to get more information about how he does that stuff.
– G
Oh, Gary, you will be the first to get a tips book, don't worry. <g>
Yes, Glenn is pretty magnificent. At the seminar we had here recently I
brought my tape and was all ready to impress, then I was humbled by the
appearance of Glenn and his "honest-to-god-it's-not-a-photograph"
animation. When he showed that animation of the monitor jumping around on
the hardwood floor amongst the plants the audience actually gasped — they
thought they were looking at live footage until the monitor started to
move!
He is a real expert with shadow, reflection and light. Which is why I am
going to visit him and spend a couple of weeks as his "apprentice" (neh,
neh) and learn all I can, then write it all down.
Glenn thinks this is a great idea. (He gets to achieve fame and glory
without doing anything different from what he is already doing!)
Fortunately he is a nice person and doesn't mind sharing what he knows.
I will relate your comments to him. I am trying to get him to get onto
Compuserve but you know how it is.
Michele
Sheesh, if you're lucky enough to spend a couple of WEEKS with Glenn, while
he shows you his techniques, you're VERY LUCKY and I'm VERY JEALOUS.
Next time you talk to him, tell him "hi" from me.
– G
Yes,
I would be very interested in the Tips booklets. Let me know when
I can buy them!
– John Sosoka
Michele, I think this is a great idea and I'm certain that most people
would be willing to spend $20 US to save $$$$ in time not spent
"reinventing the wheel"
Seems like a great idea. Although there's nothing like experimentation to
really figure out a technique or trick, it would be _very_ helpful to see
how certain specific effects can be created.
Chris Barnes
sounds great! I have your book, Autocad 3d design and presentation.
It has helped me out greatly in many areas. Also sent for the disk with
example files.
Some more focused 3dS publications would be welcome.
Best, Loren
Michele —
I'd be very interested in your series, too, and I don't even HAVE a PC!
I work on a Mac, but learn a lot about general 3D work in this Forum.
Issues like lighting, motion, surfaces and such aren't platform specific!
The folks using Amiga machines also deal with these problems — magazines
like Video Toaster User are very useful, too.
Here's the bottom line: by all means, make the information 3D
Studio-specific, but there's also a much larger audience that would find
this material useful. If there was also a section explaining 3D Studio to
other 3D people, you might have the best of all (virtual) worlds!
You are not the first to make this comment — there is no book on the
market, to my knowledge, that deals with 3D concepts in general FOR THE
MENU-DRIVEN SOFTWARE USER. There are plenty on programming concepts for 3D
Graphics, but not long ago I searched high and low for a book that talked
about general lighting concepts, colours, textures etc. to give tips on
achieving results with 3D software.
It would be a monster of a book to research and write. I'm all for the
writing if I could get an expert to work with. Maybe after my experiences
with Glenn I will be in a better position to address this.
Michele