Tutorials:

Introduction
2010
Autodesk

3ds

Max 2010 Software

2009 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved. Except as otherwise permitted by Autodesk, Inc., this publication, or parts thereof, may not be
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Introduction
Welcome, and congratulations! Youve just bought a ticket to the world of Autodesk

3ds
Max

. Hang on and get ready for the ride of a lifetime! With 3ds Max, you can create 3D
places and characters, objects and subjects of any type. You can arrange them in settings and
environments to build the scenes for your movie or game or visualization. You can animate
the characters, set them in motion, make them speak, sing and dance, or kick and fight. And
then you can shoot movies of the whole virtual thing.
The Ancient Indian Crown
Kameswaran Ramachandran Iyer,
India
www.kameswaran.com
You can use 3ds Max to visualize designs of real things that will actually be built, such as
buildings and machines. The File Link feature of 3ds Max lets you base visualizations on
designs created in AutoCAD or Autodesk Architectural Desktop: when the design changes in
these other applications, the revisions can be automatically updated in your 3ds Max scene.
Add lighting and materials, then render to still image or movie formats.
These tutorials teach 3ds Max through a series of hands-on exercises. Prepare to be entertained
and fascinated by the awesome power at your fingertips.
Online Tutorials
The tutorials are provided as an online help file. To do the online tutorials, from the 3ds Max
Help menu, choose Tutorials to display the online collection.
1
1
Acknowledgements
Special thanks are due to a number of hardworking and talented individuals who helped
create these tutorials. A tip of the virtual hat to:
All those customers and users who have allowed us to showcase their artwork, whether
in the User Showcase on page 4 section or elsewhere in the help and tutorials.
All those who have contributed models and methods used in these tutorials, including
Grant Adam (Particle Flow), Jean-Marc Belloncik (quadruped animation), Michele
Bousquet (Physique models), Mark Gerhard (Auto Key animation), Frank deLise (exploding
asteroid), Peter Carisi de Lappe (using FK and IK together), Pia Maffei (the head used
with a skin material), Retired Captain Irv Styer, fighter pilot (help with the P-38 model),
Fred Ruff (level modeling), Amer Yassine (models, methods, and artwork too numerous
to list). There are other contributors whose names arent available: We apologize for
omitting them, and thank you for your help as well.
Where to Find Tutorial Files
The files you need to complete the tutorials were included by default when
3ds Max was installed on your workstation. By default, the tutorial files are
installed in a folder called \My Documents\3ds Max Tutorials.
If these files are not on your computer, you must copy them from your product
disc to your local hard drive using My Computer or Windows Explorer.
To install the tutorial files (if required):
1 Locate your product disc: the disc from which you installed 3ds Max.
Load it in your computer's drive.
2 Open My Computer or Windows Explorer, and navigate to the disc.
3 Right-click the 3ds Max Tutorials folder, then choose Copy from the context
menu.
4 Navigate to a location on your local directory where you would like to
access the tutorial files and paste the folder.
TIP If you have limited hard drive space, you can copy individual directories
from the disk.
2 | Chapter 1 Introduction
How to Learn 3ds Max
Besides the tutorials found in this collection, a number of other resources are
available to help you learn 3ds Max. In particular, consider the online Help
file an important adjunct to the tutorials; if you encounter a feature you'd like
to learn more about, look it up in the 3ds Max Help. There you'll find general
descriptions, detailed descriptions of all the controls, usage notes and tips,
and procedures for accomplishing various tasks.
Autodesk 3ds Max 2010 Documentation Set
Autodesk 3ds Max 2010 Help: The online help covers fundamental concepts
and strategies for using the product, as well as details about the features
of 3ds Max.
Access the reference online by choosing Help > Autodesk 3ds Max Help.
Additional Resources: A number of additional help files are installed with
the software and are available from the Help > Additional Help menu. For
details, see the topic 3ds Max Documentation Set in the 3ds Max Help.
3ds Max on the Web
Links to the following Web sites are available from the Help > 3ds Max on the
Web menu within 3ds Max. These pages provide access to a wide range of
product information and support resources: searchable Knowledgebase, FAQs,
technical bulletins, tested hardware information, and product downloads.
Online Support
Updates
Resources
Partners
Training
Autodesk Training Information and Resources
Learning Path: Autodesk provides you with a single access point to an
interface overview, discussion groups, essential skills movies, technical
support, training resources and more. To access the this site, go to:
http://www.autodesk.com/3dsmax-learningpath.
How to Learn 3ds Max | 3
Training Resources on the Web: Youll find other training resources for
3ds Max at http://www.autodesk.com/3dsmax-training.
Other Resources: There is a wealth of information written about using 3ds
Max. There are third-party books that specialize in teaching the software
for various industries. There are magazines devoted to 3D design and
animation, as well as user groups and mail lists. Communities of users
trade secrets daily, and if you ask a question, you're likely to get answers
from experts all around the world.
Some of the above programs or contact details might not be available or
applicable in your country. Please check with your local Autodesk Authorized
Reseller or Autodesk office for details.
User Showcase
In the 3ds Max tutorials, we teach you the tools to use the software. Put those
tools in the hands of talented artists and magic happens.
Here is a gallery of images by creative individuals from around the world using
this software. We hope you find these images inspiring before you set out on
your journey of learning 3ds Max.
4 | Chapter 1 Introduction
Chinese Opera
James Ku
www.3dartisan.net/~kuman/
User Showcase | 5
Office Floor
Jamie Cardoso, GMJ Design Ltd
The Ancient Indian Crown
Kameswaran Ramachandran Iyer,
India
www.kameswaran.com
6 | Chapter 1 Introduction
Ice Cubes
Jos Manuel Elizardo, Autodesk, Inc.
User Showcase | 7
Apples
Jos Manuel Elizardo, Autodesk, Inc.
8 | Chapter 1 Introduction
Unpleasant Company
Metin Seven
User Showcase | 9
A Living Room
Frances Gainer Davey
Guardian of the Enchanted Forest
Marc Tan, Insane Polygons
10 | Chapter 1 Introduction
Old Courtyard
Pradipta Seth
User Showcase | 11
by Tommy Hjalmarsson
http://hem.bredband.net/tomhja
12 | Chapter 1 Introduction
by Tommy Hjalmarsson
http://hem.bredband.net/tomhja
User Showcase | 13
Student Breakfast
Jean-Yves Arboit, Belgium
www.discreetcenter.com
14 | Chapter 1 Introduction
Electric Water
Johannes Schlrb
by reiv: Ponsonnet Olivier
http://re1v.free.fr/
User Showcase | 15
Ripples of Spring
Casey McGovern
[email protected]
16 | Chapter 1 Introduction
Indian Beauty
Jaykar Arudra, AMM Studio, India
User Showcase | 17
by Ben Paine
Old Sunflowers
Joana Garrido (Caixa D'Imagens), Portugal
18 | Chapter 1 Introduction
Pistol Pete
Martin Coven
User Showcase | 19
Sommar Torp: "Summer House"
Sren Larsson, Sweden
20 | Chapter 1 Introduction
Anibal
Daniel Martnez Lara (Pepeland)
All images are copyright. Reproduction and distribution is not permitted
without the owner's permission.