3D Studio Max 2: Effects Magic

Using a slick, full-color format, this guide successfully arranges an impressive array of special effects for 3D Studio MAX 2. Part 1, "Water Effects," teaches you how to design water surfaces, underwater ambiance and kinetics, and gushing water. In part 2, "Space Effects," you learn how to create space ambiance, such as the sun and star fields, and you also create science fiction effects, such as a force field and an alien planetary sky. Part 3, "Atmospheric and Terrestrial Realism," teaches you how to create foggy and snowy weather conditions and natural disasters, such as lava flows. The fourth and last part, "Explosions and Pyrotechnics," shows you how to create, among other things, a mushroom cloud, a missile launch, fireworks, the glow of a rocket engine, black billowing smoke, and steam. Although the authors use helpful step-by-step instruction and plenty of screen shots, you'll want to know 3D Studio MAX fairly well to get the most out of this book. An included CD-ROM has four bonus effects--Brook, Stream, Wrinkles, and Flamethrower--as well as original MAX files that you use to create the book's effects. The CD-ROM also contains Map files and files showing the finished effects. --Kathleen Caster