3ds Max 2012 Bible

Part I: Getting Started with 3ds Max
Laying Siege to the Castle Wall
Exploring the Max Interface
Controlling and Configuring the Viewports
Working with Files, Importing, and Exporting
Changing Interface Units and Setting Preferences
Part II: Working with Objects
Creating and Editing Primitive Objects
Selecting Objects and Setting Object Properties
Transforming Objects, Pivoting, Aligning, and Snapping
Cloning Objects and Creating Object Arrays
Grouping, Linking, and Parenting Objects
Part III: Modeling Basics
Accessing Subobjects and Using Modeling Helpers
Introducing Modifiers and Using the Modifier Stack
Drawing and Editing 2D Splines and Shapes
Modeling with Polygons
Using the Graphite Modeling Tools and Painting with Objects
Part IV: Materials, Cameras, and Lighting Basics
Using the Slate Material Editor
Creating and Applying Standard Materials
Adding Material Details with Maps
Creating Compound Materials and Using Material Modifiers
Configuring and Aiming Cameras
Using Lights and Basic Lighting Techniques
Part V: Animation and Rendering Basics
Understanding Animation and Keyframes
Animating with Constraints and Simple Controllers
Rendering a Scene and Enabling Quicksilver
Rendering Non-Photorealistic Effects
Part VI: Advanced Modeling
Building Complex Scenes with Containers, XRefs, and the Schematic View
Deforming Surfaces and Using the Mesh Modifiers
Working with Compound Objects
Working with Solids and Body Objects
Adding and Styling Hair and Fur, and Using Cloth
Part VII: Advanced Materials
Using Specialized Material Types
Working with Procedural Substance Textures
Painting in the Viewport Canvas and Rendering Surface Maps
Unwrapping UVs and Mapping Textures
Creating Baked Textures and Normal Maps
Part VIII: Advanced Animation Techniques
Using Animation Layers, Modifiers, and Complex Controllers
Animating with the Expression Controller and Wiring Parameters
Working with the F-Curve Editor in the Track View
Part IX: Working with Characters
Understanding Rigging, Kinematics, and Working with Bones
Animating Characters with CAT
Skinning Characters
Part X: Dynamic Animation
Creating Particles and Particle Flow
Using Space Warps
Simulating Physics-Based Motion with MassFX
Animating Hair and Cloth
Part XI: Advanced Lighting and Rendering
Working with Advanced Lighting, Light Tracing, and Radiosity
Using Atmospheric and Render Effects
Rendering with mental ray and iray
Batch and Network Rendering
Compositing with Render Elements and the Video Post Interface
A: What’s New with 3ds Max
B: What’s on the CD-ROM