Notes on the San Diego 3DS Max User Group
Hints and Techniques: JKJ's Boolean Theory
Hints and Techniques: Neil Blevins' Wet Surface Tutorial
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Welcome to the group's site. It's fairly simple, but it should be informative. As promised, we will feature members' work, so if you'd like to be a Featured Member here, please let me know. Also, I am putting together a group mailing list that I will use to get late-breaking news to everyone. If you'd like to be on it, just drop me some Email and I'll see that it is included. Hopefully, this site and the list will make planning to attend the meetings much easier for everyone. I'm hoping that better communication will lead to a larger, stronger group.
Also, I'd be glad to add your links to the Links section, so if you'd like me to do that, just Email your links to me and I'll add them in.
Thanks for dropping in,
-Alan
alani1@cox.net
The San Diego 3DS Max User Group meets the first Thursday evening of each month at 7:00 PM at the office of Kelar Corp , a local CAD, Digital Media, and CGI oriented software and hardware vendor. They have been dealing with Autodesk for many years and are known as a leading local dealership for their products. Proprietors Derek Renn and Moe Mansouri have graciously expressed a desire to support the group any way they can. In addition to providing our meeting place, they will also be available for consultation regarding many software and hardware issues as well as perhaps providing certain digital media services to our members for an exrtemely nominal group membership rate. Contact me for more details.
The office is located in Sorrento Valley, at 6020 Cornerstone Court W, Suite 105, San Diego, CA 92121. Click here for a Google Map link.
Notes on the San Diego 3D Studio/Max User Group
Mission Statement:
To provide a forum in which
members can gain knowledge regarding 3D Studio Max and related hardware and
software issues through announcements, demonstrations, networking, and a general
sharing of information between themselves. The group meets the first Thursday
evening every month. I will do my best to bring the latest in news from Autodesk/discreet
and other Max-oriented developers to keep members abreast of the latest announcements
and product developments. Literally anyone is invited, from those just newly
interested in 3D imagery to professionals who work daily with the software.
It is the diversity of our membership which make us a strong, interesting group.
Meeting concerns:
1. Meetings will feature
at least one comprehensive demonstration of a Max technique or plugin.
These demonstrations should convey basic working knowledge regarding using
the current version of 3D Studio Max as well as advanced tips, tricks,
and techniques. They are often based on real-world productions. Often,
an informal forum type discussion based on menber questions will lead to
demos and explanations from various members of the group.
2. Demonstrations from outside vendors of related hardware and software products (Digital Disk Recorders, 2D design, compositors, software, etc.) will be encouraged and will be often provideded by our hosts.
3. Members are encouraged to show their work, and if they choose, explain how it was done. Members may bring their work on DVD,CD, flash drive, hard copy, still computer files, animated computer files, or whatever media is appropriate. Members are also encouraged to create and perform their own demonstrations for the group. Please feel free to contact me any time to discuss timing issues, etc.
4. I will try to include a general "question and answer" period where anyone may ask (and join in the discussion) of 3D Studio Max related issues. This can be done in a "forum" atmosphere in which anyone may feel free to ask, or answer a question. I only ask that folks who participate in these discussions do so in such a matter that all may hear and understand what you are saying. This lets the entire group benefit from the discussion. In fact, members should feel free to ask questions at any time during the meeting. These questions can lead to all kinds of interesting discussion.
5. Members are encouraged to use the meetings to announce any issues that may concern the group. This would include employers looking for artists, artists looking for work, a company announcing a product release, late-breaking news you may have heard about, or any general knowledge that the group could benefit from, especially issues concerning the state of the industry in the San Diego area. I will be glad to announce anything you feel is appropriate, or, you are more than welcome to address the group yourself.
6. I will try to end the "formal" portion of the meetings early enough so folks will have the chance to mingle, network, and generally get to know each other. This is very important as it gives all of us a chance to see what each other is up to. The meeting may well be one of the few occasions in which this many folks involved in the local 3D animation industry are in the same room, and can very well lead to beneficial contacts.
7. Please remember that we are guests in our meeting place! I ask that all respect the rules of the building.
8. Finally, remember that this is your group. I ask each and every one of you to let me know of any concerns you may have regarding how the meetings are coordinated. I am more than open to suggestions any of you may have about meeting content, protocol, and presentation. If you feel there is a way to improve our meetings, let's talk about it!
Thanks everyone, for all of your support over the years. I look forward to many more years of sharing knowledge and fun at the San Diego 3D Studio Max User Group meetings.
-Alan Iglesias