Rating: 
Summary: Is it that bad?
Review: Previously review made this book look like really bad. Is it that bad? Well, first of all, this book is for intermediate users, not for beginners. This book does not teach you all the advanced features of Max 4. Rather, it strengthens Max 4 users who are passed the basic Max stage, and is in the intermediate area needing more advice toward becoming an advanced user. But if you want more advanced stuff, you have to look elsewhere. I did learn more after doing various tutorials from this book, no doubt about it. However, I do wish that it would have more step-by-step pictures that shows you what is happening, because a few places in the book is kind of confusing at times, though mostly it's organized. I do like the IK setup procedure in the book, as this is the main reason why I bought this book. Before you buy this book, if you're a beginner or looking for an overview, I highly recommend you buy the 3ds max 4 workship by Duane Loose first, it has to be the best 3D max book or just 3D book in general, because it teaches you so much. You can not go wrong with Duane Loose's book. It is excellent. After you buy that book, then maybe you get Inside 3ds max 4. Back to this book. I also like the little sidebar boxes that teaches you the 'temper' of Max. I read Inside 3D max by Newriders prior to version 4, and I must say this version 4 book is way better than the old ones (with exception of the Advanced Material and Modeling version 3). I can understand some of the bad reviews previously. But it is not that bad, if you do the tutorials, you definitely will improve, unless you're already very good. So it's not useless at all. It has helped me, for example, to figure out how to setup IK as well as overview of major features of Max. So I do recommend it for intermediate users who still need to know more about 3D Max 4.
Rating:
Summary: Is it that bad?
Review: Previously review made this book look like really bad. Is it that bad? Well, first of all, this book is for intermediate users, not for beginners. This book does not teach you all the advanced features of Max 4. Rather, it strengthens Max 4 users who are passed the basic Max stage, and is in the intermediate area needing more advice toward becoming an advanced user. But if you want more advanced stuff, you have to look elsewhere. I did learn more after doing various tutorials from this book, no doubt about it. However, I do wish that it would have more step-by-step pictures that shows you what is happening, because a few places in the book is kind of confusing at times, though mostly it's organized. I do like the IK setup procedure in the book, as this is the main reason why I bought this book. Before you buy this book, if you're a beginner or looking for an overview, I highly recommend you buy the 3ds max 4 workship by Duane Loose first, it has to be the best 3D max book or just 3D book in general, because it teaches you so much. You can not go wrong with Duane Loose's book. It is excellent. After you buy that book, then maybe you get Inside 3ds max 4. Back to this book. I also like the little sidebar boxes that teaches you the 'temper' of Max. I read Inside 3D max by Newriders prior to version 4, and I must say this version 4 book is way better than the old ones (with exception of the Advanced Material and Modeling version 3). I can understand some of the bad reviews previously. But it is not that bad, if you do the tutorials, you definitely will improve, unless you're already very good. So it's not useless at all. It has helped me, for example, to figure out how to setup IK as well as overview of major features of Max. So I do recommend it for intermediate users who still need to know more about 3D Max 4.
Rating: 
Summary: Dont waste your money!!
Review: Thank you for all the people who wrote what I will write right right now. Please DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY!!, this is the worst book of 3D max I 've ever read. First , is not for beginners neither for intermediate and if it's for advance people, why they should buy it?. The explanations are very bad, they think that you as a 3D modeler should know and be in their heads to know what they are really saying and doing. The jump from one place to another is confusing, they just tell you to look at the picture and do it..nothing else!! what a waste of time trying to smash your head doing what is on the picture with just a comment. If you really want and advice, use the tutorials that come with your copy of MAX. It's a pitty that my mother bought it as a gift and ordered from the USA just to bring it to switzerland for me and receive such a dissapointing book.
Rating: 
Summary: One of the best!
Review: This book is one of the best Max book I've bought in years, Kim Lee is a very experienced 3D artist and an expert in Max. the section that covers the workflow of projects is very helpful, also it covers how to composit with combustion. If you don't want to buy abother book that spend 200 pages on fundamental stuff, this is the book to get!
Rating:
Summary: Buy another book...
Review: Tonight for the first time I started studying this book,I'm not new to 3ds max and when I tried to follow chapter 7 by Joseph Yoo I was really confused.What kind of tutorial is that? The teaching methodology was really terrible.The writer has omitted lots of necessary details.You can't follow the steps,because many essential steps have been ignored.You should think and think to predict what is omitted,and this kind of writing without paying attention to the needs of customers,is a waste of time.The successful writers usually consult an expert in methodology,and in this way they can convey their knowledge to the reader with the highest quality.My question is:If you are going to spend a lot of time and effort in writing a book,why don't you try to be the best.My advice for the author is:first test your style in order to see whether it is understandable for some students and then publish it.
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