Book and Tape Reviews

Pro Flying Logo Techniques, Desktop Images (1994, RAVE Video Production Facilities, PO Box 10908, Dept. 400, Burbank, CA 91505, 100 min. $50)

Feeling overwhelmed by the 3D world? Professional LightWave artist Tony Stutterheim, known for his work on the popular television series "seaQuest DSV," hosts this guide to creating high-end 3D logo animations with LightWave (version 3.0 and up). He shares informative tips and tricks in an easy-to-follow presentation. Starting with simple text, Stutterheim teaches beveling, surface tips, curved text, and the "moving-sheen" effect. He also covers layout tips for more control over your animations, modeling tips to create sharper logos, and techniques for adding the "light-speed" blur effect to flying graphics.

You should note that while beginning LightWave users will find this a helpful tool, the real benefit is to the intermediate user. Though Stutterheim s presentation is clear and detailed, a general knowledge of LightWave 3D is prerequisite to create animations at this level.

Set Lighting Technician s Handbook, Harry C. Box (1993, Focal Press. 80 Montvale Avenue, Stoneham, MA 02180; 341 pp., $40)

Whether you shoot on a Hollywood sound stage or at home in your garage, the basic lighting techiques you ll use are the same. The Set Lighting Technician s Handbook introduces you to all the basics and then some. Hollywood-based set-lighting technician Harry C. Box shares a wide range of tips and tricks from his wealth of personal experience.