3Ds Max

In this course, students learn how to use 3D Studio Max to model, apply the material, add lights and cameras, render still images, and animate architectural or interior scenes. Scenes could be imported from AutoCAD as 3D or as 2D and fully modeled in Max.
Although this course is titled for architects and interior designers, it provides the fundamental knowledge for anyone who wishes to use 3DS Max. The end of the course focuses on the architect and interior aspects of the software.

01 The Interface

• The Command Panel
• Zoom and Pan with the Wheel
• The View Cube
• The Zoom Panel
• Viewport Layouts
• Right-Click to Activate a View
• Viewport Shade Modes
• Perspective, Orthographic, Top, and Other Views
• Safe Frames
• Rendering Setup to Control Safe Frame Size
• Grids, Statistics, and Viewport Configuration
• Display Drivers
• Undo/Redo
• Preferences

02 Selection and Transformation Tools

• Selecting/Deselecting Multiple Objects
• Window/Crossing
• Selection Types
• Naming Objects
• Selecting by Name
• The Selection Filter
• The Move Tool
• The Transform Gizmo
• Absolute/Offset Transform Modes
• Pivots
• View and Local Coordinate Systems
• Rotate and Scale
• Select and Place
• Moving Objects Along Local and View Axis
• Object Snaps
• Angle Snap
• Percent Snap
• Spinner Snap
• Selection Sets

03 Mirroring, Aligning, Grouping, and Cloning Objects

• Mirroring Objects
• Aligning Positions
• Aligning Orientations
• Normal Align
• Grouping/Ungrouping
• Editing Groups: Open, Close, Attach, Detach, and Explode
• Scene Explorer
• Using SHIFT with Transformation Tools to Clone Objects
• CTRL+V
• 2D Array
• The Quad Menu

04 Creating Precise Basic Architectural Objects

• Creating Simple Walls and Doors
• Aligning Doors with Walls
• Moving Doors Using Local Axis
• Creating Openings Using Boolean

05 Creating a Restaurant Scene

• Units, Grids, and snaps
• Modeling a Chair
• Monitoring Statistics
• Keeping Polygon Count Under Control
• Assigning Materials to the Chair Components
• Grouping the Chair
• Creating Three Additional Chairs
• Modeling a Table
• Assigning Materials to the Table
• Using the UVW to Correct Material Display
• Grouping the Table
• Placing the Chair in the Center
• Grouping the Table Set
• Using Plane to Create the Floor
• Assigning Checker Material to the Floor
• Creating the Walls Using C-Ext
• Assigning Bricks_Yellow Material to the Walls
• Using UVW Box Map to Correct the Wall Material
• Creating Roof and Assigning Material

06 Introduction to Lighting, Cameras, and Animation

• Creating an Omni Light
• Activating Shadows
• Adding a Skylight
• Adding a Camera
• Using Multiple Viewports to Position the Camera
• Rendering Still Images
• Animating the Camera Movement
• Introduction to Keyframes
• Rendering the Animation
• Creating AVI or Quick Time Movie Files
• Creating TGA Sequence of Images
• Viewing Sequences Using the RAM Player

07 Introduction to Mesh Objects

• Primitive Objects
• Converting Primitives to Mesh Objects
• Modifying Mesh Objects: Vertex, Edge, Face, and Polygon
• Creating Stairs, Walls, Roofs, and Slabs Using Mesh Objects
• The Editmesh Modifier
• Meshsmooth
• Building Stacks
• Collapsing Stacks
• Soft Selection
• Creating an Anchor
• Creating a Cane
• Using the FFD 4x4x4, the FFD 3x3x3, and the FFD 2x2x2 to Modify Objects

08 Modeling Using Mesh Objects

• Creating and Animating a Logo Using Text Shape, Extrude, and the FFD 4x4x4 Modifier
• Creating a Pool
• Rippling and Waving Water
• Slicing a Teapot
• Designing Iron Plates
• Smoothing Groups

09 Poly Objects

• Difference Between Mesh Objects and Poly Objects
• Smoothing a Poly Object
• The Editpoly Modifier
• Creating a Light Pole
• Creating a Sofa
• NURBS Modeling
• Using Rhino to Create Complex Curvy Objects

