Key features of 3ds Max
From detailed characters and props to jaw-dropping environments and worlds, 3ds Max® is the tool of choice for creating immersive gaming experiences and complex designs.
Polygon modeling
Create 3D props, vehicles, and characters with geometry based on vertices, edges, and faces.
Procedural modeling
Quickly build complex surfaces for cityscapes, forests, and landscapes using automated modeling.
Interactive viewports
Reduce design iterations with render-quality viewport previews of PBR materials and camera effects.
High-quality materials
Make realistic objects with Physically Based Rendering, Open Shading Language, and Bake to Texture.
Integrated Arnold renderer
Render complex scenes and designs with Arnold for 3ds Max.
Multiple file format support
Easily share assets with support for file formats like glTF, USD, FBX, CAD formats, and more.
Features of 3ds Max 2024
3D modeling
Enhance designs with uncompromising accuracy by automatically reconstructing polygonal mesh data into clean quad-based topology.
Interactively extrude faces on 3D objects using flexible extrude operations like cut-through and overlap. Rebuild and stitch adjacent faces automatically.
Mesh and surface modeling
Create parametric and organic objects with polygon, subdivision surface, and spline-based modeling features.
Modifier stack workflow
Conceptualize, iterate, and explore design ideas using a range of robust modifiers that are non-destructive and easy to use.
Create curved or angular 3D shapes using several intuitive spline tools.
Texturing and shading
Open Shading Language (OSL) support
Using new or pre-existing OSL maps with any supported renderer, generate high-quality textures that display accurately in the viewport.
Bake to texture
Experience streamlined, intuitive, and fully scriptable texture baking with support for PBR (physically based rendering) materials, overrides, and OSL workflows.
Add material finishes, change textures, and use vibrant colors to create photorealistic designs.
Illuminate and enhance your scenes using photometric lights and standard lights.
3D rendering
Integrated Arnold renderer
Use the Arnold GPU renderer to view scene changes in real time, including lighting, materials, and camera.
Reduce design iteration with render-quality viewport previews, displaying PBR materials and camera effects directly.
See your scene in a near-final rendering quality as you work.
Simulate real-life camera settings such as shutter speed, aperture, depth of field, and exposure.
Seamlessly change materials, lights, cameras, and renderers from one to another.
Animation and effects
Character animation tools
Create procedural character animations and rigs with CAT (character animation toolkit), biped, and crowd tools.
Preview and adjust animation paths directly in the viewport.
Create realistic behaviors and replicate gravity and collision effects for liquids like water, oil, and lava.
Particle flow effects
Produce sophisticated particle effects such as water, fire, spray, and snow.
Extensive plug-in library
Access hundreds of industry-leading, third-party plug-ins from our extensive community.
Workflow and pipeline
Use Safe Scene Script Execution to protect your work against malicious scripts that could be part of scene files. The Malware Removal functionality detects and removes known malicious scripts from scene files and start-up scripts.
Get tighter pipeline integration with support for Python 3.
Pipeline integration support
Easily customize 3ds Max to fit your production pipeline needs.
Autodesk 3ds Max: Create massive worlds and high-quality designs
Autodesk 3ds Max® professional 3D modeling, rendering, and animation software enables you to create expansive worlds and premium designs.
Breathe life into environments and landscapes with robust modeling tools.
Create finely detailed designs and props with intuitive texturing and shading tools.
Iterate and produce professional-grade renders with full artistic control.
3ds Max overview (video: 4:48 min.)
Hiking in 2077 (video: 45 sec.) Video courtesy of Jody Sargent
Underwater environment scene created with 3ds Max
Environmental concept art of a black hole
Design visualization of a home in a cliff
Environment art created by Masayuki Koyama
Why use Autodesk 3ds Max?
Power creativity with easy-to-use tools
Fuel the imagination with worldbuilding and asset creation tools.
Boost productivity with automation
Automate repetitive, time-consuming tasks so you meet deadlines.
Enjoy a rich, flexible toolset
Stay in the creative flow with tools in an artist-friendly UI.
What you can do with 3ds Max
Create realistic 3D designs with powerful tools
Whether you’re building expansive gaming worlds or visualizing intricate architectural designs, 3ds Max has the modeling toolset you need to bring your 3D assets to life.
Produce high-quality renders
From light mixing to color correction, the built-in Arnold renderer provides a rich experience and handles your most complex characters, scenes, and effects.
“Having robust 3D software to handle polygons, huge scenes, and … different needs is essential.”
—Jon Formento, Founder, Creative Director, and 3D Designer, jformento.
“Almost all of the content you see in [Forza Horizon 5] has been create[d] inside 3ds Max.”
—Dan Wulczynski, Lead Technical Artist, Playground Games
“Full CGI has many advantages. … We can choose any light, atmosphere, and … location we want.”
— Jakub Vlček, CEO, Punctum Images
“[With] 3ds Max and AutoCAD, I bridged the gap [between] abstract creativity and … tangible projects.”
— Sara Moheimani, 3D Artist
See 3ds Max in action
Relive the past using VFX
3D generalist Thomas Berg breaks down VFX scenes from his work on Olav and two war documentaries.
Embrace open standards
Discover how support for glTF allows users to open, create, and edit large amounts of 3D data with ease.
Create simulations
Edstudios details how to import geometry and particle simulations from 3ds Max and TyFlow to Omniverse Create.
When to choose 3ds Max or Maya
3ds Max and Maya are used by creative studios around the world for animation, modeling, visual effects, and rendering.
3ds Max resources
3ds Max Learning Channel
Tutorials of all levels to help you learn 3ds Max.
Free 3ds Max courses
Improve your skillset with courses presented by industry professionals for 3ds Max.
AREA by Autodesk
Get inspired with articles featuring artist interviews, career advice, industry news, and more.
Media & Entertainment Collection offers more
Create breathtaking scenes and characters for film, TV, and games.
Media and Entertainment Collection
Enjoy all the creative tools you need to build a powerful, scalable 3D animation pipeline for complex simulations, effects, and rendering.
Media & Entertainment Collection includes:
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
What is 3ds Max used for?
3ds Max is used to model, animate, and render detailed 3D characters, photorealistic designs, and complex scenes for film and TV, games, and design visualization projects.
Who uses 3ds Max?
3ds Max is used by 3D modelers, animators, and lighting artists for game development, film and TV productions, and design visualization projects.
Autodesk 3ds Max vs. Autodesk Maya
Autodesk 3ds Max and Autodesk Maya are used by creative studios around the world for animation, modeling, visual effects, and rendering. Learn when to choose 3ds Max and when to choose Maya.
Which operating system does Autodesk 3ds Max run on?
Autodesk 3ds Max runs on Microsoft® Windows® 11 and Windows 10. See 3ds Max system requirements for details.
How do I download 3ds Max?
Autodesk provides download and install instructions for individuals and administrators. Your available downloads appear in Autodesk Account. Find your product, select a version, platform, language, and download method. For more information, visit the Autodesk Support.
Can I install 3ds Max on multiple computers?
With a subscription to Autodesk 3ds Max software, you can install it on up to three computers or other devices. However, only the named user can sign in and use that software on a single computer at any given time. Please refer to the Software License Agreement for more information.
При подготовке материала использовались источники:
https://www.autodesk.com/products/3ds-max/features
https://www.autodesk.com/products/3ds-max/overview