How to cheat in 3ds Max 20xx: get spectacular results fast

293 Pages·2013·138.902 MB·English

by  Bousquet, Michele

cheat
HOW TO
IN
3ds Max
2014
Bound to Create
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cheat
HOW TO
IN
3ds Max
2014
Get spectacular results fast
Michael McCarthy
How to Cheat in 3ds Max
First published 2014
by Focal Press
70 Blanchard Road, Suite 402, Burlington, MA 01803
and by Focal Press
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
Focal Press is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2014 Taylor & Francis OR author/s
The right of Michael McCarthy to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by him in
accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or
by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including pho-
tocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in
writing from the publishers.
Notices
Knowledge and best practice in this field are constantly changing. As new research and experience
broaden our understanding, changes in research methods, professional practices, or medical treat-
ment may become necessary.
Practitioners and researchers must always rely on their own experience and knowledge in evaluat-
ing and using any information, methods, compounds, or experiments described herein. In using
such information or methods they should be mindful of their own safety and the safety of others,
including parties for whom they have a professional responsibility.
Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for
identification and explanation without intent to infringe.
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
McCarthy, Michael, 1977-
How to cheat in 3ds max 2014 : get spectacular results fast / Michael McCarthy.
pages cm -- (How to cheat--)
Includes index.
ISBN 978-0-415-84274-7 (paperback) -- ISBN 978-0-203-75844-1 (ebook) 1. 3ds max (Computer
file) 2. 3D studio. 3. Computer animation. 4. Computer graphics. I. Bousquet, Michele, 1962- How
to cheat in 3ds max 2011. II. Title.
TR897.7.B6839 2013
006.6’96--dc23
2013025533
ISBN:978-0-415-84274-7 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-0-203-75844-1 (ebk)
Typeset in Myriad Pro, Amasis, Flexysansbold
by Michele Bousquet
in 3ds Max
Contents
1 Customization and UI . . . 3 4 Character Modeling . . . . 55
Enhanced menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Character references . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
X marks the spot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Character modeling process . . . . . . . .58
Make the new old again . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Chop shop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60
Hotbox quad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Nip and Tuck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62
Custom workspace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Polygon building . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64
Subdivision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66
2 Basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Poly modeling in practice . . . . . . . . . .68
A selection of selections . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Making animatable models . . . . . . . . .70
Making a Scene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
5 Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Zoom, pan, display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Organizing objects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Material Editor basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74
Transforms and coordinates . . . . . . . .24 Mapping coordinates . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76
Organizing objects: Preparing textures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78
a matter of choice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Concavity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80
Roger’s top 10 reasons why
Faking subsurface scattering . . . . . . .82
you can’t select your object . . . . . . . .28
People, trees, and cars . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84
3 Modeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Multiple maps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86
Procedurally speaking . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88
Modeling tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Gradual mix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90
Reference images . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
Unwrapping the mapping . . . . . . . . . .92
Spline to low poly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
Normal mapping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94
Virtual studio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
Mapping a character . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96
15-minute building . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
Basic mental ray materials . . . . . . . . . .98
Modeling around maps . . . . . . . . . . . .42
Custom mental ray materials . . . . . .100
Secrets of the spline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
Curvy curtain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
How to make a mess
with modeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
BYO weapon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
Modeling for the masses . . . . . . . . . . .52
v
How to Cheat in 3ds Max
6 Lighting & Shadows . . .103 9 Animation . . . . . . . . . . . .145
1-2-3 Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104 Animation 101 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .146
Troubleshooting shadows . . . . . . . . .106 Spinning your gears . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .148
Exterior lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108 Animated pivot point . . . . . . . . . . . . .150
Bright sunshiny day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110 Following a path . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .152
Mental ray lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112 Look a-here . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .154
Good lighting made better . . . . . . . .114 Jumping beans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .156
Daylight savings time . . . . . . . . . . . . .116 Linktopia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .158
Where’s the shadow? . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118 Linking to multiple objects . . . . . . . .160
Shadow and wireframe Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .162
presentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120
Super-duper tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .164
7 Reflections . . . . . . . . . . .123 10 Character Animation . .167
Reflecting on reflections . . . . . . . . . .124
Character animation workflow . . . . .168
Bling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .126
CAT 101 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .170
Reflections in the dark . . . . . . . . . . . .128
Biped 101 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .172
Where’s my reflection? . . . . . . . . . . . .130
Skeleton fitting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .174
8 Glass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .133 Skinning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .176
Walking in your footsteps . . . . . . . . .178
Exterior daytime windows . . . . . . . . .134
The alternative skeleton . . . . . . . . . . .180
Interior daytime windows . . . . . . . . .136
Biped foot control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .182
Nighttime and dusk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .138
CAT gizmos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .184
Pint glass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .140
CAT vs . Biped . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .186
Fun with physics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .142
vi
in 3ds Max
11 MAXScript . . . . . . . . . . . .189 14 Parameter Wiring . . . . .231
A world of MAXScripts . . . . . . . . . . . .190 Wiring 101 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .232
Voronoi stone wall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .192 Follow me . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .234
Gizmo control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .194 Telling time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .236
CAT gizmos for custom rigs . . . . . . . .196 Spinning wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .238
Getting a little tense . . . . . . . . . . . . . .198 Feeling exposed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .240
PF Spliner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .200 To code or not to code . . . . . . . . . . . .242
12 Rendering . . . . . . . . . . . .203 15 Special Effects . . . . . . . .245
Rendering basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .204 Logo polishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .246
Mental ray rendering . . . . . . . . . . . . . .206 MassFX destruction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .248
What is mental ray, anyway? . . . . . . .208 Raindrops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .250
Nitrous viewport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .210 Morphing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .252
Quicksilver rendering . . . . . . . . . . . . .212 Cracks in a surface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .254
Render passes with state sets . . . . . .214 What’s in the box? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .256
Managing your scene . . . . . . . . . . . . .216 Particle flow basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .258
Tipping the attenuation scales . . . . .218 Swirly particles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .260
mParticles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .262
13 Plugins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .221
Data flow operators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .264
V-Ray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .222

Phoenix FD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .224
Appendix . . . . . . . . . . . . .267
Ornatrix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .226

Zookeeper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .228
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .273
vii
How to Cheat in 3ds Max
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viii
in 3ds Max
Foreword from the author
I am very excited to be taking over the How to Cheat in 3ds Max series. It
has had a long and distinguished legacy with the extremely talented and prolific
Michele Bousquet. For this reason, I was thrilled when Michele and Focal
approached me with the opportunity to update and continue this book series
because I feel that it provides an intelligent and interesting perspective on how
3ds Max can be utilized to achieve the fastest and best results.
Following in Michele’s BIG footsteps is a challenge, but I hope I bring some
new and interesting things to the book and series as a whole. In my production
work I am continually running into tips, tricks, and interesting ways to do things
in 3ds Max and I love to share these with the CG community.
New topics I have created for this book may be more on the intermediate
side and do require a certain basic knowledge of 3ds Max and 3D in general.
That being said, many of Michele’s great and useful topics on the basics have
been preserved and updated in this revision to provide the reader the absolute
best in fundamental, cutting-edge and outside-the-box 3ds Max techniques.
In this new edition, I hope the CG community will be able to build on the
solid foundation that Michele has laid down and climb even a little deeper into
what 3ds Max can do.
Michael McCarthy
ix