Mastering the Art of Production with 3ds max 4

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Model and animate an alien, a remote control, and a rover vehicle! Through hands-on, step-by-step tutorials and directly relevant discussions, Mastering the Art of Production with 3ds max 4 entices readers to participate in the process of taking a full 30-second animated commercial for a realistic model company - Ion Z Batteries - from concept through to completion. Developing project requirements by reviewing storyboards and planning a live video shoot for 3D element integration is just the beginning! As they progress through this thoroughly engaging and fast-paced book, readers will also experiment with various styles of modeling and skinning techniques; gain expertise using IK controllers; develop user interfaces to simplify complicated animation techniques and implement MaxScript for further animation control; create and apply global illumination; use procedure maps and PhotoShop to generate textures for objects in the scene; apply proper rendering techniques; and complete post-production editing with Discreet's Combustion. Ideal for anyone with an interest in digital art, 3D modeling, or animation, this all-inclusive introduction to contemporary industry techniques is centered on producing a professional product for a client, takes optimal advantage of leading-edge 3ds max 4 tools and options to develop a seamless character setup, and is perfect for users of all abilities.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Chapter 1 The Job
• The Job (p. 2)
• The Story (p. 2)
• Job Specifications (p. 2)
• Paperwork (p. 2)
• Client Agreements (p. 2)
• The Schedule (p. 5)
• Bidding the Job (p. 7)
• Good Workflow and the Importance Thereof (p. 8)
• Preproduction (p. 9)
• Design Approval (p. 9)
• Sketches (p. 9)
• Scenery (p. 12)
• Storyboard (p. 13)
• Animatics (p. 17)
• Starting the Project (p. 17)
• Chapter 2 Modeling the Remote Control
• Reference Images (p. 20)
• The Virtual Studio (p. 20)
• Practice Makes Perfect (p. 21)
• Tutorial 2.1 Virtual Studio for the Remote Control (p. 22)
• Box Modeling (p. 33)
• Sub-Objects (p. 33)
• The Anatomy of the Remote Control (p. 35)
• Tutorial 2.2 Remote Control Body (p. 36)
• The Joystick and its Base (p. 81)
• Tutorial 2.3 Joystick Assembly (p. 81)
• Finishing Touches (p. 89)
• Tutorial 2.4 Antenna and Hand Grip (p. 90)
• Chapter 3 Modeling the Alien
• Editable Poly Features (p. 100)
• NURMS Subdivision (p. 100)
• Mesh Control at Sub-Object Levels (p. 101)
• Tutorial 3.1 Alien Torso (p. 102)
• Tutorial 3.2 Arms and Hands (p. 127)
• Tutorial 3.3 Legs and Feet (p. 144)
• Tutorial 3.4 Finishing the Model (p. 158)
• Chapter 4 Modeling the Rover
• Splines (p. 162)
• Creating Splines (p. 162)
• Vertex Types (p. 162)
• The Surface Modifier (p. 165)
• The Anatomy of the Rover (p. 165)
• Tutorial 4.1 Creating the Spline Network (p. 166)
• Tutorial 4.2 Surfacing the Rover (p. 185)
• Tutorial 4.3 Creating the Wheels (p. 198)
• Tutorial 4.4 Creating the Reactor (p. 207)
• Tutorial 4.5 Creating the Track Assembly (p. 217)
• Tutorial 4.6 Finishing the Rover (p. 226)
• Chapter 5 Introduction to Maxscript
• Understanding MAXScript (p. 240)
• Scripting Steps (p. 240)
• Accessing the MAXScript Options (p. 241)
• Writing a Script (p. 242)
• Tutorial 5.1 Basic Scripting Commands (p. 243)
• The MAXScript Listener Window (p. 244)
• MAXScript Syntax (p. 244)
• Variables (p. 245)
• Tutorial 5.2 Variables (p. 245)
• Arrays (p. 247)
• The Script Editor (p. 249)
• Tutorial 5.3 A First Script (p. 250)
• Functions (p. 253)
• Tutorial 5.4 Functions (p. 254)
• Arguments (p. 255)
• Tutorial 5.5 Arguments (p. 256)
• Program Flow (p. 257)
• The "If" Statement (p. 258)
• Loops (p. 258)
• User Interface Design (p. 260)
• Tutorial 5.6 Custom User Interface (p. 261)
• Tidy Programming Practices (p. 270)
• Chapter 6 Technical Setup for the Rover
• Scripting (p. 272)
• The Rover Tracks (p. 272)
• Tutorial 6.1 Track Setup (p. 273)
• Motion Capture (p. 287)
• Controllers (p. 287)
• MoCap/Controller Setup for the Rover (p. 287)
