Mastering Autodesk 3ds Max 2013

Mastering Autodesk 3ds Max 2013

by Jeffrey Harper
Released September 2012
Publisher(s): Sybex
ISBN: 9781118129715

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Book description

Get professional training in 3ds Max from this Autodesk Official Training Guide

Extremely popular with video game designers as well as architects, 3ds Max offers integrated 3D modeling, animation, rendering, and compositing tools designed to streamline production. If you already have a working knowledge of 3ds Max basics, this official guide will take your skills to the next level. Detailed tutorials cover all the latest features of 3ds Max. From modeling, texturing, animation, and architectural visualization to high-level techniques for film, television, games, and more, this book provides professional-level instruction on 3ds Max.

  • Those who are proficient in 3ds Max basics can take their 3D animation skills to the next level with this Autodesk Official Training Guide

  • Offers industry-level training, with diverse tutorials that showcase techniques used in actual animations for games, film, TV, and architectural visualization

  • Covers modeling, texturing, animation, visual effects, and high-level techniques as well as all the latest features of 3ds Max

  • Also recommended as a preparation guide to Autodesk's 3ds Max Associate and Professional exams

Mastering Autodesk 3ds Max will help intermediate to advanced 3ds Max users develop and sharpen their skills in this popular animation and effects software.

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright
  4. Dear Reader
  5. Dedication
  6. Acknowledgments
  7. About the Author
  8. Introduction
    1. How to Use This Book
    2. The Tutorial Files on the Website
    3. What You'll Find
    4. System Requirements
    5. About the Cover
  9. Chapter 1: Getting to Know Autodesk® 3ds Max® 2013
    1. Introducing the New 3ds Max 2013 Features
    2. Getting Started with Autodesk 3ds Max
    3. Touring the Interface
    4. Working with Objects
    5. Getting the View You Want
    6. Working with the Custom UI And Defaults Switcher
    7. The Bottom Line
  10. Chapter 2: Introducing Objects
    1. Understanding Standard Primitives
    2. Modeling Standard Primitives with Modifiers
    3. How 3ds Max Sees Objects
    4. Making Clones That Share Properties
    5. Introducing Extended Primitives
    6. Working with Groups
    7. The Bottom Line
  11. Chapter 3: Creating Shapes with Splines
    1. Drawing with Splines
    2. Modifying a Shape Using Sub-object Levels
    3. Outlining and Extruding Splines
    4. Combining and Extruding Primitive Splines
    5. Joining Closed Splines with Boolean Tools
    6. Creating a Solid Form with Splines
    7. Introducing the Other Spline Types
    8. Editing Splines
    9. Placing and Beveling Text
    10. The Bottom Line
  12. Chapter 4: Editing Meshes and Creating Complex Objects
    1. Creating Openings in a Wall with Boolean Operations
    2. Tracing a Sketch
    3. Editing Meshes
    4. Using Instanced Clones to Create Symmetrical Forms
    5. Attaching Objects to a Mesh
    6. Smoothing Meshes
    7. Creating and Modifying Objects Using Box Modeling
    8. Creating Clones with Array and Snapshot
    9. The Bottom Line
  13. Chapter 5: Working with External Design Data
    1. Creating Topography with Splines
    2. Setting Up an AutoCAD Plan for 3ds Max
    3. Importing AutoCAD Plans into 3ds Max
    4. Exploring the Manage Links Dialog Box
    5. Importing a Truss
    6. Linking Revit Files into 3ds Max
    7. The Bottom Line
  14. Chapter 6: Organizing and Editing Objects
    1. (Re)Naming Objects
    2. Organizing Objects by Layers
    3. Lofting an Object
    4. Using the Noise Modifier
    5. Extruding with the Sweep Modifier
    6. Aligning Objects
    7. The Bottom Line
  15. Chapter 7: Light and Shadow
    1. Lighting Your Model
    2. Rendering a View
    3. Ambient Light
    4. Adding Shadow Effects
    5. Playing in the Shadows
    6. Using the Light Lister
    7. Using Scene States
    8. The Bottom Line
