The only comprehensive reference-tutorial on 3ds Max available, this book is everyone's favorite. Whether you're a beginner looking for 3D basics or a full-fledged animator seeking new ways to dazzle viewers with your creations, it's all here. You'll find pages of professional tips, loads of advice, and more than 150 step-by-step tutorials guaranteed to build your skills and spark your creativity. A 16-page color insert highlights cutting-edge work from 3D artists. A valuable companion DVD provides all the examples and content from the book, including unique models and textures you can customize on your own, and a searchable, full-color version of the book. Part I: Getting Started with 3ds Max Quick Start: Firing a Cannonball Chapter 1: Exploring the Max Interface Chapter 2: Controlling and Configuring the Viewports Chapter 3: Working with Files, Importing, and Exporting Chapter 4: Customizing the Max Interface and Setting Preferences Part II: Working with Objects Chapter 5: Creating and Editing Primitive Objects Chapter 6: Selecting Objects, Setting Object Properties, and Using Layers and the Scene Explorer Chapter 7: Transforming Objects, Pivoting, Aligning, and Snapping Chapter 8: Cloning Objects and Creating Object Arrays Chapter 9: Grouping, Linking, and Parenting Objects Part III: Modeling Basics Chapter 10: Learning Modeling Basics and Working with Sub objects and Helpers Chapter 11: Introducing Modifiers and Using the Modifier Stack Chapter 12: Drawing and Editing 2D Splines and Shapes Chapter 13: Modeling with Polygons Part IV: Materials, Cameras, and Lighting Basics Chapter 14: Exploring the Material Editor Chapter 15: Creating and Applying Standard Materials Chapter 16: Creating Compound Materials and Using Material Modifiers Chapter 17: Adding Material Details with Maps Chapter 18: Configuring and Aiming Cameras Chapter 19: Using Lights and Basic Lighting Techniques Part V: Animation and Rendering Basics Chapter 20: Understanding Animation and Keyframe Basics Chapter 21: Animating with Constraints and Controllers Chapter 22: Learning to Render a Scene Part VI: Advanced Modeling Chapter 23: Building Complex Scenes with XRefs and Using Vault Chapter 24: Working with the Schematic View Chapter 25: Deforming Surfaces and Using the Mesh Modifiers Chapter 26: Working with Compound Objects Chapter 27: Modeling with Patches and NURBS Chapter 28: Adding and Styling Hair and Fur, and Using Cloth Part VII: Advanced Materials Chapter 29: Using Specialized Material Types Chapter 30: Unwrapping UVs and Using Pelt Mapping Chapter 31: Creating Baked Textures and Normal Maps Part VIII: Advanced Animation Techniques Chapter 32: Using Animation Modifiers Chapter 33: Animating with the Expression Controller and Wiring Parameters Chapter 34: Working with Function Curves in the Track View Chapter 35: Using Animation Layers and the Motion Mixer Part IX: Dynamic Animation Chapter 36: Creating Particles and Particle Flow Chapter 37: Using Space Warps Chapter 38: Simulating Physics-Based Motion with reactor Chapter 39: Animating Hair and Cloth Part X: Working with Characters Chapter 40: Understanding Rigging and Working with Bones Chapter 41: Working with Inverse Kinematics Chapter 42: Creating and Animating Bipeds and Crowds Chapter 43: Skinning Characters Part XI: Advanced Lighting and Rendering Chapter 44: Working with Advanced Lighting, Light Tracing, and Radiosity Chapter 45: Using Atmospheric and Render Effects Chapter 46: Raytracing and mental ray Chapter 47: Batch and Network Rendering Chapter 48: Compositing with Render Elements and the Video Post Interface Part XII: MAXScript and Plug-Ins Chapter 49: Automating with MAXScript Chapter 50: Expanding Max with Third-Party Plug-Ins