Can anyone recommend a book for beginners in 3D studio max?

-chris-

Hi everyone, I have just got a copy of 3D studio Max 7 and was wondering if anybody knew any good books to learn how to use it? It looks so complicated I will probably need an idiot guide book lol. I will be using version 7 at college so if anyone can recommend a book, it is much appreciated.
Thanks

superscaper

The graphics guys in our office use the 3DS Max Bible books all the time. Not sure how good it'd be for a beginner but they're certainly good for referencing. (e.g. http://www.amazon.com/3ds-max-Bible-Kelly-Murdock/dp/0764579711/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1220451025&sr=1-1). I think one of the copies of the book they're using is for version 5 so it's still very useful for later versions (we use version 2009 of the software at work).

-chris-

superscaper wrote: »

The graphics guys in our office use the 3DS Max Bible books all the time. Not sure how good it'd be for a beginner but they're certainly good for referencing. (e.g. http://www.amazon.com/3ds-max-Bible-Kelly-Murdock/dp/0764579711/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1220451025&sr=1-1). I think one of the copies of the book they're using is for version 5 so it's still very useful for later versions (we use version 2009 of the software at work).

Thanks, very helpful information. Do you use the software at work then? Did you find it quite hard at first? I just had a quick look & it looks very complicated to use

superscaper

-/chris-/ wrote: »

Thanks, very helpful information. Do you use the software at work then? Did you find it quite hard at first? I just had a quick look & it looks very complicated to use

Not personally no, my present employment is as a multimedia developer. Or in other words I do the programming and put in the models and animations done by the graphics guys into the programs. (My background is actually electronic engineering), so I'm afraid I don't have the first clue about using 3DS Max myself. Although I agree it does look very daunting. I might try and teach myself to use it at some point. You can tell ME how easy it is to use.

-chris-

superscaper wrote: »

Not personally no, my present employment is as a multimedia developer. Or in other words I do the programming and put in the models and animations done by the graphics guys into the programs. (My background is actually electronic engineering), so I'm afraid I don't have the first clue about using 3DS Max myself. Although I agree it does look very daunting. I might try and teach myself to use it at some point. You can tell ME how easy it is to use.

lol, I think it will be a long way off before I say it's easy. I'm starting college next week and I'm dreading using the software. arrrr well I'm sure I will survive, thanks for your replies

superscaper

-/chris-/ wrote: »

lol, I think it will be a long way off before I say it's easy. I'm starting college next week and I'm dreading using the software. arrrr well I'm sure I will survive, thanks for your replies

Not to worry, and like anything you'll always be learning new stuff. The graphics guys here learnt it in their degrees (virtual animation/systems etc) and they're still learning new things and of course they bring out new versions and hence functionality anyway. I'm sure they'll start you off really slowly and simply with the basics anyway (wouldn't be much of a teaching course if they didn't). The programs I'm actually building are for teaching flying military refuelling tankers and even they start off really simply without assuming much prior knowledge etc. In a few months you'll probably be wondering why you were so worried and overwhelmed in the first place.

ALL the software I'm using at the moment (in a commercial environment, i.e. I'm producing something that's paid for) I'd never used before only 3 or 4 months ago.

lotto-dreamer

something I found really helpful when teaching myself Adobe Premiere was looking at tutorials on YouTube - there must be plenty on 3D Studio Max (some will be better than others of course) - I found various YouTube tutorials really helpful in getting to grips with the basics and it made the books I'd bought much easier to understand.

I don't know anything about 3D Studio Max but this appears to have had some enthusiastic reviews and you can see lots of related vids as well:-

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=A0TOLIBq8gM&feature=related

-chris-

lotto-dreamer wrote: »

something I found really helpful when teaching myself Adobe Premiere was looking at tutorials on YouTube - there must be plenty on 3D Studio Max (some will be better than others of course) - I found various YouTube tutorials really helpful in getting to grips with the basics and it made the books I'd bought much easier to understand.

I don't know anything about 3D Studio Max but this appears to have had some enthusiastic reviews and you can see lots of related vids as well:-

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=A0TOLIBq8gM&feature=related

Thanks very much, I didn't think about using youtube!