Includes companion DVD with trial versions of LightWave v9.2! Essential LightWave v9 offers an unparalleled guide to LightWave 3D. Written to help users quickly take control of the software, this book is filled with easy-to-understand explanations, time-saving tips and tricks, and detailed tutorials on nearly every aspect of the software, including the new features in LightWave v9.2! Key features: learn to model, light, surface animate, and render within the first seven chapters!; master the LightWave v9 Node Editor for advanced surfacing, texturing, and deformations; learn to model with polygons, Catmull-Clark/Subpatch SubDs, and splines; uncover the secrets of distortion-free UV mapping and high-quality texturing; learn to seamlessly composite 3D objects with real-world images; create professional-quality character animation using FK, IK, and IK Booster; enhance your animations with expressions, particle effects, and dynamics; set up a render farm to rip through complex rendering tasks.

Computer Graphics & Graphics Applications

LightWave v9 Texturing takes you behind the fine art of surfacing your 3D objects using LightWave 3D. Because many artists find texturing and prepping objects for texturing intimidating or confusing, this book breaks down the process and makes it easier to understand by guiding you through LightWave’s powerful surfacing toolset and a number of helpful tutorials. LightWave v9 Texturing also demonstrates how easy it is to create surfaces using LightWave’s new, powerful node-based shading system. With this book go beyond texturing theory to find out what makes a great realistic texture; learn how to build textures using both LightWave’s classic layer system and the new Node Editor; discover how to unwrap and edit UV maps; find out how to create a variety of surfaces through a series of tutorials; enhance your surfaces with gradients, image maps, and procedural textures.

Companion CD included with 30-day demo of LightWave v9! The process of creating accurate and pleasing lighting in CG environments demands both an understanding of the fundamentals of light and knowledge of the available tools. LightWave v9 Lighting addresses these issues in a practical guide that shows you how to achieve your lighting goals using the latest version of LightWave 3D. With this book discover the tools and features of LightWave v9 that can improve your lighting; understand lighting concepts including color, shadow, intent, and style; explore a number of tutorials that demonstrate specific lighting setups; learn how to enhance your lighting with volumetrics, lens flares, projection images, and radiosity; find out how the proper lighting can turn a good shot into a great shot.

Essential 3ds Max 2008 offers a user-friendly introduction to the newest version of 3ds Max. From an overview of the user interface, tools, and modifers to modeling exercises that demonstrate the creation of an interior, a basic character, and a suit of armor, this book provides readers with a guide to getting the most out of Max. Learn how to model objects using a variety of low-poly and high-poly techniques; use texture maps to vary the look of objects; create and adjust lights in your scenes; unwrap models to generate UVW coordinates; generate normal maps for use in real-time simulations and game development; composite images with background plates.

Polygonal modeling is the process of creating objects in a 3D environment. It is the foundation for the creation of all 3D graphics and the essential building block of a career in computer graphics. Polygonal Modeling: Basic and Advanced Techniques provides in-depth coverage of polygonal modeling, including practical lessons on topology construction, a focus on the fundamentals of subdivision workflow, and a discussion of the technical aspects of modeling organic and inorganic objects. The book includes illustrated quick start modeling guides to 3ds max and Maya. Explore and evaluate a variety of subdivision techniques. Learn about polygonal objects and their most common properties. Discover how to use the tools and operations found in major 3D packages for polygonal modeling. Follow along with the step-by-step illustrated exercises that demonstrate the process of character modeling.

RPG Programming Using XNA Game Studio 3.0 provides detailed information on role-playing games (RPGs) and how to create them using Microsoft’s XNA Game Studio 3.0. The book examines the history of the genre and takes a piece-by-piece approach to producing a 2D tile-based game, demonstrating how to create the various components that make up an RPG and implement them using C# and XNA Game Studio 3.0. By the end of the book, readers will have built a complete toolset that can be used to create data for their own RPGs. Learn how to: * Creating the characters and monsters that populate RPG worlds * Add stats and skills to allow game entities to perform actions * Populate the game world with items and treasures. Construct a conversation editor to add another degree of interaction * Create a multiple-step quest system to give players goals to research during gameplay * Creating a tile engine for displaying the world Populating the game world with items and treasure * Implementing a sound and music system * Adding multiplayer support