Introduction Thank you very much for picking up Essential 3ds Max 2008. I hope this book will get you started and push you in the right direction as you are learning 3ds Max 2008. In this book, we will touch on all the major aspects of 3ds Max -- everything from customizing the user interface to creating a composite shot with your own background plate. Throughout the book I've tried to depict fun and interesting art while keeping the material attainable for someone just entering the 3D modeling world. I also go about creating this art in a realistic fashion. All too often when I pick up a book to flip through it, I see a perfect path drawn from point A to point B while creating a model. As nice as it would be to know just exactly where each edge loop and vertex needs to go, that's not how it is in real life. I want you to see the real process of creating a model for yourself so you can develop a keen eye for creating the cor- rect shape to finish that set of armor you've been working on or giving the right overall feeling to a dagger. I also want to mention that this book is meant to be a one-on-one sort of teaching guide. By no means is this a textbook or a technical manual. I want this to feel like we're sitting down together and walking through the key features of 3ds Max. I've always enjoyed learning by doing, and I've always consistently been able to recall more if I learn this way. If you're a get-your-hands-dirty kind of person, then this is the book for you. The only barrier keeping you from creating models that you see in your mind's eye is the interface and the creation process. This book should help you with both of those things. While you may still not be a rock star of modeling after finish- ing the book, I hope it inspires you to keep moving forward, always learning new techniques. ix