Charles River Media

Animating facial features & expressions, 2d ed. (CD-ROM included)

This guide teaches beginning to intermediate 3D artists, designers, and animators how to create realistic facial expressions. It opens with an overview of the anatomy of the human head and facial muscles. Other topics include (for example) the lip-synch process and weighted morphing. The second edition features two new chapters on using 3ds Max and Maya for animating facial expressions. Contained on the CD-ROM are color versions of all of the figures from the book, as well as sample animations, and expression and phoneme templates in JPEG format. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Animation:Master; a complete guide. (CD-ROM included)

Animation:Master is an anomaly in consumer software. It is powerful enough for some professionals and is accessible enough for most consumers. Master practitioner Rogers assumes users have no experience in 3D animation but allows plenty of room for the more ambitious. He covers the basics of getting around on the software, then covers the interfaces, including the toolbars and global interfaces, workflow and the project structure. He moves through the ideas behind modeling and "bones" that undergird the action, which he also explains in terms of keyframing, posing and interpolation. He details character modeling, inorganic modeling, constraint, relationships with Smartskin and nesting relationships, expressions, camerawork, lighting, and surfacing. Advanced users will appreciate the material on special effects, rendering and compositing, and group projects. Rogers provides hundreds of examples and all the encouragement necessary to improve the skills of the novice without talking down to the professional. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Artificial life possibilities; a Star Trek perspective.

Baillie-de Byl (computers, U. of Southern Queensland) sorts the chips from the chaff as she figures out which of the possibilities will probably work, and which will not. Taking an accessible approach she covers the science behind dozens of episodes from DSN, ENT, TNG, TOS and VOY, exploring the body in terms of positrons, neurons, the android brain, physical and holographic beings and sensing the environment, the mind in terms of representing and storing knowledge, thinking and reasoning, and the soul in terms of imagination, creativity, humor and emotions. She also examines off-the-meter issues such as intelligence and the end of the future while avoiding the obvious jokes, as has this review. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Carrara 5 pro handbook. (CD-ROM included)

A medical illustrator explains the basic of 3D modeling and animation, and introduces the different rooms in the Carrara workspace. A series of 25 tutorials illustrate how to model with the Carrara spline modeler and vertex modeler; texture with different types of shaders, layers, procedurals, maps, and shading domains; and animate facial expressions and walking styles. The CD-ROM contains demonstration versions of Carrara 5 Pro and Hexagon 1.2. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Complete Photoshop CS2 for digital photographers. (CD-ROM included)

In this update of the 2004 edition, Smith offers new tutorials and material on the tools of this version of Adobe Photoshop, the "darkroom of the present" for the growing number of photographers making the transition from film to digital photography. He goes beyond photo-taking basics to manipulating single and multiple images, creating special effects, producing animation, and optimizing printing. The companion CD-ROM features the images appearing in the book and some of the techniques on video. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

The digital filmmaking handbook, 3d ed. (CD-ROM included)

This guide to digital filmmaking is intended for those working on short or feature-length films, music videos, or industrial or corporate productions. It explains the stages of pre-production, production, and post-production, from writing and planning to shooting and editing. Some basic computer knowledge is assumed. This edition covers new technologies such as high-end HD video and the new HDV format. It also details the latest hardware, software, and production workflows, and has new exercises. A DVD-ROM containing sample media and support files for the tutorials, additional essays and articles, and sample Adobe software, is included. Long is a writer, producer, and videographer, and Schenk is a freelance producer and film video editor. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Illustrating with Macromedia Flash Professional 8, 2d ed. (CD-ROM included)

Intended for graphic designers already familiar with Flash, this guide introduces drawing, design, animation, and texture techniques for creating high-quality, photorealistic vector illustrations in Macromedia Flash. The author also offers advice on viewing, editing, and coloring the graphics more efficiently. The CD-ROM contains Flash source files and images for the tutorials. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Practical Poser 6. (CD-ROM included)

The 65 tutorials in this guide show how to build scenes in the Poser 6 graphics program, pose human figures, use lights and cameras, prepare photographs, create custom faces and clothing, add hair to heads and fur, and enhance Poser renders. The CD-ROM contains example Poser figures and demo versions of Poser 6, PoseAmation 2, and UV Mapper. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Professional short films with Autodesk 3ds Max. (CD-ROM included)

Aimed at intermediate to advanced users of Autodesk 3ds Max, this text explains how to use its tools to create professional-quality animated short films. Experienced animators and producers Neuhan and Book guide readers through a tutorial covering each stage of the process, from making the first storyboards through character rigging, animation, lighting, lip-synching, and editing. Contained on the Windows DVD-ROM are color versions of all the figures from each chapter as well as the short films discussed in the book. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)