About as Complete as you could Ask

This huge 1255 page book is truly Bible sized as is needed to describe such a massive software system. By any standard ?max? is massive. It is, of course, a graphics software package capable of the most advanced graphical images.

Books on software systems have to balance between being a reference book with a structure that makes it easy to find what you seek. Or the book can be a tutorial that leads the reader along a path intended to get him using the software quickly. This book draws an interesting balance between the two. There is basically a reference book structure, but imposed within it are numerous tutorials on building particular images. This approach works well for me, when I'm looking for something specific, lighting for instance, I can find it. Or, if it's a brand new subject the tutorials lead through getting started to produce something useful. Then the reference like descriptions lead on to the more specific details needed for the particular project.

This is the fourth edition of this book. This has given the author time to work out the details the way he wants them, to take into account comments made on the previous editions requesting more information about specific points, and of course to completely cover the new features in ?max 6?.

Other Reviews

• i've found
• Not much help to the beginner
• dictionary
• About as Complete as you could Ask