Now based on Version 3, this practical handbook introduces readers to basic formZ concepts and serves as both an ideal self-paced training manual and desktop reference for more experienced users. Having become acquainted with the software interface, readers will progress swiftly to hands-on tutorials that will instruct them in modeling, drafting, and animation using their formòZ software. Coverage of formZ's high-powered rendering feature, RenderZone, as well as RadioZity, is also included in this new edition.

The book uses the first three chapters to discuss preconstruction considerations such as working from model sketches, using storyboards, building animatics, and building stand-in models. Building models in layers and integrating FormZ with other 3D programs is also explored. It's great to see important topics like this covered--3D modeling and animation is hard enough without having to reinvent the production wheel every time you start a project. Specific FormZ modeling techniques, such as profile lofting, surface trimming and blending, and conformal modeling, are explained in the next set of chapters. Each chapter contains a generous number of illustrations, complemented with an eight-page color plate section in the middle of the book. The latter half of the book is a set of tutorial projects that utilize previously covered techniques and introduce some new ones. This is the fun section, where one builds entire landscapes (terrain modeling), a sports car (mechanical and contour modeling), and hands and a face (organic modeling). The accompanying CD-ROM includes the project files for each chapter in case you're having trouble following along or just want to tear apart a project without worrying. Overall, this is a solid book for new users of FormZ. --Mike Caputo

Get up to speed on formoZ--the 3D modeling program of choice for architects and designers--with this first-of-its-kind, task-simplifying guide. Drawing on her several years of experience teaching formoZ workshops, author Lachmi Khemlani lets you bypass classroom instruction and lengthy software manuals, taking you step-by-step through the building blocks of formoZ. With an easy-to-follow workshop format that's tailor-made for both engineers and intermediate users, this all-in-one resource shows you how to create a variety of 2D and 3D objects; transform objects by various means to achieve desired configurations; derive 3D objects from 2D shapes in a number of ways; conceptualize dimension and scale, and work at multiple topological levels; personalize the formoZ work environment by creating customized colors, layers, reference planes, views, and symbol libraries; achieve realistic lighting and rendering effects with multiple light types, radiosity-based rendering, texture mapping, and decals; and much more. Into 3D With formoZ : includes a detailed appendix that introduces users to the drafting module, which helps in converting 3D models to 2D prints. There's also 400 how-to graphics, 32 pages of full-color illustrations, and a companion CD-ROM packed with full formoZ files for study and practice, plus a working demo of formoZ, release 3.0. It all adds up to the clearest, most complete look at formoZ you can get.