Kelly L. Murdock's Autodesk 3ds Max 2015 Complete Reference Guide

-3. Preface
-2. Acknowledgments
-1. Front Matter

0. Part I: Getting Started with Autodesk 3ds Max 2015

1. Exploring the Interface
2. Controlling and Configuring the Viewports
3. Working with Files, Importing and Exporting
4. Setting Preferences
   

   Part II: Manipulating Objects

5. Creating and Editing Primitive Objects
6. Selecting Objects and Using Layers
7. Transforming Objects, Pivoting, Aligning, and Snapping
8. Cloning Objects and Creating Object Arrays
9. Grouping, Linking and Parenting Objects
10. Organizing Scenes with Containers, XRefs and the Schematic View
    

    Part III: Modeling 3D Assets

11. Accessing Subobjects and Modifiers and Using the Modifier Stack
12. Drawing and Editing 2D Splines and Shapes
13. Modeling with Polygons
14. Using the Graphite Modeling Tools and Painting with Objects
15. Working with Compound Objects
16. Deforming Surfaces and Using the Mesh Modifiers
    

    Part IV: Applying Materials and Textures

17. Creating and Applying Standard Materials with the Slate Material Editor
18. Adding Material Details with Maps
19. Using Specialized Material Types
20. Creating Compound Materials and Using Material Modifiers
21. Creating Shaders in the ShaderFX Editor
22. Unwrapping UVs and Mapping Textures
23. Painting in the Viewport Canvas and Rendering Surface Maps
24. Creating Baked Textures and Normal Maps
    

    Part V: Working with Backgrounds, Cameras and Lighting

25. Configuring and Aiming Cameras
26. Matching Perspective to Background Images
27. Using Lights and Basic Lighting Techniques
28. Using the Sunlight and Daylight Systems
29. Working with Advanced Lighting, Light Tracing, and Radiosity
    

    Part VI: Rendering a Scene

30. Rendering a Scene and Enabling Quicksilver
31. Managing Render States
32. Batch and Network Rendering
33. Rendering with mental ray and iray
34. Compositing with Render Elements and the Video Post Interface
    

    Part VII: Animating Objects and Scenes

35. Understanding Animation and Keyframes
36. Animating with Constraints and Simple Controllers
37. Exploring the Complex Controllers
38. Using Animation Layers and Animation Modifiers
39. Wiring Parameters
40. Editing Animation Curves in the Track View
    

    Part VIII: Working with Characters

41. Understanding Rigging, Kinematics and Working with Bones
42. Skinning Characters
43. Animating Characters with CAT
44. Creating Animated Crowds with Populate
    

    Part IX: Adding Special Effects

45. Creating Particles and Particle Flow
46. Using Space Warps
47. Using Atmospheric and Render Effects
48. Creating Volume Light Effects
49. Adding Lens Effects
    

    Part X: Using Dynamic Animation Systems

50. Simulating Physics-Based Motion with MassFX
51. Working with Hair and Cloth
    

    Part XI: Extending 3ds Max

52. Customizing the Interface
53. Automating with MAXScript
54. Expanding Max with Third-Party Plug-Ins
    

    Appendixes

55. Appendix A: What's New with Autodesk 3ds Max 2015
56. Appendix B: Installing and Configuring Autodesk 3ds Max 2015
57. Appendix C: Keyboard Shortcuts
58. Index

Customers who want to learn Autodesk 3ds Max and do not have a license to use the software may be eligible for a free three year trial license. For more information please visit Autodesk's Website.