Course Outline

Lesson 1: Getting Started

•  Learning Objectives
•  Launching 3ds Max
•  Working with Startup Templates
•  Configuring 3ds Max
•  Configuring the Default UI and Presets
•  Synchronizing the User Interface and Default Presets
•  Customizing Mouse Interaction
•  Working with Standards
•  Setting Display Units to Architectural
•  Configuring and Saving Viewport
• Layouts
•  Creating a Prototype File
•  Saving a New Template File
•  Maximizing the Workspace
•  Navigating Menu Drop-Downs
•  Working with Toolbars
•  Managing the Ribbon
•  Managing Workspaces
•  Understanding Object Interaction
•  Navigating the Scene Using the View Cube
•  Saving ds Max Files
•  Using Undo and Redo
•  Accessing the Help System
•  Accessing the Autodesk Online Portals

Lesson 2: Pre-Production and Planning

•  Pre-Planning the Production
•  Developing a Sketch-Style Storyboard
•  Examining a Sample Storyboard
•  Planning Scene Level of Detail
•  Understanding Level of Detail
•  Planning File Output
•  Outputting for Print and Web
•  Reviewing Still Image Types
•  Examining Animation Output
•  Reviewing Animation Output Types
•  Understanding Layers
•  Working with Layers
•  Previsualizing a Scene
•  Configuring in Viewport Previsualization with Nitrous

Lesson 3: Modeling

•  Modeling in 3ds Max
•  Understanding Shapes
•  Working with Spline Shapes
•  Working with Extended Splines
•  Creating New Shapes
•  Adjusting Curve Quality and Render Parameters
•  Cloning Shapes
•  Creating Outline Shapes
•  Attaching Shapes
•  Editing Closed 3D Shapes
•  Trimming and Welding Splines
•  Filleting a Vertex
•  Understanding Mesh and Poly Objects
•  Discovering the Editable Poly Object Type
•  Converting Object Types
•  Aligning Objects
•  Using Select and Place to Locate Objects
•  Utilizing the Snap Tools
•  Learning to Use the Graphite Modeling Tools
•  Using the Generate Topology Tool
•  Editing Using Polygon Symmetry Tools
•  Understanding Subdivision Surfaces
•  Modeling using Open Subdivision Surfaces
•  Reducing Polygons using ProOptimizer
•  Working with the Paint Deform Tool
•  Using the Conform Paint Tool
•  Understanding 3D and 3D Objects
•  Exploring More Editable Poly
•  Modeling Windows
•  Modeling Window Frames
•  Modeling Window Panes
•  Introducing Compound Objects
•  Working with ProBoolean
•  Using Shape Merge

Lesson 3: Modeling (Cont.)

•  Aligning the Road
•  Merging Objects
•  Examining Modifiers and the Modifier Stack
•  Learning About Object Space Modifiers
•  Adding a Bevel Profile Modifier
•  Editing 3D Shapes
•  Stacking Modifiers
•  Editing Modifiers
•  Chamfering Polygon Edges using the
• Chamfer Modifier
•  Understanding World-Space Modifiers
•  Applying the Map Scalar Modifier
•  Working with the Chamfer Modifier
•  Understanding Object Painting
•  Painting a Scene
•  Discovering AEC Objects
•  Building with AEC Walls
•  Adding a Door
•  Installing Windows
•  Working with Containers

Lesson 4: Materials

•  Introducing Materials
•  Understanding the ds Max Material Editors
•  Creating Schematic Materials
•  Working with the Standard Material
•  Discovering the Arch and Design Material
•  Adjusting Shaders
•  Editing Reflectivity
•  Assigning a Material
•  Using Map Patterns
•  Simulating Geometry
•  Incorporating Displacement Mapping
•  Setting Transparency
•  Calculating Map Sizes
•  Creating a Tile Map
•  Determining Map Coverage
•  Adding a UVW Map Modifier
•  Working with Unwrap UVW
•  Working with Multiple Materials
•  Discovering the Multi/Sub-Object Material
•  Setting Material IDs
•  Editing Material IDs
•  Assigning a Multi/Sub-Object Material
•  Understanding Blend Materials and Masks
•  Using a Blend Material
•  Masking with Materials
•  Understanding Substance Textures
•  Working with Substance Textures
•  Baking Textures - Render to Texture
•  Painting a Texture with Viewport Canvas
•  Working with Vector Graphics
•  Discovering Material Libraries
•  Understanding the Autodesk Materials Library
•  Using an Autodesk Library Material
•  Creating a New Library

Lesson 5: Lighting

•  Differentiating Standard Lights versus Photometric Lights
•  Understanding Direct and Indirect Light
•  Discovering Daylight
•  Placing a Daylight System
•  Adjusting Location
•  Adjusting the Physical Sky
•  Understanding Photometric Lights
•  Enabling Streetlights in a Scene
•  Changing Photometric Light Presets
•  Understanding Indirect Light
•  Calculating Indirect Illumination
•  Working with Final Gather