Tradigital 3ds Max: A CG Animator's Guide to Applying the Classic Principles of Animation

Focal Press adds a new star to its brightening constellation of superb Animation titles: The "Tradigital" line of books. "Tradigital" titles bridge the gap between animating with a particular software tool, and applying the 12 principles of animation to your work. The first three titles in the series cover: 3ds Max, Maya, and Blender. The 12 basic principles of animation were introduced by the Disney animators Ollie Johnston and Frank Thomas, who wanted to codify the efforts of the leading Disney animators from the 1930s onwards to produce more realistic animations. The principles mainly teach animators how to create characters that look like they are adhering to the basic laws of physics. The principles also deal with more abstract issues, such as emotional timing and character appeal. Today, the core Disney principles are generally adopted by animators around the world. Though originally intended to apply to traditional, hand-drawn animation, the principles still have great relevance for today's more prevalent computer animation. Richard Lapidus presents "Tradigital 3ds Max" which shows animators how to use the 3ds Max controls, while applying the classical principles of animation and core techniques. With our new "Tradigital" series, we are finally bridging the gap between software-specific instruction and the world of classical animation. Trusted 3ds Max authority , Richard Lapidus has 15 years of experience teaching this subject to Fortune 500 companies as a Certified Instructor, and entry-level students as a Tenured Professor. The "Tradigital" promise of offering specific tool-set instruction and connecting it with the classical principles of animation that all great animators need to know. Faced with so many tools, students spend most of their time learning how to model, yet never actually learn what it means to breathe life into their work . This book shows how to enhance the process of animation using traditional techniques which have captivated viewers of animation for decades. Animators will learn how to: make the camera an integral participant in the scene, use overlapping motion to create more realistic animation, use the graphic editors to examine timing and enhance the flow of your projects. Several obstacle files will be provided with practical solutions, so that animators can learn what NOT to do. Ready-made models will be provided so that animators can practice techniques as they follow the clear tutorials presented. Companion web site offers: all tutorials/projects, plus camtasia created flash videos showing necessary click-throughs.