book

Getting Started in 3D with 3ds Max

by Ted Boardman

September 2012

Beginner

436 pages

12h 53m

English

Routledge

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1.1 User Interface OverviewViewportsApplication ButtonPull-down MenusMain ToolbarRibbon MenuCommand PanelTimelineStatus LineAnimation PlaybackNavigation ButtonsQuad Menus1.2 Viewport Display TypesViewport LabelsOrthographic Viewports1.3 UI Navigation1.4 Viewport Navigation1.5 File Management
2.1 Object Types2.2 Creating Primitives
3.1 Reference Coordinate Systems3.2 Transforms3.3 Transform Type-In3.4 Pivot Points

4.1 Object Naming4.2 Object Selection4.3 Select by Name4.4 Scene Explorer
5.1 Cloning Concepts5.2 Clone TypesCopy CloneInstance CloneReference Clone5.3 Transform Cloning5.4 Edit Menu Cloning
6.1 Units Setup6.2 Grid and Snaps6.3 Maxstart.max Prototype File
7.1 2D Shape Concepts7.2 Create Basic Shapes7.3 Compound Shapes7.4 SubObject Editing
8.1 Modifier Concepts8.2 Applying Modifiers8.3 Editing Modifiers8.4 Modifier Stack View
9.1 Lofting ConceptsThe Lofting Process9.2 Lofting an Object9.3 Editing a Lofted Object
10.1 Lighting Concepts10.2 Photometric Lighting10.3 Create Lights10.4 Light Parameters10.5 Light Distribution10.6 Three-Point Lighting
11.1 Material Concepts11.2 Slate Material Editor11.3 Create and Assign Materials
12.1 Mapping Coordinate Concepts12.2 UVW Map Modifier12.3 Sizing Maps Correctly
13.1 Camera Concepts13.2 Target and Free Cameras13.3 Camera Parameters13.4 Camera Viewport Controls13.5 Camera PrinciplesSafe FramesRule-of-ThirdsCamera Shots
14.1 Mental Ray Concepts14.2 Render Setup14.3 Rendered Frame Window14.4 Rendered Files Types
15.1 The Landscape15.2 The Windmill and Base15.3 The Domed Roof15.4 The Platform Walkway15.5 The Railing Post15.6 Align Objects
16.1 Adding Modifiers16.2 Merge and Clone Objects
17.1 Edit Mesh Modifier and Editable Mesh17.2 Changing Topology
18.1 Mesh Editing Tools18.2 Poly Editing Tools18.3 Patch Grid
19.1 The Array Tool19.2 The Spacing Tool19.3 The Object Paint Tool
20.1 Introduction to Graphite Modeling Tools20.2 Graphite Modeling Tools Workflow
21.1 ProBoolean Compound Object21.2 ShapeMerge Compound Object21.3 Scatter Compound Object
22.1 Exterior Daylight22.2 Introduction to Shadows22.3 mr Physical Sky
23.1 More on Arch & Design Material23.2 Substance Maps23.3 Material Libraries
24.1 Multi/Subobject Material24.2 Blend Material24.3 Multiple Mapping Modifiers
25.1 Animation User Interface25.2 Keyframe Animation25.3 Animating Modifiers
26.1 More Graphite Modeling Tools26.2 Lofting
27.1 Controllers and Constraints27.2 Track View-Curve Editor27.3 Hierarchical Linking
28.1 Introduction to Global Illumination28.2 Global Illumination in 3ds Max28.3 Final Gathering28.4 Ambient Occlusion
29.1 Atmospheric Effects29.2 Introduction to Particle Flow
30.1 Inverse Kinematics and Forward Kinematics30.2 Hierarchical Linking and Pivot Points30.3 The HI Solver
31.1 Character Animation Tools
32.1 Introduction to MassFX32.2 MassFX Simulations
33.1 MAXScript33.2 Open a MAXScript33.3 Run a Script
34.1 Alpha Channel34.2 Render Elements

Content preview from Getting Started in 3D with 3ds Max

Creating a 3D scene containing a windmill and landscape can be accomplished with 3D primitives in 3ds Max.

Some of the primitives covered in this chapter are as follows:

Plane – A Plane 3D primitive will become the basis of your landscape.
Cylinder – The Cylinder can be used as the basis for multiple objects in the scene.
Sphere – The Sphere primitive will be edited into a hemispherical dome for the windmill roof.
Box – A simple Box object will be used for the walkway railing posts.

Simple primitive geometry will become more complex as editing progresses while providing a workflow history that you can navigate in the Modify panel, stack view ...