8

Getting S tar ted with 3 ds M ax
Yo u u s e 3 d s M a x t o q u i c k l y c r e a t e
professional-quality 3D models, photorealistic still
images, and film-quality animation on your PC.
Image by M ichael M cCarthy
Before using this reference material, we highly
recommend you get to know 3ds Max firsthand by
following the included tutorials. You can access
the tutorials using the Help menu > Tutorials
command, or in the printed version.
This section presents these brief topics designed to
help you quickly start using 3ds Max.
•
Project Workflow (page 1–1)
• Setting Up Your Scene (page 1–4)
• Modeling Objects (page 1–5)
• Using Materials (page 1–6)
• Placing Lights and Cameras (page 1–7)
• Animating Your Scene (page 1–8)
• Rendering Your Scene (page 1–9)
The 3ds Max Window (page 1–9)
• Special Controls (page 1–12)
• Quad Menu (page 3–741)
• Customize Display Right-Click Menu (page
3–831)
Managing Files (page 1–15)
• Importing, Merging, and Replacing Scenes
(page 1–16)
• Using the Asset Browser (p age 1–17)
• Startup Files and Defaults (page 1–17)
• 3dsmax.ini File (page 1–18)
• Backing Up and Archiving Scenes (page 1–19)
• Crash Recovery System (page 1–19)
Pr oject Wor k f low
Once you’ve installed 3ds Max (see the Installation
Guide
included with your s of tware p ackage), you
open it f rom the Star t menu, or use any other
Getting Started with 3ds Max