Watch 3ds Max running faster on a Mac than a PC – kinda The demo above shows a test scene running locally in 3ds Max 2014 on a $5,000 Alienware portable and being streamed from Otoy's cloud service to the browser of an (unspecified, but presumably cheaper) MacBook Pro. First you need to add file for conversion: drag and drop your MAX file or click the 'Choose File' button. Then click the 'Convert' button. When MAX to OBJ conversion is completed, you can download your OBJ file. ⏱️ How long does it take to convert MAX to OBJ?
3ds Max is a computer graphics program for creating 3D models, animations, and digital images. It's one of the most popular programs in the computer graphics industry and is well known for having a robust toolset for 3D artists.
A favorite among game developers, TV commercial studios, and architects, 3ds Max is owned by Autodesk, the same company responsible for programs like Maya and AutoCAD.
3ds Max is often used for character modeling and animation as well as for rendering photorealistic images of buildings and other objects. When it comes to modeling 3ds Max is unmatched in speed and simplicity.
The software can handle several stages of the animation pipeline including pre-visualization, layout, cameras, modeling, texturing, rigging, animation, VFX, lighting, and rendering.
As one of the most widely used 3D packages in the world, 3ds Max is an integral part of many professional studios and makes up a significant portion of their production pipeline for games and movies.
What Does 3ds Max Do?
3ds Max is used in the video game industry for creating 3D character models, game assets, and animations.
With an efficient workflow and powerful modeling tools 3ds Max can save game artists a significant amount of time.
Also popular for TV commercials and film special effects, 3ds Max is often used to generate graphics for use alongside live action work.
The movies 2012 and Avatar both made use of 3ds Max in this way.
3ds Max fits into the animation pipeline at nearly every stage. From modeling and rigging to lighting and rendering, this program makes it easy to create professional quality animations easier and simpler.
Many industries use 3ds Max for generating graphics that are mechanical or even organic in nature. The engineering, manufacturing, educational, and medical industries all make use of 3ds Max for visualization needs as well.
The real estate and architectural industries use 3ds Max to generate photorealistic images of buildings in the design phase. This way clients can visualize their living spaces accurately and offer critiques based on real models.
3ds Max uses polygon modeling which is a common technique in game design. With polygonal modeling artists have a high degree of control over individual polygons which gives them a greater range of detail and precision in their work.
After a model is completed, 3ds Max can then be used to generate the materials and textures necessary to really bring things to life. Adding surface details such as colors, gradients, and textures will lead to higher quality renders and game assets.
There are several rendering options available in the software.
Skilled CG artists will be able to create photorealistic images using techniques designed to mimic nature. 3ds Max is also capable of toon shading and other stylized techniques popular in video games.
3ds Max can create realistic simulations of fluids such as smoke and water, both of which are used frequently in the entertainment industry.
Rigidbody physics in 3ds Max allows for the simulation of hard bodies such as rock and wood.
These simulation tools create shatter effects and rag-doll physics in ways that other software can't handle.
Combined with a highly customizable particle effects system, these features can generate impressive photorealistic images and animations from scratch.
For creating life-like character models, 3ds Max provides simulations for hair, skin, clothes, and fur. And the many plugins available online reduce the development time for these types of models.
With its own scripting language, flexible plugin architecture, and customizable user interface, 3ds Max can be personalized to fit the needs of any 3D work.
Who Uses The Software?
3ds Max really caters to architectural designers and game asset artists the most.
As for rigging and animation, 3ds Max has everything necessary for professional work. So it is often used by professional animators working on big budget films, indie films, or even smaller commercial spots that need some 3D motion.
Using skeletons, bone constraints, and kinematics, artists can animate characters using a really simple process that almost anyone could pick up with practice.
Animation in 3ds Max revolves around keyframing bone properties, making it easy to create complex and organic motion.
This software comes with two subsystems for animating character models: CAT and character studio.
Each is fully customizable with a wide variety of applications. Both are compatible with motion-capture file formats too. And together they provide a powerful means of animating complex and detailed scenes.
3ds Max is often compared to Maya among those in the creative industry.
While Maya is generally more powerful in most areas, 3ds Max is easier to use and often more forgiving. This is especially true in the modeling department.
