The Key to Fully Understanding the Basics of a 3D World Prominently used in games, movies, and on television, 3D graphics are tools of creation used to enhance how material and light come together to manipulate objects in 3D space. A game-changer written for the non-technical mind, Essential Skills for 3D Modeling, Rendering, and Animation examines the complexities of 3D computer-generated art, and outlines the basics of how things work and are used in 3D. This text describes the three cornerstones of 3D—modeling, rendering, and animation; focuses on common elements; and provides a full understanding of the foundational concepts involved. Detailing the skills and knowledge needed to become an accomplished 3D artist, it includes step-by-step instruction with ample examples, and allows absolute beginners to move at their own pace. Master Anything You Are Tasked to Model The author incorporates historical information—presenting a contextual understanding of the various techniques and methodologies in their historical place. Each chapter builds on the fundamentals of 3D computer graphics and augments skills based on the concepts, enabling the student to learn both theory and application simultaneously. The book highlights two basic geometry types, polygons and NURBS surfaces, showing the student basic modeling techniques with both. While more techniques are available, an artist can cover any model by grasping these basic techniques. Supplies examples that are specifically taken from Autodesk Maya Contains exercises that are meant to be used in conjunction with the training videos on the website Includes a documented history of computer graphics Essential Skills for 3D Modeling, Rendering, and Animation offers a fundamental understanding of the mechanics of 3D graphics to modelers, animators, texture artists, render artists, game developers, and production artists, as well as educators teaching an undergrad or tech course in 3D animation.

The essential fundamentals of 3D animation for aspiring 3D artists 3D is everywhere--video games, movie and television special effects, mobile devices, etc. Many aspiring artists and animators have grown up with 3D and computers, and naturally gravitate to this field as their area of interest. Bringing a blend of studio and classroom experience to offer you thorough coverage of the 3D animation industry, this must-have book shows you what it takes to create compelling and realistic 3D imagery. Serves as the first step to understanding the language of 3D and computer graphics (CG) Covers 3D animation basics: pre-production, modeling, animation, rendering, and post-production Dissects core 3D concepts including design, film, video, and games Examines what artistic and technical skills are needed to succeed in the industry Offers helpful real-world scenarios and informative interviews with key educators and studio and industry professionals Whether you're considering a career in as a 3D artist or simply wish to expand your understanding of general CG principles, this book will give you a great overview and knowledge of core 3D Animation concepts and the industry.

Create high-quality 3D animations and models by using the basic concepts and principles of 3D art presented by GeekAtPlay.com's Ami Chopine. This handy studio reference breaks down the core concepts into easy-to-understand segments and teaches you the 'why' in addition to the 'how.' Using application agnostic step-by-step tutorials, this book teaches you how to model, pose, and texture your creations as well as scenery creation, animation, and rendering. Learn which applications are best for your needs and how you can get started making money in the 3D field. The companion website includes video tutorials, models, project files, and other resources. This book is endorsed by Daz3d.com and includes exclusive Daz3d models.

"If I were still teaching introductory computer graphics, I would not hesitate to use this textbook as it has just the right amount of coverage of the topic for a semester course and is presented in a highly appealing manner to engage the reader." – Gary Bertoline, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Computer Graphics Technology, Purdue University, USA Graphics-based 3D modeling and animation are relevant not only in the motion picture and video game industries, but also in many other disciplines including creative arts, engineering, architecture, education, medicine, etc. Understanding the basics of 3D modeling and animation requires understanding some basic concepts in physics and math. While some books assume the readers’ prior knowledge of these concepts, but 3D Modeling & Animation: A Primer explains these important concepts in a visually engaging manner. This book is not just for university students, but for anyone with an interest in computer graphics modeling and animation. Using a Software-Agnostic approach, this book and focuses on the modeling and animation concepts spanning across multiple software platforms. Employing a balanced approach that is neither too technical nor too artistic, this book instills the need for creativity and visual composition in animation. KEY FEATURES: • Uses a simple, clear, and concise approach to explain the basics of modeling and animation • Two hundred plus vibrant images to easily understand and appreciate complex concepts • Review questions at chapter ends to help readers better review the content AUTHOR: Magesh Chandramouli is a Professor of Computer Graphics Technology at Purdue University Northwest and is a Distinguished Visiting Faculty of Computer Graphics at Feng Chia University, Taiwan. He is currently serving as the Director of Programs of the Engineering Design Graphics Division of the American Society for Engineering Education. He was a Frederick Andrews Fellow at Purdue University, West Lafayette, where he completed his Ph.D. He received Master of Science from the University of Calgary, Canada, Master of Engineering from the National University of Singapore, and B.E. from College of Engineering, Guindy, India. He has received National and International awards for his scholarly accomplishments and has delivered invited lectures in reputed universities and research centers around the world.

