Auto-desk® 3ds Max helps you get started with tools for 3D modeling, animation,rendering, compositing and pre-production planning. You’ll learn how to apply materials and light scenes, animate cameras and objects, assemble short sequences, and avoid long render times.

1. Chapter 1
2. • Getting to Know Autodesk 3DSMax.
   • Introducing the New 3ds Max 2013 Features.
   • Getting Started with Autodesk 3ds Max.
   • Touring the Interface.
   • The Menu Bar.
   • The Quick Access Toolbar.
   • The Information Center Toolbar.
   • The Main Toolbar.
   • Docked and Floating Toolbars.
   • Toolbar Flyouts.
   • The Viewports.
   • Tools for Working with the Viewports.
   • Getting to Know the Command Panel.
   • Understanding the 3ds Max Tools.
   • Working with Objects.
   • Selecting and Moving Objects.
   • Rotating and Scaling Objects.
   • Copying an Object.
   • Selecting Multiple Objects.
   • Naming Selection Sets.
   • Editing Named Selection Sets.
   • Getting the View You Want.
   • Understanding the Perspective Viewing Tools.
   • Using Multiple Viewports.
   • Changing the Viewport Display and Configuration.
   • Working with the Custom UI And Defaults Switcher.

2. Chapter 2.
3. • Introducing Objects.
   • Understanding Standard Primitives.
   • Adjusting an Object’s Parameters.
   • Accessing Parameters.
   • Introducing the Standard Primitive Objects.
   • Modeling Standard Primitives with Modifiers.
   • Adding a Modifier.
   • Accessing Modifier Parameters.
   • Placing Modifiers Where You Want Them.
   • Using the Modifier Stack Tools.
   • How 3ds Max Sees Objects.
   • Making Clones That Share Properties.
   • Creating an Instance Clone.
   • Creating a Reference Clone.
   • Scaling and Rotating Objects with Transform Tools.
   • Making a Clone Unique.
   • Cloning a Modify er.
   • Introducing Extended Primitives.
   • Modeling a Couch.
   • Working with Groups.
   • Grouping the Components of the Couch.
   • Working within Groups.
   • Disassembling Groups.

3. Chapter 3.
4. • Creating Shapes with Splines.
   • Drawing with Splines.
   • Drawing Straight-Line Segments.
   • Constraining Lines Vertically and Horizontally.
   • Drawing Curves.
   • Lathing a Spline.
   • Modifying a Shape Using Sub-object Levels.
   • Adjusting the Lathe Axis.
   • Flipping Surface Normal.
   • Smoothing Spline Corners.
   • Adjusting Tangent Handles.
   • Creating Thickness with a Spline.
   • Detailing the Wineglass Base.
   • Finishing the Wineglass.
   • Outlining and Extruding Splines.
   • Drawing Accurate Splines.
   • Giving Walls Thickness.
   • Using Grids and Snaps to Align Objects Accurately.
   • Adjusting a Wall Location.
   • Combining and Extruding Primitive Splines.
   • Combining Splines.
   • Joining Closed Splines with Boolean Tools.
   • Creating a Solid Form with Splines.
   • Introducing the Other Spline Types.
   • Editing Splines.
   • Placing and Beveling Text.

4. Chapter 4.
5. • Editing Meshes and Creating Complex Objects.
   • Creating Openings in a Wall with Boolean Operations.
   • Hiding Shapes That Get in the Way.
   • Creating the Shape of the Opening.
   • Subtracting the Opening from the Wall.
   • Creating Multiple Openings in a Single Wall.
   • Making Changes to the Opening.
   • Tracing a Sketch.
   • Using a Bitmap Image.
   • Scaling the Image Plane to the Model’s Size.
   • Tracing the Image.
   • Building Objects from Traced Lines.
   • Editing Meshes.
   • Creating a Tapered Wall.
   • Converting the Spline to a Mesh.
   • Moving a Single Mesh Vertex.
   • Tapering the Top of the Wall.
   • Using Instanced Clones to Create Symmetrical Forms.
   • Adding a User Grid to Aid Tracing.
   • Building the Tower Walls.
   • Adding the Vaulted Ceiling.
   • Creating the Smaller Towers.
   • Drawing the Remaining Walls.
   • Attaching Objects to a Mesh.
   • Smoothing Meshes.
   • Smoothing within a Mesh.
   • The Smooth Modifier.
   • Creating and Modifying Objects Using Box Modeling.
   • Using the Transform Toolbox.
   • Creating Clones with Array and Snapshot.
   • Creating a Pew Grid with Array.
   • Creating a Multi transform Polar Array.
   • Creating Multiple Clones Using Snapshot.

