Synopses & Reviews
Designed to provide readers with the skills and practical applications necessary to use VIZ for those who are familiar with AutoCAD. Autodesk VIZ 2008 Fundamentals is in the Instant AutoCAD series and continues with the tradition of delivering technical information in a quick and easy format. With integrated Hands-On sessions to illustrate basic concepts and lots of questions, texts and exercises, it offers a detailed look at VIZ, the 3D modeling and animation program for Autodesk. This book begins with an overview of VIZ and how it relates to AutoCAD thereby ensuring an increased learning speed. It then moves onto viewing, creating, and editing, special modeling including walls, doors, and windows. The book is completed with the creation and application of materials and the generation of animations. For those working in Engineering, Architectural Design and Drafting, Animation, or Computer Graphic Arts.
About the Author
Stephen J. Ethier and Christine A. Ethier have been married for 23 years. Both born and raised in Southern Ontario, Stephen‘s initial training was in mechanical engineering followed by an entire life spent in various kinds of computer education while Christine was initially educated in psychology and education and has several years training in communication and journalism. The pair have been writing textbooks on computer aided drafting and design, animation, and various related topics for Prentice Hall for the past sixteen years and have developed quite a list of titles for the educational and professional market. They live in the maritime region of eastern Canada with Seth, Zachary, Frodo and Contessa, their four cats, and Terra, their one grown up daughter who is studying journalism.
Table of Contents
PART ONE: INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER ANIMATION 1. Introduction to Three-Dimensional Presentation
2. Rendering and Animation Applications
PART TWO: EXPLORING AUTODESK VIZ
3. Interacting with Autodesk VIZ
4. The Fast Lane
PART THREE: PREPARING FOR 3D MODELING
5. Moving About the 3D World
6. Basics of Creation
7. Basics of Editing
PART FOUR: 3D MODELING
8. Basic Modeling: Primitives, Shapes, and Shape and Parametric Modifiers
9. Advanced Modeling: Compound Objects
10. Special Modeling: AEC Objects
PART FIVE: PRESENTATION
11. A Brighter Outlook: Cameras, Lights, and Rendering
12. A New Coat of Paint: Materials Creation and Applications
13. Let’s Get Moving: Animation
14. Follow the Leader: Hierarchy Linking and Inverse Kinematics
PART SIX: PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
15. Still Life: Working with Light and Shadow
16. Architectural Presentation: Camera Techniques
17. Artist’s Exhibition: Applying Bitmaps
18. Mechanical Motion: Hierarchical Linking
APPENDIX A: Installing the CD-ROM Files APPENDIX B: Importing and Exporting Files APPENDIX C: AutoCAD® and Autodesk VIZ®