Mechanical Design for the Stage

Author: Alan Hendrickson

• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: Focal Press (September 21, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 024080631X
• ISBN-13: 978-0240806310

Book Description
Scenic effects involving rotating turntables, tracking stage wagons, and the vertical movement of curtains and painted drops have become common in both Broadway and Regional theatre productions. The machines that drive these effects range from small pneumatic cylinders pushing loads of a few pounds an inch or two, to 40 horsepower winches running multi-ton scenery at speeds 6 feet per second or more. Usually this machinery is designed by theatre technicians specifically for a particular show's effect. Compared to general industry, this design process is short, often only a few days long, it is done by one person, design teams are rare, and it is done in the absence of reference material specifically addressing the issues involved. The main goal of this book is to remedy this last situation.

Mechanical Design for the Stage will be a reference for you that will:
* provide the basic engineering formulas needed to predict the forces, torques, speeds, and power required by a given move
* give a technician a design process to follow which will direct their work from general concepts to specific detail as a design evolves, and
* show many examples of traditional stage machinery designs.

The book's emphasis will be on following standard engineering design and construction practices, and developing machines that are functional, efficient to build, easily maintained, and safe to use.

* provides the basic engineering formulas needed to predict the forces torques, speeds, and power required by a given move
* describes the most common power transmission components used in stage
machines: roller chain, cable drums, bearings, gear reducers, etc.
* gives a technician a design process to follow which will direct their work from general concepts to specific detail as a design evolves
* shows many examples of traditional stage machinery designs

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Deconstructing the Elements with 3ds Max, Third Edition: Create natural fire, earth, air and water without plug-ins

Publisher: Focal Press
Number Of Pages: 368
Publication Date: 2008-10-24
ISBN-10 / ASIN: 0240521269
ISBN-13 / EAN: 9780240521268
Binding: Paperback

Book Description:

3ds Max is the leading 3D modeling, animation, and rendering solution for artists, schools, and production environments. The unique tutorial approach of this book permits readers to learn essential techniques that every 3D artist needs to create CG environments by recreating the earth's elements of earth, air, fire and water. No extra plug-ins are required to perform the exercises. Draper studies the real world and then simulates it with 3ds Max -a unique approach that reflects classical art training.

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Poly-Modeling with 3ds Max: Thinking Outside of the Box

By Todd Daniele
Publisher: Focal Press
Number Of Pages: 288
Publication Date: 2008-10-03
ISBN-10 / ASIN: 0240810929
ISBN-13 / EAN: 9780240810928
Binding: Paperback

Book Description:

Polymodeling is a modeling technique used in 3d modeling. Unlike box modeling, or other forms of modeling where you start out with a basic form or primitive object that determines the mass of an object, artists can use the polygon (the basic building block of all of the primitives available in 3ds Max). This approach allows for more control over the flow, placement and detail of the meshes that are built. Placement of vertices/points, edges and all other sub-elements that build our models is determined by the user, rather than pre-determined by a computer generated primitive.

This book is a collection of tips, tricks and techniques on how to create professional models for advertising on T.V and the web. The author has tons of industry experience using Max toward this end, and he shares the secrets of his trade. As Production Modeler for some of today's hottest studios (including GuerillaFx, Coke Zero, MTV, Old Navy, Nike, Target, HP) Todd Daniele brings real-world experience to the book. Daniele teaches the technical aspects of polymodeling, while showing how to ultimately create content in a dynamic, efficient manner.

Associated web site offers instructional files that show the models in progressive stages of development; plus a supporting internet forum: readers can log-on to this forum to ask questions or comment on anything covered in the book.

--Official Autodesk technique series book. We have the Autodesk green light for inclusion in the series.
--Collection of tips, tricks and techniques on how to create models for advertising, T.V and the web.
--Unique focus on polymodeling over box modeling.
--Quick techniques for deadline crunch - to speed workflow.
--Detailed exercises to take you step-by-step through the process of creating high quality models in a short amount of time.
--Author Todd Daniele (who is himself professionally generating Max assets for some of today's hottest studios) shares his insider secrets.

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Digital Art Masters: vol. 2

By 3D Total.com

Publisher: Focal Press
Number Of Pages: 288
Publication Date: 2007-07-16
ISBN-10 / ASIN: 0240520858
ISBN-13 / EAN: 9780240520858
Binding: Paperback

Book Description:

Meet some of the finest digital 2D and 3D artists working in the industry today, from Patrick Beaulieu, Philip Straub, Benita Winckler, Alessandro Baldasseroni to Khalid Al Muharraqi, Marcel Baumann and Marek Denko and see how they work. More than just a gallery book - in Digital Arts Masters each artist has written a breakdown overview, with supporting imagery of how they made there piece of work.

With Digital Arts Masters you'll understand the artists' thought process and discover the tips, tricks and techniques which really work.

Key Features:
* 50+ artists and 900 stunning color images show the best in today's digital art
* More than just a gallery - each artist offers insight into how their image was created
* From the team at 3Dtotal.com - cutting edge imagery and techniqes

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Essential CG Lighting Techniques with 3ds Max, Third Edition (Autodesk Media and Entertainment Techniques)

By Darren Brooker
Publisher: Focal Press
Number Of Pages: 416
Publication Date: 2008-11-10
ISBN-10 / ASIN: 024052117X
ISBN-13 / EAN: 9780240521176
Binding: Paperback

Book Description:

Certified by Autodesk, Darren Brooker's new edition teaches the production techniques behind real-world work. The tutorials take you from the fundamentals of lighting, right through to advanced techniques.

* Everything you need to learn the art of CG lighting in one easy-to-use volume
* Free trial software and detailed tutorials take you through every step of the CG lighting process
* Learn the art and science of lighting CG environments the Autodesk-certified way

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