In this series of lessons we will learn how to rig quadrupeds in 3ds Max. We'll work our way from the ground up, learning techniques for creating robust and flexible vertebrae systems, efficient and animator-friendly controls, and learn how to dynamically link and blend between spaces. We'll also cover helpful weight painting techniques and learn how to set up and automate the triggering of corrective targets. By the end of this course, you will have the skills needed to rig your very own quadruped.

We’ll first take a look at reference and go over some things to think about when constructing the control rig. From there, we will move right into rigging the wing, step by step, making sure the system we build will be sufficient to an animator’s needs. We’ll also learn how to customize Max's interface to access tools faster and build a few MaxScript tools which will also help us work more efficiently. By the end of this tutorial, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge you need to rig animation-friendly wings!

This tutorial will cover the creation and implementation of a car rig in 3ds Max. We will look at the creation of a generic animation rig and then expand on this by adding automation and terrain attachment controls.

We are going to take a character mesh all the way through animation in 3ds Max. Throughout the tutorial, we will discuss workflow for an animation pipeline. We will start with rigging with 3ds Max's CAT system and learn some tips and tricks for skinning along the way. We will then talk about planning a shot and setting up a basic cameras. Finally, we take all of our assets and create a two shot animation utilizing the rig we created.

In this training you will learn from several Digital-Tutors instructors, each of whom will be guiding you through a portion of the entire production pipeline used to create our final motion graphics piece. We will begin by exploring many of the powerful modeling tools found in 3ds Max, and utilizing these tools to build our 3D motion graphics elements. From there, we will look at a number of animation tools and features that will allow us to quickly add movement and life to our 3ds Max elements. From there, we will learn how to incorporate dynamic elements such as flowing cloth, smoke, and sparks into our scene. Finally, we will learn how to render out our elements from 3ds Max, and utilize After Effects for final compositing and sweetening of our motion graphics spot.

This training series looks at the modeling and rigging considerations of a cartoon shark in 3ds Max. We look at creating a basic FK skeleton for our shark model and the skinning consideration we need to think about to create some great deformations. We then expand upon our basic FK rig by using Max's built-in modifiers to create an automated swim cycle, finally finishing the tutorial with a quick look at a controller system and corrective shapes.

Step by step, we’ll construct a facial control system that is robust and animator-friendly. We’ll learn everything from how to create Morph targets, how to control Morph Targets with our own custom GUI, we'll learn a fast and efficient way for deforming multiple objects as one unit, we learn a technique for creating fleshy eyes, how to pin objects to a deforming surface, and also become familiar with 3ds Max's powerful Reaction Manager. By the end of this tutorial, you’ll have the knowledge you need to create your own facial rigs that produce natural and entertaining expressions.

In this tutorial we are going to help you get a good understanding of how to work in 3ds Max. You will be able to learn from several of the instructors here at Digital Tutors as we go through many of the major parts of the software. We are going to cover a wide range of topics in this course. We will start out exploring the user interface and finding our way around 3ds Max. Then we will start to create our own custom model, a pod racer, using a number of powerful modeling tools. We will paint and texture our model, and then take it through the process of rigging and animation. We will finish up by adding dynamic effects to the scene and rendering out a nice result. Once you are finished, you will have exposure to a wide range of disciplines in 3ds Max and be able to start working on your own projects and building on the knowledge you have gained.

Step by step, we'll construct a control rig that is robust and animator-friendly. We'll learn everything from proper bone placement and techniques for troubleshooting, to learning fun ways we can preserve volume as our mesh deforms and how to make our controls efficient and easy to comprehend. We'll also learn how to create customized quad menus and toolbars that will help speed up our workflow, so we can focus primarily on building our control rigs with the best practices.

In this course, we'll be taking a step-by-step approach, constructing a control rig that is solid and animator-friendly. We'll learn everything from proper bone placement to learning how to utilize 3ds Max's intuitive and robust enveloping tools to remove the fear of painting weights and, instead, make the process an enjoyable one. We'll cover how to make our controls efficient and easy to comprehend, and we'll also learn how to create custom quad menus to quickly access specific tools so we can speed up our workflow.

Popular highlights include: Reference Coordinate System; Choosing an Axis Order for Control Objects; Custom Toolbars; Customizing Quad Menus; Layers; Expressions; Wired Parameters; Forward Kinematics vs. Inverse Kinematics; List Controllers; Position Constraint; LookAt Constraint; Orientation Constraint; Link Constraint; Control Objects; Control Object Reservoir; Bone Tools; Mirroring Bones; Scaling Bones; The IK Solvers of Max; Creating an FK Spline Rig; IK FK Snapping; Skin Modifier; Morpher Modifier; Skin Morph Modifier; Skin Wrap Modifier; Rigging Techniques; Custom Parameters; Smooth and Rigid Skinning; Painting Weights; Weight Tool and Weight Table; Mirroring Envelopes; Exporting Envelopes; Angle Deformers; Quick and Easy Muscles with Bones; Selection Sets.

Topics covered in this tutorial: Storing custom attributes; Learning about Morph shapes; Creating custom parameters; Adding and removing parameters. For more information on 3ds Max check out Introduction to Rigging in 3ds Max, a comprehensive resource to establishing a solid rigging foundation.

Topics covered in this tutorial: Controlling sub-objects with control objects; Applying the Linked Xform modifier; Adding a NURB Surface Selection modifier; Offsetting our Curve CV; Snapping controls. Learn more about 3ds Max check out Automotive Modeling in 3ds Max, a comprehensive guide to learning automotive modeling for use in film, games, and design.

Topics covered in this tutorial: Linking objects to other objects; Aligning out objects; Controlling the position, rotation, and scale of our object ; Animating the linked object. For a complete overview of 3ds Max check out Introduction to Modeling in 3ds Max, an in-depth guide to learning a fundamental workflow to polygon, NURBS, and spline-based modeling in 3ds Max.