#3D Studio Books
19 messages in this thread
I am interested in locating text books or other books that have beed writted on
the 3D Studio application. Are there books or periodicals that are available?
I appreciate your assistance.
Andrew,
Advanstar Communications (publisher of CADalyst magazine) is publishing a book
on 3D Studio called "3D Studio Applied." Its author is our contributing editor,
Nancy Fulton. The book will be available very soon (we think just shortly after
the R3 begins shipping.) This book will have tips, tricks, and tutorials for
all levels of 3D Studio users and comes with a CD ROM of images, tutorial
files, resourc information, etc.
You can place advance orders by calling Advanstar Communications marketing
department in Cleveland, OH at 216-826-2802. The price is $39.95. We'll also be
taking orders at our booth at Autodesk University.
Also, CADalyst magazine itself has a regular column called "3D Corner" wherein
we describe methods and tools to improve working with 3D Studio.
Sandy Lurins, Editor CADalyst Magazine
Hello,
How can I subsribe on CADalyst ? I'm living in Belgium, Europe. Phone:
32-9-3699105 FAX: 32-9-366-0473 [D [D
How can I get the book with CD-ROM when its released??
Christophe Van Oyen, Belgium
Will the book cover 3R specifically?
Ian.
There is another book I've located that is coming out November 19th Called
"Inside 3D Studio" by J. Jester ISBN#1562050753 it is by Prentice Hall
Computer Publishing 1-800-428-5331.
I know nothing about it, but I'm waiting to see if it is any good…
mark
Um… thanks for the plug. Here is some more accurate information. The
"Inside 3D Studio" book is being published by New Riders Publishing.
NRP is a part of PHCP, though. Also, the author has changed. It is
now being written by Steven Elliott and Phillip Miller (and others).
You have the correct ISBN# and order telephone number. The publishing
date has moved. I'm not sure what it is at this point. It is aimed at
intermediate to advanced users, has a 32 page color section (over
1000pgs total), and includes a CD-ROM. Stay tuned for more
information…
You bet it will cover Release 3. All the new features are covered.
Its approach is hands on tutorial paired with information on Tips and
Traps.
The object is to get you as productive as soon as possible by letting
you create a bunch of animations. And to help you help you avoid the
most costly/ time consuming mistakes.
Tutorials range from
Interior Design Mechanical Design Accident Reconstruction/Forensics
Special Effects Corporate Logos Contructing Architectural Models from
Elevations Lighting & Materials workshops Video Post and Output to
Video Visual Link DXF into Shaper/Lofter/3D Editor Network Rendering
etc.
The CD will have contacts for consulting purposed across the US (and
in a few other countries like Austrailia and the UK – more if people
send me their Resume's between now and monday (OPEN CALLS!)), and
contact information for people who write curriculum for a living.
Animations and models from Viewpoint and other developers are also
included.
I'll try to post a chapter overview in the next few days.
I designed the book for people who need an introduction on how to use
3D Studio to complete projects – so each project is a start to finish
animation, except the lighting and materials laboratories where you
experiment with lighting and create materials hands-on so you can
really get a handle on what, exactly, does what.
The book is also tailored to serve as a reference manual – steps for
applying materials or completing any operation can be applied to ANY
project.
The tutorials are good for classes (in fact many of the tutorials are
based on exercises I do in my classes) and for self training.
The CD is designed to give people resources, contacts and ideas that
they might otherwise not take advantage of. And to show that that 3D
Studio can be used for interactive educational media, forensics,
architecture . . .
sounds like an interesting book. Do you actually use 3ds for projects
outside of the classroom – as in real-world projects?
Yeah – I do occasionally do real world projects. Mostly I consult
with people who do real world projects. They use me when things get
hairy. When I do projects it is in combination with companies who
rire me for consulting.
I also do training . . ..
Nancy,
thanks for the info. I think it's important that the author supply a little
background info on themselves, so the buyers have an idea of their experience,
qualifications, and therefore legitimacy to be an authority on such a complex
program as 3ds.
Dear Martin:
I couldn't agree more. Of course, books (regardless of the author)
stand on their own merits. I've known fabulous people who wrote
great books and not so great books.
A manuscript, what with all those hands working on it in editing and
production, takes on a life of its own.
Maybe you're not one to ask, Nancy, but I find it interesting (and
nice) that all of a sudden there are about three or four books coming
out on 3DStudio. Why this sudden (what amounts to) glut of books on
a too long neglected program?
I remember Waite (of the famous Waite series) writing on this forum
trying to decide if it was worth putting out a book on 3DStudio and
coming to a general consensus that it wasn't, given the amount of
target bodies. I guess you and the other authors made a decision to
jump into the void, and I truly thank you. I, for one, intend to buy
all these books — I think you can never have enough information.
Glut! Glut! Well, I'm a member of a glut and I haven't been
published yet. And there are not that many books. Michelle's,
Steven Elliots, mine – not so many and these three books target VERY
different audiences (I think).
As for jumping into the void – the problem is that there are, despite
all rumours to the countrary, under 25000 official users of 3d
studio. (Right Gary?).
Now, how many copies of MS Word? Word for Windows? AutoCAD? Novell?
So publishers say – OK, where shall I invest my hard earned dollars.
Unless they have an IN on this particular market (as Advanstar and
Pyros do) they might be inclined to think that the target market is
too small to sell many copies.
