Modeling Digital Dinosaurs

Rating:
Summary: DIGITAL DINOSAURS
Review: Being new to Lightwave I have been buying as many books as possible to lessen the learning curve. The massive volume that is the Lightwave manual, whilst having all the great features listed, does not help a new user actually model very much. Enter Ken Brilliants new (and first) book. A 370 page romp through his very own Jurassic Park. The book is not software specific and Ken gives a list of software that can be used in conjunction with the tutorials and these include Lightwave, Maya, C4D, Amapi, 3DSmax etc. Any software, if fact, that has a polygon based set of tools.
He covers modeling, UVmapping and texturing and manages to help you create an Apatosauras, Dimetrodon, Pteranodon, Triceratops and of course the ubiquitous T-Rex. The tutorials start with very basic instructions and are written in a clear, logical manner. I found that I learnt more about my software of choice in one afternoon than I had done in the previous three weeks.

The book states that Ken works in Hollywood in the film and television industry. His work can be seen in a variety of movies and television series including Jurassic Park 2: the lost World, X-Files the movie, Interview with a Vampire, The Starship Troopers Chronicles and a variety of others. With a list like that it gives you an idea of the quality that is to be found in 'Digital Dinosaurs'.

Rating:
Summary: Dinosaurs 101
Review: I am a designer who is attempting to delve into the world of 3D. In comes Brilliant's book on Dinosaurs, but the kicker is that what you learn in this detailed and simple to follow book can be applied to much more than dinos. Very well written and illustrated (great image files included on the CD). With a minimal knowledge of most 3D apps, you can start creating some neat stuff. I also like the fact that texturing is greatly discussed in later chapters. This book fills a definit publication niche specifically dealing with organic or creature modeling, dinosaurs in this case. I wish this book would have been included in most 3D application packages as part of their documentation...one can only wish!

Rating:
Summary: The modeling book must with Lightwave!
Review: I am a designer who is attempting to delve into the world of 3D. In comes Brilliant's book on Dinosaurs, but the kicker is that what you learn in this detailed and simple to follow book can be applied to much more than dinos. Very well written and illustrated (great image files included on the CD). With a minimal knowledge of most 3D apps, you can start creating some neat stuff. I also like the fact that texturing is greatly discussed in later chapters. This book fills a definit publication niche specifically dealing with organic or creature modeling, dinosaurs in this case. I wish this book would have been included in most 3D application packages as part of their documentation...one can only wish!

Rating:
Summary: Good job Ken and Charles River Media
Review: If modeling dinosaurs is your passion then I highly recommend this book. It is packed full of information on modeling and texturing. Authough the book is not software specific the Author does admitt that many of the models were created using Newtek's Lightwave software. No problem, I'm a dedicated LW fan. The CD doesn't have any models on it and it only has one animation that's lame (no secondary motions in its walk and its a pixalated low res). The textures on the CD are fine for use but they are not of a super high resoulution. That's ok because the book tells you how to make your own using Photoshop. This book also will not cover bone structures, IK setups or animation. That's really another subject so I'm not dissapointed. I bought the book for modeling and texturing and that just what I tought me. OH ya! It's easy to read but you need to know how your software works first because he is not going to tell you each step and every icon in a software. This is just technique that applies to many softwares on the market today. I'm very pleased and I would like to see Ken write more books. Good job Charles River Media.

Rating:
Summary: Good job Ken and Charles River Media
Review: If modeling dinosaurs is your passion then I highly recommend this book. It is packed full of information on modeling and texturing. Authough the book is not software specific the Author does admitt that many of the models were created using Newtek's Lightwave software. No problem, I'm a dedicated LW fan. The CD doesn't have any models on it and it only has one animation that's lame (no secondary motions in its walk and its a pixalated low res). The textures on the CD are fine for use but they are not of a super high resoulution. That's ok because the book tells you how to make your own using Photoshop. This book also will not cover bone structures, IK setups or animation. That's really another subject so I'm not dissapointed. I bought the book for modeling and texturing and that just what I tought me. OH ya! It's easy to read but you need to know how your software works first because he is not going to tell you each step and every icon in a software. This is just technique that applies to many softwares on the market today. I'm very pleased and I would like to see Ken write more books. Good job Charles River Media.

Rating:
Summary: My fear of modeling is gone!
Review: Mr. Brilliant really breaks it down for you. From the "how's" in great detail to the "why's" and even some "why not's", he shows many techniques, advantages and (if any) disadvantages to each with care and patience. The fact that he's choosing dinosaurs as the subject matter grabbed my attention, his thorough teaching kept me interested. My modeling skills have improved dramatically, and that's only after chapter four! It's also interesting that he has managed to write tutorials that span over MANY different modeling packages with seemingly no effort. My hat is off to you Mr. Brilliant! Thank you for making learning modeling fun!!

Rating:
Summary: My fear of modeling is gone!
Review: Mr. Brilliant really breaks it down for you. From the "how's" in great detail to the "why's" and even some "why not's", he shows many techniques, advantages and (if any) disadvantages to each with care and patience. The fact that he's choosing dinosaurs as the subject matter grabbed my attention, his thorough teaching kept me interested. My modeling skills have improved dramatically, and that's only after chapter four! It's also interesting that he has managed to write tutorials that span over MANY different modeling packages with seemingly no effort. My hat is off to you Mr. Brilliant! Thank you for making learning modeling fun!!

Rating:
Summary: Dinosaurs 101
Review: This one's for rookies and lizard-lovers. Ken Brilliant sure knows his dinosaurs, but there's precious little here that's professionally enticing. Three things: (a) know a bit of organic poly modeling, (b) understand UV space & texture mapping, and (c) (most importantly) have a good imagination and an equally good reference image of your favorite dinosaur (or dinosaur-like creature). That pretty much is the gist of this book, though I'd have preferred it if the author had focused on modeling just one or two generic dinosaurs (he covers the usual suspects) and carried it through detailed texturing/mapping, into animation (what use is a dinosaur that can't raise hell in your backyard, or your PC, for that matter?). The book does a fair job of familiarizing you with these prehistoric reptiles, and helps recreate a fraction (a teeny-tiny fraction) of what Mr.Spielberg/ILM did about a decade ago - of course, minus the animation part, which obviously wasn't intended. (Pity.) So, if you're a rookie or a lizard-lover, you might benefit from the modeling/texturing instructions presented here. For others, there isn't much here that's spectacular or "wow" enough to add speed to your web site, portfolio, or employment chances. Invest in a good reference image instead, or find something that goes deep enough to help create something more than just a Hollywood cliche.