3D Graphics & Animation (2nd Edition)
by Mark Giambruno

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Book Reviews of 3D Graphics & Animation (2nd Edition)

Book Review: A feverishly comprehensive guide to everything 3D
Summary: 5 Stars

Nearly pulsing with an exponential quantity of pertinent industry facts, this title virtually threatens to explode--like a "bomb" object in 3ds max--into innumerable chunks of invaluable insider information, technical terms, key tips and techniques. Nevertheless, Giambruno's straightforward, concise and conversational writing style eases the burden of what otherwise might prove an overwhelming exercise in information overload for readers relatively inexperienced in 3D.

The text thoroughly explores the fundamental components of 3D work, and in fine detail: modeling; texturing; lighting; animation; rendering; cinematography; post effects. But it delves infinitely deeper than this, including interesting and revealing interviews with significant industry talents, addressing trade applications, the work environment, demo reel development, art direction and project planning, employment issues and more. Authored as a text targeting beginners and intermediate-level talents in 3D computer graphics, "3D Graphics & Animation (Second Edition)" also equips readers with a fairly comprehensive list and explanation of key field terms, including some with which many experienced users possibly aren't familiar. All the nuts and bolts of 3D development are here, but it's Giambruno's passionate dedication--as alluded to in his foreword--to inspiring and educating novices and other genre enthusiasts that really sets this title apart as a complete, general industry reference. The author's interviews with former coworkers and continuing associates illuminate the ingredients helpful or essential to a successful career in 3D graphics.

Aside from some occasional, cumbersome and overly technical explanations of such factors as lighting temperature scales and binary math, the author squarely and applicably strikes the mark in every respect. An industry professional with 12 years of 3D experience as an artist and art/project director on both conventional and contractual employment bases, Giambruno discusses the types of jobs available in 3D, the production processes and learning methods. He tackles all essential modeling methods and techniques, interface elements, perspective, texture acquisition/creation/tiling, mapping details, illumination types and methods, low-polygon creation wares, material shaders, digital imaging, photography, character choreography and animation.

An invaluable topic in the text is the intricacies of lighting: basic photographic arrangements; lighting characteristics; lighting mood; methodologies; volumetricity and more. These are critical details of 3D that often are neglected not only in how-to texts, but also--embarrassingly so, to the perpetrators--by renowned digital visual effects studios in the development of feature-entertainment material. Giambruno also deeply explores cinematography, including camera focal length, focus and aperture, movement and viewpoints.

In addition, "3D Graphics & Animation (Second Edition)" embraces important rendering and output issues, including media resolutions, palettes, alpha channels, atmospherics and post FX. Of key interest to broadcast enthusiasts, too, is detailed information about video standards and caveats, render settings, safe zones and aspect ratio. Furthermore, both the printed tutorials and those archived on the companion CD are well-structured and easy-to-follow. Carefully progressing through these instructional sessions certainly will leave beginners achieving a substantial sense of accomplishment and early competence--something that all too often cannot rightfully be said about published tuts.

A non-product-specific printed guide to "everything 3D," the softcover text is supplemented by 48 CD-archived tutorials whose versions are tailored to 3ds max (release 4 or above), LightWave 3D (v. 7 or higher) and Maya (4 or higher), and numbered steps, crisp screenshots and finished visuals accompany these exercises. Also included on the CD are some stellar finished sequences produced by former Giambruno employer Mondo Media. Rounding out the CD-based material are the 3D Graphics & Animation Web List (HTML), five PDF appendices and Chapter 12: Getting the Job. The Web List includes references to CG-specific sites, organizations, schools, 3D software-producer contact information, image and mesh library publishers and interviewee contact data. An extensive terms glossary and a useful index appear at the publication's aft.

As for the book's visuals, project and software screenshots are illustrative, the "Notes" informative, and the occasional "Definition" entrees enlightening. The full-color "Image Gallery" is interesting, inspiring and fairly extensive.

This book does slant somewhat toward the game-development market and, although this arena is burgeoning at present, some 3D enthusiasts may not be inclined in this direction. (But then, the author's expertise, to a large degree, comprises game-creation efforts, so it's difficult to avoid this emphasis.) Some slightly annoying manifestations appear, such as a two-page-plus "Acknowledgements" section at the outset and the illustrative mini-dramas that precede the chapters. The former is difficult to avoid, though, as artists often easily form "mutual admiration societies." (The author very well might respond: "Touché.") As for the latter, well, each brief dialogue is only a page in length. These asides probably serve more to gratify the author's affinity for storytelling than anything else, but they also may be his method for taking the edge off what, for some, may be intimidating material. No harm done. And one final thing: For those 3D folk who aren't enamored with Discreet's 3ds max, the frequent references to this product might miff a bit. Some camps are very possessive of their software, and these do include ones that much-prefer another or other products. (But it's difficult--if not impossible--to deny max's saturation and prowess in the game genre.)

The bottom line: If you're interested in exploring a career in 3D or just in dabbling in the medium as a hobbyist, this text is nearly a must-have. For intermediate-level 3D types, much of the technically specific material may be quite useful. And again, even some genuine pros--particularly if untrained in filmmaking and/or color theory--may at least learn a few terms previously unknown to them. Regardless of user experience level, "3D Graphics & Animation (Second Edition)" serves--at least to some extent--as a valuable reference of industry terminology.

Summary of 3D Graphics & Animation (2nd Edition)

3d Graphics & Animations is the book to help readers break into the 3D marketplace. Learn from the experiences of working professionals as shared through insightful interviews. As a second edition, this book builds on the well-received segments of the first edition to cover the basics of 3D in general terms starting with "What is 3D?" and progressing step-by-step through modeling, texturing, lighting and animation. The book also offers coverage of such related topics as developing a story concept, storyboarding, and putting together a demo real and portfolio. It even provides interview tips! New elements in this second edition include interviews from industry leaders as well as application specific tutorials for 3ds max 4, Maya 4, and LightWave 7 that are included on the CD.

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