3D Studio Max Fundamentals

What's the 3D Studio Max Fundamentals course about?

This intensive course will help you get to grips with 3D Studio Max - the most popular high-end 3D modelling, animation and rendering application.

Day 1

Morning: The UI

• UI Navigation/Interaction
• ViewPort Navigation Control
• ViewPort Display Types
• Object Selection
• Transforms
• Organisation of objects

Afternoon: Modelling Parts I & II

• Scene set up
• Creating 2D shapes
• Creating 3D primitives
• Object cloning
• 3D procedural modelling
• 3D sub-object editing
• Compound Objects
• Surface Types
• Box Modelling

Evening: The Camera, Lighting 1 & II, Global Illumination and Rendering

• Lecture on good/bad camera angles
• Camera Types
• Parameters
• Orthographic/Perspective cameras
• Render camera view
• ViewPort controls
• Definition of standard light types including Photometric
• 3 point lighting
• Basic Colour Theory
• Standard light theory
• Omni Lights
• Spot Lights
• Direct Lights
• Projection
• Transforms
• Tools
• Definition of Scanline Renderer
• Render Scene vs. Quick Render
• Render Filters
• Common Tab
• Print Size Wizard
• Rendered Frame Window
• Assign Renderer ViewPort with lock
• F9 Keyboard shortcut
• Compressed file vs. still sequence

Day 2

Morning: Materials I & II

• Material Editor & UI
• Define Material
• Define Map
• Map Slots
• Mapping Co-ordinates
• Creating a simple material
• Shader Basic Parameters
• Extended Parameters
• UVW Map Modifier
• Get Material
• Changing Material types
• Photometric definitions vs. Standard
• Global Illumination, Radiosity and HDRI comparisons
• Architectural Material Type

Afternoon: Animation I & II and Effects

• Animation theory I
• Define Keyframes
• Animation UI
• Create Keys (Position)
• Create Keys (Rotation)
• Animation theory II
• IK/FK
• Changing Controller Types
• Preview/Render animation
• Atmospheric definitions
• Atmospheric Types
• Standard Particles
• Introduction to Pflow
• Material effects
• Object effects

Evening: IK, Dynamics, Scripting and Scene Assembly

• IK Theory
• Define IK/FK
• Parent/Child hierarchy continued
• HI Solver (using Lamp armature)
• Helpers continued
• Demo
• Dynamics theory
• Define Dynamics and its purpose
• Demonstration (Reactor)
• Define Scripting
• Review a Script
• Discuss Macro Recording
• Composition theory
• Asset Browser
• Merge
• Replace
• Save Selected
• File > Archive
• Rename Objects tool
• Colour Clipboard
• Rendering Options
• File Output type

Day 3

Having established a core set of skills, day 3 will consist of complete projects based on real world scenarios.Participants will complete at least one scenario, which will contain elements of topics discussed over the previous two days.

This is an intensive course, which is studied during the morning, afternoon and evening.

Which qualification will I be awarded if I successfully complete the 3D Studio Max Fundamentals course?

There is no requirement to undertake an assessment with this skills based course.

What will I be able to go on to do after I’ve completed the 3D Studio Max Fundamentals course?

On successful completion of this course there are numerous opportunities to expand interests and career paths within the area of 3D design. Alternatively, delegates will have the opportunity to further expand their skills on one of our intermediate or advanced level 3D courses.