Introduction xv
Chapter 1 The 3ds Max Interface 1
The Workspace 1
User-Interface Elements 2
Viewports 4
ViewCube 6
Mouse Buttons 7
Quad Menus 7
Display of Objects in a Viewport 8
Viewport Navigation 10
Transforming Objects Using Gizmos 11
Graphite Modeling Tools Set 12
Command Panel 14
Object Parameters and Values 15
Modifier Stack 15
Objects and Sub-Objects 16
Time Slider and Track Bar 16
File Management 16
Setting a Project 17
Version Up! 18
The Essentials and Beyond 18
Chapter 2 Your First 3ds Max Project 19
Setting Up a Project Workflow 19
Ready, Set, Go…Set Project! 20
Ready, Set, Reference! 20
Time to Model a Clock! 25
Modeling in Sub-Object Mode 26
Bring on the Bevel 30
Chamfer Time 32
In Splines We Trust 38
One Lathe to Make a Whole 45
Introducing the Dynamic Duo: Extrude & Bevel 49
Bringing It All Together 54
The Essentials and Beyond 56
Chapter 3 Modeling in 3ds Max: Architectural Model Part I 57
Units Setup 58
Importing a CAD Drawing 59
Creating the Walls 61
Creating the Doors 64
Creating the Window 68
Adding a Floor and Ceiling 70
Creating Baseboard Moldings 72
The Essentials and Beyond 78
Chapter 4 Modeling in 3ds Max: Architectural Model Part II 79
Modeling the Couch 79
Blocking Out the Couch Model 80
Using NURMS to Add Softness 82
Adding Details to the Couch 85
The Chaise Lounge 89
Creating the Couch Feet 90
Modeling the Lounge Chair 93
Creating Image Planes 93
Adding the Materials 94
Building the Splines for the Chair Frame 95
Creating the Chair Cushion 101
Creating the Lounge Chair’s Base 103
Bringing It All Together 108
The Essentials and Beyond 110
Chapter 5 Introduction to Animation 111
Animating the Ball 112
Copying Keyframes 113
Using the Track View–Curve Editor 114
Reading Animation Curves 116
Refining the Animation 118
Editing Animation Curves 119
Squash and Stretch 121
Setting the Timing 123
Moving the Ball Forward 124
Using the XForm Modifier 127
Animating the XForm Modifier 128
The Essentials and Beyond 130
Chapter 6 Animation Principles 131
Anticipation and Momentum in Knife Throwing 131
Blocking Out the Animation 131
Trajectories 134
Adding Rotation 135
Adding Anticipation 137
Following Through 139
Transferring Momentum to the Target 140
The Essentials and Beyond 142
Chapter 7 Character Poly Modeling: Part I 143
Setting Up the Scene 143
Creating Image Planes 144
Adding the Material to the Image Plane 145
Beginning the Soldier Model 146
Forming the Torso 147
Creating the Arms 158
Creating the Legs 161
Fixing Up the Body 166
The Essentials and Beyond 168
Chapter 8 Character Poly Modeling: Part II 169
Completing the Main Body 169
Creating the Accessories 173
Utility Belt 173
Pouch 174
Vest 177
Leg Strap 178
Gun Holster 182
Putting on the Boots 183
Creating the Hands 188
The Essentials and Beyond 192
Chapter 9 Character Poly Modeling: Part III 193
Creating the Head 193
Outlining the Head 196
Rounding Out the Face 203
Creating the Back of the Head 205
Mirroring the Head 206
Merging and Attaching the Head’s Accessories 207
The Essentials and Beyond 208
Chapter 10 Introduction to Materials: Interiors and Furniture 209
The Slate Material Editor 210
Material Types 211
Standard Materials 211
mental ray Material Types 212
Shaders 212
Mapping the Couch and Chair 213
Creating a Standard Material 213
Applying the Material to the Couch 214
Adding a Bitmap 216
Introduction to Mapping Coordinates 218
Applying the Material to the Lounge Chair 223
Mapping the Window and Doors 228
Creating a Multi/Sub-Object Material 228
The Essentials and Beyond 233
Chapter 11 Textures and UV Workflow: The Soldier 235
UV Unwrapping 236
Pelting the Arms UVs 242
Unwrapping and Using Pelt for the Head 245
Seaming the Rest of the Body 249
Unfolding the Rest of the Body 250
Applying the Color Map 257
Applying the Bump Map 258
Applying the Specular Map 261
The Essentials and Beyond 262
Chapter 12 Character Studio: Rigging 263
Character Studio Workflow 263
General Workflow 264
Associating a Biped with the Soldier Model 266
Creating and Modifying the Biped 266
Adjusting the Torso and Arms 272
Adjusting the Neck and Head 274
Applying the Skin Modifier 275
Tweaking the Skin Modifier 278
Controlling the View 287
The Essentials and Beyond 290
Chapter 13 Character Studio: Animation 291
Animating the Soldier 291
Adding a Run-and-Jump Sequence 292
Adding Freeform Animation 294
Modifying Animation in the Dope Sheet 299
The Essentials and Beyond 304
Chapter 14 Introduction to Lighting: Interior Lighting 305
Three-Point Lighting 305
3ds Max Lights 306
Standard Lights 307
Target Spotlight 307
Target Direct Light 309
Free Spot or Free Direct Light 310
Omni Light 311
Lighting a Still Life in the Interior Space 312
Selecting a Shadow Type 319
Shadow Maps 320
raytraced Shadows 320
Atmospheres and Effects 321
Creating a Volumetric Light 321
Adding Shadows 323
Excluding an Object from a Light 324
Adding a Volumetric Effect 327
Volume Light Parameters 329
Light Lister 329
The Essentials and Beyond 330
Chapter 15 3ds Max Rendering 331
Rendering Setup 331
Common Tab 333
Choosing a Filename 334
Rendered Frame Window 334
Render Processing 334
Assign Renderer 336
Rendering the Bouncing Ball 336
Cameras 338
Creating a Camera 339
Using Cameras 339
Talk Is Cheap! 340
Animating a Camera 341
Clipping Planes 342
Safe Frames 343
Raytraced Reflections and Refractions 345
Raytrace Material 345
Raytrace Mapping 347
Refractions Using the Raytrace Material 348
Refractions Using Raytrace Mapping 351
Rendering the Interior and Furniture 353
Adding Raytraced Reflections 353
Outputting the Render 355
The Essentials and Beyond 356
Chapter 16 mental ray 357
mental ray Renderer 357
Enabling the mental ray Renderer 357
mental ray Sampling Quality 358
Final Gather with mental ray 360
Basic Group 361
Advanced Group 363
The mental ray Rendered Frame Window 364
mental ray Materials 364
Using Arch & Design Material Templates 366
Creating Arch & Design Materials 369
Multi/Sub-Object Material and Arch & Design 370
3ds Max Photometric Lights in mental ray Renderings 372
3ds Max Daylight System in mental ray Renderings 378
The Essentials and Beyond 384
Appendix Autodesk 3ds Max Certification 385
Index 389