Discreet Courses :3D Studio MAX 3.0: Animation

3D Studio MAX 3.0: Animation

Discreet Courses Overview

Students will learn the basics of animation in the 3D Studio MAX environment.

Target Student:

Students enrolling in this course should understand the basics of the 3D Studio MAX environment.

Prerequisites

A 3D Studio MAX Introductory course or equivalent knowledge. A working knowledge of Windows 95/98/NT is also important.

Delivery Method:

Instructor-led, group-paced, classroom-delivery learning model with structured hands-on activities

Benefits:

Students will learn how to animate objects in their scenes using many tools, including lights, materials, modifiers, and cameras.

What's Next:

3D Studio MAX Introduction is the first course in this series. 3D Studio MAX R3: Animation, the next course in this series, teaches student how to use what they have learned about 3D Studio MAX and apply it to animation.

Hardware/Software Requirements

You will need:

At least 128 megabytes (MB) of Random Access Memory (RAM) (256 MB recommended).
At least 350 MB of free hard-disk space.
At least 300 MB of Windows swap file space.
A Pentium II, 200 MHz or faster processor.
A video card that supports at least 1024x768 resolution at High Color (1280x1024 at True Color recommended).
A mouse or compatible tracking device.
A CD-ROM drive
Windows 98 or Windows NT 4.0 (Workstation or Server version) with Service Pack 3 or greater. (Service Pack 4 is needed for Year 2000 compliance and to use online help).
A parallel port for the hardware lock.
To view the online help, Internet Explorer 5.0 or greater (included on the installation CD).

See your reference manual for hardware considerations that apply to your specific hardware setup.

Performance-Based Objectives

Lesson objectives help students become comfortable with the course, and also provide a means to evaluate learning. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

Create a simple animation, adjust the frame rate and duration of the animation, render a preview, and export the animation.
Identify the Track view animation editor and use it to control and show the values and timing that produce animations.
Identify lights and lighting parameters, and animate them in scenes.
Identify materials and material parameters, and animate them in scenes using the Material Editor and Material/Map Browser.
Identify common modifiers and their properties, and animate them in scenes.
Define path animation, and apply cameras, dummy helpers, and linked objects to scenes using the Motion panel and Path controller

Course duration

1 Day

Discreet Courses Course outline

Lesson 1: Animation in 3D Studio MAX

Concepts of Animation
Configuring Time
Previewing and Exporting a 3D Studio MAX Animation

Lesson 2: Controlling Animation with the Track View

Getting Oriented to the Track View
Assigning Animation Controllers
Using Function Curves

Lesson 3: Animating Lights

Defining Lights
Defining Light Properties

Lesson 4: Animating Materials

Using the Material Editor
Using the Material/Map Browser
Animating Materials & Maps

Lesson 5: Animating Modifiers

Defining Modifiers
Animating Modifiers

Lesson 6: Path Animation

Defining Path Animation
Animating a Camera Along a Path