3ds Max 2008 Architectural Visualization - Beginner to Intermediate

[Jeff Mottle]

3ds Max 2008 Architectural Visualization - Beginner to Intermediate
Now Shipping

3DATS is pleased to announce the shipping of the only 3ds Max 2008 book dedicated to architectural visualization: 3ds Max 2008 Architectural Visualization - Beginner to Intermediate. This 480 page, full-color, hard-cover bound book takes you through the challenge of learning one of the most complex computer programs ever created, by way of easy-to-follow tutorials and time tested production techniques. It specifically focuses on those parts of the program you need to know to be productive in the industry today.
The intent is not to show you every possible way to accomplish a task, but rather some of the fastest and most efficient ways. 3ds Max is a large and complex application - but by learning just the features that apply to visualization, and specifically the ones that really work best, you'll be learning everything you need to know to get ahead in the industry in the shortest possible time.

Included at the end of the book is a large gallery of 3D visualizations by some of the top artists in the field, along with their best advice for beginners trying to advance in the industry. Special discounts from leading industry vendors and valuable downloadable content is also available to readers. Support files are available in release 9 and 2008.
For additional information regarding the two new 3ds Max books, visit the 3DATS products page at www.3dats.com/products.asp

[hansn]

Hi-

I was looking at the "3ds Max 2008 Architectural Visualization Intermediate to Advanced"-book and have to state something:

-The sample-chapter one is allowed to read online is "Understanding Architectural Drawings", therefore does not reveal any information of what quality the technical and theoretical information in the book is - or does it

-Looking at the table of contents I see that out of 20 chapters ONE is about mental ray and the rendering progress.

I really don't want to mock anything here, especially because I adore the mostly breathtaking images you can find in the gallery of cgarchitect.com and therefore am always hunting for information how to improve my own work.

But I am not sure if a book that takes up more chapters to explain how to model a house (which is rather the 101 of modeling compared to vehicles or character-modeling) than to explain light, color, general approaches, etc. is really what aspiring viz-masters are looking for.

I personally would rather have the opportunity to sit down for a coffee with most of the people posting in the gallery and having them tell me what's really interesting: What's the missing magic between a so-so rendering and a great one. What are common mistakes? What are secret tricks?

A lot of people don't need another explanation of the modeling tools, the arch-and-design-shader or the mental-ray settings. They spent years to learn to understand and use the tools. They need help how to put their knowledge of a tool-set to better or great use.

Maybe I am wrong because I only could read the table of contents and one chapter of that book. If anybody can confirm that I am wrong, I would be more than happy to buy that book. Until that happens all masters here at cgarchitect have my open invitation for a coffee

Best,
Hans

[Brian Smith]

-
The sample-chapter one is allowed to read online is "Understanding Architectural Drawings", therefore does not reveal any information of what quality the technical and theoretical information in the book is - or does it

If you want an idea of the technical nature or the quality of the tutorials, please see the 'Free Tutorials' section of our website.

-Looking at the table of contents I see that out of 20 chapters ONE is about mental ray and the rendering progress.

I don't know what table of contents you're referring to, because the one posted on our site shows 4 dedicated mental ray chapters, which are about 100 pages total.

But I am not sure if a book that takes up more chapters to explain how to model a house (which is rather the 101 of modeling compared to vehicles or character-modeling) than to explain light, color, general approaches, etc. is really what aspiring viz-masters are looking for.

This book does not teach you how to use a loft or a boolean or the edit poly modifier. The beginner book does that. It simply teaches techniques with which those features are best used. Techniques for modeling a building are one of the most requested, if not the most requested types of information asked on this site and asked by the students that we teach. Modeling is a very time consuming stage of a visualization project and if you do not put a building or a site together efficiently, then there is a lot more time to be saved in this stage than in the material, lighting or rendering stage. Modeling a building is no less an intermediate skill than any other phase.

I personally would rather have the opportunity to sit down for a coffee with most of the people posting in the gallery and having them tell me what's really interesting: What's the missing magic between a so-so rendering and a great one. What are common mistakes? What are secret tricks?

If you look at the table of contents again, you will see Appendix A - Top 30 Production Tips, Appendix D - Common 3D Mistakes, and so on. The entire book is filled with personal experiences and reflection on our past projects.

A lot of people don't need another explanation of the modeling tools, the arch-and-design-shader or the mental-ray settings. They spent years to learn to understand and use the tools. They need help how to put their knowledge of a tool-set to better or great use.

This book is not just an explanation of the tools...it's 100% practical application. Every part of the design process is covered from start to finish. You may not need help modeling a building or learning mental ray shaders, but a lot of people do.

Maybe I am wrong because I only could read the table of contents and one chapter of that book. If anybody can confirm that I am wrong, I would be more than happy to buy that book. Until that happens all masters here at cgarchitect have my open invitation for a coffee

This book is the work of myself and 7 other authors. We spent an ungodly amount of time discussing what should and shouldn't go in it. It has been reworked and reworked more times than I can recall. No book will ever meet everyone's perfect appetite but we tried to find the best material for the intermediate user to take them to the advanced level.

Cheers

[hansn]

Thank you very much for your fast and detailed reply!

I appreciate the additional information you gave me - I am looking forward to pick a copy up in March.

Best,
Hans

[ace1721]

Hi there!
I am indeed amazed on your book, as i was read on the samples on a pdf file. I was wondering because i live in the Philippines and if ever i will place my order online how much is the shipping and handling?Does the price $59.95 includes shipping?

Thank you very much

[tonneti]

really a great book, a "must have" one, it goes directly to the important/useful things in architectural visualization and in the use of the program in general

congratulations Brian for the good job

p.d.: sorry my bad english...

[SandmanNinja]

I've got the Beginner book and am eagerly looking forward to the next book.

[AJLynn]

Is there a 2009 book on the way?

I wonder what the effect of jumping ahead 6 months in the release schedule is on the 3DSMax book industry. Will there be more profit because of people buying 2009 books sooner, or less because people who own a 2008 book won't buy a 2009 book...

[Jeff Mottle]

Is there a 2009 book on the way?

I wonder what the effect of jumping ahead 6 months in the release schedule is on the 3DSMax book industry. Will there be more profit because of people buying 2009 books sooner, or less because people who own a 2008 book won't buy a 2009 book...

I'm sure Brian will post here, but none of the book publishers in the industry were notified about the accelerated release of 2009. Even though at least some were part of the Developers Network. This has angered, inconvenienced and caused a loss of money for most book publishers who either now have released what seems to be "out of date" books, or required a huge delay and rewrite of the books they were about to release.

Given how few books are written for max and how much work and little money these publishers actually make at the best of times, it boggles the mind that Autodesk dropped the ball like this. I bet you'll see a lot of the current publishers stop writing for Autodesk products altogether.

I'll let Brian fill you in on his experience, but I can tell you it's been a nightmare for him.

[AJLynn]

Wow, what a disaster. Do you know why they changed the schedule? It seemed to me like they were already going maybe a bit too fast - the mental ray updates have been nice but I didn't really think the update from 9 to 2008, for example, was any more significant than 7.0 to 7.5 was.