5. Chapter 5.
6. • Working with External Design Data.
   • Creating Topography with Splines.
   • Updating Changes from an AutoCAD File.
   • Exploring Terrain Options.
   • Setting Up an AutoCAD Plan for 3ds Max.
   • Importing AutoCAD Plans into 3ds Max.
   • Extruding the Walls.
   • Extruding Exterior Wall Headers.
   • Extruding the Mullions.
   • Creating Interior Wall Headers.
   • Adding Glass.
   • Creating a Floor with Openings..
   • Exploring the Manage Links Dialog Box.
   • Editing Linked AutoCAD Files.
   • Understanding the Block Node Hierarchy.
   • Understanding the Manage Links Options.
   • Understanding File Link Settings.
   • Importing Adobe Illustrator Files into 3ds Max.
   • Importing Autodesk Inventor Files into 3ds Max.
   • Using the Substitute Modifi er with Linked Geometry.
   • Importing a Truss.
   • Linking Revit Files into 3ds Max.
   • Linking the Revit File in 3ds Max.
   • Using the Scene Explorer.
   • Importing FBX Files into 3ds Max.

6. Chapter 6.
7. • Organizing and Editing Objects.
   • (Re)Naming Objects.
   • Renaming the Ceiling Fixtures.
   • Organizing Objects by Layers.
   • Setting Up Layers.
   • Assigning Objects to Layers.
   • Assigning Color to Layers.
   • Understanding the Icons in the Layer Dialog Box.
   • Lofting an Object.
   • Setting Up the Shapes to Form the Pedestal.
   • Lofting a Shape along a Path.
   • Using Different Shapes along the Loft Path.
   • Fine-Tuning a Loft Object.
   • Using the Instance Clones to Edit the Loft.
   • Using the Noise Modifier.
   • Modeling with Soft Selection.
   • Extruding with the Sweep Modifier.
   • Aligning Objects.

7. Chapter 7.
8. • Light and Shadow.
   • Lighting Your.
   • Understanding the Types of Lights.
   • Adding a Spotlight to Simulate the Sun.
   • Moving a Light.
   • Editing a Spotlight.
   • Changing the Light Type.
   • Rendering a View.
   • Ambient Light.
   • Faking Radiosity.
   • Adding a Highlight with an Omni Light.
   • Looking at Omni Light Options.
   • Adding Shadow Effects.
   • Softening Shadow Edges.
   • Understanding Shadow Maps.
   • Using Ray-Traced Shadows.
   • Using Advanced Ray Traced and Area Shadows.
   • Playing in the Shadows.
   • Using Two Suns..
   • Adding a Second Sun.
   • Using Unseen Objects to Cast Shadows.
   • Using a Clone to Cast Shadows.
   • Using the Light Lister.
   • Using Scene States.

8. Chapter 8.
9. • Enhancing Models with Materials.
   • Understanding Bitmap Texture Maps.
   • Diffuse Color Maps.
   • Surface Properties.
   • The Architectural Material’s Physical Qualities Rollout.
   • The Special Effects Rollout.
   • Ink ’n Paint Material.
   • DirectX Shader.
   • Adding Materials to Objects.
   • Adding a Map Path to Help 3ds Max Find Bitmaps.
   • Understanding Material Libraries.
   • Editing Materials.
   • Using Bump Maps.