When it comes to modeling, 3ds Max is considered supreme due to its highly capable toolset that almost anyone could learn with a bit of practice.
Because 3ds Max is easier to learn than most other 3D graphic packages, it is commonly used to teach 3D art to beginners. Many secondary and tertiary classes use this software in their 3D graphics and animation courses.
Game studios like Ubisoft use it for creating many game assets. And colleges like the Savannah College of Art and Design(SCAD) use it in their classrooms. They rely on 3ds Max for teaching animation to the next generation of artists.
If you're looking to dive into the complex and exciting world of 3D art and special effects, 3ds Max is an excellent program to start learning.
It's studio ready and used by professional artists all over the world, yet still gentle enough to pick up even if you have little-to-no knowledge of any 3D work.
Related Posts:
Are you looking for a portable device to work with 3d modelling and rendering? Let's analyze the best laptops for 3ds max, featuring laptop system requirements to use this software.
Autodesk 3ds Max is a popular 3D modeling and rendering software. While it has been around for years, the company behind it updates it regularly to keep up with emerging trends. In the past, the application was known by different names such as 3d studio, 3d Studio Max, or 3d Max.
3D modeling is a fascinating technology. It's used to model architecture, components for 3D printing, engineering projects, among others. Autodesk's 3ds Max application is one of the best 3D modeling applications on the market. Veterans find it versatile, newbies might find it challenging to learn at first, but it's worth it.
The application brings objects to life through photo-realistic rendering and animation. To get the best results, however, you must have the best laptop for 3ds max since it's a demanding application. Here are some of the requirements to smoothly run Autodesk's, 3ds Max.
Laptop Requirements for 3ds Max
- Processor/CPU: Autodesk 3ds Max is a resource-hungry application. As such, you need a fast processor that can handle simultaneous calculations concurrently. Autodesk recommends a 64-bit Intel or AMD multi-core processor that supports SSE4.2.
- Graphics Card/GPU: Check out the list of 3ds Max Certified Hardware. To run the latest Autodesk 3ds Max 2020, you need a powerful GPU for the best results.
- RAM: Ideally, the more the RAM, the better the results. Autodesk sets a minimum of at least 4GB and recommends 8GB or more for the best results. We'd recommend the RAM be DDR4 and above.
- Display: High Definition and Ultra High Definition displays provide the best results. They give a sharp, crisp image from any direction.
Top Rated Laptops to Run 3ds Max
Going by the above requirements, here are the top recommendations of the best laptops for 3ds professionals.
3ds Max professionals and newbies will find the Dell 17.3″ 2-in-1 laptop a delight. It has the perfect hardware configuration to run 3ds Max smoothly.
3D modeling is a fascinating technology. It's used to model architecture, components for 3D printing, engineering projects, among others. Autodesk's 3ds Max application is one of the best 3D modeling applications on the market. Veterans find it versatile, newbies might find it challenging to learn at first, but it's worth it.
The application brings objects to life through photo-realistic rendering and animation. To get the best results, however, you must have the best laptop for 3ds max since it's a demanding application. Here are some of the requirements to smoothly run Autodesk's, 3ds Max.
Laptop Requirements for 3ds Max
- Processor/CPU: Autodesk 3ds Max is a resource-hungry application. As such, you need a fast processor that can handle simultaneous calculations concurrently. Autodesk recommends a 64-bit Intel or AMD multi-core processor that supports SSE4.2.
- Graphics Card/GPU: Check out the list of 3ds Max Certified Hardware. To run the latest Autodesk 3ds Max 2020, you need a powerful GPU for the best results.
- RAM: Ideally, the more the RAM, the better the results. Autodesk sets a minimum of at least 4GB and recommends 8GB or more for the best results. We'd recommend the RAM be DDR4 and above.
- Display: High Definition and Ultra High Definition displays provide the best results. They give a sharp, crisp image from any direction.
Top Rated Laptops to Run 3ds Max
Going by the above requirements, here are the top recommendations of the best laptops for 3ds professionals.
3ds Max professionals and newbies will find the Dell 17.3″ 2-in-1 laptop a delight. It has the perfect hardware configuration to run 3ds Max smoothly.
