Has anyone read any good Poser 4/Pro Technical/educational/texture rendering books, if so could they let me know what they were and whether or not they were good or bad. Many Thanks John

I'm very happy to recommend Poser 4 Pro Pack f/x & Design by Richard Schrand. Published by Coriolis ISBN 1-58880-099-7

Stay far away from anything by Shamms Mortier.

Oh yeah! That Shamms Mortimier is a hack of the worst kind! A sound rogering with the business end of an elk would be too good for that guy!

That bad??

Worse!

LOL -- Shamms is, Im sure, a really nice guy whos making a better than decent living writing books on things that he would do better to leave to others. His Poser 4 book was a good expansion on the manual, but it wasnt something worth the forty bucks Charles River was asking for it. He seems to think that the best way to teach the program is to exxagerate the hell out of it, so he winds up with the weird characters that he uses to distraction (Hes been using the same ones since Poser 3), odd color combinations, and p***-poor composition. Then he has his "masters" section, where he introduces the work of people far better than he could ever hope, and I can only assume he puts them in so people wont see Poser as just some toy program for making weird distorted characters. Hes also published books on Bryce (stay far, far away from that one -- go to the one by Susan Kitchens, Real World Bryce, instead) and on CGI comic books, which features -- to no small surprise -- weird distorted characters. The man has about as much subtlety as a fifty pound mallet. I suppose we should be grateful to Charles River for at least publishing something on this program, but you cant tell me they dont know anyone else. Note to Ron: bundle up your tutorials and send them a proposal letter! Now!

okay... okay... Nobody deserves the "elk" treatment. I got carried away, ya see... I just got a new elk in the mail and... Oh skip it... :)~ If one considers the term "Evil Genius", Shamms is probably the nicest guy around. chuckle

My Bryce book by Shamms fell in the toiled and it seemed a bit improved after that, most of the pages in the first part of the book stuck together. Seems things seek out their proper place at times.

I hate to break this to you folks. But Olde Mr.Mortier is writting yet another Poser book as we type. Planet earth is definately a strange place. ScottA

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No! Sirley you jest! Where do we forward the letters of complaint?

From the Charles River Media Website: CANCELLED The following titles have been cancelled. Animating 3D Comics Mortier 1-58450-024-7 Hollywood Effects Desktop Magic Mortier 1-58450-013-1 Mastering 3ds Max Animation Mortier 1-58450-048-4 There is a god! I plan to sacrifice several virgins this very eve! :)~

I think the Best Poser "books" can be found here and within the community. The info is abundant and free. -Jeff

I was just over at amazon reading the reviews for Shamm's 20+ books. Geez... how does this guy get a publisher?

When i purchased Poser, I needed all the help I could find... and I admit I used a gift certificate at Barnes and Noble for "The POSER 4 handbook" by Shamms Mortier. Of all the things that I have purchased for my Poser habit... that has to be most useless item of them all. The best help you can get is here at Renderosity, lot of great helpful people here. Also the User guide that came with Poser... mine looks like hell, but I refer to often... and I have not even tried the Animation part....yet. niles :)