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3D Studio Max
 
 
3D Studio Max (3dsmax) is a 3D modeling, animation, and rendering tool.
It is owned by Autodesk, an United States (San Rafael, California) based company.

More information about 3D Studio Max can be found at: http://www.autodesk.com/3dsmax/
Note: A free 30 days trial version can be downloaded from the Autodesk site.

Some 3D Studio Max forums:

Quick guides







Keyboard shortcuts (3ds Max 9)



Information
This guide is based on 3D Studio Max 9.

DescriptionKeyboard shortcut
Snaps Action Table
Snap To Edge/Segment ToggleAlt+F10
Snap To Endpoint ToggleAlt+F8
Snap To Face ToggleAlt+F11
Snap To Grid Points ToggleAlt+F5
Snap To Midpoint ToggleAlt+F9
Snap To Pivot ToggleAlt+F6
Snap To Vertex ToggleAlt+F7
Main UI
Adaptive Degradation ToggleO
AlignAlt+A
Angle Snap ToggleA
Arc Rotate View ModeCtrl+R
Auto Key Mode ToggleN
Background Lock ToggleAlt+Ctrl+B
Backup Time One Unit,
Bottom ViewB
Camera ViewC
CloneCtrl+V
Cycle Active Snap TypeAlt+S
Cycle Selection MethodCtrl+F
Cycle Snap HitAlt+Shift+S
Default Lighting ToggleCtrl+L
Delete Objects.
Disable ViewportD
Display as See-Through ToggleAlt+X
Environment Dialog Toggle8
Expert Mode ToggleCtrl+X
FetchAlt+Ctrl+F
Forward Time One Unit.
Front ViewF
Go to End FrameEnd
Go to Start FrameHome
Hide Cameras ToggleShift+C
Hide Geometry ToggleShift+G
Hide Grids ToggleG
Hide Helpers ToggleShift+H
Hide Lights ToggleShift+L
Hide Particle Systems ToggleShift+P
Hide Shapes ToggleShift+S
Hide Space Warps ToggleShift+W
HoldAlt+Ctrl+H
Isometric User ViewU
Left ViewL
Lock User Interface ToggleAlt+0
Material Editor ToggleM
Maximize Viewport ToggleAlt+W
MAXScript ListenerF11
New SceneCtrl+N
Normal Align Alt+N
Open FileCtrl+O
Pan ViewCtrl+P
Pan ViewportI
Percent Snap ToggleShift+Ctrl+P
Perspective User ViewP
Place HighlightCtrl+H
Play Animation/
Quick AlignShift+A
Quick RenderShift+Q
Redo Scene OperationCtrl+Y
Redo Viewport OperationShift+Y
Redraw All Views`
Render LastF9
Render Scene Dialog ToggleF10
Restrict Plane CycleF8
Restrict to XF5
Restrict to YF6
Restrict to ZF7
Save FileCtrl+S
Scale CycleCtrl+E
Select AllCtrl+A
Select AncestorPageUp
Select and MoveW
Select and RotateE
Select By NameH
Select ChildPageDown
Select ChildrenCtrl+PageDown
Select InvertCtrl+I
Select NoneCtrl+D
Selection Lock ToggleSpace
Set Key Mode'
Set KeysK
Shade Selected Faces ToggleF2
Show Floating DialogsCtrl+`
Show Main Toolbar ToggleAlt+6
Show Safeframes ToggleShift+F
Show Selection Bracket ToggleJ
Show Statistics Toggle7
