Introducing 3ds Max 2008 (eBook)

Dariush Derakhshani is a Creative Director with Radium, acreative design and VFX boutique, and a writer & educator inLos Angeles, California. Dariush used Autodesk's AutoCADsoftware in his architectural days and migrated to using 3Dprograms when his firm's principal architects needed tovisualize architectural designs in 3D on the computer. Dariushstarted using Alias PowerAnimator version 6 when he enrolled in USCFilm School's Animation program, and he has been usingAlias/Autodesk animation software for the past 11 years. Hereceived an M.F.A. in Film, Video, and Computer Animation from theUSC Film School in 1997. He also holds a B.A. in Architecture andTheatre from Lehigh University in Pennsylvania. He worked at a NewJersey architectural firm before moving to Los Angeles for filmschool. He has worked on feature films, music videos, and countlesscommercials as a 3D animator, as a CG supervisor, and sometimes asa compositor. Dariush also serves as a contributing editor and onthe Advisory Board of HDRI3d, a professional computergraphics (CG) magazine from DMG Publishing.Randi Lorene Munn is a staff instructor with The ArtInstitute of California at Los Angeles. She began working withcomputer graphics in 1992, and she was hired by her instructor towork at Sony Pictures Imageworks, where she developed her skillswith 3ds Max and Shake, among many other programs. A teacher since1999, Randi enjoys sharing her wisdom with young talent andwatching them develop at The Art Institute, as well as at the UCLAExtension. Currently, she teaches a wide range of classes fromAutodesk 3ds Max to compositing with Apple Shake and Adobe AfterEffects. Juggling her teaching activities with caring for a littlebaby boy makes Randi a pretty busy lady.

Introduction.Chapter 1: Basic Concepts.Chapter 2: Your First 3ds Max Animation.Chapter 3: The 3ds Max Interface.Chapter 4: Modeling in 3ds Max: Part I.Chapter 5: Modeling in 3ds Max: Part II.Chapter 6: Character Poly Modeling.Chapter 7: Materials and Mapping.Chapter 8: Introduction to Animation.Chapter 9: Character Studio and IK Animation.Chapter 10: 3ds Max Lighting.Chapter 11: 3ds Max Rendering.Chapter 12: Particles and Dynamics.Appendix: About the Companion CD.Index.