Remember that new edition of the Poser book that we spoke about before the holidays? Well, Amazon just wrote me that it is shipping. I should have it early next week. jje

Hey jje, I got my notice too from Amazon today.... I hope this book is better than Poser 3 Handbook... We'll soon see huh.... =) ~Cindy

It's basically the same book with with new additions. -Jeff H.

Well the first book, Poser 3 Handbook made the Poser manual look good.. awww well, I learn expensively... lol

Question(s) from a neophyte: Is "the Poser book" a version of the Poser 4 manual? Is it published by MetaCreations? Is it any good? Tom

Poser 3 Handbook was supposed to expand on the manual.. Personally I was a tad disappointed... But since there are so few books (actually I think none other than the Poser Handbooks) about Poser that I'm giving this next one a try... And no I don't believe Metacreations has anything to do with content of the first book (from what I remember).. All I know is the foreword in the first handbook is by Larry Weinberg, Poser Creator... Sheesh I haven't looked at the book in a long time so I might be incorrect... The author of both Handbooks is Shamms R. Mortier ...Other than that I haven't a clue since I haven't gotten the book yet..It would be cool if all the info that is supplied here were wrapped up in a book .. Now that would make a good book... Anyway, I get help where ever I can find it... =) ~Cindy

Heh I think that is wishful thinking Cindy. But it would be nice wouldn't it? I wonder if any one person has a complete handle on all the information we have here. Do you recall what was on the first CD that came with the book? I was sorta hoping that, at the very least, I would be able to snag enough goodies to justify my $40. Shamms R. Mortier A pen name? If not, how did he survive high school? If some sort of expert, how come he aint wandering around here with all our experts? Inquiring minds want to know! jje

I've been a member for a year and never haunted the forums, being that I'm not really a forum type person but when I started reading some of the stuff I realized what I have been missing all this time.... I don't ask too many questions having figured out a lot of stuff on my own and the manual of course but I wish I had started with the forums a long time ago.. Sure would have been easier for me... As for the CD with the book .. As I recall it didn't have much to offer... I know I never used anything on it... There were a lot of avi's I remember... Hmmmm I should load it up and see what's on it again.... =) Only time I've ever heard of Shamms R. Mortier is in connection with his book... Don't know if he's ever visited the Poser Forums or not.. I guess he got the blessings of Larry Weinberg being that Larry opened his book with a forward... =) ~Cindy

I think Mortier posted once or twice just before the book was released, back when there was only ONE PFO, and mostly to 1) get permission to use something from the page, and 2) announce the release of the book. But I'm not sure.

What's the exact title of the book? Author? And the publisher? I gotta check it out! :]FishNose

Hey Fish, it's The Poser 4 Handbook, by Shamms R. Mortier, publisher Charles River Media Inc.... I'm in the US, not sure where you are but with shipping and taxes the book is costing me $43.95 from Amazon online... Mortier also authored The Bryce 3d Handbook & Raydream 5 F/X : Advanced 3d Modeling, Rendering & Post-Rendering Effects but I know nothing about those books... =) ~Cindy

I just visited the Amazon site and looked at the reviews. From what I saw people either hated this book or thought it was magnificent. Based on some of the comments in the "bad" reviews, I'm going to hold off. Same for the Bryce 4 book. What a drag. though that there is not a good teaching manual out there. When you've only got a few hours a week to devote to learning this stuff, a good walk through would be awfully helpful.

It's basically the same book with with new additions. It even has a few references to Poser 3 that they forgot to change. A tip for Mac users...if some of the BVH files on the included CD don't work, open them with a text editor and remove all blank lines.