Recommended Reading
(version September 16, 2007)
If you have a book which you would like to recommend for this section, please contact us. The books do not have to be currently in print. Contact us in one of the following ways:- in person at the DMS Service Desk on the Second Floor, just past the main elevators
- by telephone, calling (806)742-2245
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Mastering 3D Graphics: Digital Botany and Creepy Insects [07-30-2007]
Concept Design 1 [07-20-2007]
Concept Design 2 [07-20-2007]
Practical Poser 7 [07-20-2007]
d'artiste 1: Character Modeling [07-20-2007]
d'artiste 2: Character Modeling [07-20-2007]
- [07-30-2007] Mastering 3D Graphics: Digital Botany and Creepy Insects. John Wiley & Sons, February 2007.
Despite the title, this book is for everyone interested in
creating 3D models, not just future bug collectors and green-thumb plant experts. It will be of special interest to those working in biology with a need to model nature, but the base concepts are fundamental: if you can do bugs, you can do other things that will be very helpful to you in your field. And why not learn something of entomology or botany along the way? Bill Fleming's book has two main sections: the plant world and the insect world. The goal is to produce photo realism in each of these realms. Readers from the 3D Animation Lab web site already know the value of working with multiple 3D tools and not just confining yourself to one where you try to do it all. This book continues that spirit of multiplicity: work with a wide range of products. The tutorials cover using LightWave, 3D Studio Max and trueSpace, among others. Reviewers commenting on this book have stated that the tutorials are written so clearly that they could easily be applied to any 3D product that you are leaning. This style of writing and coverage is uncommon: most books focus on using a single product to do everything. Teaching creativity is a challenge, more so when you do it with one hand tied behind your back--which is what limiting yourself to one 3D product is like. You won't need your bug repellent to curl up close to plants and bugs, but your audience might start to itch from the realism you can learn here.
From the Back Cover
An indispensable guide to creating natural environments and insects using all major 3D graphics programs The setting is breathtaking . . . abundant green plants give way to majestic pine trees. A dragonfly resting on a small body of water suddenly takes off into the clearing . . . and you created it all.
Now imagine getting paid for this! The power of computer-generated 3D graphics can be seen in everything from blockbuster motion pictures and your favorite video games to popular Web sites and commercial advertising. And the demand for 3D-graphic designers and illustrators continues to grow at an explosive rate in this wide range of industries. This book will provide you with the necessary tools to design 3D graphics using all major 3D graphics programs.
- [07-20-2007] Concept Design 1. Design Studio Press (2003). (Large format: 12"x9") The publisher is reissuing the title. It has been out of print for some time. It
is a book you will want to tour. From the publisher's blurb we have the following information about it:
In the Fall of 2001, a group of seven conceptual designers gathered together in Los Angeles to begin work on a new creative experience. At the heart of their coming together was a desire to create and explore new images and ideas in a creative environment apart from their normal design jobs. A presentation of the efforts of this group is available in the form of the first Concept Design art annual.
Concept Design contains nearly 300 original color works by the seven contributing designers. In addition to the 84 Concept Design pieces, support sketches and roughs appear throughout the book. Each piece is accompanied by text detailing the design ideas and/or illustration techniques used. Concept Design is printed with quality as our primary focus. The book is 9”x12” in a vertical format with eight fold-out pages which allow for the printing of sixteen large horizontal images. No images cross the binding of the book, breaking the image.
At the book Link given above you can browse some of the illustrations. This is highly recommended to see a well designed collection of creative force. Note that out-of-print titles are sometimes available from http://www.amazon.com.
- [07-20-2007] Concept Design 2. Design Studio Press (2006). From the publisher's blurb and from Amazon we have the following book notes: Book Description
In this second volume of Concept Design, seventeen guest artists are featured along with the original seven Los Angeles Entertainment Designers from Concept Design 1 to show us worlds, vehicles, monsters and creations beyond the wildest imagination! Even more astounding and jam-packed than the first volume, Concept Design 2 takes you on a journey into the minds of the talented and successful concept design professionals who create for the sake of creation. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From the Inside Flap
In the fall of 2001, seven concept designers began work on Concept Design 1, which became the first book published by Design Studio Press. Since that time, they have continued to explore their personal artwork, which fills this new book. During the development of Concept Design 2, they each invited several of their friends to join in the experience of creating this edition. The subject matter varies within the concept design spectrum, but the one constant is the high level of imagination and visual communication expressed by this fine group of concept designers.With credits on feature films such as Star Wars: Episodes I, II and III, War of the Worlds, Batman Forever, Batman & Robin, Spider-Man, X-Men United, Alien vs. Predator, Minority Report, and Terminator 2 & 3, these talented and prominent entertainment concept designers have joined together to create Concept Design 2. Featured within the pages of this book, you will find personal works from this talented group: Harald Belker, Steve Burg, James Clyne, Mark Goerner, Neville Page, Nick Pugh, Scott Robertson, Ryan Church, Dylan Cole, Kasra Farahani, Sean Hargreaves, Khang Le, Stephan Martiniere, Ed Natividad, Rick O'Brien, Dan Quarnstrom, Christian L. Scheurer, Oliver Scholl, Sparth, Farzad Varahramyan, Warren Wanser, Mike Yamada, Felix Yoon, Feng Zhu. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From the publisher's web site: Design Studio Press is a specialty publisher that focuses primarily on original artistic works and educational books. We hope you enjoy the unique books we are bringing you, and this inspires you to create original images of your own. Special thanks go out to all of you who have given your kind words of encouragement to our contributing designers. The more we motivate each other to take part in the creative process the better. We hope you will support our small company so we may continue to bring original works to you far into the future.
