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Learning a 3D visualization software is a daunting task under any circumstances and while it may be easy to find online tutorials that tell you what to do to perform certain tasks you'll seldom learn'why'you are performing the steps. This book approaches training from a top-down perspective way you will first learn important concepts of 3D visualization and functionality of 3ds Max before moving into the finer detail of the command structure. By learning how things work and why you might choose one method over another the book will not only teach you where the buttons are, but more importantly how to think about the holistic process of 3D design so that you can then apply the lessons to your own needs. The goal of the learning presented here is to familiarize the new user of 3ds Max with a typical workflow from a production environment from planning to modeling, materials, and lighting, and then applying special effects and compositing techniques for a finished product.

Realize your vision with stunning renders of your 3ds Max projects that can only be achieved with a powerful engine like mental ray. Beginning with a concise review of the essential concepts, you proceed to step-by-step tutorials that teach you how to render scenes with indirect light or with specific effects, such as depth of field and motion blur. Contour line shading and various other mental ray features are presented in detail, then you learn how to use the different light types of 3ds Max inside mental ray and how to use mental ray's own specific area lights and its new daylight system. Finally, the book reviews mental ray-specific materials and what effects can be obtained by using most of the specific mental ray shaders.

Create stunning renders of your 3ds Max models in mental ray with this concise guide. Learn all of the essential concepts such as indirect illumination, materials, render options, shaders, and lighting. Rendering with mental ray and 3ds Max, Second Edition is now revised to cover Autodesk Revit and special effects. The companion website includes all of the necessary project files from inside the book.

What's new in 3ds Max 8? Should I upgrade? How can 3ds Max 8 help me become more productive? Author and master trainer Ted Boardman answers all those questions and many more in the latest edition of his expert guide, 3ds Max 8 Fundamentals. You'll not only learn the process of modeling and animating objects in 3ds Max 8, but also gain an appreciation for its underlying rationale. As you complete the exercises and tutorials in this book, you'll discover features new in max 8 that make it an even more powerful program than before. Whether you are new to Max 8 or an old pro looking to increase your productivity, you'll benefit from the detailed explanations of such topics as: • Sharing, controlling, and managing your work-in-progress assets using Asset Tracker, 3ds max 8's new source control solution • Selecting, viewing, manipulating, and working with curves more easily with the improved Track View • Developing photorealistic characters with 3ds's improved character development features, cloth and hair simulation tools, award-winning Reactor® physics system, and particle flow • Using the fast, unique Edit Poly approach to create everything from simple to complex models • How to best light your scenes and use materials for maximum compatibility with other applications such as Discreet Combustion in collaborative work environments