3D Animation Essentials

Book description

The essential fundamentals of 3D animation for aspiring 3D artists

3D is everywhere--video games, movie and television special effects, mobile devices, etc. Many aspiring artists and animators have grown up with 3D and computers, and naturally gravitate to this field as their area of interest. Bringing a blend of studio and classroom experience to offer you thorough coverage of the 3D animation industry, this must-have book shows you what it takes to create compelling and realistic 3D imagery.

  • Serves as the first step to understanding the language of 3D and computer graphics (CG)

  • Covers 3D animation basics: pre-production, modeling, animation, rendering, and post-production

  • Dissects core 3D concepts including design, film, video, and games

  • Examines what artistic and technical skills are needed to succeed in the industry

  • Offers helpful real-world scenarios and informative interviews with key educators and studio and industry professionals

Whether you're considering a career in as a 3D artist or simply wish to expand your understanding of general CG principles, this book will give you a great overview and knowledge of core 3D Animation concepts and the industry.

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright
  4. Dear Reader,
  5. Dedication
  6. Acknowledgments
  7. About the Author
  8. Introduction
    1. Who Should Read This Book
    2. What Is Covered in This Book
  9. Chapter 1: 3D Animation Overview
    1. Defining 3D Animation
    2. Exploring the 3D Animation Industry
    3. The History of 3D Animation
  10. Chapter 2: Getting to Know the Production Pipeline
    1. Understanding the Production Pipeline’s Components
    2. Working in 3D Animation Preproduction
    3. Working in 3D Animation Production
    4. Working in 3D Animation Postproduction
    5. Using Production Tools
  11. Chapter 3: Understanding Digital Imaging and Video
    1. Understanding Digital Imaging
    2. Understanding Digital Video
  12. Chapter 4: Exploring Animation, Story, and Pre-visualization
    1. Using Principles of Fine Art and Traditional Animation
    2. Building a Good Story
    3. Using Pre-visualization Techniques
  13. Chapter 5: Understanding Modeling and Texturing
    1. Modeling
    2. Texturing
  14. Chapter 6: Rigging and Animation
    1. Rigging
    2. Animation
  15. Chapter 7: Understanding Visual Effects, Lighting, and Rendering
    1. Creating Visual Effects
    2. Lighting
    3. Rendering
  16. Chapter 8: Hardware and Software Tools of the Trade
    1. Choosing a Computer
    2. Using Monitors/Displays
    3. Working with Graphics Tablets
    4. Using 3D Scanners
    5. Setting Up Render Farms
    6. Finding Data Storage Solutions
    7. Choosing Software
  17. Chapter 9: Industry Trends
    1. Using Motion Capture
    2. Creating Stereoscopic 3D
    3. Integrating Point-Cloud Data
    4. Providing Real-Time Capabilities
    5. Working in Virtual Studios
  18. Appendix A: Answers to Review Questions
    1. Chapter 1
    2. Chapter 2
    3. Chapter 3
    4. Chapter 4
    5. Chapter 5
    6. Chapter 6
    7. Chapter 7
    8. Chapter 8
    9. Chapter 9
  19. Appendix B: Gaining Insight into 3D Animation Education
    1. Linda Sellheim
    2. Larry Richman
    3. Steve Kolbe
  20. Appendix C: Learning from Industry Pros
    1. Brian Phillips
    2. Jim Rivers
    3. Rosie Server
  21. Index

Product information

  • Title: 3D Animation Essentials
  • Author(s):
  • Release date: March 2012
  • Publisher(s): Sybex
  • ISBN: 9781118147481