what 3d book to buy?

[mt_sabao]

i´ve been loking around amazon a found these that seem interesting:
-[digital] Lighting & Rendering, Jeremy Birn
-3D Animation: From Models to Movies, Adam Watkins

Anyone familiar with these? Would i find them interesting?

[DetoxIllusions]

Since this is posted in the Cinema 4d forum, I would suggest the Cinema 4D XL Handbook by Adam Watkins. Published by Charles River Media. About $50.

[bcbarnes]

I have both the books you mention, and they are pretty good. Unfortunately, most books that aren't specifically targeted at C4D usually don't mention it at all, instead giving examples in MAYA or LW usually. This can be a little confusing if you don't have the background knowledge to translate from what they do in one app to what we can do in C4D.

The Adam Watkins book on C4D, as well as Arndt's book, are both excellent choices. Do a search at amazon and you'll find them both.

I also understand that both these guys are working on new revisions of their books to cover C4D R8.

Like you, I'm in this as a hobby, and if you're like me, you'll end up with a pile of 3D related books. The stack on my desk right now is 13 books high...

[DetoxIllusions]

Also recommended is 3d World magazine as monthly it has tutorials on C4D as well as other apps. It is printed in the UK so if you are in the US like me it is a little dated when it hits the stands, usually about a month old.

[mt_sabao]

Thaks for all the replies, but the thing is, i´m not seeking a cinema4D handbook, i´m searching something more general, that offers me the theory of modeling, rendering, ligthning etc.
Because for learning C4D i´m doing fine with the tutorials and manuals etc.

bcbarnes: you said you have 3D Animation: From Models to Movies, Adam Watkins. I´ve read in amazon that this has lots of examples in C4D. How is it? Good?

[medula]

You have to get this book if you are a newbie or not, The Art of 3-D : Computer Animation and Imaging, 2nd Edition by Isaac Victor Kerlow.

A must have reference for all 3D artist and animators!

Here's the link for Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/047136004X/qid=1047650767/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/002-3243340-4780830

Here's a link for the digital lighting book:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1562059548/ref=pd_bxgy_text_1/002-3243340-4780830?v=glance&s=books&st=*

[bcbarnes]

I thought Adams book "3D Animation: From Models To Movies" was excellent. Lots of good examples, pictures, tutorials, etc.. Covers lots of ground.

[astrofish]

Pretty much anything in the 'New Riders [Digital]' series is good.

For organic modelling, I'm (slowly) working through "Digital Dinosaurs" (Ken Brilliant), and am impressed so far.

For animation, this one always gets great reviews. (I've got it but not had chance to study it yet):
"The Animator's Survival Kit: A Manual of Methods, Principles and Formulas
" (Richard Williams)

None of these are application specific, which is generally how I prefer it. I find that the app. specific books often spend too much time telling you which menu to look in, and not enough time telling you what you are actually doing and why.

Cheers - Steve

[jackb602]

If you're looking for books on general prinicples and techniques, one of the very best I've read is [digital] Lighting and Rendering by Jeremy Birn, as mentioned above. [digital] Texturing and Painting by Owen Demers is also great. I wouldn't recommend [digital] Cinematrography and Directing; that was something of a letdown. Another great book is The Art and Science of Digital Compositiing by Ron Brinkman. And if you're feeling really geeky, try Realistic Image Synthesis Using Photon Mapping by Henrik Wann Jensen, which explains the theory behind C4D's radiosity system. Hope this helps,
Jack

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