• A
• B
• C
• D
• E
• F
• G
• H
• I
• J
• K
• L
• M
• N
• O
• P
• Q
• R
• S
• T
• U
• V
• W
• X
• Y
• Z

In 3ds Max 2011 Essential Training, author Aaron F. Ross demonstrates how to use this top-tier application for digital content creation, widely used in diverse industries such as architecture, industrial design, motion pictures, and games and virtual worlds. This course covers modeling with polygons, curves, and subdivision surfaces, defining surface properties with materials and maps, setting up cameras and lights, animating objects, and final output rendering. Exercise files accompany the course.

Course 3ds Max 2011 Essential Training Author Aaron F. Ross SKU ISBN Release Date 2010-05-26 Duration 10.04 hrs / 150 tutorials Work files Yes Price $ 49.95 Retail price $ 99.95 Language Tags 3ds Max

1. Getting Started Using the Custom UI and Defaults Switcher 01:35 Setting local file paths to relative 01:27 Using project folders 04:31 2. The 3ds Max Interface Getting familiar with the interface 04:05 Touring the command panels 01:44 Creating primitives 03:05 Navigating the viewports 03:57 Using hotkeys 03:18 Choosing shading modes 03:06 Configuring the viewports 03:29 Transforming objects 04:32 Using the toolbars 03:33 Using the Modify panel 05:46 3. Modeling Basics Surveying different modeling methods 05:18 Setting units 05:08 Setting home grid dimensions 03:37 Understanding the Level of Detail utility 03:34 Working with the Modifier Stack 03:51 Understanding dependencies 05:09 Collapsing the Modifier Stack 04:53 Working with sub-objects 04:41 4. Modeling with Splines Creating shapes 05:17 Creating lines 02:56 Converting a shape to an editable spline 02:20 Transforming editable spline sub-objects 04:20 Using different types of vertices 03:39 5. Lofting Lofting a vase 03:59 Setting loft parameters 03:49 Editing the path and shapes 05:18 Manipulating loft sub-objects 03:55 Adding a scale deformation 05:47 Adding a shell modifier 03:50 Smoothing polygon edges 08:52 6. Modeling for Motion Graphics Setting up the project and scene layout 02:34 Creating a backdrop profile line 01:19 Using Editable Spline Fillet 01:24 Extruding shapes 02:36 Creating text 01:21 Applying a bevel modifier 03:57 Choosing bevel parameters 02:33 Using Display All Triangle Edges 01:56 Adjusting spline interpolation 02:22 Deforming beveled objects 01:17 Exporting paths from Adobe Illustrator 02:39 Importing Illustrator paths to 3ds Max 02:22 7. Polygon Modeling Setting up the scene 02:08 Creating chamfer boxes 04:44 Smoothing edges 01:16 Using the Array tool 05:31 Grouping objects 10:18 Modeling lines 11:17 Using the Sweep Modifier 03:00 Soft-selecting sub-objects with Volume Select 05:40 Removing polygons with Delete Mesh 02:37 Clearing a sub-object selection with Mesh Select 03:37 Adding randomness with the Noise Modifier 05:47 8. Subdivision Surface Modeling Understanding subdivision surfaces 02:46 Creating a box and converting to editable poly format 03:54 Using the Symmetry Modifier 01:44 Working with TurboSmooth 03:03 Extruding polygons 01:54 Editing edge loops 08:15 Shaping the model 04:57 Baking subdivisions 03:45 Optimizing polygon Level of Detail 02:44 9. Polygon Modeling with Graphite Understanding the graphite tools within Editable Poly 02:40 Using the Graphite Ribbon interface 03:26 Using traditional editable poly tools within Graphite 11:30 Adjusting detail with Remove and Cut 04:44 Using SwitfLoop 02:46 Constraining sub-object transforms 02:23 Attaching polygon meshes to a single object 05:33 Bridging parts of a mesh 05:43 10. NURBS Modeling Understanding NURBS 02:35 Creating NURBS curves 07:27

Creating a U-loft surface 05:52 Editing curves and surfaces 03:09 Setting surface approximation 06:21 11. Materials Basics Using the Material Editor 07:08 Choosing a material type 03:03 Choosing a shader type 02:12 Adjusting specular parameters 03:06 Setting opacity 03:05 Understanding procedural Maps and bitmaps 04:11 Using bitmaps 05:21 Navigating shader trees 02:27 Tracking scene assets 04:40 Creating simple UVW mapping 07:52 Adding reflections with a Raytrace map 04:32 Creating an environment 05:27 Mapping a bump channel 07:13 12. Camera Basics Creating cameras 04:01 Understanding target and free cameras 04:39 Using Camera Pan, Truck, and Dolly 04:08 Adjusting the field of view 04:59 Understanding aspect ratio 02:06 Showing safe frames 03:12 Choosing render output size 03:59 13. Lighting Basics Understanding CG lighting 05:56 Understanding standard and photometric lights 01:48 Creating a target spotlight 02:03 Enabling viewport hardware shading 02:10 Previewing renderings with ActiveShade 03:06 Adjusting intensity and color 02:27 Controlling contrast and highlights 02:52 Setting spotlight hotspot and falloff radius 04:59 Choosing a shadow type 03:56 Optimizing shadow maps 05:46 Using area shadows 03:57 Creating omni lights 04:36 14. Keyframe Animation Understanding keyframes 01:41 Setting time configuration 03:48 Choosing set key filters 01:27 Using Set Key mode 02:39 Editing keyframes in the Timeline 02:43 Using Auto Key mode 05:44 Creating animation in passes 02:40 Animating modifier parameters 03:53 Working in the dope sheet 07:47 Editing function curves 05:28 Looping animation 05:43 15. Hierarchies Understanding hierarchies 03:16 Understanding reference coordinate systems 05:51 Editing pivot points 04:40 Linking objects 03:20 Using the Schematic view 01:59 Preventing problems with scale 07:50 Animating a hierarchy 10:11 Fine-tuning the animation 06:47 16. Controllers and Constraints Understanding controllers 03:55 Applying path constraints 04:55 Assigning a link constraint 02:27 Using the Motion panel 02:48 Animating constrained objects 06:48 17. Special Effects Understanding particle systems 02:24 Emitting particles from an object with PArray 02:18 Adjusting particle parameters 05:33 Binding particles to a gravitational force 02:51 Colliding particles with a POmniFlector 06:04 Creating a particle material 03:23 Mapping opacity with a gradient 02:01 Assigning a material ID G-Buffer channel 00:46 Creating a lens effect glow 03:09 18. Scanline Rendering Understanding image sequences 05:40 Setting render options 07:53 Compressing an image sequence to a movie 05:17 Conclusion Goodbye 00:27