Datasheet

Home Grid The Home Grid is a gray grid that displays the origin (0,0,0). It is useful for
grounding yourself in the viewports, and it helps with proportion and direction as well.
A Perspective viewport Home Grid is shown in Figure 1.7.
Absolute/Relative Absolute refers to an adjustment on an object that is based on a fixed
reference, such as World Space. An absolute scale of 2 will scale the object to a flat unit
of 2. Relative refers to an adjustment made to an object that takes its current state into
account. Scaling with a relative value of 2 will make that object twice its current size.
Track In 3ds Max a track is a display of animation data for an animated object. When an
object has animation on several parameters, such as Translation X and Y, as well as Scale
in X and Z, it is said to have four tracks. One track defines one animation on one parame-
ter of that object on one axis.
SUGGESTED READING
The more you know about all the arts that are used in CG, the more confident you’ll feel among
your peers. To get started, check out the following excellent resources:
Art and Design
These books provide valuable insights into the mechanics and art of design. The more you
understand design theory, the stronger your art will be.
Bowers, John. Introduction to Two-Dimensional Design: Understanding Form and Function. New
York: John Wiley & Sons, 1999.
Itten, Johannes. Design and Form: The Basic Course at the Bauhaus and Later. New York: John Wiley
& Sons, 1975.
Ocvirk, Otto G., and others. Art Fundamentals: Theory and Practice. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1997.
Wong, Wucius. Principles of Form and Design. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1993.
Figure 1.7
The Home Grid in
the Perspective
viewport
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