3D Studio Max Tutorials

3ds max, the world's most widely-used 3D modeling, animation, and rendering software, contains the essential high-productivity tools required for creating eye-catching film and television animation, cutting-edge games, and distinct design visualizations. Make your art work come alive, using our great tutorials on 3D Studio Max you will see just how easy it is.




This training course is designed for fast learning and covers all the fundamental points of the application, all cds work on a mac or pc and no application is needed.

The links below are free 3D Studio Max tutorials. To watch the entire contents of this training course please purchase the CD or subscribe to the Online University
Introduction
 About this Training CD
 Overview
 What's New in 3D Studio Max 2.5

Getting Started
 System Requirements
 Setting Screen Depth
 Setting Preferences for Starters
 Creating A New Scene
 Interactive Rendering in Views
 Placing and Deleting Objects
 Naming Objects & Changing Colors
 Exiting 3-D Studio Max

Menus
 File Menu
 Edit Menu
 Tools Menu
 Group Menu
 Views Menu
 Rendering Menu
 Track View Menu
 Help Menu

Toolbar 1
Help Mode Button
Undo-Redo Buttons
Select and Link Tool
Select and Unlink Tool
Select and Bind to Space-Warp Tool
Selection Tool
Select Region Type
Selection Filter
Select By Name
Select and Move
Select and Rotate
Select and Scale

Toolbar 2
Reference Co-ordinate System
Center Transform
Axis Restriction Buttons
The IK Toggle Button
Mirror Selected Objects
Array Tool
Snapshot Tool
Align
Named Selection Sets Pulldown
Track Views Button
Material Editor Button
The Render Control Button

Command Panel
The Command Panel
Create Panel
Modify Panel
Hierarchy Tab
Motion Panel
Display Tab
Utilities Panel

Other Controls
Customizing the Interface
Viewports Explained
Viewport Menus
Viewport Controls
Animation Playback Controls
Animate Toggle Button
Animation Timer Slider
Snap Toggle Tool
Co-ordinate Readout
Degradation Override
Crossing/Window Toggle
Lock Selection Button
Status Bar

3D Objects
Standard Primitives
Extended Primitives
Compound Objects
Patch Grids
Nurb Surfaces
Summary

Shapes and Lofted Objects
Creating Shapes
Creating a Lofted Object
Summary

Drawing with Precision
Setting the Units
Defining the Grid Settings
Using Snaps
Using Keyboard Entry
Using Helper Objects

Using the Object Stack to Control Modifiers
Object Stack Overview
Active/Inactive Modifier Toggle
Show End Result On/Off Toggle
Make Unique Button
Remove Modifier from Stack Button
Edit Stack button
Summary

Geometry Modification Fundamentals
Editing Object Parameters
Making Copies
Transforms vs. Modifiers
Accessing Transforms
Bend Modifier
Twist Modifier
Taper Modifier
Noise Modifier
Customize the Modifier Stack
Summary

Edit Objects Transforms and Modify
Selecting an Existing Modifier
Editing an Existing Modifier
Editing-Sub Object Level Modifiers

Editing 3D Shapes and Loft Objects
Editing Shapes
Extrude a Shape
Lathe a Shape
Edit a Loft Object
Using Deformation Curves
Deformation Curves Interface
Summary

Modifying Objects in Different Levels
Edit Mesh
Edit Patch
Edit Spline
Edit Nurbs
Summary

Scene Composition - Lights and Cameras
Target Camera
Free Camera
Camera Controls
Target Spot Light
Free Spot Light
Target Direct Light
Free Direct Light
Omni Light
Ambient Light
Summary

Scene Composition - Materials
Basic Materials
Material Editor Interface
Material Map Browser
Standard Materials
Basic Standard Material Parameters
Extended Standard Material Parameters
Mapped Materials
Creating Mapped Materials
Bitmap Material Rollouts
Surface Demo
Advanced Materials
Summary

Scene Composition - Rendering a Scene
Rendering Options
Rendering Parameters
Multithreaded Rendering
Output Options

Scene Composition - Environmental Effects
Volumetric Lights
Volumetric Fog
Fog
Environment Mapping
Combustion

Scene Composition - Helper Objects
Dummy
Grid
Point
Tape
Protractor
Compass
Summary

Animation - Basics
What is Animation?
Basic Animation
Creating an Animation
Motion Controllers
Previewing Animation
The Track View
Track View - Interface
Track View - Edit Keys Mode
Track View - Edit Time Mode
Track View - Edit Rangers Mode
Track View - Position Rangers Mode
Track View - Function Curves Mode
Track View - Controlling Animation

Animation - Motion Controllers
Trajectory Motion Controllers
Using A Motion Controller
Using Trajectories

Animation - Inverse Kinematics & Linking
Pivot Points
Linking Objects
What are Kinematics?
Using Inverse Kinematics

Special Effects
Special Effects Intro
Space Warps
Particle Systems
Morphing Objects
Comments on Plug-Ins

Using What You Have Learned
Create A Scene
Add Materials to A Scene
Render with Lights and Cameras