Kelly L. Murdock's Autodesk 3ds Max 2021 Complete Reference Guide

• The ultimate guide to learning and using 3ds Max 2021 
• Covers all the basics as well as advanced topics using easy to follow, step by step tutorials 
• Gets beginners started and teaches experienced users the newest capabilities of 3ds Max 
• Advanced topics include crowd simulation, particle systems, rigid body dynamics, state sets, compositing, radiosity, network rendering, and MAXScript 
• Features more than 150 tutorials and complete references detailing all primitives, modifiers, materials, maps, and controllers 
• Includes videos outlining the basics of every section in the book 

Kelly L. Murdock's Autodesk 3ds Max 2021 Complete Reference Guide is a popular book among users new to 3ds Max and is used extensively in schools around the globe. The success of this book is found in its simple easy-to-understand explanations coupled with its even easier to follow tutorials. The tutorials are laser focused on a specific topic without any extra material, making it simple to grasp difficult concepts. The book also covers all aspects of the software, making it a valuable reference for users of all levels.

The Complete Reference Guide is the ultimate book on 3ds Max, and like Autodesk’s 3D animation software, it just gets better and better with each release. Whether you're new to 3ds Max or an experienced user, you'll find everything you need in this complete resource. The book kicks off with a getting started section, so beginners can jump in and begin working with 3ds Max right away. Experienced 3ds Max users will appreciate advanced coverage of features like crowd simulation, particle systems, radiosity, MAXScript and more. Over 150 tutorials – complete with before and after files – help users at all levels build real world skills.

What is Autodesk 3ds Max?

Autodesk 3ds Max is a popular 3D modeling, animation, rendering, and compositing software widely used by game developers and graphic designers in the film and television industry.

What you'll learn

• Discover all the new features and changes in 3ds Max 2021 
• Learn how to reference, select, clone, group, link and transform objects 
• Explore 3D modeling and how to apply materials and textures 
• Set impressive scenes with backgrounds, cameras and lighting 
• Master smart techniques for rendering, compositing and animating 
• Create characters, add special effects, and finish with dynamic animations such as hair and cloth 
• Get comfortable with key tools such as Track View, Quicksilver, mental ray®, Space Warps, MassFX and more 

Who this book is for

This comprehensive reference guide not only serves as a reference for experienced users, but it also easily introduces beginners to this complex software. Packed with expert advice from popular author Kelly Murdock, it begins with a getting started section to get you up and running, then continues with more than 150 step-by-step tutorials, in depth coverage of advanced features, and plenty of tips and timesavers along the way.

Section Videos

Each section of the book has a corresponding video. In each video author Kelly Murdock gives a brief overview of the contents of that section in the book, and covers some of the basics from the chapters within that section.

Table of Contents

      Preface 
      Acknowledgments 
      Front Matter 
      
      Part I: Getting Started with Autodesk 3ds Max 2021 

1.   Exploring the Interface 
2.   Controlling and Configuring the Viewports 
3.   Working with Files, Importing and Exporting 
4.   Setting Preferences 
      
      Part II: Manipulating Objects 

5.   Creating and Editing Primitive Objects 
6.   Selecting Objects and Using Layers 
7.   Transforming Objects, Pivoting, Aligning, and Snapping 
8.   Cloning Objects and Creating Object Arrays 
9.   Grouping, Linking and Parenting Objects 
10. Organizing Scenes with Containers, XRefs and the Schematic View 
      
      Part III: Modeling 3D Assets 

11. Accessing Subobjects and Modifiers and Using the Modifier Stack 
12. Drawing and Editing 2D Splines and Shapes 
13. Modeling with Polygons 
14. Using the Graphite Modeling Tools and Painting with Objects 
15. Working with Compound Objects 
16. Deforming Surfaces and Using the Mesh Modifiers 
      
      Part IV: Applying Materials and Textures 

17. Creating and Applying Standard Materials with the Slate Material Editor 
18. Adding Material Details with Maps 
19. Using Specialized Material Types 
20. Creating Compound Materials and Using Material Modifiers 
21. Creating Shaders in the ShaderFX Editor 
22. Unwrapping UVs and Mapping Textures 
23. Painting in the Viewport Canvas and Rendering Surface Maps 
24. Creating Baked Textures and Normal Maps 
      
      Part V: Working with Cameras and Lighting 

25. Configuring and Aiming Cameras 
26. Using Lights and Basic Lighting Techniques 
27. Positioning the Sun and Setting the Lighting Environment 
28. Working with Advanced Lighting, Light Tracing, and Radiosity 
      
      Part VI: Rendering a Scene 

29. Rendering a Scene and Enabling Quicksilver 
30. Managing Render States 
31. Batch and Network Rendering 
32. Rendering with ART, mental ray and iray 
33. Compositing with Render Elements and the Video Post Interface 
      
      Part VII: Animating Objects and Scenes 

34. Understanding Animation and Keyframes 
35. Animating with Constraints and Simple Controllers 
36. Exploring the Complex Controllers 
37. Using Animation Layers and Animation Modifiers 
38. Wiring Parameters 
39. Editing Animation Curves in the Track View 
      
      Part VIII: Working with Characters 

40. Understanding Rigging, Kinematics and Working with Bones 
41. Skinning Characters 
42. Animating Characters with CAT 
43. Creating Crowds and using Populate 
      
      Part IX: Adding Special Effects 

44. Creating Particles and Particle Flow 
45. Using Space Warps 
46. Using Atmospheric and Render Effects 
47. Creating Volume Light Effects 
48. Adding Lens Effects 
      
      Part X: Using Dynamic Animation Systems 

49. Simulating Physics-Based Motion with MassFX 
50. Working with Hair and Cloth 
      
      Part XI: Extending 3ds Max 

51. Creating Fluid Simulations 
52. Customizing the Interface 
53. Creating Procedural Content with Max Creation Graphs 
54. Exploring 3ds Max Interactive 
55. Automating with MAXScript 
56. Expanding Max with Third-Party Plug-Ins 
      
      Appendixes 

      Appendix A: What's New with Autodesk 3ds Max 2021 
      Appendix B: Installing and Configuring Autodesk 3ds Max 2021 
      Appendix C: Keyboard Shortcuts 
      Index