Description:
Written for architectural designers, Mastering 3D Studio VIZ 3 is a practical, hands-on guide to using this 3-D modeling and rendering tool from Kinetix. The author is a good writer, and he's got lots of experience in VIZ. This book, his fifth, highlights both facts. Spanning over 1,100 pages, and containing 16 chapters and four appendices, the book covers everything from the basics of using VIZ all the way through final rendering and delivery of VIZ-rendered animation on videotape. Each chapter is illustrated with screen shots and rendered frames, and contains step-by-step text for the tutorial in question. While the book does a terrific job of teaching how to use the program, the real stars are the appendices. "Modifiers and Materials," "Patches and NURBS," and "Helpers and Effects" offer clear and concise information on all of these important features. These appendices alone are an invaluable reference resource. Technically oriented tools like 3D Studio VIZ aren't easy to use. At best, the rendered image simply will look wrong; but, at worst, it can convey the wrong information to the client, and force design changes when none should be made. Using a tool like VIZ with accuracy is important, and Mastering 3D Studio VIZ 3 is a terrific reference guide for learning and using it correctly, efficiently, and painlessly. --Mike Caputo
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