Autodesk 3ds Max Fundamentals


Course Description

In this Autodesk 3ds Max course, you'll receive a thorough introduction to Autodesk 3ds Max that will help new users make the most of this sophisticated application and will broaden the horizons of existing, self-taught users. The practices in this course are geared toward real-world tasks you will encounter.

You will learn to use Autodesk 3ds Max to create photo-realistic renderings and animations. You'll examine the interface and workflow and learn to configure a project. You'll learn to work with lighting and perform rendering and animation, and you will learn to work with geometry imported from other applications.

Who Should Attend

Primary users of Autodesk 3ds Max, including professionals in the architectural, interior design, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, and product design industries.

Prerequisites

  • Knowledge of OS X or Windows and basic computer navigation
  • Experience with 3D modeling is recommended

Course Outline

Note: The curricula below comprise activities typically covered in a class at this skill level. The instructor may, at his/her discretion, adjust the lesson plan to meet the needs of the class.

Lesson 1: Learning the Max Interface

  • Viewport configuration
  • Customizing the quads, shortcuts, and menus
  • Navigation shortcuts

Lesson 2: Working with objects

  • Creating and editing primitives
  • Object properties and layers
  • Using the transforms move, rotate, scale
  • Cloning and Arrays
  • Grouping and Linking
  • Using the modifier Stack

Lesson 3: Modeling

  • Working with Sub-objects
  • Working with 2D shapes and modifiers
  • Polygonal modeling
  • Compound objects

Lesson 4: Materials and Maps

  • Material Editor
  • Building basic materials
  • Multi-layer materials
  • Adding maps
  • Unwrapping
  • Using Photoshop to process maps

Lesson 5: Cameras and Lighting

  • Building cameras
  • Using lights and basic techniques
  • Using Mental ray lighting
  • Daylight system

Lesson 6: Animation

  • Understanding animation and keyframes
  • Animation modifiers and wiring
  • Constraints and controllers
  • Track view

Lesson 7: Dynamic Animation

  • Using particles
  • Space warps
  • Nvidia PhysX

Lesson 8: Rendering

  • Rendering setup and output
  • Mental Ray
  • Network rendering