Learning Maya 5: Rendering

Rating:
Summary: Excellent for learning more about Maya's new features!
Review: I found this book to be very helpful in learning new techniques for rendering in Maya. With Maya's new rendering options such as the vector render and Mental Ray, it is easy to get lost in the maze of features. I am just learning Maya and I loved this book. I don't know that much and the book was easy to follow with scene files to help out along the way. I highly recommend to anyone wanting learn more about rendering in Maya.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent for learning more about Maya's new features!
Review: I found this book to be very helpful in learning new techniques for rendering in Maya. With Maya's new rendering options such as the vector render and Mental Ray, it is easy to get lost in the maze of features. I am just learning Maya and I loved this book. I don't know that much and the book was easy to follow with scene files to help out along the way. I highly recommend to anyone wanting learn more about rendering in Maya.

Rating:
Summary: Great cook book
Review: I must say I did enjoy this book. Anytime I read a book from front to back, I know I am getting good and interesting information. Rendering lights, materials, textures and cameras is one of the most crucial techniques that you can learn. It can pretty much make or break a piece of work. This book definitly prepares you. If you can get your hands on the Alias Rendering DVD then you really have a great combination.

Rating:
Summary: Great Book!
Review: I must say I did enjoy this book. Anytime I read a book from front to back, I know I am getting good and interesting information. Rendering lights, materials, textures and cameras is one of the most crucial techniques that you can learn. It can pretty much make or break a piece of work. This book definitly prepares you. If you can get your hands on the Alias Rendering DVD then you really have a great combination.

Rating:
Summary: Great cook book
Review: This book is great if you want tutorials without clear explanation. It is more of an instruction manuel on how to reproduce a scene than teaching how create and think on your own. The problem with this approach is you finish a tutorial, pat yourself on the back for making something, but later realize that you did not fully understand what you did. If you are an expert in lighting with other programs, but need to transition over to Maya, then this is a great book for explaining how the tools work. If you are new to lighting or rendering this is not the best book for you, but it is okay for reference.
The DVD is a waste. Mainly because all the screen shots of the computer screen are out of focus. Not a bad book, but not great either.