Essential Computer Animation fast

For those who want to learn more about computer animation without being swamped with complex mathematics, this is the book to read! Beginning with the relationship between animation, the human visual system, and computers, Essential Computer Animation fast takes readers through a broad exploration of the subject. Readers will learn all about computer animation techniques; computer animation hardware; animation software, such as Softimage, Maya, 3D-Studio, MAX, and Lightwave; post-production techniques; and animation applications.

Contenu

Introduction.- What is computer animation?- Who should read this book?- The aims and objectives of this book.- Assumptions made in this book.- How to use this book.- Computer animation.- Introduction.- Animation and Computers.- Animation and the human visual system.- Computer animation.- 3D Computer graphics.- Introduction.- From computer graphics to computer animation.- Principles of computer graphics.- Cartesian co-ordinates.- Modelling simple objects.- Modelling curves.- Surface patches.- Procedural modelling.- Perspective view.- 3D clipping.- Co-ordinate systems.- Transformations.- Rendering the image.- Colour.- Coloured objects.- Light sources.- Illumination models.- Shading models.- Rendering algorithms.- Texture mapping.- Bump mapping.- Displacement mapping.- Environment mapping.- Shadows.- Transparency.- Radiosity.- Ray tracing.- Volumetric lighting.- Shaders.- The RenderMan shading language.- Aliasing.- Anti-aliasing.- Conclusion.- Computer animation techniques.- Introduction.- Interpolation.- Function curves.- Parameters.- Channels.- Keyframes.- Inbetweening.- Motion paths.- Transformations.- Hierarchical animation.- Hierarchical geometry.- Metamorphosis.- Procedural animation.- Forward kinematics.- Inverse kinematics.- Particle systems.- Physical simulation.- Rotoscoping.- Constraints.- Free-form deformation.- Computer animation hardware.- Introduction.- Computers.- Motion capture.- Computer animation software.- Introduction.- Softimage.- Alias/Wavefront.- 3D Studio MAX.- Lightwave.- Other systems.- Plugins.- Post-production techniques.- Introduction.- Scanning.- Compositing.- Colour balance.- Film.- Video.- Computer animation applications.- Introduction.- Television graphics.- Computer games.- Commercials.- Multi-media.- Legal.- Computer aided design.- Virtual environments.- The internet.- Simulation.- Film special effects.- Computer-generated films.- Conclusion.- Glossary.- Appendix A: Useful Web Sites.- Appendix B: Renderman Shader.- Appendix C: MotionCapture Hardware.- References.- Index.