The main problem with embarking on a career in 3-D graphics is one of choice--the tools are many, and the avenues for work are all over the map. It's difficult to choose a specific type of work, and often you don't even know the kind of question to ask to get started. Consider 3-D Animation: From Models to Movies a compass, a road map, and even a means of transportation. This clearly written book puts the world of 3-D computer graphics into perspective for the novice who doesn't know a pixel from a polygon. Over the course of 15 chapters, the author discusses the very basics of computer graphics and how 3-D applications work, and then puts them in perspective against other applications of the genre.
3-D Animation introduces us to the digital workflow and how the 3-D world works--orientation, navigation, basic tools, expressions, and features common to most 3-D applications. By the third chapter, the book is deep into practical matters by starting off with modeling basics. Subsequent chapters cover texturing, lighting, rendering, and animation.
The best chapter is less about the craft of 3-D graphics and more about the business. Chapter 15, "Getting the Job," consists of a helpful five pages on how to get an interview, what job descriptions mean, generic dos and don'ts, and, more importantly, demo reel dos and don'ts. (No flying logos or spaceships, please!) Learning a skill is one thing; finding a job is another. This chapter offers solid advice for any first-timer.
There are few entry-level 3-D graphics books that come with a fully functioning 3-D application. The companion CD-ROM is a full working copy of the venerable Strata 3D application. Strata's been around for a while, and while Strata 3D doesn't have all the features that Strata Studio Pro does, it's still a very good application with full rendering and file-saving abilities.
If you don't own a 3-D application yet, this book and the software on the CD-ROM are a great way to get your virtual feet wet. --Mike Caputo