  16. Chapter 8: Enhancing Models with Materials
    1. Understanding Bitmap Texture Maps
    2. Adding Materials to Objects
    3. Understanding Material Libraries
    4. Editing Materials
    5. Understanding Mapping Coordinates
    6. Using the Standard Material
    7. Map Scalar Modifiers
    8. Adding Entourage
    9. Assigning Materials to Parts of an Object
    10. Exploring the Autodesk Materials
    11. The Material Utilities
    12. Modeling with Displacement Maps
    13. Additional Mapping and Material Features
    14. The Bottom Line
  17. Chapter 9: Using the Camera
    1. Understanding the 3ds Max Camera
    2. Setting Up an Interior View
    3. Creating an Environment
    4. Using Immersive Environments for Animation
    5. Using Render Types
    6. Using Render Elements for Compositing
    7. Matching Your Scene to a Background Image
    8. The Bottom Line
  18. Chapter 10: Organizing Objects and Scene Management
    1. Gaining Access to Materials and Objects from Other Files
    2. Arranging Furniture with XRefs and the Asset Browser
    3. Replacing Objects with Objects from an External File
    4. Arranging Furniture with XRef Scenes
    5. Using the Rendered Frame Window
    6. Tracking and Locating a Scene's Assets
    7. Creating Panoramas
    8. Publishing a DWF File
    9. The Bottom Line
  19. Chapter 11: Understanding Animation
    1. Understanding the World of Video Time
    2. Creating a Quick-Study Animation
    3. Understanding Keyframes
    4. Increasing the Number of Frames in an Animation Segment
    5. Accelerating and Decelerating the Camera Motion Smoothly
    6. Editing Keyframes
    7. Adding More Frames for Additional Camera Motion
    8. Adding Frames to the Beginning of a Segment
    9. Other Options for Previewing Your Motion
    10. Moving the Camera Target over Time
    11. Controlling Lights over Time
    12. The Bottom Line
  20. Chapter 12: Creating Animations, Particles, and Dynamics
    1. Rendering the Animation
    2. Automating the Output of Multiple Still Images
    3. Rendering a Shadow Study
    4. Creating a Walkthrough
    5. The Animation File Output Options
    6. Using MassFX to Animate Objects
    7. Using Particle Systems
    8. The Bottom Line
  21. Chapter 13: Rigging for Animation
    1. Creating Parent–Child Hierarchies
    2. Using the Morpher Modifier
    3. Assembling an Articulated Luminaire
    4. Understanding Bones
    5. Understanding Biped
    6. The Bottom Line
  22. Chapter 14: Advanced Rendering Using mental ray
    1. Understanding mental ray
    2. Using Photon Maps
    3. Final Gathering
    4. Contour Renderings
    5. Using the mr Multi/Sub-Map Material
    6. Skylight Global Illumination
    7. Using High Dynamic Range Images
    8. Using mr Proxy Objects
    9. Using IES Files
    10. The Bottom Line
  23. Chapter 15: Finishing It Off: Atmosphere, Effects, and Compositing
    1. Adding Atmospheric Effects
    2. Using Hair And Fur
    3. Using Glare
    4. Creating Stereoscopic Renders in 3ds Max
    5. Using Autodesk Composite 2013
    6. The Bottom Line
  24. Appendix A: The Bottom Line
    1. Chapter 1: Getting to Know Autodesk® 3ds Max® 2013
    2. Chapter 2: Introducing Objects
    3. Chapter 3: Creating Shapes with Splines
    4. Chapter 4: Editing Meshes and Creating Complex Objects
    5. Chapter 5: Working with External Design Data
    6. Chapter 6: Organizing and Editing Objects
    7. Chapter 7: Light and Shadow
    8. Chapter 8: Enhancing Models with Materials
    9. Chapter 9: Using the Camera
    10. Chapter 10: Organizing Objects and Scene Management
    11. Chapter 11: Understanding Animation
    12. Chapter 12: Creating Animations, Particles, and Dynamics
    13. Chapter 13: Rigging for Animation
    14. Chapter 14: Advanced Rendering Using mental ray
    15. Chapter 15: Finishing It Off: Atmosphere, Effects, and Compositing
  25. Appendix B: Autodesk® 3ds Max® Certification
  26. Index

Product information

  • Title: Mastering Autodesk 3ds Max 2013
  • Author(s): Jeffrey Harper
  • Release date: September 2012
  • Publisher(s): Sybex
  • ISBN: 9781118129715