Snap To Frozen Objects ToggleAlt+F2
Snaps ToggleS
Snaps Use Axis Constraints ToggleAlt+D, Alt+F3
Sound Toggle\
Spacing ToolShift+I
Spot/Directional Light ViewShift+4
Sub-object Level CycleInsert
Sub-object Selection ToggleCtrl+B
Top ViewT
Transform Gizmo Size Down-
Transform Gizmo Size Up=
Transform Gizmo ToggleX
Transform Type-In Dialog ToggleF12
Undo Scene OperationCtrl+Z
Undo Viewport OperationShift+Z
Update Background ImageAlt+Shift+Ctrl+B
View Edged Faces ToggleF4
Viewport BackgroundAlt+B
Virtual Viewport Pan DownNumPad 2
Virtual Viewport Pan LeftNumPad 4
Virtual Viewport Pan RightNumPad 6
Virtual Viewport Pan UpNumPad 8
Virtual Viewport ToggleNumPad /
Virtual Viewport Zoom InNumPad +
Virtual Viewport Zoom OutNumPad -
Wireframe / Smooth+Highlights ToggleF3
Zoom Extents All SelectedZ
Zoom Extents AllShift+Ctrl+Z
Zoom ExtentsAlt+Ctrl+Z
Zoom In 2XAlt+Shift+Ctrl+Z
Zoom ModeAlt+Z
Zoom Out 2XAlt+Shift+Z
Zoom Region ModeCtrl+W
Zoom Viewport In[, Ctrl+=
Zoom Viewport Out], Ctrl+-
Track View
Add KeysA
Apply Ease CurveCtrl+E
Apply Multiplier CurveCtrl+M
Assign ControllerC
Copy ControllerCtrl+C
Expand Object ToggleO
Expand Track ToggleEnter, T
FiltersQ
Lock SelectionSpace
Lock Tangents ToggleL
Make Controller UniqueU
Move Highlight DownDown Arrow
Move Highlight UpUp Arrow
Move KeysM
Nudge Keys LeftLeft Arrow
Nudge Keys RightRight Arrow
PanCtrl+P
Paste ControllerCtrl+V
Scroll DownCtrl+Down Arrow
Scroll UpCtrl+Up Arrow
Snap FramesS
Zoom Horizontal Extents Keys
Alt+X
Zoom Horizontal ExtentsAlt+Ctrl+Z
Zoom RegionCtrl+W
ZoomAlt+Z
Material Editor
BackgroundB
BacklightL
Cycle 3X2, 5X3, 6X4 Sample SlotsX
Get Material G
Go Backward to SiblingLeft Arrow
Go Forward to SiblingRight Arrow
Go to ParentUp Arrow
Make PreviewP
OptionsO
Schematic View
Add BookmarkB
Display FloaterD
FiltersP
Free AllAlt+F
Free SelectedAlt+S
Invert Selected NodesCtrl+I
Move ChildrenAlt+C
Next BookmarkRight Arrow
Previous BookmarkLeft Arrow
Refresh ViewCtrl+U
Rename ObjectR
Select All NodesCtrl+A
Select ChildrenCtrl+C
Select NoneCtrl+D
Show GridG
Toggle ShrinkCtrl+S
Use Connect ToolC
Use Pan ToolCtrl+P
Use Select ToolS, Q
Use Zoom Region ToolCtrl+W
Use Zoom ToolAlt+Z
Zoom ExtentsAlt+Ctrl+Z
Zoom Selected ExtentsZ
ActiveShade
CloseQ
Draw RegionD
RenderR
Select ObjectS
Toggle Toolbar (Docked)Space
Video Post
Add Image Filter EventCtrl+F
Add Image Input EventCtrl+I
Add Image Layer EventCtrl+L
Add Image Output EventCtrl+O
Add New EventCtrl+A
Add Scene EventCtrl+S
Edit Current EventCtrl+E
Execute SequenceCtrl+R
