3ds Max 2018 Essential Training

Discover 3ds Max to create professional 3D models, animations, and motion graphics. Learn essentials like spline and polygonal modeling, plus texturing, lighting, and rendering.

Introduction

• Welcome
• How to use the exercise files

1. Getting Started

• Choosing a workspace
• Customize user Interface and defaults
• Setting preferences
• Using project folders

2. 3ds Max Interface

• Getting familiar with the interface
• Using the Create and Modify panels
• Navigating in viewports
• Transforming objects with Move and Rotate
• Using hotkeys
• Specifying display units
• Specifying system units
• Defining the Home Grid
• Choosing shading modes
• Configuring viewports
• Customizing colors
• Customizing hotkeys

3. Manipulating Objects

• Choosing a coordinate system
• Choosing a transform center
• Duplicating objects with Array
• Duplicating objects with Clone
• Using Isolate Selection and Lock Selection
• Working with the Scene Explorer
• Selecting with Window/Crossing
• Collecting objects in Groups

4. Using the Modifier Stack

• Understanding level of detail
• Moving a pivot point
• Selecting sub-objects
• Building a modifier stack
• Understanding topology dependence
• Using a Volume Select modifier
• Clearing a selection in the stack
• Collapsing the modifier stack

5. Spline Modeling

• Creating a line
• Editing vertex types
• Revolving a surface with a Lathe modifier
• Editing Splines
• Adjusting level of detail with Interpolation
• Understanding NURBS
• Importing Illustrator paths to 3ds Max
• Rendering splines
• Adding a Bevel modifier
• Creating a TextPlus primitive
• Lofting with the Sweep modifier

6. Polygon Modeling

• Creating an image plane
• Tracing an image plane
• Creating solid geometry with Extrude modifier
• Adding edges with Cut
• Correcting topology with QuickSlice
• Preparing Boolean operands
• Cutting with Booleans
• Creating doors and windows

7. Sub-Object Polygon Editing

• Constraining sub-object transforms
• Detailing with Chamfer
• Branching with Extrude
• Simplifying geometry with Remove
• Welding vertices

8. Subdivision Surface Modeling

• Understanding subdivision surfaces
• Preparing for subdivision surfaces
• Adding the OpenSubDiv modifier
• Shaping with Editable Poly Ribbon tools
• Baking subdivisions

9. Freeform Modeling

• Sculpting with Paint Deform
• Using Paint Deform brushes
• Setting paint options
• Controlling brush options
• Conforming one object to another
• Sculpting with Conform Transform

10. Hierarchies

• Understanding hierarchies
• Transforming pivot points
• Rotating in Gimbal coordinate space
• Setting rotation Axis Order
• Linking objects
• Locking transforms
• Avoiding problems with scaling linked objects

11. Layout and Modeling

• Merging scenes
• Referencing scenes with Xref Objects
• Managing display layers
• Creating a target camera
• Creating a free camera
• Enabling safe frames
• Choosing aspect ratio in Render Setup

12. Keyframe Animation

• Setting up Time Configuration
• Creating keyframes in Auto Key mode
• Creating keyframes in Set Key mode
• Editing animation in the Timeline
• Editing animation in the Dope Sheet
• Interpolating keys in the function Curve Editor
• Moving position keys with Motion Paths

13. Lighting

• Creating photometric lights
• Controlling viewport quality
• Adjusting light Intensity and color
• Adjusting exposure control
• Using the ART renderer
• Adjusting light shape
• Adjusting light distribution
• Creating a sun and sky
• Previewing renders with ActiveShade
• Using the Light Explorer

14. Materials

• Using the Compact Material Editor
• Using the Slate Material Editor
• Managing scene materials and sample slots
• Adjusting standard material parameters
• Adjusting physical material parameters
• Assigning multi/sub-object materials

15. Mapping Textures

• Placing 3D procedural maps
• Mapping bitmap image files
• Tracking scene assets
• Projecting UVs with UVW Map
• Using Real-World Map Size
• Painting on objects with Viewport Canvas

16. Rendering

• Choosing a renderer
• Choosing render output file options
• Rendering a preview animation
• Playing image sequences in the RAM Player
• Setting Arnold render options
• Rendering an image sequence

Conclusion

• Next steps