Book Description
In this very unique book, you'll work through the details of EIU, while carefully learning the underlying concepts behind the tools and techniques of 3D itself. With over 70 tutorials and "step-thrus" you'll learn new ideas that build upon one another, and you'll explore the creation of many spectacular modeling and animation effects. You'll also find many insightful techniques in this fast-paced, no nonsense book that rip open the hidden secrets of EIU.
Beginning with detailed coverage of the Modeler program, you'll learn how to get the most out of EIU's powerful ACIS and ÜberNURB interfaces with product, architectural, and character modeling tutorials. From there you'll explore the Animator application with a step-by-step dissection of every major feature set. Extensive tutorials and project files are included for Morphing, Deformations, Lighting, Camera motion, Power Mapping, UV Mapping, fast Ray Tracing tricks, the Function Curve editor, and much more. The multi-platform Camera rendering engine and network controller Renderama programs are covered along with tips to send your renderings into overdrive, including a full Multi-Pass rendering tutorial. The Advanced section of the book includes tutorials on Character Animation and Organic Effects such as Water, Fire, Tornados, Soft-Body fabric animations, and much more.
Highlights!
* Includes over 70 tutorials and "step-thru" topics showing production tricks to enhance your own projects
* Provides complete tutorial files on the CD-ROM, including the files needed to start the projects and the final finished project files to compare to your work. Also includes the models, textures, and QuickTime samples
* Teaches users how to rig a character for walking using Bones and IK Handlesand then shows you how to make it walk
* Explores Character Modeling with the creation of a head using ÜberNURBS
* Shows how to create advanced Lip Synch using HeadGames for EIU
* Teaches how to quickly master high-end visual effects, including explosions, water splashes, natural fabric motions, and particle effects using both Dante and Power Particles Basic plugins
On the CD!
* Over 500 MB of support files
* A library of Solid Maps
* Models, textures, and, QuickTime samples
* The files necessary to start the projects in the book and the completed project files for comparison
* Access to FREE models from the Fact Model Disk
* A 3rd Party Resource Directory
* A complete library of EI/EIU manuals and a trial version of EIU
