Acknowledgments.

Part I: Getting Started with 3ds Max.

Quick Start: Landing a Space Vehicle.

Chapter 1: Exploring the Max Interface.

Chapter 2: Controlling and Configuring the Viewports.

Chapter 3: Working with Files, Importing, and Exporting.

Chapter 4: Customizing the Max Interface and Setting Preferences.

Part II: Working with Objects.

Chapter 5: Creating and Editing Primitive Objects.

Chapter 6: Selecting Objects and Setting Object Properties.

Chapter 7: Transforming Objects, Pivoting, Aligning, and Snapping.

Chapter 8: Cloning Objects and Creating Object Arrays.

Chapter 9: Grouping, Linking, and Using Containers.

Part III: Modeling Basics.

Chapter 10: Accessing Subobjects and Using Modeling Helpers.

Chapter 11: Introducing Modifiers and Using the Modifier Stack.

Chapter 12: Drawing and Editing 2D Splines and Shapes.

Chapter 13: Modeling with Polygons and Using the Graphite Modeling Tools.

Part IV: Materials, Cameras, and Lighting Basics.

Chapter 14: Using the Material Editor and the Material Explorer.

Chapter 15: Creating and Applying Standard Materials.

Chapter 16: Adding Material Details with Maps.

Chapter 17: Creating Compound Materials and Using Material Modifiers.

Chapter 18: Configuring and Aiming Cameras.

Chapter 19: Using Lights and Basic Lighting Techniques.

Part V: Animation and Rendering Basics.

Chapter 20: Understanding Animation and Keyframes.

Chapter 21: Animating with Constraints and Simple Controllers.

Chapter 22: Rendering a Scene.

Part VI: Advanced Modeling.

Chapter 23: Building Complex Scenes with XRefs and Using Asset Tracking.

Chapter 24: Working with the Schematic View.

Chapter 25: Deforming Surfaces and Using the Mesh Modifiers.

Chapter 26: Working with Compound Objects.

Chapter 27: Modeling with Patches and NURBS.

Chapter 28: Adding and Styling Hair and Fur, and Using Cloth.

Part VII: Advanced Materials.

Chapter 29: Using Specialized Material Types.

Chapter 30: Painting in the Viewport Canvas and Rendering Surface Maps.

Chapter 31: Unwrapping UVs and Mapping Textures.

Chapter 32: Creating Baked Textures and Normal Maps.

Part VIII: Advanced Animation Techniques.

Chapter 33: Using Animation Modifiers and Complex Controllers.

Chapter 34: Animating with the Expression Controller and Wiring Parameters.

Chapter 35: Working with Function Curves in the Track View.

Chapter 36: Using Animation Layers and the Motion Mixer.

Part IX: Dynamic Animation.

Chapter 37: Creating Particles and Particle Flow.

Chapter 38: Using Space Warps.

Chapter 39: Simulating Physics-Based Motion with reactor.

Chapter 40: Animating Hair and Cloth.

Part X: Working with Characters.

Chapter 41: Understanding Rigging and Working with Bones.

Chapter 42: Working with Inverse Kinematics.

Chapter 43: Creating and Animating Bipeds and Crowds.

Chapter 44: Skinning Characters.

Part XI: Advanced Lighting and Rendering.

Chapter 45: Working with Advanced Lighting, Light Tracing, and Radiosity.

Chapter 46: Using Atmospheric and Render Effects.

Chapter 47: Rendering with mental ray.

Chapter 48: Batch and Network Rendering.

Chapter 49: Compositing with Render Elements and the Video Post Interface.

Part XII: MAXScript and Plug-Ins.

Chapter 50: Automating with MAXScript.

Chapter 51: Expanding Max with Third-Party Plug-Ins.

Appendix A: What’s New with 3ds Max 2010.

Appendix B: What’s on the DVD.

Index.

End User License Agreement.