Introduction to Animation in 3ds Max
In this set of tutorials, we will learn how to use the animation tools of 3ds Max. Software required: Autodesk 3ds Max 2015.
What you'll learn
In this set of tutorials, we will learn how to use the animation tools of 3ds Max. We'll start by learning how to set up our animation preferences and create keyframes. From there, we'll learn how to edit animation from 3ds Max's Track Bar and Curve Editor. We'll learn how to animate objects along a path, how to work non-destructively with animation layers, how to animate with the constraints, plus we'll learn how to transfer animation between characters. We'll even have a look at Populate: 3ds Max's intuitive crowd tool. By the end of this training, you'll have the understanding you need to animate comfortably inside of 3ds Max. Software required: Autodesk 3ds Max 2015.
Table of contents
- Exploring 3ds Max's Time Configuration Panel 8m
- Setting Keyframes in 3ds Max 7m
- Animation Layers, Transform Keys, and Default Tangent Types 10m
- Adding Moving Holds in 3ds Max 4m
- Editing Keys on the Track Bar 5m
- The Curve Editor 5m
- Editing Keys in the Curve Editor and F-curve Interpolation Types 7m
- Animating a Seamless Cycle in 3ds Max 6m
- Completing Our Cycle 4m
- Automating Movement with Expressions 5m
- Baking Animation in 3ds Max 4m
- Optimizing Animation Data 2m
- Gimbal Lock and the Euler Filter 4m
- Animating Objects Along a Path 6m
- Animating with Constraints 4m
- Ghosting Animated Objects 4m
- Viewing and Editing an Object's Trajectory 4m
- Transferring Animation with 3ds Max's Save and Load Feature 8m
- Creating Realistic Crowd Simulations with Populate 6m
- Creating Real-time Animated Previews in 3ds Max 5m
Course FAQ
Autodesk 3ds Max is a program for making 3D animations, models, games, and images. 3ds Max has a flexible set of tools for 3D modeling, animation, and rendering, giving you full artistic control.
Some of the types of work that would find 3ds Max most useful would be:
- Game Developers - for making worlds and character models for their games
- Architects/Civil Engineers - for creating photorealistic renderings of buildings and objects
- VFX Specialists - for creating stunning a realistic 3d animations
This 3ds Max tutorial will introduce you to the principles and techniques in 3ds Max animation, including:
- 3ds Max's time configuration panel
- Setting keyframes in 3ds Max
- Animation layers and transform keys
- Adding moving holds in 3ds Max
- Animating a seamless cycle
- Automating movement
- Baking animation
- Animating objects along a path
- Much more
Nope! There are no strict prerequisites to this course, though some familiarity with 3ds Max software will likely make things go faster for you.
This course is for anyone who wants to learn 3ds Max animation skills. It is intended for beginners, but even seasoned 3d animators should find the concepts and examples quite useful.
No. The full version of Autodesk's 3ds Max is not free, but there are some free trial versions that you can test before purchasing.
About the author
Delano works avidly as an animation author at Pluralsight. Starting his career at animation studios like Shilo, Delano has developed a strong passion for his talents. His animation and rigging background help him teach and create some of the most-watched training on Pluralsight. A few of his favorite projects that he has contributed to include: Character Interaction in Maya and in Softimage, Rigging the Human Face in Maya, Rigging Sea Creatures in Maya, and Rigging and Animating Transforming... more