Discreet Courses :3D Studio Max: Introduction

3D Studio Max: Introduction

Discreet Courses Overview

Students will learn the basics of the 3D Studio Max application package.

Target Student:

Students wishing to gain an initial exposure to a powerful special-effects computer program, which provides 3D geometric objects, perspectives, basic image manipulation and rendering.

Prerequisites

Familiarity with personal computers and a working knowledge of Windows 95/98/NT.

Delivery Method:

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

Benefits:

Students will learn about the 3D environment, basic 3D object creating, positioning and modification.

What's Next:

3D Studio Max: Introduction is the first course in this series. 3D Studio Max: Modeling, the next course in this series, teaches student how to create complex figures and objects. Students who want to learn advanced features can take 3D Studio Max: Animation, Rendering & Video Post.

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
Al 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 hardware lock
To view online help, Internet Explorer 5.0 or greater (included on installation CD)
Windows Media Player (or other player that supports AVI playback)

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:

Find their way around the 3D Studio Max workspace environment
Create 3D geometric objects from different perspectives
Manipulate objects they create by scaling, rotating, and copying them
Reshape their objects by applying modifiers
Create other powerful building-block objects, such as lines and 2D shapes
Know how lights and cameras and enhance their scenes
Animate the objects they create and render them to still or animated images

Course duration

1 Day

Discreet Courses Course outline

Lesson 1: The 3D Studio Max Environment

The Viewpoints
Command Panels
The Menu Bar
The Main Toolbar and Tab Panel

Lesson 2: Objects Overview

Identifying and Creating Primitives
Using the Viewports
Selecting Objects

Lesson 3: Transforming Objects

Transform Concepts
Working with Transforms
Transform Options
Other Object Transformations

Lesson 4: Modifying Objects

Types of Modifiers
The Modifier Stack
Modifying Sub-Objects

Lesson 5: Additional Objects and Tools

Identifying and Creating Splines
Lights and Cameras
More 3D Studio Max Tools
The Material Editor

Lesson 6: Animation and Rendering Basics

Animation
Rendering