8

toc
Introduction.............................................. xiii
Welcome ................................................................... xiii
What’s New in 3ds Max 8 ......................................... xiv
3ds Max Documentation Set.................................. xviii
About MAX Script ..................................................... xx
1 Getting Started with 3ds Max ..................... 1
Getting Started with 3ds Max ..................................... 1
Project Workflow...... ................................................... 1
Sett ing Up Your Scene ......................... ........................ 4
Modeling Objects ................................ ........................ 5
Using Materials...... ........................................... ........... 6
Placing Lights and Cameras........................................ 7
Animating Your Scene................................................. 8
Rendering Your Scene ............................................. .... 9
The 3ds Max Window ............................................. .... 9
Special Controls....................................................... .. 12
Managing Files .......................................................... 15
Importing, Merging, Replacing, and Externally
Referencing Scenes ............................................... .. 16
Using the Asset Browser ............ ................................ 17
Startup Files and Defaults ......................................... 17
3dsmax.ini File .......................................................... 18
Backing Up and Archiving Scenes .. .......................... 19
Crash Recovery System ............................................. 19
2 V iewing and Navigating 3D Space ........... 21
Viewing and Navigating 3D Space............................ 21
General Viewport Concepts...................................... 22
H ome Grid: Views Based on the World
Coordinate Axes ..................................................... 23
Understanding Views.............................................. .. 24
Setting Viewport Layout ........................................... 26
Controlling Viewport Rendering........... ................... 27
Controlling Display Performance ............................. 28
Using Standard View Navigation .............................. 29
Zooming, Panning, and Rotating Views................... 29
Using Walkthrough Navigation ................................ 30
Navigating Camera and Light Views......................... 33
Adaptive Degradation Toggle ................................... 34
Grab Viewport........................................................... 35
V iew-Handling Commands .................................... 35
View-Handling Commands...................................... 35
Undo View Change / Redo View Change ................. 36
Save Active View............................... ......................... 37
Restore Active View................................................... 37
Viewport Background............................................... 38
Viewport Background Dialog ................................... 38
Select Background Image D ialog .............................. 42
Update Background Image ....................................... 44
Reset Background Transform ................................... 45
Show Transform Gizmo ............................................ 45
Show Ghosting .......................................................... 46
Show Key Times ........................................................ 46
Shade Selected ........................................................... 47
Show Dependencies .................................................. 47
Create Camera From View........................................ 48
Add Default Lights to Scene...................................... 49
Add Default Lights To Scene Dialog ......................... 49
Redraw All Views....................................................... 50
Activate All Maps ...................................................... 50
Deactivate All Maps ............................................. ..... 51
Update During Spinner Drag.................................... 51
Expert Mode.............................................................. 51
Controlling Object Display .................................... 51
Controlling Object Display ....................................... 51
Display Color Rollout ............................................... 52
Hide By Category Rollout ............................. ............ 52
Contents