Product Description

In Mastering Autodesk VIZ 2008, VIZ expert Jon McFarland teaches you how to get the most out of Autodesk's potent 3D modeling, animation, and rendering software. As you follow real-world examples, you'll quickly see how to apply these techniques to your design projects. Whether you're entirely new to VIZ or simply want to master its newest features, this book offers the clear explanations and step-by-step instruction you need to make VIZ work for you.

Coverage includes:

• Finding your way around in VIZ
• Linking to AutoCAD files
• Modeling using primitive and compound objects
• Editing using modifers and sub-objects
• Creating complex shapes with surface modeling tools
• Managing your design data more efficiently
• Simulating lighting effects accurately with global illumination
• Rendering real-world surfaces with Architectural material
• Setting up animated walk-throughs
• Using radiosity to create accurate scene lighting
• Using mental ray to achieve the most realistic rendering
• Producing design presentation views
• Understanding keyframes and function curve editing
• Acquiring 3D models and props from the Web

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #304747 in Books
• Published on: 2007-10-08
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 1008 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780470144824
• Condition: USED - LIKE NEW
• Notes:
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From the Back Cover
Turn Your Ideas Into High-Impact 3D Models and Animations

Transform flat drawings and concepts into impressive 3D visualizations with the comprehensive instruction you'll find in Mastering Autodesk VIZ 2008. Expert author Jon McFarland helps you get the most out of this latest version of Autodesk's powerful 3D design, modeling, and animation tool with an in-depth, tutorial-based approach grounded in real-world examples.

This new edition has been fully updated for Autodesk VIZ 2008 and is packed with professional techniques you can apply immediately to your own work for striking results. Whether you're new to VIZ or simply want to master the latest features, this book offers the step-by-step instructions you need to create, animate, and render realistic architectural visualizations with VIZ 2008.

Coverage includes:

• Creating complex shapes with surface modeling tools

• Efficiently managing design data

• Adding natural lighting effects

• Staging a virtual walk-through of your room designs for clients

• Applying radiosity to create lifelike views

• Using mental ray to achieve the most realistic rendering

• Understanding keyframes and function curve editing

• Producing design presentation views

• Acquiring 3D models and props from the Web

Discover and Use the New Improvements to File I/O, Splines, XRefs, and More

Produce Stunning, Photo-Realistic Imagery through Simpler, Faster Workflows

Create or Import Complex Scenes in a Fraction of the Time

Work Effectively with Lights, Materials, and Cameras

Render Drawings Faster and Better with mental ray 3.5

About the Author
Jon McFarland manages a design department at a property development company, where he uses AutoCAD and VIZ to create visualizations of proposed facility construction and expansions. An Autodesk Authorized Author, Jon has written or cowritten five books, including Mastering Autodesk VIZ 2007 (Sybex) and AutoCAD 2008 and AutoCAD LT 2008: No Experience Required (Sybex). He has also taught VIZ, AutoCAD, and 3ds Max courses at the university level.

Customer Reviews

Great Book
This book is excellent, whether in comparison to others, or just by itself. The author clearly knows how to teach, he has laid the book out in exactly the way one should when teaching a very complex program to a beginner. He starts out explaining all the fuctions, the tools, and has you play with them. Then he moves on and builds his way up so you learn and understand.

I had previously tried to read the 3DS Max 2008 book by Foundation, and it was a horrible experience. It was filled with errors, was "paint by the numbers", did not explain to you why you were doing things, etc. I literally gave up.

I would urge anyone wanting to learn 3DS Max or Viz 2008 to buy and read this book by Jon McFarland instead, it is excellent.

A very good book
An excellent book for 3ds max. Good explanation and illustrations of how things were done. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is into architectural visual field.