3D Modeling and Surfacing (Exploring 3D Graphics)

By Bill Fleming

Whether you're stepping up from 2-D or just want to delve into the 3-D arena, check out 3D Modeling & Surfacing. This book explores the basics of modeling and surfacing (much more than animation) and introduces you to the features and tools common to 3-D software programs. 3-D terms and techniques are demystified for beginners in a way that is terrific for those new to 3-D graphics. The book teaches you polygon, MetaNurbs, and other modeling techniques, and it explores modeling tools such as beveling, Boolean operators, lathe, and extrude. You also learn about such surfacing methods as procedural textures and image maps, and about surface attributes like color, bump, and specularity. There are plenty of screen shots and illustrations, plus lots of in-depth discussion of techniques. While the book is disadvantaged by the lack of software-specific instructions (like those found in a manual), you can use the instructions on any program you want. --Kathleen Caster This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0122604903
• ISBN13: 9780122604904
• Release Date: May 1999
• Publisher: Morgan Kaufmann Publishers
• Length: 340 Pages
• Weight: 1.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 7.4" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

A good book for outsiders

I am not a 3D artists, but I like to keep up on technologies. I found this to be a very good book for casual readers. The author did a good job introducing terms and techniques used in 3D rendering. I would recommend it highly to people who are wanting to learn a little bit about the art. I enjoyed the fact that the book was not simply a tutorial for one particular graphics product.If you are a casual reader who is interested...

Methodology and Purpose are Great

I found the book to be very useful for determining how to approach the aspect of modeling and surfacing objects. It covers most technologies found in 3D packages and shows when and where to apply certain techniques. There are no tutorials, but by the same token it is not geared to be a tutorial book. It is more of a project planning and reference book. The walkthroughs are there to reinforce the topics discussed, not...

Not bad but tough to get into

Difficult to get to grips with modelling at first; this book may prove to be a challenge, but if you stick with it, it can be quite rewarding. There are no real "tutorials" as such, rather you are given less detailed "walk-throughs" where you can just examine what techniques are used. I think any non-lightwave user will find this more of a struggle as, like with most of Bill's works, most of the walk-throughs are Lightwave...

Animating Features and Facial expressions

A do not have words in this moment. I am sorry, and my english write is very bad.

5 stars for lightwave maybe a 2 for 3DSMax.

This is a great book but I believe it is geared more toward Lightwave. I use 3D Studio Max I like just got and I'm beginning this book gives you great ideas on what to use Polygons, nurbs, metaballs etc for but when you get into the walkthroughs it is in Lightwave terminology. Not everyone would know what to tool to use (because it has a different name in lightwave) especially since this book goes towards beginners. If...