Foundation Swift 3D
Flash 3D solutions
(book review ***1/2 out ****)

Author s Honeycutt, Hallajian, McBee, Sharek
After more than 5 years, Swift 3D is still the best way to incorporate 3D graphics into Flash. What is surprising is that there are so few books on Swift 3D. Foundation Swift 3D has been available now for nearly 5 years, and it is still the most comprehensive book I have seen on the subject. What sets this book apart from others is that it starts with the bare essentials and gradually takes the reader to the next level. Each lesson is somehow related to the previous one, and this gives the person reading the book the basics needed before going to the next lesson. So it is not advisable to jump around while reading this book. The final lessons in the book incorporate all the skills learned in the previous chapters. For example, to create a detailed model motorcycle near the end of the book, you first must know how to create a wheel with spokes. That particular skill is covered at the very beginning of the book. In later chapters, a showroom for the motorcycle is created.
At first the book starts out describing the process of creating simple geometric shapes. Gradually, more advanced modeling processes are covered, such as lathing and extruding an object. Those familiar with Maya, Studio Max, and light wave will feel right at home here. However, a book covering those programs would be far larger in scope. Swift 3D is actually a lot easier to use than those high-end programs, and after completing the lessons in this book you will already be an immediate user of Swift 3D.

CD ROM contents:
Swift 3D trail for both Windows and Macintosh.
Full support files for all case studies and examples in book
Animation and model examples
Price $29.99
On sale on Amazon.
By Andrew Kear
March 18 , 2009