Learning 3ds Max 2021

Get started with 3ds Max 2021, the popular and powerful tool for 3D modeling, rendering, and animation.

Introduction

• Getting started with 3ds Max 2021
• Using the exercise files

1. First Steps

• Choosing a workspace
• Choosing interface and tool defaults
• Setting preferences
• Displaying user interface elements
• Changing viewport colors
• Creating and setting project folders
• Creating and transforming objects
• Viewport navigation shortcuts

2. Modeling

• Choosing display units and grid options
• Parametric modeling in the Modifier Stack
• Cloning an object as an instance
• Creating shapes and splines
• Extruding splines with the Sweep modifier
• Sub-object transforms and symmetry
• Activating the Modeling ribbon tools
• Extruding polygons with the Editable Poly ribbon
• Adding detail with Swift Loop and constraints
• Rounding corners with Chamfer

3. Shading and Materials

• Smoothing polygon edges
• Choosing a renderer
• Rendering in the viewport with ActiveShade
• Lighting a scene with an environment map
• Exploring the Slate Material Editor
• Editing a physical material
• Managing scene materials
• Mapping a material parameter
• Applying an OSL map and UVW coordinates

4. Lighting

• Creating photometric lights
• Setting light intensity
• Adjusting light parameters
• Natural daylight with Sun Positioner

5. Layout and Animation

• Scene organization with layers and groups
• Linking objects in a transform hierarchy
• Choosing Time Configuration options
• Creating keyframes with Auto Key
• Editing keyframes in the track bar
• Creating keyframes with Set Key
• Editing function curves in the Curve Editor

6. Rendering

• Creating a physical camera
• Common parameters in Render Setup
• Composing a shot with safe frames
• Rendering an image sequence

Conclusion

• Next steps