[3DSMAX] Chess Pieces

[Josh]

This was originally posted on CGEmpire.com for professional critique by industry experts. Some information may be wrong when referring to \'the forum\' and members.

Good evening folks! First, I\'d like to start off by saying that 3DS MAX is some pretty neat software. I was told before I started, by wez, that 3DS MAX is some pretty easy software to use just as long as you know the interface. I\'ve checked out a book from the local library (3DS Max 7 Bible) and I\'m going to read through that later, but after the installation of MAX I noticed some folders on the CD of which caught my eye; Tutorial folders!

I installed the tutorials and now I have completed the intro to modelling: Chess Peices. The tutorial was really easy to follow and as I was told before by someone else here at the community, everything in 3D is about the same, it\'s just how the program handles it.

Now that statement was proven true after going through this tutorial as it talked about Lathe nurbs (Which I\'ve used before) and I knew exactly what they did, I knew exactly how the tutorial was going to use the lathe nurbs, I just didn\'t know how to get to the lathe nurbs in the tutorial. So now that I\'ve learned where the things are for this tutorial, I could redo these models without even looking at a tutorial, I\'m sure of it.

Now, I would like you all to take note of the fact that I have never used the material manager before. The tutorial I read said that we would get into putting textures on the objects later as that is a little more advanced, but I wanted a nice looking render and I wanted it now! So, I took the liberty of finding the material manager and making my own material and applying it to my objects. I was very proud of myself when I figured this out all by myself.

I\'ve posted this in the WIP section even though it is finished. The reasons for this is because I don\'t think I should submit it to the gallery as this is my first work in 3DS MAX and it\'s not going to be up to par with the rest of the people who have been submitting renders. My other reason is pretty simple; I have a couple questions about 3DS MAX. So I\'ll give you my questions and then I\'ll give you my render.

Questions
1. As an exC4D user, I am used to seeing every object in text form as a list to the right of the program. Is there a way I can see every object listed or do I have to just get used to the fact that I have to select the object to get the program\'s focus on it?

2. I\'m a little confused as to how the format of everything is laid out in the software. E.g.; I make a cube, I go to the \"Modify\" panel, on that panel there is a drop down menu, that\'s where I selected Lathe nurbs for this rendering, Once you select something from this drop down menu there is a bunch of items in a treeview list underneath the drop down. I don\'t get how all of this is handled? Looking at that list makes no sense to me and I never know where to click to get myself where I need to be. Someone be kind enough to explain this treeview list to me?

3. Again, as an exC4D user, I am used to using the middle mouse button to click on a viewport and that viewport expands to be the only viewport I can see instead of seeing all four viewports. Is there a way I can do something similar to this? I don\'t like seeing all four viewports at the same time as I don\'t always use them all. In fact, in the tutorial that I did I only used the front and perspective viewport. The two viewports were just taking up space.

Thank you in advanced for answering these questions for me. I\'m glad that I\'ve moved over to 3DS MAX. It\'s still a little weird for me to say, \"I did this in 3DS MAX\", because I\'m so used to saying \'C4D\' lol Thank you for taking the time to read this post too. Now, without further ramblings, I present, my first render in 3DSMax.

attachment

[R4PTOR]

Traitor!
C4D forever.

I used to use max then switched to C4D. I found it much easier to use. Your model's are good, only thing I don't like is the pawn looks a bit odd near the top just under to ball on top.

[Josh]

That is a lighting and angle issue <img src=\'http://www.killanet.net/forum3/public/s ... /smile.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':)\' /> and yes, I know, I\'m a traitor. I find Max much easier to work with now that I\'ve had some professional training for the UI.