mental ray for Maya, 3ds Max, and XSI: A 3D Artist's Guide to Rendering

I had been using mental ray 4 rendering 4 a long time but I still wasn't very clear on some of the principles of use. After reading this book I understood mental ray far better. The concepts are explained very clearly & it goes through the algorithms in great depth. Its too difficult 4 a beginner but somebody who is already experienced in mental ray & has a strong background in computing will find this book extremely helpful. The book showed me many more possibilities of use & improved my rendering quality. I love this book & highly recommend it.

This is the first mental ray book I've found that clearly explains the options available in mental ray & how to tune those options. My only suggestion is that the author should put a concise list of real world materials & their corresponding lighting model(e.g. refractions that go through severel different materials(glass & water) with different IOR - dielectric shading model). I know these examples are supplied in the text but they are not in a central location.

This really is a fantastic book on Mental Ray. You learn many various aspects to a degree unmatched in any other book that I've seen; & the fact that it covers multiple 3D platforms, is icing on the cake. Truly a "must have" 4 anyone working in 3D animation & Digital Arts.

My only wish 4 this book, would be a more in-depth tutorial set, perhaps a companion book. But it is "nearly" a perfect book. :-)

This book is the book that goes under the hood of the mechanics of mental ray. I learned so much by reading it. The MR features in all three apps are equally explained. The author describes the topics in detail:

Shaders,Shaders & more... (Architectural shaders little explanation)
Final Gathering & Ambient Occlusion
Subsurface Scattering
Indirect Illumination
Textures & projection, & more....
A Bonus chapter on Surface Approximation on CD

I recommend it to all CG artist.

This book is 4 Intermediate users. If you are just starting out with Mental Ray I wouldn't suggest that you purchase this book. So far from what I can tell this book is a great learning tool.

Turn 3D models into film-worthy digital animations by mastering mental ray rendering once & 4 all. This must-have guide is the only book on the market to focus exclusively on mental ray in Maya, 3ds Max, & XSI, & it's packed with techniques & insights you can't get anywhere else. Best of all, the book's advanced rendering concepts apply to other rendering software as well, including V-Ray, Brazil, Maxwell & RenderMan. Discover advanced lighting, camera, & workflow techniques that usually take professionals years to figure out.