and what a waste. It seems to be little more than a  "detechnified" and slightly better organized version of the users manual. What I wish some one would create is a book that is project based or a step by step to create various materials, atmospheres, terrain, etc... that could be used as the starting point for user exploration. Telling where the "numeric input control" and doing an entire chapter about it is about as useful as a three legged horse. Also, when is someone going to start selling more materials, terrains,skies, rocks, presets and solid growth plants. This product has the potential to be so cool, but it needs more content ( and Cornicopia keeps making the wrong stuff, all that Pirate nonsense) to be really powerful.

Just a little whine to go with my cheese.

I haven't bought it but I'm not too surprised. I have other books in the 'Revealed' series and they cater very much for the inexperienced user, so I don't buy books in that series any more. I'm not blaming the authors - this is clearly the brief from the publishers, who presumably think that aiming for the lowest common denominator guarantees the widest audience. Tain't necessarily so...

Good to know. You just saved me $90. Thanks.

Has anyone bought the Secrets of Poser experts book? Is this project based tutorial or a rehas of the manual?

I bought it too, and IMO it is a very basic manual. Beginner books like this one are necessary for mass market appeal, and I certainly don't fault the author. I was hoping for a bit more of a tutorial format where different techniques were explained.

I am still reading it, and I do find a nugget here and there. It would be great if there were a "Secrets of the Vue Masters" type of book as well.

I like the book.  Since I'm not going to shell out approx $49 for a printed Vue 6 Infinite manual, spending $26 for this book was a good deal. Did I want more, of course!  The book could have been 1000s of pages and still some would complain since then it would have been too expensive!  

Except for the first several chapters covering the interface all of the other chapters did have some nice projects.  The one for God rays is really well done.  The web site listed in the book has download files for the projects and a bonus chapter.  

AsileFX is the only other training material there is at the moment.  They are OK, but I will always perfer printed manuals over video.  They also have some nice sky presets and terrain brushes for sale - just waiting for the final release of Vue to see if we get any more goodies before purchasing them.

Peggy

Attached Link: V6Infinite products

Don't worry about available content....there's cool stuff comin' down the pike. Available soon at the Commune will be Cliffs 'n Caverns, a cave and cliff making kit that has materials, both displaced and regular made directly from the Luray Caverns in Virginia. Also, Postcards from the Rim sci fi pak for V6I featuring 75 materials that include both displaced and hypertextures, techno ecosystems, models and scenefiles. There are some test renders at my website...... Also in the works is Ecowear for Infinite Vol. II.

They look great Monsoon!  My credit card is starting to shake already!

MDT - Sorry you feel that way about the book. But, as with everything in life, can't please everyone. Hopefully there will be tidbits within the book that will help you out. And remember, it is geared for beginners. -RIchard-

Richard, not a slam on the book perhaps so much as the way it ( and many other books in a similar vein) are presented as a repository of information and techniques that are substativly different from the tech manual. I think there would be a great response to a book ( perhaps even an e-book) that gives a step by step approach to the more complex aspects of an application. I would pay big money if someone put together a book and/or CD that contained complex materials and formulas, skies, terrains and funtions. As a full-time professional illustrator, I don' often have the time to do the amount of learning on a new app to achieve some of the phenominal images I have seen. Same goes for Poser and other software, where the out-of-the-box content is often insuffiecient to creat some of the fantastic images I've seen here at Renderosity. Just rambling. MDT

Monsson, the stuff looks great. I already own several of your products and am looking forward to these new releases. Is anyone working on things like Solid Growth Plants? I have seen some bundles but am hoping there will be greater diversity soon, mabey cactus sets and solid growth rocks.

Well, I just purchased the book this past weekend and will take a look at it tonight. Had to take a break from reading, (Just finished the Poser 7 Ref manual). Also have to start reading Practical Poser. All I need now is a good book on Cinema 4D, but nothing is available for R10 yet. :-(

MDT - I didn't take it wrong. Promise. I have brought up doing a more advanced book on Vue and we're waiting to see how this one sells. I appreciate knowing how people feel about the book and, when given the opportunity to update it/them, I take all the comments into consideration. -Rick-

I don't have the book - no need for a beginners book.  Been looking for a more advanced book for a couple years now.  So I would buy an advanced book :)

Bonjour
I have receive the book from amazone.ca today  (very special price)
 I get a overall look during my diner lunch time and read some pages tonight.First impressions:il like it.
I am using Vue since version 2 so i am not a newbie.But,even i have composed lots scenes ,i never take time (and have patience ) to read all the users guides ( just read pages when i need it).I did by trial and errors  .
But i realise by this book that i never tried some old and ,of course ,new features of Vue ( i have VUE 6 infinite prerelease).These 473 pages with steps by steps lessons , give me a boost to try some new things with Vue
It is surely a basic book but it is the only one,a good one
Bad side: the black and white,poor definition.It is ok for me for the cost it is BW but it would be be more appeal with better printing

Now hope someone write a book for Vue like the excellent  Secrets of Poser experts by Daryl Wise.......

Makes me wonder: Vue is highly popular and soo complex that libraries could be filled with topics about it. But searching on Amazon I cannot find a single book about it except the one mentioned here which seems to be pants. Compare the book situation with Maya, Max or even Poser!

Quote - I have brought up doing a more advanced book on Vue and we're waiting to see how this one sells.

Rick, That's sounds like a bad idea. From what people are saying in this forum, everyone is waiting for an advanced book. So if the beginners book doesn't sell it has absolutely no bearing on how well an advanced book would sell. You've got to point the people at Vue to this and other posts where people are looking for advanced instructions.

I know the situation you are in I wrote Instant ACID (a book on Sony ACID software which currently has a 4.5 star rating on Amazon.com ) and I tried to make it readable by beginners and experts alike. It has something for everyone but many advanced users asked for more advanced topics but the publisher wouldn't go for it. :(

Hang in there and let 'em know we'll buy the advanced book in a heartbeat

~jr

I received the book today and I have had vue from Version 4.  If you feel you are well advanced in Vue then I see no problem wanting a more advanced book but blieve me I have learnt enough I didnt know about to make it worth my while of having it. :)
  If in doubt buy it and you will be satisfied. :)  Unless you know all about the features that Vue offers. :)

     If it would help me learn my Vue 5 Infinite I'd buy it in a heartbeat!