3ds Max® 2008 Bible

Chapter 6. Selecting Objects, Setting Object Properties, and Using Layers and the Scene Explorer

IN THIS CHAPTER

• Selecting objects using toolbars and menus

• Using named selection sets

• Setting object properties

• Hiding and freezing objects

• Working with layers

• Exploring the Scene Explorer

Now that you've learned how to create objects and had some practice, you've probably created more than you really need. To eliminate, move, or change the look of any objects, you first have to know how to select the object. Doing so can be tricky if the viewports are all full of objects lying on top of one another. Luckily, Max offers several selection features that make looking for a needle in a haystack easier.

Max offers many different ways to select objects. You can select by name, color, type, and even material. You can also use selection filters to make only certain types of objects selectable. And after you've found all the objects you need, you can make a selection set, which will allow you to quickly select a set of objects by name. Now where is that needle?

All objects have properties that define their physical characteristics, such as shape, radius, and smoothness, but objects also have properties that control where they are located in the scene, how they are displayed and rendered, and what their parent objects are. These properties have a major impact on how you work with objects; understanding them can make objects in a scene easier to work with.

Selecting Objects

Max includes several methods for ...