Introducing 3ds Max 2008 -- Dedication -- Acknowledgments -- About the Authors -- Contents at a Glance -- Contents -- Introduction -- Chapter 1: Basic Concepts -- How to Read This Book -- What Is CGI? -- Production Workflow -- CG Workflow -- CG Specialties -- Core Concepts -- Coordinate Systems -- Basic Animation Concepts -- Basic 3ds Max Terms and Concepts -- Summary -- Chapter 2: Your First 3ds Max Animation -- Getting Around in 3ds Max -- Project and File Management Workflow -- The 3ds Max Interface -- Jumping Headlong into Animation -- Setting Up the Hierarchy -- Ready, Set, Animate! -- Summary -- Chapter 3: The 3ds Max Interface -- What Am I Looking At? -- Screen Layout -- Command Panels -- Controls at the Bottom of the UI -- The Viewports -- Managing Scene Objects -- Scene Explorer -- Summary -- Chapter 4: Modeling in 3ds Max: Part I -- Planning Your Model -- Modeling Concepts -- Modifiers and the Modifier Stack -- Look at the Mesh You Got Us Into! -- Editable Poly Tools -- Modeling a Chest of Drawers -- Modeling a Hand -- Summary -- Chapter 5: Modeling in 3ds Max: Part II -- Building the Red Rocket -- Summary -- Chapter 6: Character Poly Modeling -- Setting Up the Scene -- Creating the Basic Form -- Adding Detail -- Final Touches -- Summary -- Chapter 7: Materials and Mapping -- Materials -- The Material Editor -- Mapping a Pool Ball -- Mapping, Just a Little Bit More -- Maps -- Using Opacity Maps -- Mapping the Rocket -- Summary -- Chapter 8: Introduction to Animation -- Hierarchy in Animation: The Mobile Redux -- Using Dummy Objects -- The Bouncing Ball -- Using the Track Editor- Curve Editor -- Track View -- Anticipation and Momentum in Knife Throwing -- Summary -- Chapter 9: Character Studio and IK Animation -- Character Animation -- Character Studio Workflow -- Creating a Biped -- Animating a Biped.

Associating a Biped to a Character -- Using Inverse Kinematics -- Summary -- Chapter 10: 3ds Max Lighting -- Basic Lighting Concepts -- Three-Point Lighting -- 3ds Max Lights -- Common Light Parameters -- Ambient Light -- Lighting the Red Rocket -- Atmospheres and Effects -- Light Lister -- Summary -- Chapter 11: 3ds Max Rendering -- Rendering Setup -- Motion Blur -- Previewing with ActiveShade -- Cameras -- Safe Frame -- Render Elements -- Rendering Effects -- Raytraced Reflections and Refractions -- Bringing It All Together: Rendering the Rocket -- Summary -- Chapter 12: Particles and Dynamics -- Understanding Particle Systems -- Setting Up a Particle System -- Particle Systems and Space Warps -- Using Rigid Body Dynamics -- Using Soft Body Dynamics -- Summary -- So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish -- Appendix: About the Companion CD -- What You'll Find on the CD -- System Requirements -- Using the CD -- Troubleshooting -- Index -- Beginners' Gallery.