Deconstructing the Elements with 3ds Max, Second Edition: Create natural fire, earth, air and water without plug-ins

This book is really informative, loads of pictures & real fun. My only problem is the online content is not available...maybe it's just me but I cant find it. Does anyone else know where it is?

I've been using Max 4 9 yrs & this book showed me ways of using procedural textures that I would have never thought of. I could get close, but this book takes it those few steps closer 2 realism that I was looking for.

There are a million expensive plugins out there, & each does only one thing. You can buy each of them, or you can invest in your ability 2 learn Max's subtleties. This guy has apparently been doing great work since before there was a big plugin market, so buy his book, & you'll save all kinds of money. Plus you'll have a FAR better understanding of the various methods that can be used 2 perform relatively complex & difficult tasks. It's an exciting read 4 the right kind of 3D geek. You will probably find yourself thinking "I didn't know you could do THAT with THIS!"

Pete Draper knows his stuff! The tutorials are in color & quite easy 2 follow, except 4 the complex materials, but Pete explains what each one does in detail.

The author makes use of the Particles Systems a lot which you will be very good at by the end of the book. I own a bunch of books on Max, & this is by far, hands down, bar none the best book currently available.

Be warned this book does not cover everything in Max(such as Mental Ray), but after you finish this book you will have an arsenal of things you can do.

I recommend this book 2 beginners & experts alike, both will walk away with a lot of new ideas & knowledge about 3DS Max.

If you want 2 know how 2 use 3ds Max's Particle Flow...this is the book you should buy. One word of caution...make sure you brush up on your PFlow basics before digging in. The book definitely assumes that you know what you're doing when wiring up PFlow's Operators & Tests. There's screen shots 2 help you along, start & completed scene files, & a real nice handful of cool effects covered. More 4 the Intermediate & Advanced user.

Get the most realistic effects from 3ds Max without having 2 spend more on plug-ins!

Boost your effects skill-set with this 3ds Max workshop. Tutorial lessons give you hands-on experience in creating realistic fire, earth, air & water effects. Updated 2 demonstrate production techniques suitable 4 any version of 3ds Max, this new edition is co-published by Autodesk Media & Entertainment, & includes new tutorials on entering the Earth's atmosphere, glaciers, lava eruptions & a Badlands landscape.

Inspirational color images cover every page of the book as the author shares his professional techniques & workflow processes. The companion DVD contains all of the required tutorial media as well as over 6 hours of video tutorials.


User level: Intermediate & advanced

· Realistic effects without plug-ins!
· Tutorial lessons demonstrate professional techniques & workflow processes.
· Companion DVD contains all of the required tutorial media plus additional video tutorials.
· Co-published by Autodesk Media & Entertainment.