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Introduction .............................................. xiii
What’s New in 3ds Max 9 Extension 1 ..................... xiii
3ds Max Documentation Set.................. .................. xiv
About MAXScript ................................................... xvii
1 Getting Started with 3ds Max ..................... 1
Getting Started with 3ds Max ..................................... 1
Project Workflow......................................................... 1
Setting Up Your Scene ............................................. .... 4
Modeling Objects ........................................................ 5
Using Materials............................................................ 6
Placing Lights and Cameras........................................ 7
Animating Your Scene................................................. 8
Rendering Your Scene ................................................. 9
The 3ds Max Window ................................................. 9
Special Controls......................................................... 12
Managing Files .......................................................... 15
Importing, Merging, Replacing, and Externally
Referencing Scenes ................................................. 16
Using the Asset Browser ............................................ 17
Startup Files and Defaults ......................................... 17
3dsmax.ini File .......................................................... 18
Backing Up and Archiving Scenes ............................ 19
Crash Recovery System ........................................... .. 20
2 V iewing and Navigating 3D Space ........... 21
Viewing and Navigating 3D Space............................ 21
General Viewport Concepts...................................... 22
Home Grid: Views Based on the World
Coordinate A xes ............................................... ...... 23
Understanding Views................................................ 24
Setting Viewport Layout ........................................... 26
Controlling Viewport Rendering.............................. 27
Controlling Display Performance ............................. 28
Using Standard View Navigation .............................. 29
Zooming, Panning, and Rotating Views................... 29
Using Walkt hrough Navigation ................................ 30
Navigating Camera and Light Views......................... 33
Adaptive Degradation Togg le ................................... 34
Grab Viewport. .............................................. ............ 35
V iew-Handling Commands .................................... 35
View-Handling Commands...................................... 35
Undo View Change / Redo View Change ................. 36
Save Active View........................................................ 37
Restore Active View................................. .................. 37
Viewport Background Dialog ................................... 38
Select Background Image Dialog .............................. 42
Update Background Image . ...................................... 44
Reset Background Transform ................................... 45
Show Transform Gizmo ............................................ 45
Show Ghosting .......................................................... 46
Show Key Times ........................................................ 46
Shade Selected ........................................................... 47
Show Dependencies .................................................. 47
Create C amera From View ........................................ 48
Add Default Lights to Scene ...................................... 49
Redraw All Views....................................................... 50
Activate All Maps ...................................................... 50
Deactivate All Maps .................................................. 50
Update During Spinner Drag.................................... 51
Expert Mode....... ....................................................... 51
Controlling Object Display .................................... 51
Controlling Object Display ....................................... 51
Display Color Rollout ............................................... 52
Hide By Category Rollout ......................................... 52
Hide Rollout .............................................................. 53
Freeze Rollout................................................ ............ 54
Display Properties Rollout ........................................ 55
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