This is the web site for the book "Mastering mental ray" by Jennifer O'Connor, to be published by Wiley/Sybex in April of 2010.  The book is based on 3ds Max Design, although mental ray is mental ray no matter what the application.

Learn.

Discover.

Teach. 

Repeat.

Pre-Oder the book now on Amazon.com!  Use this link and I make an extra $2.  :) 

 "Mastering mr" is part of the Sybex Mastering series of books.  Most of the examples will be useable and pertain to 3ds Max/Design 2010 and newer.  The book content pertain to 3ds Max r9 and newer, and examples are provided primarily in 2010 formats.

The book is an expansion of the "mental ray Essentials" series of training documents that I made available to my students and members of the Chicago Autodesk Animation User's Group Association (AAUGA).

The mental ray sample scene Light Gallery:

 (A Classic mr demo scene shown day-lit and rendered with Importons and Irradiance Particles.)

You can access the two free mental ray publications with the links here:

     * mental ray Essentials 101: Fundamentals

     * mental ray Essentials 102: Lighting

Accelerated Learning and Advanced Resources 

The Mmr book comes with a searchable PersonalBrain - a 'Mind Map' of mental ray and 3ds Max/Design.   This will help you with learning and searching for information, and will cover the basics of the selected topics and point you towards expanded knowledge in the book.  Mastering a subject is not always about knowing everything, but about being aware of what is possible and knowing where to find the information you need.  This tool gives you instant access to my mental ray knowledge, and is updated frequently.

Read more Here.

Importons and Irradiance Particles 

In addition to extensive coverage of Final Gather and Global Illumination, another focus of the book are the hidden features of Importons and Irradiance Particles.

 (Design by architect Howard Holtzman for a Bahamas residence at Cabbage Beach.  Daylight scene rendered with Importons and Irradiance Particles.)

A local download of the ctrl.ghost  Importons and Irradiance Particle enablers are available Here for Max 2009 and Here for Max 2010. 

(Image-Based Lighting with Irradiance Particles, and demonstrating the combining of rendered geometry with an HDRI background/environment map and Ambient Occlusion.)

 (The Insu-Load prototype device by QE Design Lab.)

Questions and Comments

If you have any questions or comments on mental ray training, please feel free to write me at jenni at mastering-mentalray.com.  You can see additional samples rendered by 4DA in mental ray at www.4da-inc.com.

 (Ocean Prime Restaurant design by Knauer, Inc.  Modeled and rendered by 4DA in mental ray using Importons and Irradiance Particles.)

Current progress:  441 manuscript pages w/pictures, 125k words, January 20, 2009.
 

Learn. Discover. Teach. Repeat. 

  Jennifer

All images rendered by Jennifer O'Connor and 4D Artists, Inc.  All rights reserved.