New SequenceCtrl+N
NURBS
CV Constrained Normal MoveAlt+N
CV Constrained U MoveAlt+U
CV Constrained V MoveAlt+V
Display CurvesShift+Ctrl+C
Display DependentsCtrl+D
Display LatticesCtrl+L
Display Shaded LatticeAlt+L
Display SurfacesShift+Ctrl+S
Display ToolboxCtrl+T
Display TrimsShift+Ctrl+T
Local Select Sub-Object By NameCtrl+H
Lock 2D SelectionSpace
Select Next in UCtrl+Right Arrow
Select Next in VCtrl+Up Arrow
Select Previous in UCtrl+Left Arrow
Select Previous in VCtrl+Down Arrow
Select Sub-Object By NameH
Set Tessellation Preset 1Alt+1
Set Tessellation Preset 2Alt+2
Set Tessellation Preset 3Alt+3
Soft SelectionCtrl+S
Switch To Curve CV LevelAlt+Shift+Z
Switch To Curve LevelAlt+Shift+C
Switch To Imports LevelAlt+Shift+I
Switch To Point LevelAlt+Shift+P
Switch To Surface CV LevelAlt+Shift+V
Switch To Surface LevelAlt+Shift+S
Switch To Top LevelAlt+Shift+T
Transform DegradeCtrl+X
Editable Poly
Bevel ModeShift+Ctrl+B
Border Level3
Chamfer ModeShift+Ctrl+C
ConnectShift+Ctrl+E
Constrain to EdgesShift+X
CutAlt+C
Edge Level2
Element Level5
Extrude ModeShift+E
Face Level4
Grow SelectionCtrl+PageUp
Hide UnselectedAlt+I
HideAlt+H
Object Level6
Quickslice ModeShift+Ctrl+Q
Repeat Last Operation;
Select Edge LoopAlt+L
Select Edge RingAlt+R
Shrink SelectionCtrl+PageDown
Unhide AllAlt+U
Vertex Level1
Weld ModeShift+Ctrl+W
Edit/Editable Mesh
Bevel ModeCtrl+V, Ctrl+B
Chamfer ModeCtrl+C
Cut ModeAlt+C
DetachCtrl+D
Edge InvisibleCtrl+I
Edge Level2
Edge TurnCtrl+T
Element Level5
Extrude ModeCtrl+E
Face Level3
Polygon Level4
Vertex Level1
Weld SelectedCtrl+W
Weld Target ModeAlt+W
Edit Normals
Break NormalsB
Copy NormalCtrl+C
Edge LevelCtrl+3
Face LevelCtrl+4
Make ExplicitE
Normal LevelCtrl+1
Object LevelCtrl+0
Paste NormalCtrl+V
Reset NormalsR
Specify NormalsS
Unify NormalsU
Vertex LevelCtrl+2
FFD
Switch To Control Point LevelAlt+Shift+C
Switch To Lattice LevelAlt+Shift+L
Switch To Set Volume LevelAlt+Shift+S
Switch To Top LevelAlt+Shift+T
WeightTable
Select AllCtrl+A
Select InvertCtrl+I
Select NoneCtrl+D
Edit Poly
Affect BackfacingCtrl+F
Align To GridG
Align To ViewV
Attach ListShift+Ctrl+A
AttachShift+A
Auto SmoothA
Bevel ModeShift+Ctrl+B
Bevel SettingsCtrl+B
Border Level3
BreakShift+B
CapAlt+P
Chamfer ModeShift+Ctrl+C
Chamfer SettingsAlt+Ctrl+C
CollapseShift+L
Connect Edge SettingsCtrl+N
ConnectShift+Ctrl+E
Constrain to EdgesShift+X
Constrain to FacesX
Create Shape From EdgesShift+M
CreateC
CutAlt+C
DetachCtrl+D
Edge Level2
Edit Triangulation ModeShift+T
Element Level5
Extrude along Spline ModeAlt+E
