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Yo u u s e 3 d s M a x t o q u i c k l y c r e a t e
professional-quality 3D models, photorealistic still
images, and film-quality animation on your PC.
Image by Mich ael McCarthy
Before using this reference material, we highly
recommend you get to know 3ds Max firsthand by
following the included tutorials. You can access
the tutorials using the Help menu > Tutorials
command, or in the printed version.
This sec tion presents these brief topics desig ned to
help you quickly start using 3ds Max.
• Project Workflow (page 1–1)
• Setting Up Your Scene (page 1–4)
• Modeling Objects (page 1–5)
• Using Materials (page 1–6)
• Placing Lights and Cameras (page 1–7)
• Animating Your Scene (page 1–8)
• Rendering Your Scene (page 1–9)
The 3ds Max Window (page 1–9)
• Special Controls (page 1–12)
• Quad Menu (page 3–694)
• Customize Display Right-Click Menu (page
3–787)
Managing Files (page 1–15)
• I mporting, Merging, and Replacing Scenes (page
1–16)
• Using the Asset Browser (page 1–17)
• Startup Files and Defaults (page 1–17)
• 3dsmax.ini File (page 1–18)
• Backing Up and Archiving Scenes (page 1–19)
• Crash Recovery System (page 1–20)
Pr oject Workf low
Once you’ve installed 3ds Max (see the Installation
Guide included with your software package), you
open it from the Start menu, or use any other
Windows method. The figure below shows the
application window with a scene file loaded.
Getting Star ted with 3ds M ax