Form Z Modeling for Digital Effects and Animation [Anglais] [Broché]

FormZ Modeling for Digital Visual Effects and Animation is a valuable reference for Auto-Des-Sys's complex and versatile modeling tool. The book explores using FormZ for many types of modeling, including terrain, mechanical, and organic character modeling.

The book uses the first three chapters to discuss preconstruction considerations such as working from model sketches, using storyboards, building animatics, and building stand-in models. Building models in layers and integrating FormZ with other 3D programs is also explored. It's great to see important topics like this covered--3D modeling and animation is hard enough without having to reinvent the production wheel every time you start a project.

Specific FormZ modeling techniques, such as profile lofting, surface trimming and blending, and conformal modeling, are explained in the next set of chapters. Each chapter contains a generous number of illustrations, complemented with an eight-page color plate section in the middle of the book.

The latter half of the book is a set of tutorial projects that utilize previously covered techniques and introduce some new ones. This is the fun section, where one builds entire landscapes (terrain modeling), a sports car (mechanical and contour modeling), and hands and a face (organic modeling). The accompanying CD-ROM includes the project files for each chapter in case you're having trouble following along or just want to tear apart a project without worrying. Overall, this is a solid book for new users of FormZ. --Mike Caputo

Rindner, a 3D artist and instructor who is assisting the development team with Form Z 3.0, has written a practical guide to using this modeling software. The accompanying CD-ROM contains demos of related animation programs into which Form Z models may be imported as well as files for the tutorials covered in the book.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

formZ is an essential tool for visual effects artists, and with this hands-on book users will be able to explore its power and functionality in depth. This robust modeler has a full range of surface and solid modeling capabilities, and its superior speed and versatility rival high-end SGI modeling packages. With the tutorials and examples covered in this book, users will learn how to maximize formZ for the creation of exciting and innovative digital effects and animations. Features: -Detailed coverage of production workflow from sketching and storyboarding to

editing and media output -Coverage of special topics from animatics & volumetrics to layering

strategies and geometry mangement -Explains how to integrate form-Z with animation environments; 3D StudioMax,

Cinema4D XL, ElectricImage, & Lightwave 3D. -Comprehensive Coverage of complex surface construction and character modeling -CD includes demos of autodessys', formZ, RenderZone and RadioZity 3.0,

Cinema 4D XL -CD (Mac/Win) runs on Windows 95 and Macintosh 7.0 and higher. It contains demo versions of autodessys', formZ, RenderZone and RadioZity 3.0, a mini manual for the Demo, and demos of other related animation programs into which formZ models may be imported. Also includes files for the tutorials covered in the book.

David Rindner is a 3D artist instructor on form-Z,Cinema 4DXL, ElectricImage and other 3D applications. He worked with the staff of auto-des-sys on the writing of this book while assisting the development team with form-Z 3.0.