3ds Max 2020 Essential Training

Learn what you need to know to use 3ds Max 2020 to create professional 3D models, animations, and motion graphics.

Introduction

• 3ds Max from the ground up
• Using the exercise files

1. Getting Started

• Choosing a workspace
• Customizing user interface and defaults
• Setting preferences
• Using project folders

2. 3ds Max Interface

• Getting familiar with the interface
• Customizing a workspace
• Customizing viewport and grid colors
• Creating and manipulating primitives
• Transforming objects with Move and Rotate
• Navigating in viewports
• Choosing viewport shading modes
• Saving time with keyboard shortcut hotkeys
• Customizing hotkeys
• Choosing a reference coordinate system
• Manipulating objects around a transform center
• Using the Scene Explorer outline
• Configuring viewport layouts
• Using Isolate Selection and Lock Selection
• Selecting in window and crossing modes

3. Scene Layout

• Specifying display units
• Specifying system units
• Defining the home grid
• Saving a maxstart.max template scene
• Creating an image plane
• Duplicating objects with Array
• Collecting objects in groups
• Managing display layers
• Merging scenes
• Referencing scenes with Xref objects

4. Spline Modeling

• Creating shapes
• Creating a loft compound object
• Creating a freehand spline
• Editing control vertex types
• Editing Bezier splines
• Rendering shapes
• Setting shape detail with Interpolation
• Revolving a surface with the Lathe modifier
• Extruding with the Sweep modifier
• Importing Illustrator paths to 3ds Max
• Adding a Bevel modifier
• Creating a TextPlus primitive
• Modeling walls with the Extrude modifier

5. Parametric Modeling with Modifiers

• Deforming an object with a modifier
• Layering deformers in the modifier stack
• Defining polygon level of detail
• Passing a selection up the stack
• Understanding topology dependence
• Versioning and collapsing the stack

6. Polygon Modeling

• Preparing Boolean operands
• Adding edges with Quickslice
• Cutting with Boolean subtraction
• Creating doors
• Using the Modeling ribbon
• Creating polygons
• Transforming sub-objects
• Using the caddy to set options for an inset polygon
• Cloning sub-objects with Detach
• Branching with Editable Poly Extrude
• Simplifying geometry with Remove
• Extruding a planar surface to a closed volume
• Detailing with Editable Poly Chamfer
• Reflecting objects with Mirror
• Welding vertices
• Refining geometry with SwiftLoop
• Constraining sub-object transforms

7. Subdivision Surface Modeling

• Understanding subdivision surfaces
• Box modeling for subdivision surfaces
• Modeling with the Symmetry modifier
• Shaping with Ribbon tools
• Using Soft Selection
• Sharpening corners with Crease
• Baking subdivisions

8. Freeform Modeling

• Using the Freeform tools on the ribbon
• Sculpting with Paint Deform Push/Pull
• Using Paint Deform Brushes
• Setting paint options
• Setting brush options
• Conforming one object to another
• Adjustment with Move Conform
• Sculpting with Conform Transform

9. Camera Techniques

• Creating a physical camera and target
• Enabling safe frames
• Choosing aspect ratio in Render Setup
• Setting up a free camera
• Rotating in Gimbal coordinate space
• Setting rotation axis order
• Offsetting the image with Lens Shift

10. Lighting

• Previewing renders with ActiveShade
• Assigning a diffuse material
• Creating photometric lights
• Adjusting light intensity and color
• Adjusting the Camera Exposure Control
• Adjusting light shape
• Adjusting light distribution
• Controlling spotlight parameters
• Creating a sun and sky
• Illuminating a scene with the environment
• Using the Light Explorer

11. Materials

• Using the Slate Material Editor
• Managing scene materials
• Managing sample slots
• Saving material libraries
• Understanding physical materials
• Adjusting physical material parameters

12. Mapping Textures

• Controlling material sample size
• Designing 3D procedural maps
• Mapping bitmap image files
• Projecting UVs with UVW Map
• Using Real-World Map Size
• Mapping with vector art
• Restoring links with Asset Tracking

13. Hierarchies

• Understanding hierarchies
• Transforming pivot points
• Prioritizing rotation axes
• Linking objects
• Locking transforms
• Avoiding and correcting scale issues

14. Keyframe Animation

• Setting up Time Configuration
• Creating keyframes in Auto Key mode
• Creating keyframes in Set Key mode
• Editing keyframes in the Timeline
• Editing keyframes in the Dope Sheet
• Editing function curves in the Curve Editor
• Editing a trajectory with a motion path

15. Rendering

• Choosing a renderer
• Choosing render options
• Rendering an image sequence
• Playing an image sequence with the RAM Player

Conclusion

• Next steps