Introduction to 3D Studio Max

• Introduction to 3ds max, interface.
• Working with 3ds max file system. Creating projects and project folders.
• Using the Viewport Navigation Controls.Setting File Preferences.
• Basics of Creating and Modifying Standard Primitive objects.
• Selecting objects and setting object properties.
• Basics of Using Pivot point.

Understanding with Create & Modify Panel with Modifiers List

• Creating Primitive Objects
• Naming and renaming objects
• Assigning colours.
• Using different creation methods
• Exploring the Primitive Object Types
• Standard Primitives
• Extended Primitives
• Modifying object parameters
• Basics of Transforming objects
• Understanding Quad Menu.
• Using options from Different Quad Menus

Selecting Objects

• Selecting multiple objects
• Locking selection sets
• Using named selection sets
• Editing named selections
• Isolating the current selection

Setting Object Properties

• Viewing object information
• Setting display properties
• Setting rendering controls

Hiding and Freezing Objects

• Using the Display Floater dialog box
• Using the Display panel
• Using the Layer Manager
• Using the Layer List

Translating, Rotating, and Scaling Objects

• Translating objects
• Rotating objects
• Scaling objects
• Using the transform buttons
• Working with the Transform Gizmos
• Using the Transform Type-In dialog box

Cloning Objects: Using the Clone command

• Using the Shift-clone method
• Working with copies, instances, and references

Using the Align Commands

• Aligning objects
• Using the Quick Align tool
• Aligning to a view
• Using AutoGrid

Using Pivot Points

• Positioning pivot points
• Aligning pivot points
• Transform adjustments

Using Snap Options

• Setting snap points
• Setting snap options
• Using the Snaps toolbar

Mirroring Objects: Using the Mirror command

• Using the Snapshot command
• Using the Spacing tool
• Using the Clone and Align Tool
• Creating Arrays of Objects
• Linear arrays, Circular arrays, Working with a ring array

Working with Groups

• Creating groups
• Ungrouping objects
• Opening and closing groups
• Attaching and detaching objects

Understanding Parent, Child, and Root Relationships

• Building Links between Objects
• Unlinking objects
• Displaying Links and Hierarchies
• Displaying links in the viewport
• Working with Linked Objects
• Using the Schematic View Window
• The Graph Editors menu options
• Working with Schematic View nodes

Working with Hierarchies

• Using the Display floater

Exploring the Modifier Stack

• Applying modifiers
• Using the Modifier Stack
• Reordering the Stack
• Collapsing the Stack
• Holding and fetching a scene

Modifying subobjects

• Exploring Modifier Types
• Object-Space vs World-Space modifiers

Selection modifiers

• Parametric Deformer modifiers

Exploring the Modeling Types

• Converting to editable objects

Working with Subobjects

• Using Soft Selection
• Applying modifiers to subobject selections
• Helpers: Using Dummy and Point objects
• Helpers: Measuring coordinate distances

Drawing and Editing 2D Splines and Shapes

• Working with shape primitives
• Editing Splines
• Editable Splines and the Edit Spline modifier
• Making splines renderable
• Selecting spline subobjects
• Controlling spline geometry
• Editing vertices
• Editing segments
• Editing Spline subobjects

Using Spline Modifiers

• Spline-specific modifiers
• Moving Splines to 3D

Converting 2D Splines and shapes to a 3D objects.

• Working with Tools: Mirror, Array, Align, Quick Align, Spacing tool, Clone & Align with converted objects.

Using Editable Poly Objects

• Creating Editable Poly Objects
• Converting objects
• Collapsing to a mesh object
• Applying the Edit Poly modifier
• Editable Poly subobject modes

Basics of Deformation Painting

• Using the Deformation Brushes

Working with Mesh Modifiers

• Edit Mesh modifier
• Edit Poly modifier
• Edit Geometry Modifiers
• Cap Holes modifier
• Delete Mesh modifier
• Extrude modifier
• Face Extrude modifier
• Optimize modifier
• Smooth modifier
• Vertex Weld modifier

Subdivision Surface Modifiers

• MeshSmooth modifier

Surface Modeling with Patches and NURBS

• Creating a patch grid
• Editing Patches
• Working with Patch Geometry
• Using Modifiers on Patch Objects

Creating NURBS Curves and Surfaces

• NURBS curves
• NURBS surfaces

Modify NURBS surface

Building Compound Objects

• Morphing Objects: Creating Morph keys
• Creating Conform Objects
• Creating a ShapeMerge Object
• Creating a Terrain Object
• Using the Mesher Object
• Creating a Scatter Object
• Creating Connect Objects
• Modeling with Boolean Objects: Union, Intersection, Subtraction, Cut.
• Creating a Loft Object

Animation and Keyframe Basics

• Using the Time Controls
• Setting frame rate
• Setting speed and direction
• Working with Keys, Auto Key mode, Set Key mode
• Creating keys with the Time Slider

Using the Track Bar or Track View.

• Using the Motion Panel
• Animating Objects
• Working with Previews

Basic Rendering techniques.

• Understanding Materials, Material Editor, and Material Browser.
• Using the Material Editor controls
• Using the sample slots
• Naming materials
• Getting new materials
• Assigning materials to objects

Using the Standard Material

• Using Shading Types
• Extended Parameters rollout
• Maps rollout
• Adding material Details with maps.
• Creating advanced Multi-layered Materials.
• Using Compound Materials
• Using Raytrace Materials
• Using Architectural Materials
• Applying Multiple Materials

Understanding Material Map Types

• Using the Maps Rollout: Ambient, Diffuse, Roughness, Specular, Glossiness, Self-Illumination, Opacity, Filter Color, Bump, Reflection, Refraction, Displacement.

Controlling mapping coordinates, UVW Mapping.

• Rendering View with Objects and Materials.

Working with Cameras.

• Camera Techniques for Rendering.
• Setting Camera Parameters
• Animating and rendering camera view.

Lighting Techniques.

• Default lighting
• Omni light
• Spotlight
• Direct light
• Skylight
• Area Omni and Area Spot
• Creating and Positioning Light Objects
• Viewing a Scene from a Light
• Altering Light Parameters

Advanced Lighting Techniques.

• Working with Advanced Lighting Materials
• Advanced Lighting.

Working on Advanced Materials, Camera views and Advanced Lighting with Rendering

• Animating with Constraints and Controllers.
• Working with the Track View
• Editing Curves
• Working with Controllers
• Synchronizing to a Sound Track
• Using the Sound Options dialog box
• Adding sound to an animation

Creating Particles and Particle Flow

• Creating a Particle System

Using Space Warps

• Using Dynamic Objects
• Animating and Rendering with Space warps objects.

Using Atmospheric Effects

Animating and Rendering Using Atmospheric effects

• Lighting System with Rendering Lens Effects.
• Creating Lens Effects
• Glow, Ring, Ray, Star, Streak, Auto Secondary, Manual Secondary.

Light Rendering with Raytrace shadows

• Controlling the Raytracer and Raytrace Shadows.

Using the Video Post Rendering

• Completing Post-Production with the Video Post Interface
• Working with Sequences
• Working with Lens Effects Filters
• Working with Ranges