Under the hood, this Dell comes with the latest 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8565U 1.8GHz processor. Furthermore, it also sports an NVIDIA GeForce MX150 2GB GDDR5 graphics card giving you the juice you need to render complicated files.
The Dell Touchscreen 2-in-1 laptop has an impressive 16GB RAM and an additional 256GB SSD for storage. Solid-state drives give you the best speeds and longevity compared to standard HDDs. However, this Dell comes with another 1TB Hard Drive giving you the ability to run multiple applications at a go.
Finally, the display real estate is sorted. This Dell features a Full HD 17.3″ IPS Touchscreen(1920*1080). Overall, the Dell Touchscreen 2-in-1 laptop offers excellent value for your buck.
The HP Envy 17t Touch Laptop packs a punch in terms of performance and raw computing power. It's powered by an 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8565U processor and an additional NVIDIA GeForce MX Series Graphics (4 GB GDDR5 dedicated) Graphics card.
It sports a 17.3″ diagonal FHD IPS WLED-backlit multitouch-enabled edge-to-edge glass (1920 x 1080) Touchscreen Display combined with a full-size island-style backlit keyboard with a separate numeric pad.
This laptop comes with 16GB RAM, which is sufficient to run 3ds Max without any hitches. For storage, the HP Envy 17t premium comes with a 4TB SSD. That's enough storage for large graphics files, among other applications.
Bottomline, the HP ENvy 17t Touch is a top choice for 3ds Max professionals looking for that extra, and smooth modeling experience.
The ASUS TUF FX705GM 17.3″ laptop is billed as a gaming laptop. The features that make it great for gaming also make it ideal for running 3ds Max. What are those features?
An 8th Gen Core i7 processor powers the laptop. It also comes with an additional NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 3GB dedicated graphics. With that much computing power, you can smoothly run all your 3ds Max modeling without any hitch.
Furthermore, the Asus Tuf comes with 16GB RAM and an impressive 512GB SSD for the fastest storage speeds on the market. As an added benefit, your drive will last longer compared to typical hard drives.
Finally, this laptop sports a Full HD 17.3″ display. It gives you the best views from any direction while delivering crisp, sharp images.
ThinkPads ooze toughness and reliability. They're renowned world over for dependability, longevity, and performance. This Lenovo ThinkPad P53s Laptop perfectly fits that description.
It's powered by an 8th-Gen Intel Core i7-8565U 1.80GHz Processor up to 4.60 GHz. It also comes with an additional 16GB DDR4 RAM, and NVIDIA Quadro P520 2GB GDDR5 Integrated Graphics.
Unlike the previous laptops, the ThinkPad comes with a standard 15.6″ Full HD (1920×1080) and runs Windows 10 Pro-64 operating system.
Alongside this hardware configuration, this ThinkPad sports a host of ports, including 1xHDMI, 1xThunderbolt Port, 1xType-C USB, Micro SD Reader.
At this price point, the Lenovo ThinkPad P53s Laptop offers one of the best value for money for 3ds Max enthusiasts. Check out the Lenovo ThinkPad P53s Laptop here.
While LG isn't famous for laptops, the LG gram Thin & Light Laptop challenges that perception. It's a performance powerhouse and one of the best laptops for 3ds Max.
Like the other laptops reviewed on our list, the LG gram packs an 8th Gen Core i7 processor with an integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620 card.
The RAM stands at 16GB, while storage comprises of two 500 GB SSDs for a total of 1TB of fast and reliable storage. Its display is a 15.6 inch full HD IPS touchscreen with an ultra-slim bezel.
It's one of the lightest laptops on the list and ideal for 3ds Max professionals on the go. It weighs just under 25lbs.
Finally, it comes with a long-lasting battery going for up to 16.5 hrs. Overall, the LG gram is a stylish and portable laptop for the 3D modeling professional on the go.
How To Use 3ds Max On Mac Catalina
Final Thoughts
3ds Max For Mac
If you work with 3ds Max, you might also be familiar with other popular Autodesk software: AutoCAD. For those working with this software, we have a guide on budget laptops for AutoCAD.
How To Use 3ds Max On Mac Os
Do you have any suggestions for this list of the best laptops for 3ds max? Leave your thoughts on the comment box below.