3DS Max Notes

Navigation:

• Select object and hit Z to zoom on object
• With no selection, hitting z will fit the whole object to the view port
•   Orbit by hlding alt + middle mouse button
• Pan with middle mouse button
•   Zoom view through scroll wheel or hold crtl + alt key and drag with mioddle mouse button
•  ALT + W to maximise a viewport

Link and Reference Content:

• Xref can be imported, but not edited
• Xref object can be transformed or modified when imported
• Xref oibjects, DWG, FBX and RVT can be linked to 
• Update automatically” in the file command. Change to the model will not affect the oringial file

Working with scale:

•   Unit set up > system unit set up
•   Converting units on import may be required
• Automatically set to inches

Locating and managing objects:

• Use scene explorer to manage objects in scene
• Objects can be filtered y type or name
• Scene explorer can be configured toshow more properties
• Properties from multiple objects can be edited al at once

Move and select object:

• W = move
• E = rotate
• R = scale
• Y = placement mode which allows you to position objects onto surfaces
• H = select from scene dialogue
• Crossing region selection = all objects that are even partially in the selected area will be selected
• Window mode = all objects that are fully inside the window area will be selected.
• Crtl and click to multiple select
• Alt and click to deselect

Modifying geometry:

•  You can add odifiers to an object, each modifier provides additional tools and parameters to affect the object
•  Re-ordering the modifies will affect the result

Motion:

•  Time sliders can be used to view animations
•  To adjust the number of frames you can see in the timeline, drag with the Right mouse buttin while holding Ctrl and Alt
• Auto key or set key mode can be used to animate

Apply and edit materials:

• To create new material, double click on material or drag from material map browser to active view. To assign material to an object, drag a connection from its outputsocket on to the object, or click the assign material to selected button.
•   To adjust a materials components, double click its node, the parameter editor lists all components related to the material.
• Scanline, mental Ray, iRay can be used to render

Rendering:

•  Use photometric lights, mrSun and mrSky for realisting lighting with the Nvidia renderes
•   Make sure your lights are turned on
•  Adding extra lights removes all te default lights
• You must choose the active renderer
•  Use an environment map when using Nvidia renderers
• Use mental Ray materials or materials from the Autodesk Material Library for more sophisticated results