With the addition of Character Studio 4an advanced animation toolset previously available only as a $1,500 plug-in3ds max 7 provides unparalleled character animation functionality. Here to ensure that you start taking advantage of it immediately is the first guide to focus on just that aspect of 3ds max 7. Simple step-by-step tutorials, glorious full-color examples, and an easy-to-understand approach to tricky concepts will have you creating and animating your own characters within hours! Author and award-winning animator Michele Bousquet answers all your questions about character modeling, rigging, and animating in 3ds maxin the process illuminating the techniques used by game developers, broadcast and film companies, industrial designers, and more. As you complete the book's projects and exercisesusing the files contained on the companion CDyou'll learn the fundamentals of character modeling, character rigging, creating rigs with custom controls, skinning, character animation, and more.