Written by renowned author and 3D artist Kelly L. Murdock Autodesk Maya 2019 Basics Guide is designed to give new users a solid understanding of the fundamental skills needed to create beautiful 3D models and stunning animations with Autodesk Maya. Using clear and easy to follow instructions this book will guide you through learning all the major features of Maya. The text is complemented by video instruction. Each chapter has a corresponding video tutorial that introduces you to the topics and allows you to watch and learn how functions are performed in a way that a text alone cannot do. Autodesk Maya 2019 Basics Guide makes no assumptions about your previous experience with Autodesk Maya. It begins by helping you get comfortable with the user interface and navigating scenes before moving into modeling, texturing, lighting, animating, rendering and more. Additionally, more advanced features such as character rigging, skinning, animating with dynamics and MEL scripting are also introduced. Each chapter begins by examining the concept behind each task, the goal and the necessary features that are involved. Then you go in-depth with the objective of your task as you study examples and learn the steps necessary to complete it. Working your way through the comprehensive, step-by-step lessons, you'll develop the confidence you need to create incredible renderings and animations using Autodesk Maya. Who this book is for This text was created specifically for users with no prior 3D modeling or animation experience. If you want to work in a creative field or are just curious about how 3D animated movies are made this book is the perfect way to get started. Users who are migrating from another 3D application or upgrading from a previous version of Maya will also benefit greatly from this text. What you'll learnHow to create models using curves, NURBS, Polygons and moreHow to assign materials and textures to make realistic-looking modelsHow to use Paint Effects to paint on and quickly create complex 3D ModelsHow to use lights, cameras, and depth of field to render captivating scenesHow to use keyframes, motion paths and the Graph Editor to create animationsHow to use character rigging, skinning, and inverse kinematics to animate realistic movementsHow to add influence objects, skin weights and hair to a character for a more realistic lookHow to use dynamics to create fire, smoke, lightning, explosions, cloth and ocean effectsHow to enable raytracing, motion blur, and fog effects for increased realismHow to render stills and animations using Maya Vector and Mental Ray for different looksHow to use the Command Line and MEL Scripting to work fasterAbout Autodesk Maya Maya is a program, created by Autodesk, used to model, animate, and render 3D scenes. 3D scenes created with Maya have appeared in movies, television, advertisements, games, product visualizations, and on the Web. With Maya, you can create and animate your own 3D scenes and render them as still images or as animation sequences.

Get up and running with Blender 3D through a series of practical projects that will help you learn core concepts of 3D design like modeling, sculpting, materials, textures, lighting, and rigging using the latest features of Blender 2.83 Key Features • Learn the basics of 3D design and navigate your way around the Blender interface • Understand how 3D components work and how to create 3D content for your games • Familiarize yourself with 3D Modeling, Texturing, Lighting, Rendering and Sculpting with Blender Book Description Blender is a powerful 3D creation package that supports every aspect of the 3D pipeline. With this book, you'll learn about modeling, rigging, animation, rendering, and much more with the help of some interesting projects. This practical guide, based on the Blender 2.83 LTS version, starts by helping you brush up on your basic Blender skills and getting you acquainted with the software toolset. You’ll use basic modeling tools to understand the simplest 3D workflow by customizing a Viking themed scene. You'll get a chance to see the 3D modeling process from start to finish by building a time machine based on provided concept art. You will design your first 2D character while exploring the capabilities of the new Grease Pencil tools. The book then guides you in creating a sleek modern kitchen scene using EEVEE, Blender’s new state-of-the-art rendering engine. As you advance, you'll explore a variety of 3D design techniques, such as sculpting, retopologizing, unwrapping, baking, painting, rigging, and animating to bring a baby dragon to life. By the end of this book, you'll have learned how to work with Blender to create impressive computer graphics, art, design, and architecture, and you'll be able to use robust Blender tools for your design projects and video games. What you will learn • Explore core 3D modeling tools in Blender such as extrude, bevel, and loop cut • Understand Blender's Outliner hierarchy, collections, and modifiers • Find solutions to common problems in modeling 3D characters and designs • Implement lighting and probes to liven up an architectural scene using EEVEE • Produce a final rendered image complete with lighting and post-processing effects • Learn character concept art workflows and how to use the basics of Grease Pencil • Learn how to use Blender's built-in texture painting tools Who this book is for Whether you're completely new to Blender, or an animation veteran enticed by Blender's newest features, this book will have something for you. Table of Contents • Introduction to 3D and the Blender User Interface • Editing a Viking Scene with a Basic 3D Workflow • Modeling a Time Machine - Part 1 • Modeling a Time Machine - Part 2 • Modern Kitchen - Part 1: Kitbashing • Modern Kitchen - Part 2: Materials and Textures • Modern Kitchen - Part 3: Lighting and Rendering • Illustrating an Alien Hero with Grease Pencil • Animating an Exquisite Corpse in Grease Pencil • Animating a Stylish Short with Grease Pencil • Creating a Baby Dragon - Part 1: Sculpting • Creating a Baby Dragon - Part 2: Retopology • Creating a Baby Dragon - Part 3: UV Unwrapping • Creating a Baby Dragon - Part 4: Baking and Painting Textures • Creating a Baby Dragon - Part 5: Rigging and Animation • The Wide World of Blender

Character rigging is the method with which you create a system for animating a character. A rig is represented by two primary mechanics: the skeleton, consisting of hierarchical rotations to drive the motions, and a skin, or method of deforming the geometry that makes up the character model. Essential Skills in Character Rigging is a beginner's gui