Product Description

Get the most realistic effects from 3ds Max without having to spend more on plug-ins!

Boost your effects skill-set with this 3ds Max workshop. Tutorial lessons give you hands-on experience in creating realistic fire, earth, air and water effects. Updated to demonstrate production techniques suitable for any version of 3ds Max, this new edition is co-published by Autodesk Media and Entertainment, and includes new tutorials on entering the Earth's atmosphere, glaciers, lava eruptions and a Badlands landscape.

Inspirational color images cover every page of the book as the author shares his professional techniques and workflow processes. The companion DVD contains all of the required tutorial media as well as over 6 hours of video tutorials.


User level: Intermediate and advanced

· Realistic effects without plug-ins!
· Tutorial lessons demonstrate professional techniques and workflow processes.
· Companion DVD contains all of the required tutorial media plus additional video tutorials.
· Co-published by Autodesk Media and Entertainment.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #530229 in Books
• Published on: 2006-05-02
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 408 pages

Review
'I congratulate Pete on this amazing accomplishment. I am certain that those of you who read this will find it incredibly useful, both as an educational tool and as a volume of reference. I encourage you all to read and absorb the information found within, and use it to help strengthen both your own skills, and to help strengthen and maintain our ever spreading 3D community.'
-Jason 'Buzz' Busby (www.3dbuzz.com)

About the Author
a UK-based visual effects animator and artist with 10+ years experience on large and small screen projects. Starting out as a fine artist and designer, his shift to CG animation led to key roles such as Lead and Senior Artist, Head of Media and, more recently, Visual Effects Supervisor / Director. Pete's work covers a broad range of disciplines and genres from visual effects to reconstructions, commercials to in-house training. He currently writes for 3D World magazine, providing tips, tricks, reviews and tutorials for 3ds max and other animation and graphics tools.

Customer Reviews

Can't Wait
I am a student currently studying Digital Animation and Game Design. I first heard of Pete Draper's book from a fellow classmate who currently owns a first edition copy. Just thumbing through the tutorials my jaw dropped.

Deconstructing the Elements has fast become the keystone to many students personal 3ds Max libraries. (We have even been recommending it to our teachers) The tutorials are laid out fantastically and teach you as much about the concepts as well as `how to.'

Deconstructing the Elements is the best resource for anyone who wants to learn elemental effects and particle systems within 3ds Max. I can't wait for this book...

Great buy for anyone getting into the world of 3ds Max
I have only recently started working with 3ds max, yet i could follow along with every single tutorial in this great book, simply because the book takes you through every single detail of the scene creation process. One of the best 3ds Max books I have come across yet.

Powerful, Smart, Unparalleled
Deconstructing the Elements, 2nd edition is basically what you wish every reference book could be. The binding is strong even though it's a soft-cover and the pages are all color matte finish. Almost every step of every walk-through in this text contains an image of what you should be seeing in 3dsMax.

I was personally surprised to see that every technique is grounded in real-world observation. The cigarette smoke tutorial takes a full page to investigate how a real smoke trail acts before attempting to replicate it in 3d. Draper moves quickly but guides you along the way making for a very intuitive yet fast approach.

I believe Pete still has his web-site up and running at Xenomorphic.co.uk

If you're looking to create realistic effects and scenes in 3dsMax, you will not be sorry when you purchase this book.