Extrude ModeE
Extrude SettingsCtrl+E
Flip NormalsF
Grow SelectionCtrl+PageUp
Hide UnselectedAlt+I
HideH
Hinge from Edge ModeL
Hinge from Edge SettingsCtrl+L
Ignore Backfacing in SelectionsShift+Ctrl+I
Insert Vertex ModeShift+I
Inset ModeI
Inset SettingsCtrl+I
Make PlanarP
MeshSmooth SettingsCtrl+M
MeshSmoothM
Object Level6
Outline ModeO
Outline SettingsCtrl+O
Polygon Level4
Quickslice ModeShift+Ctrl+Q
Remove Isolated VerticesShift+Ctrl+R
Remove Unused Map VerticesAlt+Shift+Ctrl+R
RemoveShift+R
Repeat Last Operation;
Reset Slice PlaneAlt+S
RetriangulateShift+Ctrl+T
Select By VertexAlt+V
Select Edge LoopAlt+L
Select Edge RingAlt+R
Shaded Face ToggleAlt+F
Shrink SelectionCtrl+PageDown
Slice Plane ModeS
SliceShift+S
Split EdgesShift+P
Tessellate SettingsCtrl+T
TessellateT
Unhide AllAlt+U
Use Soft SelectionCtrl+S
Vertex Level1
Weld ModeShift+Ctrl+W
Weld SettingsCtrl+W
Physique
Copy EnvelopeCtrl+C
DeleteCtrl+D
NextPageDown
Paste EnvelopeCtrl+V
Previous Selection LevelShift+
PreviousPageUp
Reset EnvelopesCtrl+E
Unwrap UVW
Break Selected VerticesCtrl+B
Detach Edge VertsD, Ctrl+D
Edit UVW'sCtrl+E
Filter Selected FacesAlt+F
Freeze SelectedCtrl+F
Get Face Selection From StackAlt+Shift+Ctrl+F
Get Selection From FacesAlt+Shift+Ctrl+P
Hide SelectedCtrl+H
Load UVWAlt+Shift+Ctrl+L
Lock selected verticesSpace
Mirror HorizontalAlt+Shift+Ctrl+N
Mirror VerticalAlt+Shift+Ctrl+M
Move HorizontalAlt+Shift+Ctrl+J
Move VerticalAlt+Shift+Ctrl+K
PanCtrl+P
Planar map faces/patchesEnter
Show Seams In ViewportAlt+E
SnapCtrl+S
Texture Vertex Contract SelectionNumPad -, -
Texture Vertex Expand SelectionNumPad +, =
Texture Vertex Move ModeW
Texture Vertex Rotate ModeE
Texture Vertex Scale ModeR
Texture Vertex Weld SelectedCtrl+W
Texture VertexTarget Weld Ctrl+T
Unwrap OptionsCtrl+O
Update MapCtrl+U
Zoom Extents SelectedZ
Zoom ExtentsAlt+Ctrl+Z
Zoom RegionCtrl+X
Zoom Selected Element
Zoom To GizmoShift+Space
ZoomAlt+Z
Hair Styling
AttenuateShift+Ctrl+A
Brush ClumpShift+Ctrl+4
Brush PuffShift+Ctrl+3
Brush RotateShift+Ctrl+5
Brush ScaleShift+Ctrl+6
Brush StandShift+Ctrl+2
Brush TranslateShift+Ctrl+1
BrushCtrl+B
ClumpCtrl+M
CutCtrl+C
Expand SelectionShift+Ctrl+E
GuideCtrl+2
Hide SelectedShift+Ctrl+H
Ignore BackShift+Ctrl+B
Invert SelectionShift+Ctrl+N
LockShift+Ctrl+L
Merge HairgroupsShift+Ctrl+=
Pop SelectedShift+Ctrl+P
Pop ZerosizedShift+Ctrl+Z
PuffCtrl+P
RecombShift+Ctrl+M
Reset RestShift+Ctrl+T
RootCtrl+4
Rotate SelectionShift+Ctrl+R
RotateCtrl+R
Scale Ctrl+E
SelectCtrl+S
Show HiddenShift+Ctrl+W
Soft FalloffShift+Ctrl+F