A hardcover edition of this volume called Concept Design 1.5 is due out August 2007.
- [07-20-2007] Practical Poser 7. Charles River Media (2006). From the publisher's Web site:
Do you want to take your Poser skills beyond the basics and put the new features of Poser 7 into practice right away? If so, you’ve come to the right place. Practical Poser 7 is an updated edition of this best-selling reference for intermediate to advanced Poser users. It teaches the tasks you want and need to know to get the most out of Poser 7 for achieving professional, commercial-quality work. This edition covers new Poser features, including new animation functionality, morphing tools, and more. Learn texturing and material techniques from a master texture artist, and explore the work of Poser pros in the beautiful color section!
Throughout the book, practical, real world tasks are used to get you up to speed quickly and help you maximize your Poser experience!Features
- Prepare photographs so that you get the best results in the Face Room
- Create and save custom faces in the Face Room
- Use the Hair Room to add hair to Poser clothing or props
- Work with the various types of Poser clothing and learn the differences between them
- Learn texturing secrets from a master texture artist
- Build basic and advanced materials in the Material Room
- Animate and render your scenes and environments
On the CD
- Koji 1 and Dino Pack 1 from e frontier
- DAZ Productions versions of several Poser figures (Win/Mac)
- KISS Figure from Phil Cooke
- Clothing, textures, and photographs from Aset Arts, Fredrik, and Linda White
- UV Mapper Professional demo
- Images from the book in color
- Introductory textual material for Poser beginners
- All files for the tutorials, including necessary Poser content, textures, and images
Denise Tyler has been an avid Poser user since version one and is the author of several books relating to computer graphics and Web development. She has been involved with 3D art and texturing since 1992, and creates Poser content for DAZ and Runtime DNA.
- [07-20-2007] d'artiste 1: Character Modeling. Ballistic Books (2005). One of the great strengths of a book like this is that you can browse the gallery in your hands, holding onto the book. Print conveys something very different from images on a computer screen. When we
hold art in our hands, the experience is vastly different from that of an auditorium spectator. From the publisher's Web site: d'artiste: Character Modeling is a definitive 3D character tutorial book showcasing the astonishing work and technical skills of master artists Pascal Blanché, Francisco A. Cortina and Steven Stahlberg.
Each artist demonstrates their character modeling techniques through a series of tutorials taking different models from concept-to-creation over more than 80 pages of instruction.
Sections also include galleries illustrating over 90 character modeling creations from some of the most talented 3D character artists in the world. The personal insights and tips shared by these artists provide inspiration, tuition and compelling reading all in one book. Author notes from the publisher's Web site.
Francisco A. Cortina
Francisco Cortina worked on the film ‘Aeon Flux’ at Digital Domain in Venice, CA. His digital career began soon after earning his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at the Maryland Institute of Art.
Pascal Blanché
Pascal Blanché is Art Director at one of the world’s biggest gaming companies, Ubisoft Canada based in Montreal. His most recent game project was ‘Myst IV: Revelation’, the fourth in the cult adventure game series.
Steven Stahlberg
Steven Stahlberg is a cofounder of Optidigit, now partnered with VisualXtreme to form Androidblues, The Virtual Talent Studio.
- [07-20-2007] d'artiste 2: Character Modeling. Ballistic Books (2007). The publisher's notes on this paperback include the following text information: d'artiste: Character Modeling 2 presents the techniques of leading character modelers Kevin Lanning, Zack Petroc, and
Timur "Taron" Baysal. Each master artist showcases his approaches and techniques in modeling characters and creatures for film and game projects through expansive graphic tutorials.
Kevin Lanning of Epic Games takes you behind the scenes of creating characters for the triple-platinum Xbox 360 game 'Gears of War' with tutorials on workflows for creating high-polygon and low-polygon characters.
An invited artist gallery provides the opportunity for the master artists to single out inspirational artists and comment on the character work of the greater cg community.
Author notes from the publisher:
Kevin Lanning
For the past four years Kevin has been working as a Character and Creature Modeler at Epic Games. His most recent work can be seen in Epic’s blockbuster hit for the Xbox 360, ‘Gears of War’.
Timur Baysal
His feature film credits include: ‘Syriana’, ‘Reeker’, ‘Gothika’, ‘Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams’, ‘Impostor’, ‘Megiddo: The Omega Code 2’, ‘Dracula 2000’, ‘Battlefield Earth’ and ‘Dogma’.
Zack Petroc
Zack is currently working as a freelance Art Director and Concept Designer for feature film and games. He is also the author of several training DVDs from The Gnomon Workshop.
