Good Direct3D books and tutorials

[Harry Hunt]

Hey there!
I'm looking for good books and tutorials on Direct3D, specifically on lightmapping and lightmap generation as well as collision detection.

Any recommendations?
thanks a bunch

[Alimonster]

This tutorial on lightmapping isn't too bad, although it's in C++ (if that's a problem, let me know and I'll try to convert it sometime). There's also a more general article at Delphi3d. I seem to recall liking another article on lightmapping but I can't find it any more. I'll have a look around when I get back home.

[Harry Hunt]

cool, thanks.
I was going to say that C++ isn't a problem, but then I looked at the code and I guess it IS a problem.
I'm quite familiar with Borland C++ but I have some serious problems with MS C++ and since I'm kinda new to 3D, I'd very much appreciate it if anybody could either find a Delphi version or translate it.

My problem is basically how to generate the lightmaps. I know how to do multi-texturing and all that stuff

Maybe somebody can recommend a book? I'd really like to learn more about 3D in general.

Thank you.

[Alimonster]

Can't say whether this is an appropriate recommendation, but have a look at Pulsar LMtools -- a Delphi program which (I think!) generates lightmaps from certain 3d formats for your levels (3ds or something). It didn't work on the work computer that I tried it on, so I have no idea whether it does what you need.

Can't recommend any books, though, because it's an area that I'd like to know more about too! This article talks a little bit about lightmap generation in a section "how do I generate my lightmaps". Maybe that will help.