10 Shapes

• Shape Objects: Lines, Circles, etc.
• Creating and Animating a 3D Helix.
• Editing Shape Objects: Vertex, Segment, Spline
• Interpolation
• Vertex Types: Bezier, Bezier Corner, Corner, Smooth
• Creating Internal Lines
• Attaching External Lines
• Editing Vertices: Break, Fuse, Weld, Refine, Insert, Make First, Connect, Cycle, Fillet, and Chamfer
• Editing Segments: Divide
• Editing Splines: Reverse, Outline, Boolean, Mirror, Copy, Trim, and Extend
• Attaching and combining shape objects

11 Using Shapes to Create 3D Objects

• Creating a Bolt Opener
• Creating a Flower
• Creating a Gear
• Linking Objects
• Creating a Cup
• Creating a Bottle
• Creating a Metal Rod
• Creating a Cornice
• Creating a Ramp

12 Creating a Wrought Iron Dining Table

• Opening the Finished File
• Ungrouping
• Inspecting the Objects
• Creating a Similar Design

13 Importing 2D Plans from AutoCAD and Modeling in 3DS Max

• Importing a 2D Plan from AutoCAD
• Pressing X to search for the Tape Measure command
• Using the Tape Tool to Measure Distances
• Using Shapes to Create the Side Wall and the Window
• Creating the Front Wall
• Importing and Attaching AutoCAD Polylines
• Creating the Roof
• Using AutoCAD Polylines and Other Techniques to Model a House in 3ds Max.

14 Importing AutoCAD Polylines to Model a House in 3DS Max

• Opening the File in AutoCAD
• Organizing Shapes Into Layers
• Using the Polyline Command to Create Shapes to Be Used in 3DS Max
• Importing the AutoCAD File Layer by Layer
• Using Imported Polylines to Create Architectural Objects

15 Introduction to Animation

• Creating the Table and the Ball
• Configuring Time
• Animating the Bouncing Ball
• Using Keyframes to Control Speed
• The Motion Panel
• Animating the Table Rotation

16 Standard Lights

• Using Target Spotlights
• Spotlight Properties
• SHIFT $
• Free Spotlights
• Target Direct Lights
• Free Direct Lights
• Omni Lights
• Skylights

17 The Standard Lighting System

• Key Lights Target Spot
• Fill Lights Large Target Direct
• Back Lights Skylight

18 The Daylight System

• Creating a Daylight System
• Setting True North
• Location Data
• Date and Time Data
• Setting Exposure Control
• Logarithmic Exposure Control Parameters

19 Night View

• Adding Photometric Lights
• Using Light Templates
• Exposure Control

20 Standard Material

• The Material Editor
• Material Slots
• Shader Basic Parameters
• Blinn Basic Parameters
• Using Diffuse Maps
• Bitmap Properties
• Bump Maps
• Using Adobe Photoshop to Create Diffuse and Bump Bitmaps
• Creating Seamless Material
• Difference Between Get and Create New Material
• Material Library Stocks

21 UVW Maps

• Planar
• Cylindrical
• Spherical
• Box
• Shrink Wrap

22 Rendering a Hut Imported from AutoCAD

• Importing the Hut from AutoCAD
• Assigning Wall Faces IDs
• Applying Multisub-object Material to the Walls
• Applying UVW Material to the Walls
• Bitmap Map Channel
• Applying Material to Roof
• Unwrap UVW
• Applying Material to the Door
• Changing the Door's Pivot
• Applying Material to the Windows
• Force Two-Sided, Flip Normals, and 2-Sided Material
• Adding Ground, Trees, Sky, and a camera
• Calculating Rendering Resolution Using the Print Size Assistant
• Rendering and Exporting to Adobe Photoshop

23 Rendering a Large House Imported from AutoCAD

• Importing the House from AutoCAD
• Assigning Wall Faces IDs
• Creating Multisub-object Material
• Assigning Multisub-object Material to the Walls
• Applying UVW Material to Walls
• UVW Bitmap Map Channel
• Assigning Material to the Roof
• Unwrap UVW
• Detaching Stairs
• Assigning Material with Flat Mirror Option
• Assigning Material to the Pavement
• Raytrace Reflections
• Using Raytrace Material to Create Glass Material for Windows
• Adding Trees and Cars
• Configure User Paths
• Using Populate to Simulate Walking People
• Adding Lights and Shadows
• Rendering Stills Using Many Cameras
• Saving as PNG and Using Photoshop to Replace the Background

24 Walkthroughs

• Drawing the Camera Path
• The Walkthrough Assistant
• Time Configuration
• Rendering the Animation