Focus on 3D Models [With CDROM]

By Evan Pipho

The book is a reference for developers using 3D models. Instead of simply showing a spec sheet, the book delves into the loading and rendering techniques of 3D models. The text is as API and platform independent as possible, so users of Direct3D, OpenGL, etc. will be able to interpret and use the information provided in the book. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1592000339
• ISBN13: 9781592000333
• Release Date: December 2002
• Publisher: Cengage Learning
• Length: 200 Pages
• Weight: 0.73 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.7" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Not great, not awful

While the model formats discussed are the more popular ones, there are quite a few details that were omitted in the book about them. On the other side of the coin, there aren't many books specifically for model formats. All the information that is missing, is easy enough to find with a little research.

Small, short and to the point

Explains some of the more common 3d models and includes an appendix with links about other formats not covered. This book only briefly explains some technologies, like skeletal modeling, and otherwise just tells you what you need to get them rendered. Just enough to get you started.

Good beginners intro

An excellent starting point for somebody that knows nothing at all about 3D models, but can only be considered a stepping stone to other books that gloss over the basics.He starts with a good intro to matrices and quaternions, followed by a good intro to modeling concepts, and then describes a few formats in detail. Unfortunately, he doesn't go into any more advanced discussion on how to put things together... i.e. how to...

Fulfills its stated purpose well

This book covers the loading and handling of 3D models from the programmer's point of view (not the artist's, which may not be immediately obvious from the title). Like other Focus On books, it's short (checking in at just under 200 pages), but doesn't spend a lot of time on introductory material or subjects not related to the main topic.The model formats covered by this book are Quake 2 (.md2), .obj, MilkShape, 3D Studio...

Good as a reference

Although all of the information in this book is available for free on various sites online, it's worth the small price to have it all in one bound hardcopy.A few chapters go over the basics of matrix and vector math, and the concepts behind animating models: not essential stuff for what is essentially a model format reference book.The core of the book describes in detail the following formats: Quake2 (MD2), Maya (OBJ), Autodesk...