Autodesk 3ds Max

Award-winning Autodesk® 3ds Max® 2009 software is a full-featured 3D modeling, animation, rendering, and visual effects solution used in the creation of top-selling games and blockbuster film and video content.

3ds Max 2009 introduces several key new features, including the Reveal™ rendering toolset, which streamlines iterative workflows and gives artists dramatically faster, finished renderings; timesaving UV editing and Biped functionality, such as a fast, efficient workflow for rigging quadrupeds; and the ProMaterials™ library for creating real-world design and building surfaces.

Finally, 3ds Max 2009 delivers improved compatibility with Autodesk® Maya® and Autodesk® MotionBuilder™ software through enhanced FBX® memory management. Plus, higher OBJ translation fidelity, along with additional export options, vastly enhances interoperability with Autodesk® Mudbox™ software.

 

Key New Features and Enhancements

	Reveal Rendering The new Reveal rendering system gives you the precise control you need to quickly refine your renders. Choose to render your entire scene minus a specific object; render a single object or even a specific region of the framebuffer. The rendered image framebuffer now contains a simplified set of tools to quickly validate changes in a render by optionally filtering out objects, regions, and processes, balancing quality, speed, and completeness.
	Biped Enhancements The addition of a new Biped workflow means you can now have your Biped character’s hands behave like feet with regard to the ground plane. This new feature dramatically reduces the number of steps needed to create quadruped animations. 3ds Max 2009 also supports rotation of Biped objects around the working pivot as well as the pick pivot, which facilitates the creation of certain kinds of dramatic character performances, such as a character falling to the ground.
	Improved Support for OBJ and FBX Greater OBJ translation fidelity, along with more export options, makes it easier to move data between 3ds Max and Mudbox, as well as other digital sculpting applications. Take advantage of new export presets; additional geometry options, including hidden splines or lines; and new optimizing options for reduced file size and improved performance. Game artists can enjoy enhanced texture map handling and improved Mudbox import information with regard to face counts per object. 3ds Max 2009 also delivers improved FBX memory management and new import options that support interoperability between 3ds Max and other products, such as Maya and MotionBuilder software.
	Streamlined UV Texture Editing 3ds Max continues to lead the industry in intelligent, easy-to-use mapping tools. Use the new spline mapping feature to map tubular and splinelike objects, such as mapping a road onto terrain. In addition, improved Relax and Pelt workflows streamline UVW unwrapping, enabling you to achieve your desired results in fewer steps.
	.NET Support in the SDK Support for .NET extends your software through use of Microsoft’s efficient, high-level application programming interfaces. The 3ds Max 2009 software developer kit ships with sample .NET code and documentation, helping developers take advantage of this powerful set of tools.
	ProMaterials A new library of easy-to-use, physically based materials for mental ray enables you to quickly create frequently used building and design surfaces, such as solid glass, concrete, or professional wall paint—with glossy or matte finish.
	Photometric Lighting Enhancements 3ds Max now supports new types of area lights(circular, cylindrical), photometric web previews in the Browse dialog box and Light UI, and improved near-field photometry quality and spot distribution. Plus, distribution types can now support any emitting shape and you can have light shapes appear as objects in the rendered image.
	Enhanced Windows Vista Support 3ds Max Design supports the Windows Vista® operating system Aero Interface.

 

FAQ

Why is Autodesk creating two “flavors” or versions of 3ds Max?

In order to optimize the user experience for both entertainment and design visualization customers, it was necessary to create two flavors of 3ds Max.

Entertainment users commonly specialize in areas such as character rigging, lighting, texturing, and animation. For these customers, 3ds Max 2009 continues to build on its legacy as an industry-leading content creation tool in the games, film, television industries. 3ds Max Design is directed towards maximizing a high-quality “out of the box” design visualization experience for generalists in the architecture, civil engineering, industrial and manufacturing industries.

Each “flavor” of 3ds Max will be specifically tailored for its intended audience; from learning resources and sample files, to application defaults and even carefully selected features such as the Exposure lighting analysis technology for designers and visualization specialists.

Is 3ds Max or 3ds Max Design right for me?

If you work primarily in entertainment and require the SDK, choose 3ds Max 2009. 3ds Max has all the features of 3ds Max Design except for the new Exposure lighting analysis tool for assisting in LEED 8.1 certification.

If you work primarily in the architecture, civil engineering, or manufacturing sectors, and you do not need to create your own plug-ins using the SDK, choose 3ds Max Design. It has all the features of 3ds Max 2009 except for the SDK, and it includes the new Exposure lighting analysis tool for assisting in LEED 8.1 certification.

What features are the same between 3ds Max and 3ds Max Design?

With the exception of the SDK, 3ds Max Design has 100% of the features in 3ds Max. 3ds Max and 3ds Max Design share a single binary. This means that both applications will be able to simultaneously advance from a technological perspective. When 3ds Max is updated for the latest version of Microsoft® Windows® operating system (OS) or DirectX® application programming interface (API), 3ds Max Design is updated . A single binary also means that there is 100% file compatibility as well as plug-in compatibility between the applications.

How are 3ds Max 2009 and 3ds Max Design 2009 different from VIZ 2008?

VIZ 2008 was built on the 3ds Max 9 codebase. Since then, Autodesk has released 3ds Max 2008 and now intends to release 3ds Max 2009 and 3ds Max Design 2009. These products include major improvements in many important areas including:

• Free, unlimited integrated mental ray® rendering software. VIZ 2008 requires a license per seat.
• Up to 8 mental ray rendering satellites. VIZ 2008 is limited to 2 satellites.
• Integrated mental ray rendering support for up to 512 cores. VIZ 2008 is limited to 4 cores.
• Both 32-bit and 64-bit versions. VIZ is limited to only a 32-bit version.
• “Review” viewport improvements allow you to preview real-time shadows, photometric lights, Arch & Design materials and sun/sky system directly in the viewport. VIZ requires you to render to see these.
• 10 times the performance gains over VIZ for scenes composed of tens of thousands of objects.
• “Reveal” iterative rendering optimizations for mental ray allow accelerated rendering of incremental changes or specific regions and objects
• Enhanced DWG workflow with Select Similar, new memory management for handling large scenes, improved normal and material support from Revit DWG files, new material support for DWG Solid Objects and various other improvements.
• “Recognize” scene loading technology for interoperability with Revit Architecture 2009; allowing cameras, geometries, materials and lights to be easily imported into 3ds Max with a high degree of fidelity.
• “Exposure” lighting analysis technology for assisting in LEED 8.1 certification
• ProBooleans (enhanced Boolean tools based on Npower Power Booleans)
• Scene Explorer for managing scenes with thousands of objects and exposing Revit metadata for objects imported from Revit.
• Fully-rigged character animation system and library of motions (Biped)
• Particle system for realistic effects
• Reactor real-time physics system
• Cloth system for banners, curtains and clothes
• Hair system for grass, fur, hair
• Sub-object animation (deformable vertices)

Can I use both products in a production environment?

Yes. Since 3ds Max and 3ds Max Design are based on the same binary, data moves seamlessly between them and both can be used together in a Backburner rendering network.

When will 3ds Max 2009 be available?

3ds Max Design 2009 (English) is scheduled to ship at the end of March 2008.

 

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