Introducing 3ds Max 2023

Using the exercise files

Choosing a workspace

Setting preferences

Using project folders

Getting familiar with the interface

Customizing a workspace

Customizing background and grid colors

Creating primitives with keyboard entry

Creating primitives interactively with the mouse

Position objects with Select and Move

Rotate and scale objects

Navigating in viewports

Orbit and viewport Undo

Accelerate workflow with hotkey shortcuts

Customizing hotkeys

Choosing viewport shading modes

Advanced viewport settings

Configuring viewport layouts

Specifying display units

Specifying system units

Defining the Home grid

Saving a maxstart.max template scene

Merging scenes

Duplicating objects in a pattern with Array

Duplicating objects with Clone

Introducing Snap

Precision transforms with Grid Snap

Managing objects with Scene Explorer outline view

Collecting objects in Groups

Managing display layers in the Layer Explorer

Controlling object and layer Display Properties

Understanding Xref external references

Creating an Xref record

Moving objects in Reference Coordinate Systems

Manipulating objects around a Transform Center

Using Isolate Selection and Lock Selection

Selecting in Window and Crossing modes

Creating shapes

Editing bezier splines

Setting shape detail with Interpolation

Modeling with the Extrude modifier

Extruding along a path with the Sweep modifier

Importing Illustrator paths to 3ds Max

Adding a Bevel modifier

Controlling level of detail of a Bevel modifier

Modeling typography with TextPlus

Manipulating and fine-tuning TextPlus

Deforming an object with a modifier

Layering deformers in the modifier stack

Defining polygon level of detail

Passing a selection up the stack

Understanding topology dependence

Versioning and collapsing the stack

Preparing Boolean operands

Combine volumes with Boolean compound object

Adding edges with Quickslice

Adding edges with Cut

Hardening polygon edges with the Smooth modifier

Using the Modeling Ribbon

Simplifying geometry with Remove

Branching with Editable Poly Extrude

Detailing a mesh

Rounding corners with Chamfer

Understanding subdivision surfaces

Best practices for modeling subdivision surfaces

Box modeling for subdivision surfaces

Modeling with the Symmetry modifier

Modeling curvature with Soft Selection

Refining geometry with SwiftLoop

Constraining sub-object transforms

Correcting a seam with Align to Grid

Sharpening corners with Edge Crease

Baking subdivisions

Creating a Physical Camera and Target

First-person camera navigation in viewports

Enabling Safe Frames

Setting resolution and aspect ratio in Render Setup

Creating a free camera

Rotating in Gimbal coordinate space

Setting rotation Axis Order to emulate a tripod

Interactive production rendering

Creating photometric lights

Adjusting light intensity and color

Setting exposure control

Adjusting light shape

Controlling spotlight parameters

Using the Light Explorer

Illuminating with an environment color

Illuminating with an HDRI environment

Separating environment from background

Creating a sun and sky

Art directing a sun and sky

Using the Slate Material Editor

Assigning materials to objects

Managing scene materials

Managing sample slots

Saving a material library

Physical material color and roughness

Physical material reflection parameters

Controlling viewport material shading

Controlling material sample size

Creating a 3D procedural map

Art directing 3D map parameters

Mapping bitmap image files

Projecting UVs with UVW Map

Using real-world map size

Restoring links with Asset Tracking

Understanding hierarchies

Moving pivot points

Rotating pivot points

Prioritizing rotation axes

Linking objects

Locking transforms

Correcting and avoiding scale issues

Choosing frame rate and playback speed

Choosing the active time segment

Creating keyframes in Auto Key mode

Creating keyframes in Set Key mode

Editing keyframes in the Track Bar timeline

Editing keyframes in the Dope Sheet

Editing keyframes in the Curve Editor

Editing interpolation in the Curve Editor

Manipulating tangents in the Curve Editor

Editing a trajectory with a Motion Path

Choosing a renderer

Preparing to render with Quicksilver

Choosing Quicksilver render options

Rendering an image sequence

Playing an image sequence with the RAM Player

Next steps