The reason there are books out now for 3DS is cause Michelle, Steve
(and his co-writer) and I are die hard fans willing to really push
for books to get printed for this product. WE want to write the
books because se` we have something to say – and we have managed to
find publishers who stand behind our vision enough to back us.
(Publishers and Distributors – sorry Mr. Pyros).
What you have here is a simple case of Zealotry gone wild.
I can go on for hours about why 3DS is a land mark product – but that
is another message for another time. Cool.
>And there are not that many books. Michelle's, Steven Elliots, mine – not so
many >and these three books target VERY different audiences (I think).
Earlier in this thread someone mentioned a book by J. Jester on
3DStudio. And what about Todd Payne? He put a message about his
book as well as a text file (AMR.TXT). But, I'm not complaining. As
I said, I will buy them all (I already got Michelle's) as soon as
they're available. And, since there weren't ANY books before, I
consider five books (counting Michelle's series as one "entry") a
veritible "feast" (perhaps glut was mischosen — I doubt whether
I'll get "full" reading them all).
And, yes, I do understand the economics of publishing — that was why
I was so curious as to the sudden interest in print. But it's
wonderful, and if your book is even half as helpful as Michelle's
series I'll get my money's worth.
But as to the audience — am I wrong in assuming I won't want them
all? I mean, I'm not an architect, but I want to learn and hear as
much about 3DStudio as possible. Just reading the BBS messages is
great — so how do you think the various books are targeted?
Dear Mike:
I didn't read about the other two books and haven't seen anything on
them so I wasn't sure they were in production. I'm never sure about
rumours I hear about what someone has seen on compuserve. If you've
seen descriptions of the books, by all means post them again.
I saw the New Riders, Michelle's and I knew about mine from . . . well
various sources.
Like you I think I own half the AutoCAD books published. I'm sort of
a believer in spending $40 every week or so on a technical book –
can't really call yourself a technical person unless your shelves
bend under the weight of a thousand books on esoteric technical
topics.
As for targetting – I can't speak to that. You might well be
interested in anything with 3D Studio in the name, like I am. Other
peole may be looking for a replacement for the reference manuals –
still others for something else. I know that different authors target
different readers, and different market disciplines.
And then, of course, everyone has to find a way to talk to their
market. Advertising, reviews, etc. This too is part of targeting…
Actually, I think having other books on the shelves that say 3D Studio
on the cover may well help me sell copies of my book. Its hard to
explain, but I have discovered that competition is a good marketing
tool.
For example, it is hard to sell photo-copiers if people have never
heard of such a thing. But if Xerox, Canon and company all start
selling them, all those marketing dollars hit the target audience
Then the discussion changes from "What is it" to which is better and
which meets the customer's needs better.
>Actually, I think having other books on the shelves that say 3D Studio on the
>cover may well help me sell copies of my book. Its hard to explain, but I
have >discovered that competition is a good marketing tool.
That's very enlightened of you to think so, and I think quite accurate
as well. Just as movie makers know that a big hit movie helps them
all (which is why they ALL root for the "Jurrasic Park"s), I think a
good book on 3D Studio just makes people anxious for more. As I
said, I do intend to buy as many as people create.
>If you've seen descriptions of the books, by all means post them
again.
>>There is another book I've located that is coming out November 19th Called
>>"Inside 3D Studio" by J. Jester ISBN#1562050753 it is by Prentice Hall
>>Computer Publishing 1-800-428-5331.
This is from earlier in this thread. Here's the other post from elsewhere in
the forum:
>>After almost 2 years of promises from major publishers a book is finally been
>>announced addressing advanced topics on 3D Studio. Because support could
>>not be found among major publishers I personally funded and co-wrote Advanced
>>Modeling and Rendering Techniques for 3D Studio(AMR). The book will be
>>released Oct. 1, and advance orders will be taken immediately.
This was from Todd Payne. As you said, there are rumors, and there are
always projects that don't work out as people plan, but if at least two or
three
of these books are available I'll be thrilled.
And… I'm sure your efforts will be appreciated by even those who
have a lot of skill with 3DS. Even in the arena that I am
knowledgable in (NOT 3DS), I appreciate books which "sum up" the
things I know — it reminds me so I don't forget, and let's me know
that I was on the right track of a good way to do something.
>> As for jumping into the void – the problem is that there are, despite all >>
rumours to the countrary, under 25000 official users of 3d studio. (Right >>
Gary?).
Nancy,
But of course _everyone_ will buy a book. I'm sure many people who
don't own 3DS will also buy the book just to see what it's about. The
CD will help in this area also. I know I can't wait to get my copy.
Will it be in book stores at all?
Dave Mennenoh
Dear David:
What a nice thing to say. Yes it will be in book stores – and in
Cadalyst regularly. I'm their 3D Studio Contributing Editor and this
is an Advanstar book, or you can order it in advance.
And those users outside the U.S. can contact Advanstar on (216)
826-2802 to find out how to get their copy.
The thing is, and it occurs to me whenever I post on this forum – You
Guys are the toughest audience. About 3/4's of YOU could have
written the silly book (and all the other ones being mentioned on the
forum). You'll all probably buy copies of all of them (just to get
the models on the CD, and the IPAS routines or whatever).
You probably have your upgrades on order (or plan to put them in any
minute).
Its the other 5 billion people in the world I'm worried about.
n.