I feel fortunate to be part of the 3D world at a time when it appears that the real world is c- pletely embracing our work. My long-time friend Brian Zajac started in the 3D business a long time ago, when a typical workstation cost $100, 000, and a simple animation that today would take only minutes to render took weeks. He gave up 3D and turned his sights to a career in web design where he wouldn't have to wait so long to see the fruits of his labor. Many architectural visualization c- panies struggled to survive these early days of 3D, when the software lacked the quality that many clients demanded, and the cost of equipment was a great a burden to manage. But just like the c- version from hand-drawn architectural blueprints to computer-aided drafting in the 90s, 3D visu- izations have gained the necessary backing to make our work the standard-before long it will be the norm. Now anyone with enough drive and desire can start a 3D visualization business from their own home with just a single computer. With new developments in chip technology on the horizon, such as the much anticipated Cell chip, the near future promises even greater power for all of us to build better scenes and render them in a fraction of the time it takes today. | Foundation 3Ds Max 8 Architectural Visualization by Brian L. Smith, Hardcover | Indigo Chapters