Autodesk 3ds Max 2026 Basics Guide
1st Edition
Published on 15. September 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
900 pages
978-1-63057-746-9 (ISBN)
Description
Discover the world of 3D Modeling and animation with Autodesk 3ds Max 2026 Basics Guide, a comprehensive and user-friendly guide designed for beginners and professionals alike. Authored by renowned 3D artist Kelly L. Murdock, this essential handbook incorporates an array of easy-to-follow tutorials, covering everything from interface navigation to advanced lighting techniques.
Whether you're a complete novice or a seasoned professional looking to expand your skills, this guide will help you develop the knowledge and confidence necessary to create stunning 3D models, animations, and renderings. With meticulously organized chapters, each focusing on a specific skill set, you'll be smoothly guided through the entire process, from exploring the interface to simulating physics-based motion and working with hair and cloth.
Autodesk 3ds Max 2026 Basics Guide begins by introducing you to the user interface and scene navigation, then delves into object manipulation, 3D asset modeling, material application, camera and lighting techniques, rendering, animation, character creation, special effects, and dynamic animation systems.
As both a beginner's guide and a reference for experienced users, this invaluable resource offers expert advice from popular author Kelly Murdock. The book begins with a 'getting started' section for instant immersion, and contains countless tips and timesavers throughout. Learn how to harness the power of Autodesk 3ds Max, one of the most popular 3D modeling, animation, rendering, and compositing softwares used by game developers and graphic designers in the film and television industry. Unlock your creative potential and start creating breathtaking 3D animations with the Autodesk 3ds Max 2026 Basics Guide.
What You'll Learn
- Get started navigating the user interface, Viewports and working with files
- Explore 3D modeling and how to apply materials and textures
- Learn how to reference, select, clone, group, link and transform objects
- Set impressive scenes with backgrounds, cameras and lighting
- Master intelligent techniques for rendering, compositing and animating
- Create characters, add special effects, and finish with dynamic animations such as hair and cloth
- Get comfortable with key tools such as Track View, Arnold, Quicksilver, Space Warps and more
- Discover all the new features and changes in 3ds Max 2026
Training Videos
The text is complemented by an expansive collection of video tutorials. Every chapter comes with a series of matching video presentations that act as a live counterpart to the written lessons. These presentations provide you with a firsthand view of the topics, capturing the subtle nuances that words alone might miss.
Whether you're a complete novice or a seasoned professional looking to expand your skills, this guide will help you develop the knowledge and confidence necessary to create stunning 3D models, animations, and renderings. With meticulously organized chapters, each focusing on a specific skill set, you'll be smoothly guided through the entire process, from exploring the interface to simulating physics-based motion and working with hair and cloth.
Autodesk 3ds Max 2026 Basics Guide begins by introducing you to the user interface and scene navigation, then delves into object manipulation, 3D asset modeling, material application, camera and lighting techniques, rendering, animation, character creation, special effects, and dynamic animation systems.
As both a beginner's guide and a reference for experienced users, this invaluable resource offers expert advice from popular author Kelly Murdock. The book begins with a 'getting started' section for instant immersion, and contains countless tips and timesavers throughout. Learn how to harness the power of Autodesk 3ds Max, one of the most popular 3D modeling, animation, rendering, and compositing softwares used by game developers and graphic designers in the film and television industry. Unlock your creative potential and start creating breathtaking 3D animations with the Autodesk 3ds Max 2026 Basics Guide.
What You'll Learn
- Get started navigating the user interface, Viewports and working with files
- Explore 3D modeling and how to apply materials and textures
- Learn how to reference, select, clone, group, link and transform objects
- Set impressive scenes with backgrounds, cameras and lighting
- Master intelligent techniques for rendering, compositing and animating
- Create characters, add special effects, and finish with dynamic animations such as hair and cloth
- Get comfortable with key tools such as Track View, Arnold, Quicksilver, Space Warps and more
- Discover all the new features and changes in 3ds Max 2026
Training Videos
The text is complemented by an expansive collection of video tutorials. Every chapter comes with a series of matching video presentations that act as a live counterpart to the written lessons. These presentations provide you with a firsthand view of the topics, capturing the subtle nuances that words alone might miss.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Mission, KS
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Professional Practice & Development and Undergraduate Advanced
Dimensions
Height: 280 mm
Width: 210 mm
Weight
1880 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-63057-746-9 (9781630577469)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Content
Preface Acknowledgments Front Matter Part I: Getting Started with Autodesk 3ds Max 2026 1. Exploring the 3ds Max Interface 2. Controlling and Configuring the Viewports 3. Working with Files, Importing, and Exporting Part II: Manipulating Objects 4. Creating and Editing Primitives and Selecting Objects 5. Transforming Objects, Pivoting, Aligning, and Snapping 6. Cloning Objects and Creating Object Arrays 7. Grouping, Linking and Parenting Objects 8. Organizing Scenes with Layers, Containers, and XRefs Part III: Modeling 3D Assets 9. Accessing Subobjects and Modifiers and Using the Modifier Stack 10. Drawing and Editing 2D Splines and Shapes 11. Modeling with Polygons 12. Using the Graphite Modeling Tools and Painting with Objects 13. Working with Compound Objects 14. Using Mesh Modifiers and Deforming Surfaces Part IV: Applying Materials and Textures 15. Creating and Applying Materials with the Slate Material Editor 16. Adding Material Details with Maps 17. Creating Compound Materials and Using Material Modifiers Part V: Setting the Scene: Cameras, Lights, and Rendering 18. Configuring Cameras and Environments 19. Using Lights and Basic Lighting Techniques 20. Rendering a Scene and Working with Arnold Part VI: Animating Objects and Scenes 21. Understanding Animation and Keyframes 22. Using Animation Layers and Animation Modifiers 23. Animating with Constraints and Simple Controllers 24. Editing Animation Curves in the Track View Part VII: Working with Characters and Special Effects 25. Understanding Rigging, Kinematics, and Working with Bones and Skin 26. Animating Characters with CAT 27. Using Particles and Space Warps 28. Using Atmospheric, Render, and Lighting Effects Part VIII: Using Dynamic Animation Systems 29. Simulating Physics-Based Motion with MassFX 30. Working with Hair, Cloth, and Fluids Index