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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







Create a teapot (teapot1.max).



Information
This guide is based on 3D Studio Max 7.

Procedure

Step 1: Setup Environment
  1. Retrieve default layout.

    3DSMax 7 menu: Customize

    • Select menu: Customize | Load Custom UI Scheme
    • Select: ..\3dsmax7\UI\DefaultUI.ui

  2. Change unit scale.
    • Select menu: Customize | Units Setup
    • Select Display Units Scale: Generic Units

  3. Change grid settings.
    • Select menu: Customize | Grid and Snap Settings
    • Select tab: Home Grid
    • Enter Grid spacing: 10,0
    • Enter Major Lines every Nth Grid Line: 10
Step 2: Draw a teapot
  1. Go to the Create panel 3DSMax 7, create panel. and click Geometry 3DSMax 7, geometry button.. Make sure Standard Primitives is chosen in the drop-down list. Click Teapot.

  2. Create a teapot in the Top viewport. First, drag from the center outward to create the teapot.

    3DSMax 7, teapot.

Step 3: Add a camera
  1. In the Top viewport, zoom out the view 3DSMax 7, zoom button..

    3DSMax 7, teapot zoom out view.

  2. Go to the Create panel 3DSMax 7, create panel. and click Cameras 3DSMax 7, button cameras.. In the Object Type rollout, select Target.

    3DSMax 7, camera stock lenses.

  3. In the Parameters rollout, select Stock Lensens button 50mm.

  4. Draw the camera in the Top viewport (3 gridlines right en 3 gridlines down).

    3DSMax 7, add camera.



  5. In the Front viewport move the camera 3 gridlines up. The camera is looking down at an angle at the teapot.

    3DSMax 7, move camera.

  6. Again draw another camera in the Top viewport (3 gridlines down).

    3DSMax 7, add camera 2.

  7. In the Left viewport move this camera 3 gridlines up. The camera is looking down at an angle at the teapot.

    3DSMax 7, move camera 2.

  8. Right-click the Perspective viewport to make it active, then press the C key on the keyboard to change into the Camera viewport.

  9. Because more then 1 camera is added to the scene, the select camera window is displayed.

    3DSMax 7, select camera

    Select Camera01.

  10. The Perspective viewport is replaced with the Camera Viewport. The viewport now shows what Camera01 "sees".

  11. If the teapot is not correctly displayed in the Camera Viewport, use the Truck Camera button 3DSMax 7, truck camera. to move the camera.

Step 4: Add light
  1. Go to the Create panel 3DSMax 7, create panel. and click Lights 3DSMax 7, button lights.. Select Standard in the pull down menu.

  2. In the Object Type rollout, select Omni.

  3. Add two Omni lights in the Top viewport as indicated below.
    Note: Camera02 is hidden.

    3DSMax 7, add lights.

  4. In the Front viewport move both Omni lights 4 gridlines up.

    3DSMax 7, move lights.

Step 5: Draw a plane
  1. Go to the Create panel 3DSMax 7, create panel. and click Geometry 3DSMax 7, button geometry.. Make sure Standard Primitives is chosen in the drop-down list. Click Plane.

  2. Draw a plane in the Top viewport.
    Note: Camera02 is hidden.

    3DSMax 7, add plane.

Step 6: Change Target camera to Free camera
  1. Note: This step is needed if you want to export the scene to an m3g file.

  2. Select the Camera by pressing the H on the keyboard, then choose Camera from the list.

  3. On the Modify panel 3DSMax 7, modify panel., goto the Parameters rollout and locate the Type: field. Click the drop-down arrow and choose Free Camera.

  4. Repeat these steps for all Target Cameras.

Step 7: Render scene
  1. Select the Perspective viewport and press the C on the keyboard to change into the Camera viewport.

  2. Because more then 1 camera is added to the scene, the select camera window is displayed.

    3DSMax 7, select camera

    Select Camera01.

  3. Press the Quick Render button 3DSMax 7, button quick render. (or F9).

  4. You should see the following:

    3DSMax 7, teapot rendered.

Step 7: Save model
  1. Select menu: File | Save as.

  2. Save the model as teapot1.max.