Max Material

3DS MAX & Photoshop - Materials & Textures

Duration: 20 hours

Teaching Methodolody: Hands on

OVERVIEW (under construction)

In this course, students learn how to use 3D Studio max to model, apply material, add lights and cameras, render still images and animate architectural or interior scenes. Scenes could be imported from AutoCAD as 3D or as 2D and fully modeled in Max.

Although this course is titled for architects and interior designers, it actually provides the necessary foundation knowledge for anyone who wishes to use 3DS Max. The end of the course focuses on the architect and interior aspect of the software.

OBJECTIVES

Choose the correct method of modeling an object. Students explore principles of 3-dimensioning and apply them in the creation of 3D computer representations using 3ds Max software. Emphasis will be placed on creation of accurate models rendered with color.

AUDIENCE

Architects, interior designers, decorators, graphic designers, artists, animators, TV graphic designers, art directors and anyone who is interested in creating 3D presentations. This course provides the base knowledge for higher level courses such as Vray, Max Modeling, Max Animation, Lighting, Vue xStream, etc.

PREREQUISITES

AutoCAD 2D and Photoshop are essential if you want to gain proficiency in architectural modeling and rendering. During the course, you will use readymade AutoCAD files to model in Max. You will also be given readymade material. In real life, you should be able to prepare these files yourself. You may learn AutoCAD 2D & Photoshop in parallel or later on.

Max Material 01
Max Material 02
Max Material 03
Max Material 04

COURSE CONTENTS

01 - PREREQUISITES

  • The Command panel
  • Zoom and Pan with the wheel
  • The View Cube
  • The Zoom panel
  • Viewport layouts
  • Viewport menus
  • Undo/Redo
  • Display drivers
PREREQUISITES

02 - Select and transform objects

  • Select/Deselect multiple objects
  • Select by Name
  • Selection Filter
  • Move tool
  • The Transform Gizmo
  • Absolute/Offset transform modes
  • Pivots
  • View & Local Coordinate Systems
  • Rotate & Scale
  • Object Snaps
  • Selection Sets
  • Align & Mirror
  • Group, ungroup, open, close, attach, detach, & Explode
  • Quad Menu
  • Creating simple walls & door openings
  • Aligning doors with walls and moving doors using local axis
Select and transform objects

03 - Creating a restaurant scene

  • Units, Grid and snaps
  • Modeling a chair
  • Checking statistics
  • Modeling a table
  • Modeling a table set
  • Floor, walls, and roof
  • Assigning material and UVWs
  • Adding omni and skylights lights and cameras
  • Creating and rendering an animation AVI or TGA
Creating a restaurant scene

04 - Working with mesh objects

  • Primitive objects
  • Converting primitives to mesh objects
  • Modifying mesh objects: vertex, edge, face, & polygon
  • The Editmesh modifier
  • Viewport layouts
  • Meshsmooth
  • Collapse stacks
  • Bending objects or part of objects
  • Creating a can using a cylinder, the editmesh modifier, and the bend modifier
  • Creating an anchor
  • Using the FFD 4x4x4, the FFD 3x3x3, and the FFD 2x2x2 to modify objects
  • Creating and animating a logo using text shapes, extrude, and FFD 4x4x4
  • Creating a pool
  • Rippling and waving water
  • Slicing a teapot
  • Designing iron plates
  • Smoothing groups
Working with mesh objects

05 - Poly objects

  • Difference between mesh objects and poly objects
  • Creating a light pole
  • Creating sofas
Poly objects

06 - Shapes

  • Shape objects: lines, circles, etc.
  • Editing shape objects: vertex, segment, spline
  • Attaching and combining shape objects
  • Using shapes to create flowers, gear, cups, bottles, and metal objects, etc.
  • Using shapes to create a dining room (joe design)
Shapes

07 - Importing 2D plans from AutoCAD and modeling in 3ds Max

  • Importing a 2D plan from AutoCAD
  • Using shaped and extrude modifier to model in 3ds max
  • Using AutoCAD polylines and other techniques to model a house in 3ds Max.
Importing 2D plans from AutoCAD and modeling in 3ds Max

08 - Animation essentials

  • Creating and animating a bouncing ball
  • Introduction to keyframes and controlling speed
Animation essentials

09 - Lights

  • Standard lights
  • Standard lighting system
  • Daylight system
  • Night view – Photometric lights
  • Self-illuminated material
  • The light view – SHIFT $
Lights

10 - Standard camera

  • Standard and free cameras
  • Clipping views
  • The camera view
Standard camera

11 - Standard material

  • The material editor
  • Creating standard material
  • Using bitmaps as diffuse and bitmap options
  • Using Photoshop to create diffuse and bump bitmaps
  • Saving material
Standard material

12 - UVW maps

  • Using UVW mapping to correct material appearance
  • The UVW Gizmo
UVW maps

13 - Importing a hut from AutoCAD

  • Importing a hut from AutoCAD
  • Assigning wall faces IDs
  • Applying multisub-object material to the walls
  • Applying UVW material to walls based on bitmap map channel
  • Applying material to roof and using Unwrap UVW to adjust it
  • Applying material to door and changing its pivot
  • Applying material to window and understanding force two sided, Normals, & 2-sided material
  • Adding ground, trees, skies, & cameras
  • Calculating render resolution using Print Size Assistant
  • Rendering and exporting to Photoshop
Importing a hut from AutoCAD

14 - Porting a house from AutoCAD

  • Importing a house from AutoCAD
  • Assigning wall faces IDs
  • Applying multisub-object material to the walls
  • Applying UVW material to walls based on bitmap map channel
  • Applying material to roof and using Unwrap UVW to adjust it
  • Detaching stairs and applying material with flat mirror option
  • Applying material to pavement with Raytrace reflections
  • Using Raytrace material to create glass material for windows
  • Adding trees, cars, & setting the External paths
  • Adding lights & shadows
  • Rendering stills using many cameras
  • Creating walkthroughs
Porting a house from AutoCAD