Autodesk 3DS Max Basic, is a modeling, animation and rendering package developed by Autodesk Media and Entertainment. It has modeling capabilities, a flexible plugin architecture and can be used on the Microsoft Windows platform. It’s frequently used by video game developers, TV commercial studios and architectural visualization studios. It is also used for movie effects and movie pre-visualization.

In addition to its modeling and animation tools, the latest version of 3ds Max also features shaders (such as ambient occlusion and subsurface scattering), dynamic simulation, particle systems, radiosity, normal map creation and rendering, global illumination, a customizable user interface, and its own scripting language.

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 COURSE OUTLINE 
 

3ds Max Interface

• Navigate the Workspace

• Transforming Objects Using Gizmos

• Graphite Modeling Tools Set

• Command Panel

• Time Slider and Track Bar

• File Management
   

3ds Max Project

• Set Up a Project Workflow

• The Secret to Accurate Modeling: Reference Material

• Building a Simple Model

• Creating Details Using Splines

• Lathing, Extruding, and Beveling to Create 3D from 2D

• Bringing It All Together

 

Modeling in 3ds Max

• Setting Up the Scene

• Building the Room

• Adding Special Details to the Room
   

Introduction to Animation

• Animating the Ball

• Reading Animation Curves

• Refining the Animation

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Animation Principles

• Anticipation and Momentum in Knife Throwing

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Character Modeling

• Setting Up the Scene

• Blocking Out the Alien Model

• Creating the Alien Head

• Building the Alien Hand

• Building the Foot

• Completing the Alien

 

Introduction to Materials

• Navigate the Slate Material Editor

• Identify the Standard Material

• Identify the mental ray Material

• Identifying Shader

• Build Materials for the Couch

• Build Materials for the Lounge Chair

• Build Materials for the Window

 

Textures and UV Workflow: The Alien

• Define UVs on the Alien’s Body

• Unwrap UVs on the Alien’s Body

• Build the Material and Apply It to the Alien

 

Character Studio: Rigging

• Character Studio Workflow

• Associating a Biped with the Alien Model

• Skinning the Alien Model

 

Character Studio: Animation

• Animating the Alien

• Freeform Animation

• Modifying Animation in the Dope Sheet

 

Introduction to Lighting: Interior Lighting

• Recognizing 3ds Max Lights

• Lighting a Still Life

• Atmospherics and Effects

• The Light Lister

 

3ds Max Rendering

• Navigate the Render Setup Dialog

• Render a Scene

• Work with Cameras

• Ray-traced Reflections and Refractions

• Render the Interior and Furniture

 

Mental ray

• Navigate the mental ray Renderer

• Navigate the Final Gather Parameters

• Navigate mental ray Materials