Datasheet

16
|
CHAPTER 1 GettinG to Know 3ds Max desiGn 2010
Using Shortcut Keys to Switch Viewports
You can set the current, active viewport to display a top, front, or left side view by pressing the T,
F, or L key. You can also press B for the bottom view. Pressing P will display the perspective view,
and pressing U will display an isometric user-defined view. If you have added a camera, you can
press C to select from a list of camera views. The hotkeys of R for right view and K for back have been
removed from the defaults in 3ds Max. You can easily assign your own hotkeys to commands.
To the left of the Viewport Navigation tools are Time Control tools. These tools give you
control over the animation functions of 3ds Max. Here, you can set your creations in motion by
selecting the length of time for your animation as well as setting the precise location of objects
within that time frame.
Near the bottom center of the interface is a large button with the symbol of a key on it and
two smaller buttons to the right that are used to create animation keyframes, called keys.
The long horizontal elements across the bottom of the viewport are the Time slider and
track bar, which are used for animation. You can hide the track bar to save space on the screen.
Choose Customize Show UI Show Track Bar to toggle this part of the interface off until
youre ready to make animations.
Just to the left of the animation controls are the Transform type-ins. This area displays the
location of your cursor in X-, Y-, and Z-coordinates. It also displays other types of data, depend-
ing on your current activity. For example, if youre rotating an object, the coordinate readout
displays the rotation angle of the object being rotated. If youre scaling the data, these text boxes
will show percentages.
In addition to the Transform type-ins, there is a Grid panel, which may be hidden to the right
if your display is set to low resolution. To find it, if necessary, place the cursor on the vertical bar
just to the left of the prompt line until you see a double-pointed arrow.
When you see the arrow, click and drag to the left. The Grid panel will be revealed to the
right of the Transform type-ins.
The Grid panel displays the default setting for the grid size in the current scene. You can hide
or display a grid in the current, active viewport by clicking the G shortcut key. Right-click the
Snaps Toggle, Angle Snap Toggle, or Percent Snap Toggle button in the main toolbar, and then
click the Home Grid tab of the Grid and Snap Settings dialog box to set the grid spacing and
other grid parameters.
02344c01.indd 16 7/24/09 1:21:20 PM