• Designing the Control System for the Rover (p. 288)
• Tutorial 6.2 Motion Capture for the Rover (p. 289)
• MAXScripts to Control the Rover (p. 299)
• Improving Performance (p. 299)
• What Are We Scripting? (p. 300)
• Tutorial 6.3 Rover Control Scripts (p. 300)
• Creating a User Interface (p. 315)
• Position Reset (p. 315)
• Motion Capture Playback (p. 315)
• Scripts to the Rescue (p. 316)
• Tutorial 6.4 Rover Control User Interface (p. 317)
• Chapter 7 Skeletal Setup for the Alien
• A Few Things You Should Know By Now (p. 330)
• Character Animation (p. 330)
• Character Rigs (p. 331)
• Tutorial 5.1 Alien Skeleton (p. 332)
• Alien Control System (p. 349)
• IK Solvers (p. 350)
• Point Helpers (p. 350)
• Tutorial 5.2 IK Solvers and Point Helpers (p. 350)
• Tutorial 5.3 Hand Control System (p. 364)
• Tutorial 5.4 Foot Control System (p. 373)
• Tutorial 5.5 Mirroring and Completing the Skeleton (p. 377)
• Chapter 8 Alien Skinning and Deformation Setup
• Skinning (p. 390)
• The Basics Of Skinning (p. 390)
• Skinning the Alien (p. 392)
• Tutorial 8.1 A Skinning Primer (p. 393)
• Tutorial 8.2 Skinning the Alien (p. 399)
• Facial Expressions (p. 420)
• Morphing Basics (p. 420)
• Morphing with 3ds max (p. 421)
• Determining Facial Expressions (p. 421)
• Tutorial 8.3 Morph Target Setup (p. 423)
• Eye Controls (p. 429)
• Tutorial 8.4 Eye Control System (p. 429)
• Chapter 9 Alien Ui Control System
• The User Interface (p. 434)
• Main Console (p. 434)
• Morph Targets (p. 434)
• Hand Controls (p. 435)
• Foot Controls (p. 435)
• Tutorial 9.1 Icons for User Interface (p. 436)
• Tutorial 9.2 Writing the User Interface (p. 443)
• Chapter 10 Camera Tracking
• Camera Matching (p. 466)
• Choosing a Location (p. 466)
• Shooting the Location (p. 466)
• Matching the 3D Camera to the Live Footage (p. 467)
• Tracking the Camera (p. 467)
• Camera Matching Utilities (p. 467)
• Reference Points (p. 468)
• Placing Fixed Points (p. 468)
• Measuring Distances (p. 468)
• The Right Tools for the Job (p. 469)
• 3D Scene Points (p. 470)
• Tutorial 10.1 CamPoint Setup (p. 470)
• Tutorial 10.2 Camera Tracking (p. 474)
• What to Do if the Camera Won't Track (p. 482)
• Chapter 11 Texturing and Lighting
• Texturing (p. 484)
• Materials (p. 484)
• Maps (p. 485)
• The Material Editor (p. 485)
• Tutorial 11.1 Texturing the Alien (p. 486)
• Tutorial 11.2 Texturing the Rover (p. 494)
• The Battery Material (p. 514)
• Battery Textures (p. 514)
• Tutorial 11.3 Texturing the Battery (p. 515)
• Lighting (p. 523)
• Types of Lights (p. 523)
• Shadows (p. 525)
• 3D Light Limitations (p. 526)
• The Set (p. 526)
• Global Illumination (p. 526)
• Tutorial 11.4 Lighting the Set (p. 526)
• Catching Shadows with Materials (p. 535)
• Tutorial 11.5 Shadows for the Ground (p. 535)
• Chapter 12 Animation and Rendering
• Bringing Files Together (p. 542)
• Merging (p. 542)
• Cross Referencing (p. 542)
• Bringing our Scenes Together (p. 543)
• Tutorial 12.1 Putting Together the Final Scene File (p. 543)
• Time to Animate (p. 557)
• Storyboard Check (p. 557)
• Rover Animation (p. 557)
• Alien Animation (p. 557)
• Safe Frames (p. 558)
• Tutorial 12.2 Animating the Rover and Alien (p. 559)
• Rendering (p. 573)
• Rendering for Post production (p. 573)
• Video Post (p. 573)
• Tutorial 12.3 Rendering the Shots (p. 574)
• Chapter 13 Post Production with Combustion
• Introduction to Combustion (p. 584)
• Combustion Files (p. 584)
• Operators (p. 585)
• Combustion User Interface (p. 586)
• Rendered 3ds max Files for Combustion (p. 589)
• Our RPF Files (p. 589)
• Dealing with Shadows (p. 590)
• Tutorial 13.1 Footage Import (p. 590)
• Contrast and Color Adjustment (p. 593)
• Contrast Adjustment (p. 593)
• Adjusting Colors (p. 593)
• Tutorial 13.2 Color Correction (p. 594)
• Combustion Tracking Techniques (p. 602)
• The Tracker (p. 602)
• Tutorial 13.3 Tracking the Selections (p. 604)
• Paint (p. 607)
• Tutorial 13.4 Painting the Footage (p. 609)
• Finishing the Job (p. 625)
• Picking Your Battles (p. 625)
• Delivering the Job (p. 625)
• Backing up the Job (p. 625)
• Our Version of the Animation (p. 626)
• Index (p. 627)

Author notes provided by Syndetics