Review: Autodesk 3ds Max
Autodesk 3ds Max
Autodesk 3d Studio Max has always been considered one of the premium 3D animation programs on the planet. It has a few pros and cons, obviously, and well go into those in more detail in the course of this article.
Is overcoming the counterintuitive interface worth it?
We'll discuss the negative aspects first, because they are far fewer than the positives.The primary complaint most people have with Autodesk 3ds Max as a 3D animation software is that the interface is so anti-intuitive. There's a learning curve there that you just can't seem to go around, and the program can be clumsy to work with until you become more experienced with it's functions.
Now, that said, once you do learn your way around Autodesk 3ds Max, you find yourself with virtually every single tool you need, or could possibly need for a 3D animation, right there at your finger tips.
Advanced rendering and physics:
Not only that, but 3ds Max has an enhanced performance in the later releases, including state of the art rendering. It contains both the usual polygon modeling system common to game development, and a 'nurbs' system based on mathematical principles, capable of creating a sphere from a single face.
Sophisticated features and an improved tool set:
There are a lot of other interesting features incorporated into the 3D animation software, including Character Studio, which greatly facilitates the animation of organic and especially humanoid objects, and ProCutter, which allows the creation of realistic explosions, flocks of birds, and other similar effects.
And the basic Tool Set itself is greatly enhanced, allowing you to use this 3D animation program for subtle manipulation of shapes, and the creation of virtually any object that comes to mind.
Numerous plug-ins can vastly increase the software's capabilities:
Indeed, the basic Autodesk 3ds Max package is more powerful and comprehensive than ever before, but that still doesn't give you an idea of just what this amazing 3D animation program is capable of. Beside the basic package enumerated above, you can also install various plugins to greatly enhance the capabilities of Autodesk 3ds Max.
For example, there are plugins that allow for faster ray-tracing, as well as enhanced global illumination. There are plugins that allow 3D animations to be directly converted to Flash animations, right within the software itself. There are plugins to create realistic smoke effects and others that simulate fluid movement. As a matter of fact, new plugins are being created regularly, so that there is a way to tweak the basic Autodesk 3ds Max program to exactly your requirements, no matter what those requirements may be.
The best part of all is that you don't have to buy the full version to begin mastering this 3D animation program. Autodesk sells a far lower priced version for students. Of course, this version can only be used for educational purposes, but it's still a very generous gesture on their part, and gives a lot more people the opportunity to master this extremely versatile software.
The bottom line?
Autodesk 3ds Max is an excellent 3D animation software if you have mastered it. If you haven't you will not only find the learning curve difficult, but will find it hard to understand counter intuitive aspects of the interface. This is only an initial difficulty, however. 3ds Max is an excellent buy and one of the best 3D animation programs available. Master this program, and you can do almost anything in the virtual world of 3D animation.
