9

3ds Max Documentation Set xv
• 3ds Ma x 9 Ext ens i on 1 User Referen ce :
This document covers fundamental concepts
and strategies for using the product, as well
as det ails about the features of 3ds Max. In
this version of the product, the this manual is
availableonlineonly.
A ccess the reference online by choosing Help
> User Reference.
Note: Aprintableversionofthe
reference in PDF format is available for
downloading from the Training Website at
http://www.autodesk.com/me_training. From
the Product Training drop-down list, choose
Autodesk 3ds Max, and then click the link for
Documentation, Online Tutorials, Sample Files.
• 3ds Max 9 Tutor ia ls: Contains tutorial
information and detailed procedures to walk
you through increasingly complex operations.
This is the best source for learning 3ds Max.
Accesstheonlineversionofthetutorialsby
choosing Help > Tutorials.
Note: All the sample files required to do the
tutorials are found on the program disc. None
of these files are installed automat ically.
The printed 3ds Max Tutorials book (included
w ith 3ds Max 9) duplicates a subset of the
online tutorials.
Note: Due to print time requirements, some
topics in the printed tutorials could differ
slightlyfromtheonlineversion.Wherethereis
adifference,theonlineversionismorecurrent.
• Backburner Reference: Describes procedures
for rendering with networked computers.
Avai lable from the 3ds Max Reference online
Contents tab.
• MAX Scrip t Referen ce: Describes the
MAXScript scripting language (page 1–xvii).
This reference is available online only. Check
out the “Learning MAXScript” chapter there if
you ’re new to MAXScript.
Access the MAXScript Reference by choosing
Help > MAXScript Reference.
• Readme (Rea dme.rtf): Contains the latest
information about 3ds Max. Find this file
in electronic format in the program install
directory.
Additional Help Files
In addition to the main documentation
components described above, these additional
online documents describe various features
available in 3ds Max.
• The 3ds Max SDK Help system documents the
software development kit (SDK) for:
•3dsMax
•GameExportInterface
•ParticleFlow
•mentalray
•CharacterStudio
•MAXScript
Using the SDK, you can create new 3ds Max
features and tools by writing your own plug-ins.
Note: To inst a ll t h e SD K and t he S DK
documentation, choose 3ds Max 9 SDK under
the Install Supplemental Tools section of the
Installer program. You can do this the first time
you install 3ds Max, or run the setup program
to add them at a later time. See the Installation
Guide for more information. You can also
findSDKdownloads,samplesolutions,and
documentation updates on the s
parks Web site.
• Additional mental ray® Help Files:
Documentation from mental images® is
available from Help menu > Additional Help.
There, you’l l find the mental ray 3.5 Reference,
comprising the mental ray Manual, mental ray
Shader Reference,andLu meTools Collection.
Note: Third-party shaders are do cumented in
the mental ray Shader Reference,andLumeTools