Whenever I withdrew to the computer room, my wife would say that I was off to my “fun and games.” I would flatly deny this accusation, saying that it was serious work that I was involved in. But later, when I emerged with a twinkle in my eye and excitedly asked her to take a look at my latest rendering, I knew that she was right. Working with 3D graphics is pure “fun and games.” My goal in writing this book was to take all my fun years of playing in 3D and boil them down into something that’s worthwhile for you—the reader. This goal was compounded. | 100 ONE HUNDRED PERCENT This book is a comprehensive guide to the vast functionality within 3ds max and is sure to give even experienced 3D artists new insights. Phillip Miller Senior Director Discreet Software Products COMPREHENSIVE AUTHORITATIVE WHAT YOU NEED ONE HUNDRED PERCENT Master 3D modeling rendering and animation techniques Harness the latest 3ds max enhancements from ActiveShade to Render Elements Extend the program s functionality using cool plug-ins _ 1 J 7- 1 Begin animating today with a Quick Start tutorial 4 max 4 JAM-PACKED CD-ROM Exclusive plug-ins PLUS models demos and tutorials ible Kelly L. Murdock 3ds max 4 Bible Kelly L. Murdock Hungry Minds Best-Selling Books Digital Downloads e-Books Answer Networks e-Newsletters Branded Web Sites e-Learning New York NY Cleveland OH Indianapolis IN 3ds max 4 Bible Published by Hungry Minds Inc. 909 Third Avenue New York NY 10022 Copyright 2001 Hungry Minds Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this book including interior design cover design and icons may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means electronic photocopying recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publisher. Library fo Contress Control Number 2001091958 ISBN 0-7645-3584-6 Printed in the United States of America 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1B RX QX QR IN Distributed in the United States by Hungry Minds Inc. Distributed by CDG Books Canada Inc. for Canada by Transworld Publishers Limited in the United Kingdom by IDG Norge Books for Norway by IDG Sweden Books for Sweden by IDG Books Australia Publishing Corporation Pty. Ltd. for Australia and New Zealand by TransQuest Publishers Pte Ltd. for Singapore Malaysia Thailand Indonesia and Hong Kong by Gotop Information Inc. for Taiwan by ICG Muse Inc. for Japan by Intersoft for South Africa by Eyrolles for France by International Thomson Publishing for Germany Austria and Switzerland by Distribuidora Cuspide for Argentina by LR International for Brazil .