3ds Max 4 Magic [With CDROM]

If you are an intermediate level Max user, 3ds max 4 Magic, is a great resource. With concise and to the point directions, full color illustrations and tutorials that cover a wide range of Max's capabilities, this book can guide you to the next level. This book is not for a beginner. The authors assume that the reader is familiar with all of the tool sets available, at least to the extent of knowing where to look. Although the time that I have invested in this book's tutorials has been technically demanding the wow factor has made it well worthwhile.

This book concentrates on about 10 different features of 3ds Max and does a step-by-step explanation of them. The value in this approach was that it guides you through an unknown area of max very methodically. On the down side, the extra verbiage might be unappealing for someone that's more fluent with the program. As a student using the program for the first time, it allowed me to very quickly expand my capabilities. This should be a companion to another more comprehensive book. Includes final movies of the projects covered so you can compair your work.

Max4 Magic builds upon the its earlier edition for Max3. The 13 tutorials are well set out and easy to read, you can put it down and pick it back up where you left off with ease. Well constructed and clear presentation giving details only where necessary and not dealing too much with basics. I was highly delighted with the book and CD and feel it a worthy addition to anyones library. Recommended for 3ds Max fans

Definitely I give this book 5 stars, and mostly because it's not a tired treatise on the POTENTIALITY of what can be done with Max 4, but gives practical, workman-like exercises that provide an excellent jumping-off point. Given the burgeoning explosion in animation techonology, there is still only limited, specialized groups of professionals working to provide clear, concise instruction in these books and bring in new artists who will expand the medium with powerful ideas and fresh perspectives. The book is fast and lean, looks good, and approaches Max 4 like it's a TOOL to unlock your imagination, which it is. You can look at '3d Max 4 Magic' like the old Chemistry 101 text Ash uses in the ARMY OF DARKNESS movie. It's all about application, baby.

I found this book to be really useful and inspiring, as it shows how to get the most out of the features in Max 4, and uses high-quality models and animation in the tutorials. I've often been slumped at trying to create good-looking water, but the tutorials in this book on trickling water and the surface of an ocean gave me ideas I will use in my own animations. I also really liked the mechanical chapter, finally a good explanation of all those cool new controllers. Considering the earlier review, well, sometimes you find a book that covers the kind of topics you're interested in, and sometimes you don't. In this case, I certainly did.