3ds Max Modeling for Games - Insider’s Guide to Game Character, Vehicle, and Environment Modeling

Oct 14, 2026

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A practical game art workflow guide focused on modeling assets in 3ds Max for real-time games. The book covers low-poly and mid-poly production approaches, starting from simple base meshes, then expanding into texture creation from photographs, normal mapping techniques, and building complex objects from primitives. Vehicle and character chapters compare high- and low-poly methods, followed by guidance on portfolios and interviews, reinforced with a gallery and index for reference.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryGeneral

FormatPDF

Pages337

Reading Time1 h 58 min

AccessFree to download

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chapter 1 Low-Poly Asset 1 (Cardboard Box)

Chapter 2 Low-Poly Asset 2 (Oil Drum)

Chapter 3 Creating Texture Maps from Photographs

Chapter 4 Normal Mapping

Chapter 5 Creating Complex Objects from Primitives

Chapter 6 Low-Poly Vehicle

Chapter 7 High and Low Poly Characters

Chapter 8 Mid-Poly Environment

Chapter 9 Portfolio and Interview

Gallery

Index

3ds Max Modeling for Games This page intentionally left blank 3ds Max Modeling for Games Insider’s Guide to Game Character, Vehicle, and Environment Modeling Andrew Gahan AMSTERDAM • BOSTON • HEIDELBERG • LONDON NEW YORK • OXFORD • PARIS • SAN DIEGO SAN FRANCISCO • SINGAPORE • SYDNEY • TOKYO Focal Press is an imprint of Elsevier 􀀄 Focal Press is an imprint of Elsevier 30 Corporate Drive, Suite 400, Burlington, MA 01803, USA Linacre House, Jordan Hill, Oxford OX2 8DP, UK © 2009 Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Permissions may be sought directly from Elsevier’s Science & Technology Rights Department in Oxford, UK: phone: (􀀂44) 1865 843830, fax: (􀀂44) 1865 853333, [E-mail: permissions@elsevier.com.You may also](E-mail: permissions@elsevier.com.You may also) complete your request online via the Elsevier homepage ([http://elsevier.com](http://elsevier.com)), by selecting “Support & Contact” then“Copyright and Permission” and then “Obtaining Permissions.” Recognizing the importance of preserving what has been written, Elsevier prints its books on acid-free paper whenever possible. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Gahan,Andrew. 3ds Max modeling for games : insider’s guide to game character, vehicle, and environment modeling / Andrew Gahan. [p. cm](p. cm). Includes index. ISBN 978-0-240-81061-4 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Computer animation. 2. Computer graphics. 3. 3ds max (Computer ﬁle) 4. Computer games—Design. I.Title. TR897 .7. G32 2008 006.6 􀀃 96—dc22 2008024133 British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. ISBN: 978-0-240-81061-4 For information on all Focal Press publications visit our website [at www.books.elsevier.com](at www.books.elsevier.com) Typeset by Charon Tec Ltd., A Macmillan Company. ([www.macmillansolutions.com](www.macmillansolutions.com)) 08 09 10 11 12 5 4 3 2 1 Printed in Canada To Lisa and Robert This page intentionally left blank Contents Dedication v Acknowledgments ix Introduction xi Chapter 1 Low-Poly Asset 1 (Cardboard Box) 1 Chapter 2 Low-Poly Asset 2 (Oil Drum) 17 Chapter 3 Creating Texture Maps from Photographs 35 Chapter 4 Normal Mapping 53 Chapter 5 Creating Complex Objects from Primitives 71 Chapter 6 Low-Poly Vehicle 91 Chapter 7 High and Low Poly Characters 161 Chapter 8 Mid-Poly Environment 265 Chapter 9 Portfolio and Interview 289 Gallery 299 Index 305 This page intentionally left blank Acknowledgments Thanks to: Laura, Chris, and Georgia and Monica at Focal Press. Dave Wilson, for being the catalyst to write. Matt Southern, for introducing me to Laura and getting this started. The guest writers: Dave Wilson, Dave Grifﬁths, and Tom Painter. Mike Engstrom ([http://www.engy.org](http://www.engy.org)), Simon Nuttall ([http://www.iconized.com](http://www.iconized.com)), Colin Murphy ([http://](http://) [www.lruce.planetunreal.gamespy.com](www.lruce.planetunreal.gamespy.com)), David Milton, Brook Banham ([http://www.middlecott.com](http://www.middlecott.com)), and Andrej Svoboda, for the gallery images and all their help. Everyone at UVLayout ([http://www.uvlayout.com](http://www.uvlayout.com)). Ben Cloward, for the use of the shaders ([http://www.bencloward.com](http://www.bencloward.com)). Ryan Clark at Crazy Bump ([http://www.crazybump.com](http://www.crazybump.com)). Alex Figini for the character concept. Rachel Norton for the warehouse scene concepts. Everyone at Autodesk, especially Caroline ([http://www.autodesk.com](http://www.autodesk.com)). And a special thank you to everyone else who helped me along the way by reviewing the chapters and correcting my

FAQs

What modeling levels are covered in the book?

The contents include low-poly assets, a mid-poly environment, and high/low poly character workflows. This structure supports choosing the right detail level for different game use cases.

How does the book approach textures and surface detail?

It includes a chapter on creating texture maps from photographs and a separate chapter on normal mapping, outlining common techniques to add realism efficiently.

What topics are covered besides modeling?

Beyond modeling, the book includes guidance on portfolio and interview preparation, and it provides a gallery and index for additional reference.

Oct 14, 2026

Upload by Rhys