Autodesk 3ds Max 2014 Bible (eBook)

Kelly L. Murdock has been writing computer books for more than 15 years. His credits include twelve editions of the bestselling 3ds Max Bible, three editions of Adobe Creative Suite Bible, and two editions of the Adobe Illustrator Bible, as well as 3D Game Animations For Dummies, JavaScript Visual Blueprint, and many other books. He holds a degree in engineering with an emphasis in computer graphics.

Acknowledgments xi

Preface xliii

Part I: Getting Started with Autodesk 3ds Max 2014 1

Quick Start: Adding a Crowd to the City Center 3

Chapter 1: Exploring the Interface 13

Chapter 2: Controlling and Configuring the Viewports 39

Chapter 3: Working with Files, Importing, andExporting 83

Chapter 4: Setting Preferences 109

Part II: Manipulating Objects 137

Chapter 5: Creating and Editing Primitive Objects 139

Chapter 6: Selecting Objects and Using Layers 177

Chapter 7: Transforming Objects, Pivoting, Aligning, andSnapping 211

Chapter 8: Cloning Objects and Creating Object Arrays 241

Chapter 9: Grouping, Linking, and Parenting Objects 265

Chapter 10: Organizing Scenes with Containers, XRefs, and theSchematic View 277

Part III: Modeling 3D Assets 313

Chapter 11: Accessing Subobjects and Modifiers and Using theModifier Stack 315

Chapter 12: Drawing and Editing 2D Splines and Shapes 339

Chapter 13: Modeling with Polygons 375

Chapter 14: Using the Graphite Modeling Tools and Painting withObjects 411

Chapter 15: Working with Compound Objects 443

Chapter 16: Deforming Surfaces and Using the Mesh Modifiers457

Part IV: Applying Materials and Textures 509

Chapter 17: Creating and Applying Standard Materials with theSlate Material Editor 511

Chapter 18: Adding Material Details with Maps 541

Chapter 19: Using Specialized Material Types 581

Chapter 20: Creating Compound Materials and Using MaterialModifiers 593

Chapter 21: Unwrapping UVs and Mapping Textures 611

Chapter 22: Painting in the Viewport Canvas and RenderingSurface Maps 635

Chapter 23: Creating Baked Textures and Normal Maps 653

Part V: Working with Backgrounds, Cameras, and Lighting663

Chapter 24: Configuring and Aiming Cameras 665

Chapter 25: Matching Perspective to Background Images 681

Chapter 26: Using Lights and Basic Lighting Techniques 687

Chapter 27: Using the Sunlight and Daylight Systems 707

Chapter 28: Working with Advanced Lighting, Light Tracing, andRadiosity 713

Part VI: Rendering a Scene 731

Chapter 29: Rendering a Scene and Enabling Quicksilver 733

Chapter 30: Managing Render States 749

Chapter 31: Batch and Network Rendering 757

Chapter 32: Rendering with mental ray and iray 781

Chapter 33: Compositing with Render Elements and the Video PostInterface 801

Part VII: Animating Objects and Scenes 825

Chapter 34: Understanding Animation and Keyframes 827

Chapter 35: Animating with Constraints and Simple Controllers851

Chapter 36: Exploring the Complex Controllers 873

Chapter 37: Using Animation Layers and Animation Modifiers903

Chapter 38: Wiring Parameters 925

Chapter 39: Editing Animation Curves in the Track View 935

Part VIII: Working with Characters 969

Chapter 40: Understanding Rigging, Kinematics, and Working withBones 971

Chapter 41: Skinning Characters 991

Chapter 42: Animating Characters with CAT 1011

Chapter 43: Creating Crowds and Using Populate 1031

Part IX: Adding Special Effects 1041

Chapter 44: Creating Particles and Particle Flow 1043

Chapter 45: Using Space Warps 1081

Chapter 46: Using Atmospheric and Render Effects 1105

Chapter 47: Creating Volume Light Effects 1129

Chapter 48: Adding Lens Effects 1135

Part X: Using Dynamic Animation Systems 1155

Chapter 49: Simulating Physics-Based Motion with MassFX 1157

Chapter 50: Working with Hair and Cloth 1175

Appendix A: What's New with Autodesk 3ds Max 2014 1199

Appendix B: Automating with MAXScript 1203

Appendix C: What's on the Website 1219

Index 1221