Split HairgroupsShift+Ctrl+-
StandCtrl+N
TipCtrl+1
Toggle CollisionsShift+Ctrl+C
Toggle HairsShift+Ctrl+I
TranslateCtrl+T
UndoCtrl+Z
UnlockShift+Ctrl+U
VertsCtrl+3
Crowd
SolveS
Biped
Change Leg StateAlt+Ctrl+S
Collapse Move All Mode changesAlt+M
Copy PostureAlt+C
Fix GraphsAlt+Ctrl+F
Lock Selected Keys (toggle)Alt+Ctrl+L
Paste Posture OppositeAlt+B
Paste PostureAlt+V
Play BipedV
Reset all limb keysAlt+K
Scale In Transform (toggle)Alt+Ctrl+E
Set Key0
Set RangeAlt+R
Toggle Biped Keys in TrackBarAlt+T
TV Select end of footstepsAlt+D
TV Select entire foostepAlt+S
TV Select start of foostepsAlt+A
Reaction Manager
Set Max InfluenceCtrl+I
Set Min InfluenceAlt+I
Particle Flow
Particle Emission Toggle;
Particle View Toggle6
Particle Flow
Selected Particle Emission ToggleShift+;
Particle Flow
Copy Selected In Particle ViewCtrl+C
Paste In Particle ViewCtrl+V
Select All In Particle ViewCtrl+A
ActiveShade (Scanline)
InitializeP
UpdateU
ToneOperatorAndRadiosityActionTable
Advanced Lighting Panel9
Object Display Culling
Object Display CullingAlt+O
WalkThrough
Accelerate ToggleQ
BackS, Down Arrow
Decelerate ToggleZ
Decrease Step Size[
DownC, Shift+Down Arrow
ForwardW, Up Arrow
Increase Step Size]
LeftA, Left Arrow
LevelShift+Space
Lock Vertical RotationSpace
Reset Step SizeAlt+[
RightD, Right Arrow
UpE, Shift+Up Arrow
Macro Scripts
Add/Edit Parameters... (TV)Ctrl+1
Asset Tracking...Shift+T
Bevel (Poly)Shift+Ctrl+B
Cap (Poly)Alt+P
Chamfer (Poly)Shift+Ctrl+C
Collapse (Poly)Alt+Ctrl+C
Collect Parameters SVAlt+3
Collect Parameters TVAlt+4
Connect (no dialog) (Poly)Shift+Ctrl+E
Create Camera From ViewCtrl+C
Cut (Poly)Alt+C
Edge Constraint Toggle (Poly)Shift+X
Extrude along Spline (Poly)Alt+E
Extrude Face (Poly)Shift+E
Geometry Selection Visibility ToggleAlt+G
Grow Selection (Poly)Ctrl+PageUp
Hide (Poly)Alt+H
Hide Unselected (Poly)Alt+I
Ignore Backfacing Toggle (Poly)Shift+Ctrl+I
Isolate SelectionAlt+Q
Meshsmooth (Poly)Ctrl+M
Parameter CollectorAlt+2
Parameter EditorAlt+1
Parameter Wiring Dialog...Alt+5
Render to Texture Dialog Toggle0
Repeat Last (Poly);
Slice (Poly)Shift+Ctrl+Q
Smart ScaleR
Smart SelectQ
Start Parameter Wiring...Ctrl+5
Sub-Object Level 11
Sub-Object Level 22
Sub-Object Level 33
Sub-Object Level 44
Sub-object Level 55
Unhide All (Poly)Alt+U
WalkThrough View ModeUp Arrow
Weld (Poly)Shift+Ctrl+W
Quad Menu Sets
Animation[Alt+RMB]
Custom[Shift+Ctrl+Alt+RMB]
Custom[Shift+Ctrl+RMB]
Lighting | Render[Ctrl+Alt+RMB]
Modeling[Ctrl+RMB]
reactor[Shift+Alt+RMB]
Snap[Shift+RMB]
ViewportsV