3D Studio Max

Powerful rendering engine, lame-o modeling software

Workflow overview

• Create project entirely in Revit• Export to FBX file, import into MAX• Test single rendering• Set up animation• Export preview animation• Render and export final

Revit (building, lighting)

Revit: materials

Export FBX

MAX: Minimal materials, lighting

Render in MAX

SketchUp: interior

elementsRevit model

(building, lighting)

Revit: materials

Export FBX

MAX: Minimal

materials, lighting

Render in MAX

SketchUp: interior

elements

Export DWG (layers, etc)

MAX: materials

Workflow for MAX Rendering

Revit model (building, lighting)

Revit: materials

Export FBX

MAX: Minimal

materials, lighting

Render in MAX

SketchUp: interior

elements

Export: DWG

(layers, etc)

MAX: materials

Familiar way; best for projects where this is not the last step

Avoids materials problem; retains layers in MAX Fastest Rendering

Link

Revit export

• Use simplest walls, floors, and ceilings• Apply materials entirely in Revit• Create and test lighting in Revit• Purge out drawing• Just one 3D view needed

SketchUp export to DWG• No textures• Layers• Use Color By Layer to check

Overview: working in Max

• Get geometry into MAX via FBX or DWG• Apply materials and lighting• Set frame rate, total frames in animation• Modify camera across timeline• Export preview• Render stills as tests• Specify output file• Export final

Max interface

Linking DWG files to MAX

Quick Keys and hints

• Click in a viewport to zoom around• C switches to camera view• F10 brings up the rendering options window• ALT-W toggles full-screen view• F9 renders current view immediately

Shading viewports

• Use View>Viewport Settings…• May have to hide elements (right-click)

Basic Still Rendering

Sample quality (can also change in Render window)

For a draft

For high quality

Render window

check for animation

can also choose to render a

region

File formats make a different

JPEG BMP

Lighting

Adjusting lighting

Adding Materials

Mapped single image: modify size

Displays material preview in shaded viewports

Change size and location of map in real time

Creating a custom material

Click on empty material to create your own

Choose a different material (for mirror, use Reflect/Base, reflectivity = 1

Options – you can change # of materials shown

Use default templates for simple

materials

double-click to choose a bitmap

Display material in viewport

Modifying viewports

Creating a new camera

Modify a camera

Modify perspective

Field of view

Pan, orbit

Tilt camera

Animation Rendering

Change Time SettingsTime settings

12 is minimum, 15 is better

Determines total time in seconds of movie

Auto Key forces memory of changes

to model in a Key Frame

Move slider to change view to a

different point along the animation

Set file type and location in Render Menu

Create walkthrough preview

Hiding objects

• Right-click on object, and choose Hide Elements

• Freeze in Layer Manager• Both are Global changes• Rendered view will leave out hidden object

Testing

• Render at lowest settings and small size first• Render at several points to make sure lighting

and materials are working throughout• Create Animation Preview to test overall

animation• Create rendering at lowest settings – takes

about 4 hours (it will estimate)• Resolution: 320x240• Final Gather quality:

Final production

• Create animation in pieces if you have more than one computer

• Final resolution: 640x480• Final rendering quality:

Composing in Windows Movie Maker

• Follow the numbers• Break apart video if needed• Add titles• Add stills for renderings, plans, materials,

whatever• Add credits• Export

Timeline view easier for adding titles and

transitions

Follow steps

Exporting

Other software options

• Adobe Premiere Elements– Free trial

• Final Cut Pro (on Macs)– Pretty complex

• They’re very complex, but have some terrific features