Description:
Caligari TrueSpace has been a popular program for creating relatively simple 3-D graphics. With every update, its developers have extended its ability to create more advanced models and animations, thereby encouraging and expanding its user base. The program's relatively affordable price, early appearance on and commitment to the Windows platform, and straightforward working environment haven't hurt either. With Inside TrueSpace 4, users get an excellent, hands-on guide to all of the basic and sophisticated tools in the newest version. First, the book gives you a tour of the new features and a primer on 3-D concepts and tools. The guide provides in-depth guidance on creating object and character models and animations and on using surfacing, texture, camera, and lighting techniques. Any given project might use the simplest tools, such as basic primitives, or more advanced tools, such as Metaballs and NURBS. The point of the book is to get you combining TrueSpace's features creatively, to build just the sort of project that you have in mind. The authors discuss 3-D issues, good project planning, specific features, and usage tips, all while presenting step-by-step projects that really get you working. Appendices cover the issues surrounding games creation, provide formulas for surface materials, and present the various resources, such as Web sites, for finding good material and assistance. The companion CD-ROM contains files for working along with the book's projects, a limited-feature version of TrueSpace, demo versions of popular TrueSpace plug-ins, and over 300 textures. --Kathleen Caster
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