1. Foundation 3ds Max 8 Architectural
Visualization by Brian L. Smith
Great Resource And Learning Tool.
Welcome to the world of 3D architectural visualizations using the most
powerful and versatile 3D software package on the planet: 3ds Max. In just
the last few years, the visualization industry has arguably become the
fastest-growing 3D industry, and may soon overtake all others in total
number of users. Just as the use of computer-aided design became the
norm for nearly all architectural, engineering, and construction firms in the
1990s, 3D visualizations have become standard practice today.
This book takes you through the challenge of learning one of the most
complex computer programs ever created, by way of easy -to-follow
tutorials and instruction. It specifically focuses on those parts of the
program you need to know to produce stunning architectural visualizations.
The intent is not to show you every possible way to accomplish a task, but
rather some of the fastest and most efficient ways. At the end of the book,
there is a guide to marketing your services, as well as 20 top tips that took
the author almost 10 years to learn in a production environment—
sometimes the hard way.
3ds Max is a large and complex application, but by learning just the
features that apply to visualizations, youll be learning everything you need
to know to get ahead in the i ndustry in the shortest possible amount of
time.
My Personal Review:
The author lacks creativity in presenting effective tutorials for the reader. A
simple house and a bunch of exercises on teapots, spheres and other
built-in 3ds max objects. While I understand that the aim of these simple
exercises is to showcase 3ds max features, he should have at least
provided more challenging exercises (geared towards the architectural

2. visualization industry) either at the end of each chapter or at the appendix
section of the book. There were no tutorials on how to render an building
structure using night-time settings, interior structure using both daytime
and night-time settings, somehow the reader would have to figure-out the
settings for himself/herself. There were no guidelines on a lot of topics that
would be very helpful for people working in the architecture industry for
instance there were no examples on how to superimpose a 3ds max
building into a photograph (an important feature to showcase the
proportion of a proposed building to adjacent existing structures) no
examples on how to create lights using manufaturers specs. and no
examples on how to use third party plug-ins such as RPC from archvision
to provide vegetation, trees, people, cars in your 3d building model. -Again
these topics, you have to learn it on your own. The author has also a habit
of applauding a particular 3ds max feature in architectural visualization but
fails to provide exercises/tutorials on the other hand (eg. panorama
exporter, hair & fur effect for 3d grass). If your local bookstore carries this
product, find time browsing it before buying this book. Bottomline, this book
is not a good reference for the architectural visualization industry and for
people planning to study 3ds max 8.
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