Introduction to 3ds Max for Games and Film

Name: Introduction to 3ds Max for Games and Film
Rating: 4.1 (4 reviews)

Dive into the basics of production modeling in 3DS Max while also covering the UI and other updates in Max 2017.

Created by3dmotive LLC

Last updated 5/2024

English

What you'll learn

Students will be able to understand better production workflows to create more efficient meshes without all the clutter often found within any given program.
The students will be able to navigate the polygonal modeling process and become better acquainted to the tools and functionalities of 3ds Max
Give the students a clear grasp of the production process, from references to completed mesh creation to UV unwrapping and baking maps.
Understand the basics of 3d modeling as it applies to making games or film

Course content

5 sections • 37 lectures • 7h 39m total length

Download Course Files Here!0:04
Intro1:14
Exploring the UI15:36
Start Building with Primitives16:51
Start building a sci-fi retro space gun prop by shaping primitives, extruding edges, and editing to match styling, using editable poly workflow, swift loop, and material editor.
Extruding and Reshaping17:02
Building the Main Housing15:30
learn to build the housing in 3ds Max by editing polygons, welding vertices, applying a material, and shelling with inner and outer amounts for a sci fi silhouette.
Creating the Grip14:35
Creating the Coil and Duplicating Meshes19:14

Intro1:13
Explore building a sci‑fi gun prop in 3ds Max 2017, including adding edges, importing screws, aligning parts, welding and deleting polygons, preserving smoothing loops, and unwrapping textures for turbo smooth.
Creating the Trigger from a Tube14:01
Creating Energy Coils and Cutting in Details15:01
Adding Screws and Blending into Mesh16:46
Symmetry and More Screws14:35
Unwrapping and Setting up UVs19:49
Baking AO Maps6:37

Intro1:12
Robotic Schematics17:05
Explore retro sci fi robot design in 3ds Max by modeling a toy-inspired figure, mirroring one side to complete the symmetrical body, and refining with inset and shell techniques.
From the Mouth to the Head14:34
Creating the Eyebrows and Nose14:34
The Eyes Have It16:39
Big Ears and More Brains10:16
Finishing Touches10:07
Hide extraneous geometry, create a 20 by 20 box, apply bevel and turbo smooth, and refine edges with loops, non-uniform scaling, and soft selection to shape the form.

Intro1:08
Creating the Eye Bulbs and Body Shape14:43
Body Peripherals16:36
Learn to model a body peripheral in 3ds Max for games and film, using cylinders or spheres, smoothing groups, bevels, welding, and mirror/attach workflows for a low-poly result.
Creating Back Dials and Seam Edges16:48
Reusing the Body Mesh to Create the Leg19:16
Polishing off the Shoe and Creating Some Brains7:34
Learn to model a shoe in 3ds Max by refining the toe, creating a divot, extruding and beveling edges, shaping the sole, and finishing with turbo smooth and color-coded wireframes.
Finishing Touches12:52

Intro1:13
Finish building a robot model in 3ds Max 2017 by adjusting pivots and snapping to polygons, unwrapping the model, baking ambient occlusion, and applying textures.
Constructing the Upper Arm16:10
Construct the upper arm of a robot in 3ds Max by building the main joint, wrist, and openable claws, and explore the 3ds Max asset library.
From the Upper Arm to Wrist19:22
Create joints and pivots for the upper arm to wrist in 3ds Max, refine geometry with bevels and extrudes. Set accurate pivots and prepare arm pieces for animation.
The Claw, the Claw!15:03
Refining the Claw Hands14:55
Refine the claw in 3ds Max by adding holes with swift loop and insets, align pivots, mirror, and apply turbo smooth.
Adjusting the Hands and Adding Details All Over15:36
Unwrapping UVs and Baking an AO Map15:27
Bonus Lecture: Further Learning with 3dmotive0:17

Requirements

Students will need a copy of Autodesk 3ds Max

Description

Most programs have a multitude of buttons, gizmos and menus that often clutter up and confuse students as to where everything is and what they're mostly likely going to use in a production atmosphere. This course is designed to focus on what the student is going to need to know to start and finish any model they choose to undertake to create.The UI, and customization of same, will be explored as well the major creation methods and using sub-object functions (vertex, edge, polygon, element) to their best advantage. From using photo references, the student will be able to clearly and concisely model parts and refine details to create finished meshes.

They'll learn to use smoothing groups to best advantage when applying modifiers (turbo smooth) and why such smoothing groups are important. After completing the mesh, the student will then be exposed to UVs and the new unwrap features found in 3DS Max 2017 to facilitate the speed in which the meshes can be unwrapped and laid out for proper texture usage. Finally, the students will be taught how to bake a simple ambient occlusion map quickly and easily to help give their meshes a more believable three dimensional quality so that they can then create the colours for the model as they see fit and blend into the AO to create a usable model.

More about the instructor:

Having 25 years of experience in the videogame development/entertainment arenas, I'm well versed in a variety of programs and production pipelines and strive to work as cleanly and efficiently as possible. Having done pretty much everything, I enjoy getting to share my knowledge and experience in the hopes that I can help students gain a better understanding and appreciation of what 3D computer art (in all its varying forms) has to offer.

Who this course is for:

This course is designed for those wanting to learn how to use 3ds Max

Introduction to 3ds Max for Games and Film

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Blocking in the Shapes8 lectures • 1hr 40min

Smaller Detail Pass7 lectures • 1hr 28min

Facial Refinement and Details7 lectures • 1hr 24min

Refining the Body Geometry7 lectures • 1hr 29min

Wrapup on Modeling, UVW Unwrapping, and AO Baking8 lectures • 1hr 38min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: