Index

Note to the Reader: Throughout this index boldfaced page numbers indicate primary discussions of a topic. Italicized page numbers indicate illustrations.

A

---

A button, 330–331

A/B button, 412

abs function, 485

absolute Macro Recorder actions, 480

absolute rotation angle values, 105

Abut Selected tool, 458

accent lighting, 370

accessing

properties, 504–505, 504, 507–509, 508–509

sub-object selection levels, 124

Acquire option, 270

actions on menus, 576

Active/Inactive Modifier option, 173

Active Slot browse source, 281

active time segments, 200

active viewports, 394

ACTIVEVIEWPORT command, 630

Adaptive Halton supersampling, 335–336, 440

.adaptive property, 509

Adaptive Uniform supersampling, 335

Add Atmosphere or Effect dialog box, 359, 359

Add Atmospheric Effect dialog box, 383, 383

add-bump utility, 562–564

ADD command, 636

Add Image Filter Event button, 447

Add Image Filter Event dialog box, 452, 452

Add Image Input Event button, 447

Add Image Input Event dialog box, 450, 451

Add Image Layer Event dialog box, 459, 459, 466

Add Image Output Event button, 447

Add Image Output Event dialog box, 454–455, 455

Add Key tool, 202, 203, 233–234

Add Point tool, 333, 418

Add Quad button, 135

Add Scene Event button, 447, 448

Add Scene Event dialog box, 448, 449

Add Tab command, 56

Add Visibility Track tool, 202, 203

Add Watermark floater, 603, 603

add_watermark.ms script, 602–603

addatmospheric effect, 529

ADDEFFECT command, 529

addition in MAXScript, 483–484

Additional Help command, 52

additive color models, 343–344, 343

ADDKNOT command, 536

ADDMODIFIER command, 523–524

ADDNEWKEY command, 584

ADDNEWSPLINE command, 536

ADDNEWXREFFILE command, 624

ADDNEWXREFOBJECT command, 624

ADDPROPERTY command, 637

ADDROLLOUT command, 567

ADDSCRIPT command, 617

advancing colors, 363–364

aerial perspectives, 361–363

Affect Alpha parameter, 325

Affect Pivot Only option, 151, 426–427

Affect Region modifier, 88

Affect Specular option, 358

Affect Surfaces settings, 358

alert messages, 564–566, 565

aliasing

Scanline Renderer rollout for, 403–404

SuperSampling for, 334

Align dialog box, 151

Align Selected tool, 92

Align Selected Left tool, 458

Align Selected Right tool, 458

Align Selection dialog box, 106, 106, 426, 427

aligning

interface items, 556

maps, 270

selections, 106, 106, 426, 427

spline cages to origin, 151–152

video clips, 458

alpha channels

and file formats, 400

selections in, 460–461

Alpha Compositor, 461

Alpha image source, 416

ambient color, 348

for Affect Surfaces, 358

for Blinn shader, 287–288

for global lighting, 382

for Raytrace materials, 317

for scene illumination, 527–528

for Strauss shader, 515

Ambient color swatch, 348, 382

Ambient only control, 358

Ambient parameter

for Blinn shader, 287–288

for Raytrace materials, 317

AMBIENTCOLOR command, 527–528

.ambientcolor property, 515

Amount parameter, 331

AND expressions, 491

#angle parameter type, 652

angles

for fog, 385

for rotating, 105

Animate button, 200–201, 201

ANIMATE ON command, 584

ANIMATEVERTEX command, 596

animation, 231

Animate button for, 200–201, 201

blocks of, 245, 245

with Bones, 258–259

cel, 17–18, 206

Character Studio for, 259–262, 261

continuing, 246

controllers for. See animation controllers

dummy objects for, 246–252, 248–249, 252

faucet. See faucet animation

file formats for, 39–40

frames in, 197

of hierarchies, 252–259, 253–255

keyframe, 18, 196–197

of lights, 210

looping, 246

of materials, 210–211

morphing, 216–218, 218

of objects, 201, 201

of parameters, 206–211, 208

of particle systems, 214–216

playback time in, 36, 36

scripts for, 572–576, 573

of space warps, 209, 209

stop motion, 17

of sub-objects, 211–214, 211–213

time concepts in, 195–197

Time Control area for, 198–200, 198–199

timing, 197

Track View for. See Track View

of transforms, 206

of vertices, 211–214, 212–213, 596–598, 598

animation controllers, 63, 218–220, 581

assigning, 582

changing, 222–224, 222

for collapse position floaters, 587–589, 587

default, 220–221, 221

expression controllers, 590–591, 590, 592

nesting, 224–227, 225–226

operation of, 585–587

script controllers, 592–595, 593, 596

Track View properties for, 582–587, 583

for vertices, 596–598, 598

animationrange technique, 531

Anisotropic shader, 290, 290

anti-aliasing

Scanline Renderer rollout for, 403–404

SuperSampling for, 334

Anti-Aliasing option, 404

anticipation in animation, 238

APPEND command, 493

APPENDGIZMO command, 529

Apply Atmosphere parameter, 325

Apply Mapping option, 269

Apply to Environment Map option, 405

applying

materials, 524–526, 525

parameter curve out-of-range options, 244–246, 244–245

Arc Rotate tool, 65, 65

Arc Rotate Selected tool, 65

Arc Selected Sub-Object tool, 65

Area anti-aliasing filter, 404

Area Selection option, 156

arms, box modeling for, 173–178, 175–178

array_exercise.ms script, 512–513

arrays

in MAXScript, 492–493

rotating, 511–513, 511

as method, 486

asin function, 485

Asset Manager, 361

Assign Controller rollout, 423

Assign Controller tool, 202, 202, 222

Assign Material to Selection button, 113, 165, 210, 273–274, 278

Assign Position Controller dialog box, 222, 222

Assign Vertex Color utility, 371

asterisks (*)

for meshes, 541

for wildcards, 506

asteroid explosion script, 530–531

At Background Depth parameter, 325

At Object Depth parameter, 325

AT TIME command, 584

Atmosphere Shadows option, 358

atmospheres

combustion, 388–389, 388

creating, 382–383

effects for, 359–360, 648

fog, 383–385, 384

gizmos for, 528–529, 528

rendering option for, 398

shadows for, 358

volume fog, 385–386, 386

volume light, 386–388, 387

Atmospheres & Effects rollout, 359

Atmospheric Apparatus option, 385

Atmospheric plug-ins, 648

Atmospherics option, 398

ATTACH command, 540

Attach tool, 91, 151

attaching patch surfaces, 135–136, 135–136

Attachment controller, 227

attenuating light, 345, 352–354, 353, 387–388

Attenuation Color setting, 387

Atten(uation) Mult(iple) setting, 387

Attenuation Start % setting, 388

Audio controller, 227

Audio track icon, 204

Audio Video Interleave (.avi) format, 40, 399, 406

auto_optimizer.ms script, 594–595

Auto Reflect/Refract and Mirrors option, 403

Auto Reflect/Refract Maps setting, 405–406

Auto Secondary lens effect, 415

Autodesk Flic format, 399

Automatic network rendering option, 409

Automatic Update feature, 625

AVERAGESELVERTCENTER command, 546

.avi (Audio Video Interleave) format, 40, 399, 406

axes, 6

axis constraints, 143

axonometric view, 11

B

---

back lights, 367, 368–369

Back Material parameter, 328

Background button, 278

BACKGROUNDCOLOR command, 527

backgrounds

environment for, 378–381

in large format printing, 705

for scenes, 527

shadows on, 325–326, 325–326

Backlight button, 278

backslashes (\)

for line continuations, 519

in strings, 487

barycentric controllers, 216

Base Material parameter, 331

base object for box modeling, 171–173, 171–172

Base to Pivot option, 253

.baseobject property, 547

batch file conversions, 621–624, 622–623

Bend modifier, 207

Bevel tool, 91

Bezier animation controller, 220–221

Bezier option, 127

Bezier Corner option, 127

Bezier Smooth command, 137

Bezier splines, 127–129, 128–129

Bezier surfaces, 78

bias for shadows, 356

Bind to Space Warp tool, 209, 216, 425, 438

binding

Displace space warps, 425–426

vertices, 149

BINDSPACEWARP command, 524

Biped system, 259–261, 261

BITMAP command, 608

Bitmap File dialog box, 516, 516

Bitmap Fit option, 270

Bitmap map type, 300

.bitmap property, 608

bitmaps, 599–600

file format for, 39, 399

I/O for, 600–601, 601

in large format printing, 704–705

paths for, 636

pixel manipulation in, 601–604, 603

rendered channel information in, 604–606

saving, 516, 516

for shadows, 356

for textures, 515

in user interface, 606–609, 607

for UVW maps, 270

Blackman anti-aliasing filter, 404

Blend anti-aliasing filter, 404

Blend Curve tool, 162, 163

Blend material, 298–300, 298

Blend parameter, 328

Blend Surface tool, 162, 163

Blends

Shellac material for, 332

sub-objects for, 161

Blinn shader, 286–290, 286–287

Block controller, 227

blocks, animation, 245, 245

Blue sphere icon, 204

blur effects, 405, 414

.bmp (bitmap) format. See bitmaps

Bones, animation with, 258–259

Boolean comparisons, 491

Boolean object, 93

for meshes, 540–541, 540

modifications with, 96–97

#boolean parameter type, 652

BOOLOBJ object, 540

Bottom Material parameter, 328

Bounce Coefficient property, 324

bounce light, 370

bounding boxes, 79

box modeling, 170

arms, 173–178, 175–178

base object for, 171–173, 171–172

hands, 178–180, 179–180

legs and feet, 183–185, 184–185

MeshSmooth modifier for, 173, 174

necks and heads, 180–183, 181–183

whole object, 185–189, 187–188

Box option, 276

boxes

animating, 241, 241–242

sharks from, 83–84, 83–84

boxgizmo gizmo, 528

.boxmode property, 508

.boxsize property, 659

brass light fixture, 85, 86

Break tool, 92

brick_exercise.ms script, 524–526, 525

Bricks map type, 300

Brightness/Contrast render effect, 414

Browse for Folder dialog box, 623, 623

bubbles, 436

built-in selections, 506–507

Bump channels, 305

bump_exercise script, 521

Bump Map Effect control, 323

bump maps

enlarging, 705

noise, 519–521

Bump parameter, 317

buttons

creating, 552–554

customizing, 59–61, 59–60

radio, 562–564, 562

buttontext property, 615

By Object option, 283

C

---

C-Ext(rude) primitive, 85

calculate_time_working function, 618–619

calculations, progress bars for, 633–635

callbacks, 617–618

Camera Map modifier, 337–338

Camera tools, 66–67, 67

cameras, 67

lighting for, 370

mapping, 336–338

viewports for, 66–67, 67, 630

cameras selection, 506

Cap Holes modifier, 88

Capsule primitive, 85

case sensitivity of object names, 505

CASE statements, 564

Cast Shadows On/Off setting, 349

CATCH command, 570

category property, 615

Catmull Rom anti-aliasing filter, 404

cel animation, 17–18, 206

cel file format, 399

Cellular map type, 304, 310

Center object, 523

Center to Object option, 151

CG lights, 344

CG shading, 268–269

Chamfer/Bevel menu

Bevel Polygon command, 177, 179

Chamfer Edge command, 175, 180

Chamfer Box primitive, 85

Chamfer tool, 91

ChamferCyl(inder) primitive, 85

change handlers

for callbacks, 617–618

timers, 618–619

WHEN, 619–620

Change Hue effect, 674–677

Character Studio, 259

Biped system in, 259–261, 261

layered motion in, 262

Physique modifier in, 262

Characteristics section for combustion, 389

check boxes, 557–558, 557

Checker map type, 300, 307, 309, 309

CHECKFORSAVE command, 621

cin file format, 40, 399

Clamp option, 405

classes, identifying objects with, 507

CLASSOF command, 507

Clear Buffer tool, 391, 392

Clear Material Library tool, 282

CLEARSELECTION command, 507

Clipboard, Color, 349–350

clock structure, 495–496

Clone floater, 186

Clone Options dialog box, 463, 463

Clone Virtual Frame Buffer tool, 391, 392

CLOSE command, 535

closed rollouts, 62

CLOSEROLLOUTFLOATER command, 568, 571, 641

closing files, 497

cloud effects, 388

CMYK color system, 342

codecs, 40, 402

coincident vertices, cycling through, 156

Collapse All option, 151–152

collapse position floaters, 587–589, 587

collapse_position.ms script, 588–589

collapsed objects, animating vertices of, 211–212, 212

COLLAPSEFACE command, 543

COLLAPSESTACK command, 523, 539

color, 341–342

additive models, 343–344, 343

advancing and receding, 363–364

for Blinn shader, 287–288

for combustion, 388

for composite materials, 330–331

for compound objects, 101

for contrast and harmony, 364

for fog, 385–386

for light, 350, 350

for Raytrace materials, 319

saving to Clipboard, 349–350

scripts for, 514

for shadows, 358

simulating, 360–363, 361

subtractive model, 342

for vertices, 370–371, 546–548

Color Balance render effect, 414

Color by Elevation setting, 101

Color Clipboard, 349–350

Color Density parameter, 319

color maps, 385

#color parameter type, 652

.color property, 514

color range, limiting, 405

Color Range Limiting option, 405

Color RGB controller, 227

Color Selector dialog box, 287–288, 287, 343, 343, 559

Color setting, 386

color shift principle, 364

#colorchannel parameter type, 652

colorpicker, 559, 559

combustion, 388–389, 388

Command Panel, 61–62, 61

Create tab, 62

Cameras command, 66

Geometry command, 64, 68

Display tab, 63

Modify tab, 12, 63

Motion tab, 63

scripts for, 631–632

Utility tab, 64

Command Panel option, 58–59

commands

adding to toolbars, 60–61, 60

external, 636

menu bar, 43–47, 43

transforming text into, 488

Common Parameters rollout, 395, 396

for illumination, 527–528

Options section, 398

for output size, 397–398

Render Output section, 398–401, 399

for time output, 396–397

for video compression, 401–402

comparisons

rendering, side-by-side, 412

variable, 489–492, 492

COMPLETEREDRAW command, 630–631

composite materials, 329–332, 330

compositing

exercise for, 461–467, 462, 464, 466

video clips, 459–461

compositors, 306

compound materials, 327

composite, 329–332, 330

double sided, 327–328, 327

Shellac, 332–333, 332

top/bottom, 328–329, 329

compound objects, 93–94

Boolean, 96–97

Connect, 99–100

Loft, 97–99, 98–99

merging, 100

as problem solvers, 94–95, 94–95

ShapeMerge, 100

Terrain, 100–102, 101–102

as timesavers, 95–96, 96

Compounds Tab, 55

compression, 401–402, 450, 454

Compression Settings dialog box, 401, 401

concatenating strings, 484

conditions

in MAXScript, 489–492, 492

for script controllers, 593–595

Configure Paths command, 47

Conform object, 93, 102

Connect object, 93–95, 94–95, 99–100

Connect to Support and Information command, 52

Constant out-of-range type, 244, 244

Constant Velocity option, 423

continuing animation, 246

contrast

for Affect Surfaces, 358

for depth, 364

Contrast control, 358

Contrast image filter, 457

control vertices (CVs), 130–131, 130–131, 161

.controller property, 582

Controller track icon, 204

controllers, animation. See animation controllers

convert_3d.mcr script, 622–623

Convert to Editable Patch command, 132

Convert to Editable Spline command, 128, 140

Convert to Toolbar command, 56–57

converting

degrees and radians, 485

files, batch, 621–624, 622–623

loft objects to patches, 138–139, 138

mesh objects to NURBS, 164

objects to editable meshes, 539

shapes to splines, 532

CONVERTTOMESH command, 539

CONVERTTOSPLINESHAPE command, 532

Cook Variable anti-aliasing filter, 404

cool colors, 370

cool materials, 273–274

coordinates

grid, 34, 34

for images, 451

local, 32, 32

mapping, 113–117, 114, 116–117, 269–271

parent, 34, 35

pick, 34, 35

screen, 33, 33

view, 33, 33

world, 31, 32

Coordinates option, 451

COORDSYS command, 632

COPY command

for bitmaps, 600

for objects, 509

Copy Render Params button, 395

Copy Tangents, 241

copy_xref_materials.ms script, 625–626

copying

bitmaps, 600

keys, 237–238

modifier stack, 25

objects, 509

splines, 536–539, 537

Corner option, 127

COS (curves on surface), 167, 168

COUNT command, 636

cpv_exercise.ms script, 546–548

Create Clip tool, 261, 261

Create Footsteps option, 260

Create Key dialog box, 232

Create Keys for Inactive Footsteps option, 260

Create Line button, 154–155

Create Multiple Footsteps option, 260

Create tab, 62

Cameras command, 448

Geometry section, 214

Compound Objects command, 95, 100–101, 137

Particle Systems command, 428

Standard Primitives command, 171

Helpers section

Atmospheric Apparatus command, 385

Dummy command, 247, 251

Lights command, 348

Shapes section, 104

Line command, 224

NURBS Curves command, 130

Rectangle command, 145

Space Warps command, 215, 438

Systems command, 258–259

Create tool, 91

CREATEBOOLEANOBJECT command, 540

CREATEFILE command, 497

creation parameters, 79

Creation toolbox, 162, 163

cropping text, 488

cross-fading between events, 458–459, 459

CrossSection modifier, 88

detaching splines to, 145–149, 146–148

operation of, 139–140, 140–141

cubes, 648–651, 648, 651

Cubic anti-aliasing filter, 404

CUI files, 636

Current Time field, 198, 199

Current time tool, 235, 235

CURRENTMATERIALLIBRARY command, 517

cursors

panning, 53

in viewports, 631

CURVELENGTH command, 533

curves

function, 37, 38, 240–244, 241–244

for NURBS surfaces, 165–166, 166

curves on surface (COS), 167, 168

Custom File Type option, 394

Custom Icon Maker script, 615

Custom option, 397

Custom Size option, 451

custom tangents, 240, 240, 243–244, 243

Customize command, 56

Customize menu, 47

Configure Paths command, 408

Customize UI command, 59

Load Custom UI command, 48

Preferences submenu

Enable Gamma Correction command, 412

Inverse Kinematics command, 258

Rendering command, 389

Rendering for Production and Draft settings, 395

Revert to Startup UI Layout command, 48, 56, 59

Customize User Interface dialog box, 59, 59

customizing

buttons and toolbars, 59–61, 59–60

interface, 48, 48–49

Shelf Area, 56–61, 56–60

Cut tool, 91

CV Curve tool, 162, 163

CV Curve On Surface tool, 162, 163

CV Surface tool, 162, 163

CVs (control vertices), 130–131, 130–131, 161

cycgizmo gizmo, 528

Cycle button, 156

Cycle out-of-range type, 244, 244

Cylinder option, 276

D

---

data entry, 488–489

dataflow, 79–81

master objects in, 23–24

modifiers in, 24–26, 24–26

object properties in, 28, 29–30

space warps in, 28, 28

transforms in, 26–27, 27

Decay setting, 354

default animation controllers, 220–221, 221

default hotkeys, 10

default lighting, 344–345

Define Script button, 261

deformation

free-form, 88–89, 214, 597–598, 598

scale, 137–138, 137

deformation animation, 214

degrees, 485

degtorad function, 485

DELEGATE command, 650

DELETE command, 636

Delete Key tool, 202, 203

Delete Point tool, 333

Delete Tab command, 56

DELETEEFFECT command, 530

DELETEFACE command, 543

DELETEGIZMO command, 529

DELETEKEY command, 585

DELETEKEYS command, 585

DeleteMesh modifier, 88, 107–109

DELETEMODIFIER command, 523

DELETETIME command, 586

deleting

with Boolean objects, 97

callbacks, 618

effects, 359–360

paths, 636

persistent variables, 617

Density setting, 386

Dent map type, 304

depth

light and color simulation for, 360–363, 361

perspective views for, 10–11

recursion, 322

Depth of Field render effect, 415

DESELECT command, 506

DESELECTKEY command, 585

DESELECTKEYS command, 585

Detach tool, 91

detaching splines to CrossSection, 145–149, 146–148

detail reductions, 702

different from comparisons, 490

Diffuse channel, 362

Diffuse Color channel, 301

Diffuse Color setting, 302

Diffuse control for Affect Surfaces, 358

Diffuse Lev setting, 290

Diffuse Level setting, 293

Diffuse parameter

for Anisotropic shader, 290

for Blinn shader, 287–288

for map types, 302

for Oren-Nayar-Blinn shader, 293

for Raytrace materials, 317

.diffusecolor property, 514

dimmer switches, 351

Discard Old Material option, 295

Discreet effect*, 400

Disney animation, 196

Disp Approx modifier, 89–90, 321

Displace gizmo, 425–426

Displace space warp, 425–426

Displacement option, 398

Display Alpha Channel tool, 326, 391, 392

Display Background option, 380

DISPLAY command, 600

Display Control Mesh option, 169, 173

Display Floater command, 45

Display Subtree option, 254

Display tab, 63

Display Until option, 433

displaying materials, 517

DISPLAYSAFEFRAMES command, 631

dissolves, 458

distance, attenuating light at, 352–354, 353

divide_exercise.ms script, 536–539, 537

divide_params script, 569–570

Divide tool, 92

divide_utility script, 571

dividing

patches, 133–134

splines into segments, 536–539, 537, 569–570

division in MAXScript, 483–484

Do Not Resize option, 451

docked toolbars, 57

dollar signs ($) for object access, 505–506

Dolly tool, 67, 67

Dolly Light tool, 69, 69

Dolly Target tool, 67, 69

DOSCOMMAND command, 636

Double Buffer option, 412

double sided materials, 327–328, 327

Draft setting

Quick Render command for, 55

for rendering, 395

Drag/Copy option, 276–277

Drag/Rotate option, 276

dummy objects, 246–247

handles for, 247–249, 248–249

for second pivot points, 250–252, 252

separating motion components in, 250

dummybox plug-in, 660–661

Duration setting, 405

Duration Subdivision setting, 405

Dynamics Utility, 323–324, 324

E

---

e function, 485

Earth symbol icon, 204

ease in and ease out, 238, 239

Edge Chamfer tool, 175

Edge Sub-Object button, 135

Edged Faces command, 134

edges, 12–14, 14, 544

Edges Only option, 14

Edges tool, 92

Edit Base Object command, 183

Edit Button Appearance option, 480

Edit Color swatch, 370

Edit Filter Event dialog box, 453

Edit Keys mode, 203

Edit Macro Button dialog box, 480, 480

Edit Macro Script button, 478

Edit menu, 44–45

Clone command, 104, 146

Delete command, 113

Fetch command, 66, 108–109, 243

Select All command, 113

Edit Mesh command, 544

Edit Mesh modifier, 88–90

Edit Modifier Stack dialog box, 25–26, 25–26, 110–114, 111–112, 114

Edit Named Selection command, 45

Edit Patch command, 544–545

Edit Range Bar button, 447

Edit Range Bar mode, 447

Edit Ranges mode, 203

Edit Spline commands, 536, 544–545

Edit Stack button, 141, 152, 186

Edit Time mode, 203

editable meshes, 90

animating, 596–597

converting objects to, 539

shortcut keys for, 697–698

tools for, 91–93, 92

editing

keys, 234–237, 235–236

meshes, 544–545

splines, 536–539, 537

Bezier, 127–129, 128–129

segment data, 534–535

vertex data, 533–534, 534

sub-objects, 26, 91–93, 92

video clips, 457–459, 459

effects

applying, 416

choosing, 413–416, 414

creating, 673–678, 677

deleting, 359–360

for environment, 528–529, 528

in faucet animation, 426–427, 427

flames, 388–389

Lens, 359, 414–416

in rendering, 398, 529–531

scripts for, 529–531

Effects ID image source, 416

Effects option, 398

elements, 15–16, 16

ELSE keyword, 490–491

Enable Color Map option, 333

Enable Gamma Correction option, 412

Enable Sampler option, 335–336, 440

enabled interface items, 556

Enabled option, 449

Encapsulated PostScript file format, 39, 399

End % setting, 388

Enemy_Base plug-in, 681–684, 684

entering data, 488–489

Environment Color Map, 385

Environment dialog box, 364, 378–379, 379, 381

Environment Map button, 381

Environment Opacity Map, 385

Environment parameter, 317

ENVIRONMENTMAP command, 527

environments

atmospheres for, 382–389, 384, 386–388

for backgrounds, 378–381

creating, 378, 379

effects and atmospheric gizmos for, 528–529, 528

lighting for, 381–382

mapping for, 381

variables for, 527–528, 527

EOF condition, 498

.eps (Encapsulated PostScript) format, 39, 399

equal signs (=)

for comparisons, 490

for variables, 482

evaluation

of objects, 23

of properties, 81

events

cross-fading between, 458–459, 459

image filter, 452–454, 452

image input, 450–452, 451

image output, 454–455, 455

scene, 448–450, 459

Every Nth Frame option, 396

exclamation points (!) for comparisons, 490

Exclude/Include dialog box, 351, 352

excluding objects from light, 351, 352

Execute button, 447

EXECUTE command, 488

Execute Video Post dialog box, 456, 456

Explode command, 45

explosion_exercise script, 530–531

Explosion section for combustion, 389

explosions

fireballs, 388–389

scripts for, 530–531

exponential constant, 485

Exponential setting, 384, 386

Export command, 44

Export Sample Utility, 684

Exporter Options dialog window, 621

EXPORTFILE command, 621

exporting files, 621

expression controllers, 227, 590–591, 590, 592

extended plug-in scripts, 647–650, 648

extended primitives, 84–86, 85–86

extending

helpers, 659–661, 659

materials, 665–668, 665

modifiers, 661–665, 663–664

shapes, 655–659, 657

extends parameter, 649

external commands, 636

Extra Lighting parameter, 319

Extrude menu, 175, 179–180

Extrude tool, 91

Extrude Surface tool, 162, 163

EXTRUDEFACE command, 543

F

---

Face Extrude modifier, 88–89

Face Map parameter, 285

faces, 12–14, 15

in faucet animation, 420–421

for meshes, 542–543

Faceted parameter, 285–286

facets, 268

Facing Material parameter, 328

Fade For option, 430–431

Fade image filter, 457

fades to black, 458

Falloff map type, 304

falloff settings

for fog, 385

for light, 354

for transparency, 436

Falloff tool, 69, 69

Far Attenuation setting, 354

Fast Adaptive Antialiaser option, 463

Fast In/Out tangents, 240, 240, 242–243

faucet animation, 416–417

animation length in, 428

displace binding for, 425–426

effect range in, 426–427, 427

faces in, 420–421

loft object for

cross-section for, 418–419, 419

for faucet, 419–420, 420

path for, 417–418, 417

materials in, 434–436, 435

merging in, 433–434, 434

MetaParticles for, 431–433, 432–433

rendering, 440–441, 441

space warps for, 422–425, 423–424, 438–439, 439

spout for, 421–422, 422

Super Spray parameters for, 429–431, 430–431

synchronization in, 436–438, 437

water for, 428–429, 428–429

feet, box modeling for, 183–185, 184–185

Fetch command, 45, 66, 108–109, 243

FETCHMAXFILE command, 621

FFD (free-form deformation) modifier, 88–89

FFDs (Free Form Deformations), 214

with animation, 597–598, 598

shortcut keys for, 696

Field of View (FOV) tool, 67, 67

fields vs. frames, 36, 36

figure files in Biped system, 261

Figure mode in Biped system, 260

File menu, 44

Evaluate command, 552

Evaluate All command, 480

Reset command, 68, 477

Run Script command, 481

Summary Info command, 107, 110, 411

View File command, 400

File Number Base option, 396–397

File Output render effect, 414

.filename property, 515, 600, 608

FILEOPENMATLIB command, 518

#filepostopen event, 617

#filepreopen event, 617

FILEPROPERTIES object, 637–638

files and file management

converting, 621–624, 622–623

importing and exporting, 621

in MAXScript, 496–497, 635–641, 637–638

opening and saving, 620–621

FILESAVEASMATLIB command, 518

FILESAVEMATLIB command, 518

fill lights, 367, 368–369

film formats, 40, 197

Film Grain render effect, 414

Filter Maps option, 404

Filter Shadows, 387

filters

for images, 452–454, 452, 456–457

for maps, 404

for menus, 576

pickbutton, 570

in rendering, 394

for transparency, 436

for volume lights, 387

Filters tool, 202, 202

finding text, 488

FINDPROPERTY command, 638

FINDSTRING command, 488

fireballs, 388–389

First Frame tool, 198, 199

Fit option, 270

five-sided patches, 149

Flame Detail option, 389

flame effects, 388–389

Flat Mirror maps, 306, 308–309, 309

.flc (Autodesk Flic) format, 40, 399

.fli format, 399, 406

Flip Normals option, 141, 145–146

Flip Trim option, 167

flipbooks, 17

flipper in Narwhale model, 157–163, 157–159

#float parameter type, 652

floater_divideshape.ms script, 569–570

floaters

collapse position, 587–589, 587

rollouts in, 568–572, 568

floating toolbars, 57, 57

floats in math operations, 484

Fluorescence parameter, 319–320

Fluorescence Bias parameter, 319

flyouts, 53

fog, 383–384

color and mapping, 385–386

layered, 384–385

volume, 385–386, 386

Fog Background setting, 385–386

Fog Color swatch, 385

Fog Density parameter, 319

Fog Parameters rollout, 384, 384

follow objects, 257–258

Footstep Operations dialog box, 260

Footsteps mode in Biped system, 260

FOR command, 493

Force 2-Sided option, 327, 398

Force Wireframe option, 403

FORMAT command, 486, 498

forms for NURBS, 164–165, 165

formulas, 590

forward kinematics, 255–256

Forward tool, 198, 199

4” X 5” or 8” X 10” (slide) option, 398

FOV (Field of View) tool, 67, 67

frame rates, 197

frames

in animation, 197

vs. fields, 36, 36

safe, 631

synchronizing, 412

Free Direct lights, 347

Free Form Deformations (FFDs), 214

with animation, 597–598, 598

shortcut keys for, 696

Free Spot lights, 345–346

front views, 7

function curves, 37, 38

shaping, 240–244, 241–244

in Track View, 203, 204

Function Curves mode, 203, 204

functions

in MAXScript, 494–495

persistent, 616–617

in scripts, 558

fusing vertices, 145

G

---

G-Buffer (Geometry Buffer), 598

Gamesmodeling interface, 48

.gbufferchannel property, 508

gc (garbage collector), 601

GENCLASSID command, 649

General properties for splines, 509, 509

Generate Mapping Coordinates option, 270

Generic track icon, 204

Gengon primitive, 85

geometry

creating, 678–684, 678

modifiers for, 89–91

for photos, 337

geometry pipeline, 23, 23

Geometry plug-in, 648

geometry selection, 506

GET command, 636

Get Material button, 278–279, 434

Get Shape option, 137, 419

GETACTIVECAMERA command, 630

GETBKLINE command, 489

GETBKVALUE command, 489

GETCAMERA command, 630

GETCHANNEL command, 604

GETCHANNELASMASK command, 604

GETCOMMANDPANELTASKMODE command, 631

GETDIR command, 635

GETDIRECTORIES command, 623–624

GETEDGEVIS command, 544

GETEDITMATERIAL command, 517

GETEFFECT command, 530

GETFACE command, 542, 546

GETFACEMATID command, 543

GETFACENORMAL command, 542

GETFACESMOOTHGROUP command, 543

GETFILENAMEFILE command, 623

GETFILENAMEPATH command, 623

GETFILES command, 623

GETGIZMO command, 529

GETINISETTING command, 499

GETKNOTPOINT command, 534

GETKNOTSELECTION command, 534

GETKNOTTYPE command, 533

GETMAXFILEOBJECTNAMES command, 621

GETNORMAL command, 542

GETNUMTVERTS command, 542

GETNUMVERTS command, 542

GETPIXELS command, 601, 604

GETPROPERTYVALUE command, 637

GETSAVEPATH command, 623

GETSUBANIMNAME command, 583

GETSUBANIMNAMES command, 583

GETTVERT command, 542

GETTYPE command, 629

GETUICOLOR command, 636

GETVERT command, 542

GETVERTCOLOR command, 542

GETVERTSELECTION command, 542

GETXREFFILE command, 624

GETXREFFILECOUNT command, 624

gizmos

atmospheric, 528–529, 528

Bend, 523

Display, 425–426

Transform, 426

glares, removing, 358

glass, Filter color for, 436

glass utility, 557–558, 560–562

Global Exclude control, 323

global lighting, 381–382

Global Lighting Tint option, 364

global object properties, 507–509, 508–509

global options for modifiers, 523

Global Parameters control, 323

Global Parameters dialog box, 336

Global Settings rollout, 348

global supersampling, 404

global variables

declaring, 613–614

for environment, 527–528, 527

Glossiness parameter

for Blinn shader, 287–288

for Metal shader, 291

for Raytrace materials, 317

Glow lens effect, 415

Go to End of the Animation button, 70

Go to Next Frame button, 70

Go to Parent button, 278, 296–297, 362

Go to Previous Frame button, 70

Go to Sibling button, 278, 296–297

Go to Start button, 70

gobos, 359, 370

Gouraud shading, 269

Gradient Map option, 302, 303

Gradient map type, 300

Gradient Parameters rollout, 362

Gradient Ramp map type, 301

Gray Plastic material, 281, 281

grayed out commands, 22, 22

greater than signs (>) for comparisons, 490

Green cone icon, 204

Green triangle icon, 204

Grid and Snap Settings command, 47

Grid and Snap Settings dialog box, 103

grid coordinates, 34, 34

GRIDDIST command, 650

GRIDPOINT command, 647

Group command, 45

Group menu, 45

Grow For option, 430–431

H

---

H-splines, 130

Hammersley supersampling, 335

Hand_2 plug-in, 669–671

hand_controller.ms script, 573–576

handles

for dummy objects, 247–249, 248–249

tangent, 129

hands, box modeling for, 178–180, 179–180

harmony, 364

HDTV option, 398

heads

box modeling for, 180–183, 181–183

from spheres, 82–83, 82

Hedra primitive, 85

Helix_2 plug-in, 657–659, 657

Help menu, 52

Helper plug-in, 648

helpers, extending, 659–661, 659

Helpers Tab, 55

hemisphere plug-in, 654–655, 654

Hide command, 63

Hide Selected tool, 92, 151–152

hiding

selected objects, 92, 151–152

vertices for surface tools, 144

hierarchical splines, 130

hierarchies

animating, 252–259, 253–255

linking up, 253–255, 253–255

scripts for, 526

Track View, 204

Hierarchy tab, 63, 151, 256

Hold command, 45

HOLDMAXFILE command, 621

Horizon Noise setting, 385

hot materials, 273–274

hotspot adjustments, 354

Hotspot tool, 69, 69

houses, building, 103–106, 103–106

mapping roof for, 118–120, 118–119

material IDs and mapping coordinates for, 113–117, 114, 116–117

materials for, 113

modifier stack names for, 110–112, 111–112

polygon reduction for, 107–110, 108, 110

HSV (hue, saturation, and value) color model, 288, 343

Hue_control plug-in, 674–677

HWB (hue, whiteness, and blackness) model, 344

I

---

I/O

for bitmaps, 600–601, 601

for text files, 496–499

icon property, 615

icons

creating, 480

for macro scripts, 615, 615

IF conditions, 489–492, 492

If Root Only option, 283

.ifl (Image File List) files, 465

IK (inverse kinematics), 256

Bones for, 258–259

follow objects for, 257–258

limits for, 257

second pivot points for, 250

terminators for, 256

IK controller, 227

IK toggle switch, 256

illumination parameters, 527–528

Image Alpha filter, 457

image file format, 399

Image File List Control dialog box, 465, 465

Image Input Options dialog box, 451

image maps, 300

image motion blur, 405

Image Size option, 393

images, 39

filters for, 452–454, 452, 456–457

input events for, 450–452, 451

output events for, 454–455, 455

rendering, 599

.images property, 606

Import command, 44

Import Options dialog window, 621

IMPORTFILE command, 621

importing files, 621

Inactive Modifier button, 233

independent surfaces, 166

Index of Refraction parameter, 317

indexes for arrays, 492–493

INI files, 499

initiate_manage_properties function, 640–641

Insert Corner Point button, 137, 422

INSTANCE command, 509

#integer parameter type, 652

integers in math operations, 484

intensity of light, 351

interactive scenes, 572–576, 573

interface, MAX, 631–635

Command Panel, 61–64, 61

customizing, 48, 48–49

Help menu, 52

Material Editor, 70, 71

MAXScript menu, 51

menu bar commands, 43–47, 43

for scripts. See user interface (UI)

Shelf Area, 52–53

customizing, 56–61, 56–60

Main Toolbar, 53–55

Tab commands on, 55

shortcut keys, 49–51, 50–51

Time Control area, 69–70, 69–70

Track View, 70, 71

viewports, 64–69, 65–68

interior vertices for patches, 136

interlacing, 36, 36

interpolation

for Connect object, 100

between keyframes, 238–240, 239–240

intersection of meshes, 541

Inverse decay setting, 354

inverse kinematics (IK), 256

Bones for, 258–259

follow objects for, 257–258

limits for, 257

second pivot points for, 250

terminators for, 256

Inverse Square decay setting, 354

IOR (index of refraction), 316–317

.isanimated property, 583

ISCLOSED command, 535

.ishidden property, 508

Isoparametric lines, 163

J

---

JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) file format, 39, 399

Jump to Top of Stack command, 186

K

---

Keep Old Material as Sub-Material option, 362

Key Info dialog box, 235–238, 235

key lights, 365–367, 366, 368–369

Key Mode toggle tool, 198, 199

Key number tool, 235, 235

keyboard. See shortcut keys

Keyboard Entry rollout, 418

keyframe animation, 18, 196–197

keyframes, 36

interpolating between, 238–240, 239–240

vs. keys, 200

managing, 584

keys, 36–37, 37

creating, 232–234, 233

editing, 234–237, 235–236

functions for, 584–585

vs. keyframes, 200

moving and copying, 237–238

reducing, 587

.keys property, 584

kicker lights, 367

kinematics

forward, 255–256

inverse, 256–259

Kodak Cineon file format, 40, 399

L

---

L-Ext(rude) primitive, 85

labels, 564, 564

large format printing

background images in, 705

bitmapped material details in, 704–705

detail reductions for, 702

output in, 701–702

reflections in, 703

rendering time reductions for, 702

resolution in, 705–706

shadows in, 703

vs. small, 702

Last Frame tool, 198, 199

Lathe Surface tool, 162, 163

Lattice modifier, 91

Lavender cylinder icon, 204

layered fog, 384–385

layered motion, 262

layout of viewports, 627–629, 628

Learning 3D Studio MAX command, 52

left views, 8

legs, box modeling for, 183–185, 184–185

LENGTHINTERP command, 533, 538

Lens Effect dialog box, 457

Lens Effect Glow dialog box, 453

Lens Effects, 359, 414–416

Lens Effects Flare image filter, 457

Lens Effects Focus image filter, 457

Lens Effects Glow image filter, 457

Lens Effects Highlight image filter, 457

less than signs (<) for comparisons, 490

Level setting for global lighting, 382

levels, 16

libraries, material, 517–518, 518

licking flames effects, 388–389

light and lighting

accent, 370

adjusting, 347–348, 349

animating, 210

attenuating, 345, 352–354, 353, 387–388

for cameras, 370

coloring, 350, 350

default, 344–345

excluding objects from, 351, 352

hotspot and falloff adjustments, 354

intensity of, 351

mood, 370

objects for, 345–347, 346

painting, 365

projecting maps from, 359

shadows, 355–358

simulating, 360–363, 361

surfaces, 358

three-point setup for, 365–367, 366, 368–369

vertex colors for, 370–371

viewports for, 347–348

volume, 359, 386–388, 387

zone, 369

Light Color swatch, 349, 350

light fixture, 85, 86

Light Lister, 348, 349

Light On/Off setting, 349

Light plug-in, 648

Light tools, 68–69, 68

LIGHTINTCOLOR command, 527–528

LIGHTLEVEL command, 527–528

Lights & Cameras Tab, 55

lights selection, 506

line continuations in scripts, 519

Linear out-of-range type, 244, 244

linear position controllers, 222, 222

Linear tangents, 240–241, 240–242

Link Control controller, 227

Linked XForm modifiers, 247–248, 248–249

linking up hierarchies, 253–255, 253–255

List controllers, nesting Path controllers under, 225–226

Listener, 474, 475

Load File button, 261

Load Multiple Targets button, 217

LOADCONFIG command, 636

loading

macro scripts, 616

partial, 620–621

Targa sequences, 465–466

LOADMATERIALLIBRARY command, 517

LOADMAXFILE command, 620

local coordinates, 32, 32

Local Coordinates parameter, 328

Local Exclude control, 323

local variables, 613–614

Lock Range Bar to Scene Range option, 448

Lock to Video Post Range option, 448

Loft objects and lofting, 93, 97

in faucet animation

cross-section for, 418–419, 419

for faucet, 419–420, 420

path for, 417–418, 417

mapping coordinates for, 269

patches from, 137–139, 137–138

paths for, 98–99, 98–99

scale deformation for, 137–138, 137

shapes for, 97–98, 98

logical expressions, 491

Look At controller, 223–224

Loop at the End option, 452

Loop out-of-range type, 244, 244

looping animation, 246

low-polygon game database modeling, 102–103, 103

house for, 103–106, 103–106

mapping roof for, 118–120, 118–119

material IDs and mapping coordinates for, 113–117, 114, 116–117

materials for, 113

modifier stack names for, 110–112, 111–112

polygon reduction for, 107–110, 108, 110

Luminosity parameter, 317

M

---

M button, 331

M (mix) option, 331

Macro Recorder, 475

limitations of, 481

using, 480–481

Macro Recorder command, 51

Macro Scripts, 615

floaters in, 572

icons for, 615, 615

loading, 616

Macro Scripts option, 60

Macroscripts folder, 616

Main Toolbar, 53–55

Make Material Copy button, 278

Make Preview command, 46

Make Preview dialog box, 393, 393

Make Selected Planar tool, 92

Make Selected Same Size option, 458

MakeIcon script, 480

manage_properties.ms script, 638–641

manager/server principal, 406

Manual Secondary lens effect, 415

Map Bias setting, 349

Map Size setting, 349

.mapcoords property, 509

MAPPATHS object, 636

mapping channels, 270

Mapping option, 403

maps and mapping, 28, 30, 269

altering outputs from, 333–334, 334

for camera, 336–338

coordinates for, 113–117, 114, 116–117, 269–271

for environment, 381

for fog, 385

procedural, 30, 30, 300, 304

projecting from lights, 359

for Raytrace materials, 306, 308, 321, 322, 462–463, 464

for roofs, 118–120, 118–119

scripts for, 515–516, 516

for shadows, 355–358

types of, 300

2-D, 300–302, 302–303

3-D, 304–305, 305–306

compositors, 306

other, 306–311, 308–311

Maps rollout, 301, 463

Marble map type, 304

marquee-selected vertices, 143

Mask parameter, 299

master objects, 23–24

Master point controller, 227

Material 1 parameter, 299, 331

Material Editor, 70, 71, 271–272, 272

Material/Map Browser, 30, 31, 279–283, 279, 281

Material/Map Navigator, 30, 31, 283–284, 283

navigating, 272–279, 275–277

scripts for, 517

shortcut keys for, 694

Material Editor button, 54

Material Effects Channel button, 278

material ids, 113–117, 114, 116–117

Material/Map Browser, 30, 31, 113, 279–283, 279, 281

Material/Map Navigator, 30, 31, 283–284, 283

Material/Map Navigator button, 278

#material parameter type, 652

Material plug-in, 648

Material track icon, 204

materials, 28, 29–30, 267, 513–514

animating, 210–211

Blend type, 298–300, 298

CG shading, 268–269

colors for, 514

common types, 284

compound, 327

composite, 329–332, 330

double sided, 327–328, 327

Shellac, 332–333, 332

top/bottom, 328–329, 329

creating, 524–526, 525

extending, 665–668, 665

in faucet animation, 434–436, 435

libraries for, 517–518, 518

for low-polygon game database modeling, 113

maps for. See maps and mapping

Matte/Shadow, 324–326, 324–326

Multi/Sub-Object type, 295–298, 296–297

new, 333–336, 334

noise bump maps for, 519–521

Raytrace, 315–316, 316

basic parameters for, 316–319, 317–318

controls for, 322–323, 323

Dynamics Utility for, 323–324, 324

extended parameters for, 319–321, 320

maps for, 321, 322

supersampling, 336

recording, 518–519

shaders for, 514–515, 514–515

Standard, 285–286

Anisotropic shader, 290, 290

Blinn shader, 286–290, 286–287

Metal shader, 291, 291

Multi-Layer shader, 291–293, 292

Oren-Nayar-Blinn shader, 293, 293–294

Phong shader, 294

scripts for, 513–515, 514–515

Strauss shader, 294–295, 294

math formulas, 590

math operations, 483–485

matte material, 462, 462

Matte/Shadow materials, 324–326, 324–326

MAX 2.5 Star supersampling, 335

Max Light % setting, 387

MAX MODE PANEL command, 632

MAX MODIFY MODE command, 526

max move command, 632

max rotate command, 632

MAX SAFEFRAME TOGGLE command, 631

max select command, 632

Max Steps setting, 386

MAX VIEWS REDRAW command, 630

MAXFILENAME command, 620

MAXFILEPATH command, 620

MAXScript, 473

for animating, 572–576, 573

for animation controllers. See animation controllers

for arrays, 492–493, 511–513, 511

for batch file conversions, 621–624, 622–623

for bitmaps, 599–609, 601, 603, 607

conditions in, 489–492, 492

for environment, 527–529, 527–528

for file management, 496–497, 635–641, 637–638

for floaters, 571–572

functions in, 494–495

for global object properties, 507–509, 508–509

for hierarchies, 526

Macro Recorder in, 475, 480–481

for materials, 513–521, 514–516, 518, 524–526, 525

math operations in, 483–485

for MAX interface, 631–635

for meshes, 539–548, 540

for modifiers, 521–524, 522

for objects, 503–507, 504

opening and saving files for, 620–621

for render effects, 529–531

for rendering results, 598–599

repeating tasks in, 492–494

for replicating objects, 509–511

for rotation, 511–513, 511

sample using, 476–480, 476, 478–480

for scatters, 545–546

for scene scripts, 616–620

for splines, 531–539, 532, 534, 537

for startup scripts, 614–616, 615

strings in, 486–489

structures in, 495–496

text file I/O in, 496–499

user interface for, 474–475, 474

variables in, 482–483, 613–614

for vertex color, 546–548

for viewports, 627–631, 628

for Xref scenes and objects, 624–627, 625

MAXScript editing window, 478, 479

MAXScript Editor, 475

MAXScript Listener command, 51

MAXScript menu, 51

MAXScript Reference command, 52

.mcr files, 615

Media Cleaner Pro, 402

MEDITMATERIAL command, 517

MEDITMATERIALS command, 517

memory

for animation, 199

for bitmaps, 601

menu items, 576–577

MENUITEM command, 577

menus and menu bar commands, 43–44, 43

Customize menu, 47

Edit menu, 44–45

File menu, 44

Group menu, 45

in MAXScript, 474, 474

Rendering menu, 46

Schematic View menu, 47

shortcut, 576–578, 628–629

Tools menu, 45

Track View menu, 46–47

Views menu, 46

Merge dialog box, 434

Merge Objects dialog box, 620

#mergedups event, 621

MERGEMAXFILE command, 620–621

merging

compound objects, 100

in faucet animation, 433–434, 434

mesh models, 77, 78

meshes, 12, 90

animating, 596–597

for Boolean objects, 97

converting objects to, 539

edge data for, 544

editing, 544–545

elements as, 15–16

face data for, 542–543

NURBS from, 164

properties for, 539–541, 540

vertex data for, 542–543

MESHOPS command, 544

MeshSmooth modifier, 88, 173, 174

messageboxes, 565, 565

Metal shader, 291, 291

MetaParticles, 431–433, 432–433

Min Light % setting, 387

Min/Max View tool, 65–68, 65, 67–68

minus symbols (-)

for meshes, 541

for rollouts, 62

Mirror Curve tool, 162, 163

Mirror floater, 186

mirror reflections, 461–467, 462, 464, 466

Mirror-reflections object, 463

Mirror tool, 160

Mirror Surface tool, 162, 163

mirroring Narwhale model, 160–161, 160–161

Mitchell-Netravali anti-aliasing filter, 404

Mix Amount parameter, 299

Mixing Curve parameter, 299

mod function, 485

modeless dialog boxes, 378

Modeling Tab, 55

models

building, 81

compound objects for. See compound objects

from extended primitives, 84–86, 85–86

low-polygon game database. See low-polygon game database modeling

modifiers for. See modifiers

organic forms. See box modeling; Narwhale model; organic modeling; patches

from standard primitives, 82–84, 82–84

sub-objects in, 91–93, 92

types of, 77–79, 78

Modifier plug-in, 648

modifiers, 87–88

adding, 521–522

animating, 206–207

creating, 671–673, 672

in dataflow, 24–26, 24–26

extending, 661–665, 663–664

geometry generation with, 89–91

navigating, 208–209

in object space, 80

options for, 522–523, 522

for polygon reduction, 107–110, 108, 110

renaming stack of, 110–112, 111–112

space warps, 524

sub-object level for, 523

for surface tools, 142

vs. transforms, 125–126

uses for, 88–89

Modifiers Tab, 55

Modify tab, 63

for control vertices, 131

Edit Stack command, 132, 140, 151

More menu

CrossSection command, 140, 151

FFD (box) command, 251

Linked XForm command, 248

Morpher command, 217

Surface command, 141

Monochrome toggle tool, 391

mood lighting, 370

Morph object, 93, 102, 216

morph targets, 216, 249

Morpher modifier, 217–218

morphing, 216–218, 218

Motion Capture controller, 227

motion components in dummy objects, 250

Motion Flow mode in Biped system, 261, 261

Motion section for combustion, 389

Motion tab, 63, 222

MOUSEMOVE event, 647

MOUSEPOINT event, 647

.mov (Apple QuickTime) format, 40, 399

compression for, 402

in network rendering, 406

Move button, 54

Move Control Point tool, 137–138, 422

Move Keys tool, 202, 203, 205, 234, 237

Move Left command, 56, 58

Move Point tool, 333

Move Right command, 56, 58

Move to Tab Panel command, 58

Move Transform dialog box, 13, 14, 171

Move Transform Type-In floater, 182, 185

move_vertex utility, 633–635

MOVEKEYS command, 585

movies for animation, 211

moving

buttons, 59

keys, 237–238

toolbars, 57–58, 57–58

in world space, 80

Mtl (Material) Editor browse source, 281

Mtl (Material) Library browse source, 281

Multi-Layer shader, 291–293, 292

multi-machine rendering, 406

Multi/Sub-Object type, 295–298, 296–297

Multicurve Trimmed Surface tool, 162

MULTIMATERIAL command, 518

multiple comparisons, 491–492, 492

multiplication in MAXScript, 483–484

Multiplier setting, 349

multipliers, light, 351

Multisided Blend Surface tool, 163

N

---

Name and Color rollout, 418

.name property, 508

Named Selection Sets button, 54

names

for files, 394

for modifier stacks, 110–112, 111–112

for slots, 273

for variables, 482–483

Narwhale model, 150–151, 150

flipper for, 157–163, 157–159

mirroring, 160–161, 160–161

spline cage alignment for, 151–152

surface tools setup for, 152–153, 152

tail for, 153–156, 153–155, 157

navigating

Material Editor, 272–279, 275–277

modifier stacks, 208–209

navigation tools, 64

Near Attenuation setting, 353, 353

necks, box modeling for, 180–183, 181–183

Negative image filter, 457

nesting

animation controllers, 224–227, 225–226

events, 447

Net Render option, 408

Network Job Assignment Dialog box, 409, 409

network rendering, 406

network setup for, 406–408

render queue in, 410, 410

sending in, 408–409, 409

troubleshooting, 410–411, 411

New browse source, 281

New command, 44

New Floater button, 350

New Script button, 474

New Script command, 51

New Sequence button, 447

NewBox plug-in, 678–680, 678

NEWROLLOUTFLOATER command, 568

Next key tool, 235, 235

#node parameter type, 652

noise bump maps, 519–521

Noise controllers, nesting with Path controllers, 226–227

Noise map type, 304

Noise setting, 386

non-orthographic views, 10–11, 11

non-sequential tasks, 493–494

non-uniform rational B-splines. See NURBS (non-uniform rational B-splines)

non-uniform rational MeshSmooth (NURMS)

for box modeling. See box modeling

subdivision surface modeling with, 168–170, 170

nonuniformscale command, 632

Normal Align option, 270

Normal modifier, 88

Normal Projected Curve tool, 162, 163

Normalize Spline script, 536–539, 537

normals, 145, 268

Normals tool, 92

NOT expressions, 491

nspline2 plug-in, 661–663

nth_number function, 494–495

NTSC format

frame rates in, 197

output size option for, 398

nulls, 246–247

handles for, 247–249, 248–249

for second pivot points, 250–252, 252

separating motion components in, 250

number of sides with surface tools, 145

number signs (#) for arrays, 492–493

.numcpverts property, 548

.numcpvverts property, 540

NUMEFFECTS command, 530

.numfaces property, 539

NUMKNOTS command, 532–533, 535

NUMSEGMENTS command, 535

NUMSPLINES command, 532–533

.numtverts property, 540

.numverts property, 539

NUMVIEWS command, 630

NURBS (non-uniform rational B-splines), 77, 78, 129, 161–162

curves on surface for, 167, 168

forms for, 164–165, 165

independent surfaces for, 166

from mesh objects, 164

process for, 166–167, 167

shaping, 130–131, 130–131

shortcut keys for, 695–696

surfaces for, 164–166, 166

toolbox for, 162–163, 162

trimming surfaces for, 167–168

NURBSBox tool, 646–647

NURMS (non-uniform rational MeshSmooth)

for box modeling. See box modeling

subdivision surface modeling with, 168–170, 170

O

---

object classes, identifying objects with, 507

Object creation parameters, 24

object dataflow, 23, 23, 79–81

master objects in, 23–24

modifiers in, 24–26, 24–26

object properties in, 28, 29–30

space warps in, 28, 28

transforms in, 26–27, 27

Object ID image source, 416

object level, 206

object motion blur, 405

object-oriented programming languages, 22

Object Properties dialog box, 28, 29, 507–509, 508

object scripts, 503

for accessing objects by name, 505

for creating objects and accessing properties, 504–505, 504

for selections, 506–507

object space, modifiers in, 80

Object track icon, 204

Object Type attribute, 23

objects, 15, 21–22, 22

accessing by name, 505

animating, 201, 201

converting to editable meshes, 539

creating, 504–505, 504

dummy. See dummy objects

position and scale of, 510

properties of, 28–30, 29–31

accessing, 504–505, 504, 507–509, 508–509

evaluation of, 81

replicating, 509–511

rotating, 510–511

Track View for, 204–205, 205

Xref, 624

objects selection, 506

Objects Tab, 55, 64

Offset Curve tool, 162, 163

Offset Surface tool, 162, 163

Offset value for rotation angles, 105

offset_vert.ms script, 633–635

Oil Tank primitive, 85

Omni lights, 345

ON MOUSEMOVE action, 645

ON MOUSEPOINT action, 645

On/Off controller, 227

ONB (Oren-Nayar-Blinn) shader, 293, 293–294

Online Reference command, 52

opacity

for Blinn shader, 287

for composite materials, 331

for fog, 385

opacity maps, 385, 461

Opacity parameter, 287

Opaque Alpha parameter, 325, 462

Open/Close command, 45

OPEN command, 535

Open Listener button, 474

Open Material Library dialog box, 518, 518

open rollouts, 62

Open Script button, 474

Open Script command, 51

Open Sequence button, 447

OPENBITMAP command, 600

OPENFILE command, 497

opening

floaters, 571–572

MAXScript files, 497, 620–621

Optimize modifier, 88–89

.optimize property, 509

optimize2 plug-in, 663–665

Options button, 278

Options control, 323

Options section

in Common Parameters, 398

in Scanline Renderer, 403, 403

OR expressions, 491

Orbit tool, 348

Orbit and Pan Camera tool, 67, 67

Orbit and Pan Light tool, 69, 69

Oren-Nayar-Blinn (ONB) shader, 293, 293–294

organic modeling, 123–124

box modeling. See box modeling

modeling approach in, 124–126, 127

Narwhale model. See Narwhale model

with NURBS, 161–170, 162, 165–168, 170

with patches. See patches

reference images in, 126, 127

splines in, 127–131, 128–131

Orientation setting, 290

origin

aligning spline cages to, 151–152

in local coordinates, 32

in world coordinates, 31

orthographic views, 10

Other map types, 306–311, 308–311

out-of-range options, 244–246, 244–245

output in large format printing

determining, 701–702

resolution of, 705–706

Output Size section, 397–398

overlap for events, 458

overshoot for shadows, 357

P

---

Paint map type, 301

painting light and shadows, 365

PAINTINTERP command, 533

PAL format

frame rates in, 197

output size option for, 398

Pan tool, 65, 65, 187, 347–348

panning cursors, 53

parallax, 336

parameter curve out-of-range options, 244–246, 244–245

Parameter Out-of-Range tool, 202, 202

parameters, animating, 206–211, 208

Parameters areas, 62

parent coordinates, 34, 35

.parent property, 526

parentheses ()

for math operations, 483

for repeating actions, 494

partial loading and saving, 620–621

Particle Age map type, 304

Particle Generation rollout, 430, 430, 433

Particle MBlur map type, 304

particle systems, animating, 214–216

Particle Type rollout, 432

Particles Tab, 55

Patch Grids command, 132

patch models, 77–78, 78

Patch Sub-Object button, 133

patches, 132

adding, 135

attaching and welding, 135–136, 135–136

creating, 132–133

five-sided, 149

interior vertices for, 136

from loft objects, 137–139, 137–138

options for, 133–134, 134

shaping, 133

surface tools for, 139–149, 140–142, 144, 146–148

PATCHOPS command, 544

path animation, editing, 237

Path controllers

assigning, 224–225, 225

nesting, 225–227

paths

lofting, 98–99, 98–99, 417–418, 417

scripts for, 636

#percent parameter type, 652

Perlin Marble map type, 304

persistence of vision, 195

persistent variables and functions, 616–617

Perspective tool, 67, 67

perspective views, 10

Phase setting, 385

Phong shader, 286, 294

Photoshop image filter, 457

Physique modifier, 262

pi function, 485

pick coordinates, 34, 35

Pick Gizmo button, 386

Pick Light button, 387

Pick Material from Object tool, 279, 519

pickbuttons

creating, 560–562, 560

filters for, 570

PICKPOINT command, 479

Ping Pong out-of-range type, 244, 244

Pivot attribute, 23–24

pivot points

dummy objects for, 250–252, 252

in models, 79

.pivotcenter property, 632

pixel manipulation in bitmaps, 601–604, 603

Place Highlight tool, 348

Planet map type, 304

Plate Match/Max R2 anti-aliasing filter, 404

Play Animation icon, 70

Play tool, 198, 199

playback, adjusting, 199–200

Plug-In Keyboard Shortcut option, 167

plug-in scripts, 475, 481, 616, 645

creating, 647–650, 648

for geometry, 678–684, 678, 684

for helpers, 659–661, 659

for materials, 665–668, 665

for modifiers, 661–665, 663–664, 671–673, 672

parameters for, 651–655, 653–654

for render effects, 673–678, 677

rollouts in, 650–651, 651

for shapes, 655–659, 657

system-like, 668–671, 668

tools for, 645–647

PLUGIN command, 649–650

plugin_dummybox.ms script, 660–661

plugin_enemybase.ms script, 681–684

plugin_hand.ms script, 669–671

plugin_helix2.ms script, 657–659

plugin_hemisphere.ms script, 654–655

plugin_hue.ms script, 674–677

plugin_newbox.ms script, 678–680

plugin_newstar.ms script, 655–656

plugin_normalize2.ms script, 661–663

plugin_optimize2.ms script, 663–665

plugin_rayglass.ms script, 666–668

plugin_zigzag.ms script, 672–673

Plugins folder, 616

plus symbols (+) for rollouts, 62

PNG (Portable Network Graphics) file format, 39, 399

polygonal models, 77, 78

polygons, 15, 15, 107–110, 108, 110

POPPROMPT command, 632–633

Portable Network Graphics (PNG) file format, 39, 399

pose-to-pose animation, 196

position of objects, 510

Position parameter, 328

.position property, 510

Position Ranges mode, 203

Position XYZ controller, 223

post-production

compositing, 459–467, 462, 464, 466

editing, 457–459, 459

Video Post for. See Video Post

#postrenderframe event, 617

Preference Settings dialog box

for gamma correction, 412

for inverse kinematics, 258

for keyboard shortcuts, 49, 50

for rendering, 389, 395

for script controllers, 595, 596

Preferences tab, 453, 453

Premiere image filter, 457

#prerenderframe event, 617

Preview button, 278

previewing rendering, 393–394, 393

Previous key tool, 235, 235

primitives

extended, 84–86, 85–86

standard, 82–84, 82–84

PRINT command, 486, 498

print images, 39

PRINT TO command, 497

printing, large format. See large format printing

Prism primitive, 85

procedural maps, 30, 30, 300, 304

Production setting

Quick Render command for, 55

for rendering, 395

programming. See MAXScript

progress bars, 633–635

PROGRESSEND command, 633

PROGRESSSTART command, 633

PROGRESSUPDATE command, 633

Project Map settings, 359

projecting maps from lights, 359

prompt line, 632

#promptdups event, 621

properties, 28–30, 29–31

accessing, 504–505, 504, 507–509, 508–509

evaluation of, 81

for interface items, 555–556

for meshes, 539–541, 540

Track View, 582–587, 583

Properties command, 44–45

Properties tool, 202, 203

.proxyfilename property, 624

.proxyobjectname property, 624

PRS animation controller, 220

ps file format, 399

Pseudo Alpha image filter, 457

PUSHPROMPT command, 632–633

Put Material to Scene button, 278

Put to Library button, 278

Q

---

Quad Patch button, 132

Quad patches, 132

Quadratic anti-aliasing filter, 404

queryboxes, 565–566, 565

question marks (?) for wildcards, 506

Queue Manager, 410, 410–411

queues

render, 410, 410–411

Video Post, 455–456, 456

Quick Render button, 54–55, 380, 389

Quick Render command, 55

QuickTime movie file format, 40, 399

compression for, 402

in network rendering, 406

QUITMAX command, 621

R

---

radians, 485

radio buttons, 562–564, 562

#radiobtnindex parameter type, 652

radiosity, 370

Radiosity algorithm, 289

radtodeg function, 485

RAM Player, 411–413

RAM Player command, 46

RAM Player Configuration dialog box, 412

random function, 485

ranges

color, 405

spinner, 555

Ray lens effect, 415

rayGlass plug-in, 666–668

Raytrace materials, 315–316, 316

basic parameters for, 316–319, 317–318

controls for, 322–323, 323

Dynamics Utility for, 323–324, 324

extended parameters for, 319–321, 320

maps for, 306, 308, 321, 322, 462–463, 464

supersampling, 336

Raytrace Reflection control, 323

Raytrace Refractions control, 323

Raytraced Reflection control, 323

raytraced shadows, 357

Raytracer Parameters rollout, 463

Raytracing algorithm, 289

Re-scale Time button, 200

Reactor controller, 227, 696

READCHAR command, 498

reading

materials, 517

MAXScript data, 497–498

READLINE command, 498

receding colors, 363–364

Receive Shadows parameter, 325

recording materials, 518–519

Rectangular Selection Region tool, 173, 187

recursion depth, 322

Redo button, 54

Redo command, 46

Redraw All Views command, 46

redrawing

screen, 144

viewports, 630

REDRAWVIEWS command, 630

REDUCEKEYS command, 587

reducing

details, 702

keys, 587

polygons, 107–110

REFERENCE command, 509

Reference Coordinate System flyout, 251

reference copies, 142

reference images, 126, 127

Refine button, 421

REFINESEGMENT command, 535

Reflect Falloff control, 323

Reflect parameter, 317

Reflect/Refract reflection maps, 306

Reflection Amount parameter, 325

Reflection Map parameter, 325

reflections

compositing, 461–467, 462, 464, 466

in large format printing, 703

Raytrace, 318–319

Raytrace maps for, 306, 308, 462–463, 464

vs. refractions, 316

Reflections Type parameter, 319

Refract Falloff control, 323

Refraction Antialiaser control, 323

refractions vs. reflections, 316

Region Fit option, 270

Region Zoom tool, 65, 65

relative Macro Recorder actions, 480

Relative Repeat out-of-range type, 244, 244

Relax modifier, 88

relief maps, 6

REMOVE command, 617

Remove Interior Patches option, 141, 145–146, 152

REMOVEALL command, 617

REMOVEROLLOUT command, 567

REMOVESCRIPT command, 618

Rename Tab command, 56

renaming

files, 394

modifier stacks, 110–112, 111–112

Render Channel floater, 607, 607

render_channel.ms script, 604–606

Render command

in MAXScript, 599

on Rendering menu, 46

Render Effects dialog box, 413–416, 414

Render Hidden option, 398

Render Last button, 389

Render Options button, 450

Render Output section, 398–401, 399

render queue, 410, 410

Render Scene button, 54

Render Scene dialog box, 55, 389, 390

Render Scene rollout, 327

Render to Fields option, 398

.renderable property, 508–509

RENDERDISPLACEMENTS command, 598

rendered channel information, 604–606

Rendereffect plug-in, 648

RENDEREFFECTS command, 598

RENDERER command, 598

RENDERHEIGHT command, 598

rendering, 377–378

to animated file formats, 39–40

atmospheres for, 382–389, 384, 386–388

backgrounds for, 378–381

Common Parameters rollout for, 395, 396

Options section, 398

for output size, 397–398

Render Output section, 398–401, 399

for time output, 396–397

for video compression, 401–402

effects in, 413

applying, 416

choosing, 413–416, 414

creating, 673–678, 677

scripts for, 529–531

environments for, 378, 379

faucet animation. See faucet animation

images, 599

large format printing. See large format printing

lighting for, 381–382

network, 406–411, 409–411

previewing, 393–394, 393

production and draft settings for, 395

RAM Player for, 411–413

renderer for, 389–391, 390

Scanline Renderer rollout for, 403–405, 403

scripts for, 598–599

to still-image file formats, 38–39, 38

viewports for, 394

Virtual Frame Buffer for, 391–392, 391

Rendering Effects dialog box, 677, 677

Rendering menu, 46

Rendering Tab, 55

RENDERPIXELASPECT command, 598

RENDERWIDTH command, 598

RENDOUTPUTFILENAME command, 598

repeating tasks, 492–494

REPLACEPROMPT command, 633

replicating objects, 509–511

rescaling time, 200

Reset command, 44, 68, 477

Reset File option, 50

Reset Map Material to Default tool, 282

Reset Rotation option, 276

Reset Selected button, 150

Reset the Map button, 278

reset_time_working function, 618–619

Reset XForm utility, 150–151

RESETMAXFILE command, 621

resolution in large format printing, 705–706

Restrict Axis button, 54

REVERSE command, 535

reverse_keys.ms script, 586–587

reverse rendering, 397

Reverse tool, 198, 199

REVERSETIME command, 586

RGB (red, green, and blue) color model, 288, 343

RGB channel toggles, 391, 392

.rgb file format, 399

Ring lens effect, 415

RingWave primitive, 85

Ripple space warp, 209

.rla (Run-length encoded version A) file format, 40, 399–400

Roll tool, 67, 67, 347

Roll Light tool, 69, 69

rolledup option, 568

rollouts, 62

adding and removing, 567–568, 567

building, 566–567

in floaters, 568–572, 568

in plug-in scripts, 650–651, 651

roofs, mapping, 118–120, 118–119

Rotate button, 54

Rotate Transform Type-In dialog box, 105–106

rotating

arrays, 511–513, 511

objects, 510–511

.rotation property, 510

Roughness parameter

for Multi-Layer shader, 291

for Oren-Nayar-Blinn shader, 293

.rpf file format, 399–400

Run Script button, 474

Run Script command, 51, 551

S

---

S button, 330–331

safe frames, 631

Sample Slot area, 272–273

Sample Slot button, 278

Sample Type button, 276

Sample UV Tiling button, 278

Sample Volume % setting, 388

Samples option for combustion, 389

sampling ranges for shadows, 356–357

Save Active command, 46

Save As command, 44

Save File option, 261, 392, 400

Save Image tool, 391, 392

Save Selected command, 44

Save Sequence button, 447

SAVECONFIG command, 636

SAVEMATERIALLIBRARY command, 517

SAVEMAXFILE command, 620

SAVENODES command, 620

saving

bitmaps, 516, 516ii

colors to Clipboard, 349–350

MAXScript files, 620–621

versions with surface tools, 144

Scale button, 54

Scale Deformation dialog box, 137–138, 137, 422, 422

scale of objects, 510

Scale option, 405

Scale Point tool, 333

.scale property, 510

SCALETIME command, 585

Scanline Renderer rollout, 403, 403

for anti-aliasing, 403–404

for auto reflect/refract maps, 405

for color range limiting, 405

for global supersampling, 404

for image motion blur, 405

for object motion blur, 405

scatter_exercise.ms script, 545–546

Scatter objects, 93

creating, 545–546

uses for, 102, 103

Scene browse source, 281

scenes and scene scripts

backgrounds for, 527

change handlers for, 617–620

events for, 448–450, 449

persistent variables in, 616–617

properties for, 637–641, 637

Xref, 624–627, 625

Schematic View, shortcut keys for, 694

Schematic View button, 54

Schematic View menu, 47

screen

coordinates for, 33, 33

redrawing, 144

screen images, 39

Script controllers, 227

conditions for, 593–595

creating, 592–593, 593

limitations and setup for, 595, 596

scripts. See MAXScript

SCRIPTSPATH command, 636

scuba regulator, 86, 87

searching for text, 488

second pivot points, 250–252, 252

Segment setting, 95

Segment sub-object button, 147

segmented model, 252

segments for splines, 532, 534–535

Select and Link tool, 254

Select by Material button, 278

Select by Name dialog box, 420

Select by Name tool, 54, 146–148, 254–255

Select Clip tool, 261, 261

SELECT command, 506

Select Light setting, 349

Select Object option, 54, 187

Select Objects dialog box, 254–255, 254–255

Select Sub-Objects dialog box, 167, 167

SELECTBITMAP command, 600

Selected browse source, 281

Selected color swatch, 391, 392

.selectededges property, 540

.selectedfaces property, 540

.selectedverts property, 540

Selection Center, 143–144

.selectioncenter property, 632

selections

in alpha channels, 460–461

applying materials to, 524–526, 525

object scripts for, 506–507

Selections option, 480

SELECTKEY command, 585

SELECTKEYS command, 585

SELECTMORE command, 506

SELECTSAVEBITMAP command, 516, 599

Self-Illumination parameter, 287, 289–290

sending network renders, 408–409, 409

separating motion components, 250

SEPARATOR command, 577

sequential tasks, 493

servers, network, 406

Set All Lights option, 348

Set Number button, 295

Set Number of Points button, 251

SETARROWCURSOR command, 631

SETCAMERA command, 630

SETCOMMANDPANELTASKMODE command, 631–632

SETEDGEVIS command, 544

SETEDITMATERIAL command, 517

SETFIRSTKNOT command, 535

SETINISETTING command, 499

SETKNOTPOINT command, 534

SETKNOTSELECTION command, 534

SETKNOTTYPE command, 533

SETLAYOUT command, 627

SETMESH command, 680

SETPIXELS command, 601, 604

SETTYPE command, 629

SETUICOLOR command, 636

SETVERTCOLOR command, 548

SETVERTSELECTION command, 546

SETWAITCURSOR command, 631

70mm IMAX (cine) option, 398

70mm Panavision (cine) option, 398

Shade Selected command, 46

.shaderbyname property, 514–515

shaders, 269

Anisotropic, 290, 290

Blinn, 286–290, 286–287

Metal, 291, 291

Multi-Layer, 291–293, 292

Oren-Nayar-Blinn, 293, 293–294

Phong, 286, 294

scripts for, 514–515, 514–515

Strauss, 294–295, 294

.shadertype property, 514

shading, 268–269

Shadow Brightness parameter, 325

(Shadow) Color parameter, 325

Shadow Mapped or Raytraced Shadows setting, 349

Shadow Parameters rollout, 355, 364

shadows, 355

atmosphere, 358

on backgrounds, 325–326, 325–326

color of, 358

in large format printing, 703

maps for, 355–358

painting, 365

raytraced, 357

for Scanline Renderer, 403

Shadows option, 403

Shape plug-in, 648

Shape section, 388–390

ShapeMerge object, 93, 95, 100

shapes

for combustion, 388–390

converting to splines, 532

extending, 655–659, 657

for lofting, 97–98, 98

scripts for, 531

shapes selection, 506

Shapes Tab, 55

shaping

function curves, 240–244, 241–244

NURBS splines, 130–131, 130–131

patches, 133

sharks from boxes, 83–84, 83–84

Sharp Quadratic anti-aliasing filter, 404

Shelf Area, 52–53

customizing, 56–61, 56–60

Main Toolbar, 53–55

Tab commands on, 55

Shellac Color Blend parameter, 332

Shellac material, 332–333, 332

SHELLLAUNCH command, 636

shortcut keys

creating, 49–51, 50–51

for editable meshes, 697–698

for free-form deformations, 696

for main user interface, 689–693

for Material Editor, 694

for NURBS, 695–696

for reactor controllers, 696

for Schematic View, 694

for Track View, 693–694

for Video Post, 694–695

for views, 10

shortcut menus

building, 576–578

viewport layouts on, 628–629

Show Background option, 705

SHOW command, 616, 618

Show Cone option, 354

Show End Result button, 108–109, 169, 269, 278

Show Interior Edges option, 134

Show Map in Viewport button, 210, 278

SHOWPROPERTIES command, 504–505, 504, 514–515

SHOWTEXTUREMAP command, 516

side-by-side rendering comparisons, 412

Simple Wipe image filter, 457

simulating light and color, 360–363, 361

sin function, 485

6cm X 6cm (2 1/4” X 2 1/4”) (slide) option, 398

size

for fog tendrils, 385

for shadow maps, 356

Size setting, 385

Skin Parameters rollout, 420

Skip Existing Frames option, 401

Skip Existing Images option, 401

Slice modifier, 88–89

sliders, 556–557, 556

Sliding Friction property, 324

Slow In/Out tangents, 240, 240, 242–243

small format printing, 702

smoke effects, 388

Smoke Map rollout, 307

Smoke map type, 304

Smooth controller, 227

Smooth modifier, 88

Smooth option, 127

Smooth tangents, 240, 240

smoothing for Connect object, 100

smoothly continuing animation, 246

Snap tool, 103–104

SNAPSHOT command, 509, 539, 546

snapshots

for copying objects, 509, 546

for editable meshes, 539

for morph targets, 249

Soft Selection option, 165

Soft Selection rollout, 211

Soften anti-aliasing filter, 404

Soften Diff(use) Edge control, 358

Soften Gizmo Edges option, 386

Soften parameter

for Blinn shader, 287

for Raytrace materials, 317

Sorensen compression, 402

space concepts, 31

grid coordinates, 34, 34

local coordinates, 32, 32

parent coordinates, 34, 35

pick coordinates, 34, 35

screen coordinates, 33, 33

view coordinates, 33, 33

world coordinates, 31, 32

space warps, 28, 28

adding, 215–216

animating, 209, 209

binding, 425–426

in dataflow, 81

for faucet animation, 422–425, 423–424, 438–439, 439

scripts for, 524

timing of, 424–425, 424

spacewarps selection, 506

SpaceWarps Tab, 55

special characters, 486–487

Speckle map type, 304

Specular control, 358

Specular parameter, 287–289

Specular Color parameter, 317

Specular Level parameter

for Blinn shader, 287–288

for Raytrace materials, 317

Speed option, 433

Sphere option, 276

spheregizmo gizmo, 528

spheres

heads from, 82–83, 82

for slots, 273

Spindle primitive, 85

spinners, 554–555, 555

Splat map type, 304

spline cages, 139

aligning to origin, 151–152

surfacing, 141, 142

Spline sub-object button, 148, 154

SPLINEOPS command, 536

splines, 531

animating, 597–598, 598

Bezier, 127–129, 128–129

converting shapes to, 532

creating, 536

detaching to CrossSection, 145–149, 146–148

editing, 533–535, 534

NURBS. See NURBS (non-uniform rational B-splines)

in organic modeling, 127–131, 128–131

properties for, 509, 509

scripts for, 536–539, 537

terms for, 532–533, 532

Spotlight Parameters rollout, 354

spout for faucet animation, 421–422, 422

Spray option, 215–216

sqrt function, 485

squashscale command, 632

Standard materials, 285–286

Anisotropic shader, 290, 290

Blinn shader, 286–290, 286–287

Metal shader, 291, 291

Multi-Layer shader, 291–293, 292

Oren-Nayar-Blinn shader, 293, 293–294

Phong shader, 294

scripts for, 513–515, 514–515

Strauss shader, 294–295, 294

standard primitives, 82–84, 82–84

Standard viewport tools, 64–66, 65–66

Star_2 plug-in, 655–656

Star lens effect, 415

Starfield image filter, 457

Startup folder, 614, 616

startup.ms file, 614

startup scripts, 614–616, 615

.state property, 563

Static Friction property, 324

Step option, 452

Step tangents, 240, 240, 242, 242

.steps property, 509

still-image file formats, 38–39

stop motion animation, 17

Stop tool, 198, 199

storyboard artists, 17

straight ahead animation, 196

Strauss shader, 294–295, 294

Streak lens effect, 415

Stretch option, 389

strings in MAXScript, 486

concatenating, 484

manipulating, 488

outputting, 486

special characters in, 486–487

structures, 495–496

Stucco map type, 304

sub-object areas, 12

Sub-Object button, 133, 135, 147, 152

sub-objects and sub-object level, 206

accessing, 124

animating, 211–214, 211–213

editing, 26, 91–93, 92

for modifiers, 523

subanims, 582–583

subdividing patches, 133–134

subdivision surface modeling

for box modeling. See box modeling

with NURBS, 168–170, 170

SUBOBJECTLEVEL command, 534, 544

SUBSTRING command, 488

subtraction

in MAXScript, 483–484

of meshes, 541

subtractive color model, 342

Summary Info command, 44, 107, 110, 411

sun, lights for, 346

Sunlight system, 347

Super Black option, 398

Super Spray button, 428

Super Spray parameters, 429–431, 430–431

superclasses, 507

SUPERCLASSOF command, 538

SuperSampling

methods for, 334–336, 334

Scanline Renderer rollout for, 404

SuperSpray option, 216

SUPPORTSTIMEOPERATIONS command, 585

Surf. Norm image source, 416

Surface Approximation rollout, 161–162

Surface controller, 227

Surface modifier, 88, 139

Surface Parameters rollout, 269

Surface Properties rollout, 370

Surface-Surface Intersection Curve tool, 162, 163

surface tools, 139

CrossSection modifier, 139–140, 140–141

detaching splines to CrossSection, 145–149, 146–148

five-sided patches, 149

good habits for, 142–144

for Narwhale model. See Narwhale model

spline cages, 139, 141, 142

Surface modifier, 139

troubleshooting surface disappearance, 144–145, 144

surfaces

independent, 166

lighting, 358

for NURBS, 164–166, 166

subdivision, 168–170, 170

translucent, 320–321, 320

trimming, 167–168

welding, 135–136, 135–136

Swirl map type, 301

synchronization

in faucet animation, 436–438, 437

of frames, 412

system folders, scripts for, 635–636

system-like plug-in scripts, 668–671, 668

#systempostreset event, 617

#systempostsave event, 617

#systemprereset event, 617

#systempresave event, 617

systems of reference, 31

T

---

Tab Panel option, 58–59

Tagged Image File Format (TIFF) file format, 39, 399

tail for Narwhale model, 153–156, 153–155, 157

Tangent copy buttons tool, 235, 235

tangent handles, 129

tangent types

options for, 239–240, 240

for shaping function curves, 240–244, 241–244

Tangent types tool, 235, 235

tangents, 205

Targa file format, 39, 399

Targa Image Control dialog box, 464–465

Targa sequences

loading, 465–466

rendering, 464–465

Target Direct lights, 346, 346

Target Spot lights, 345

targets

camera, 67

light, 345

morph, 216, 249

TCB (Tension, Continuity, and Bias) controller, 221, 221

temperature script, 490–492, 492

Tension setting, 95

terminators, 256

Terrain object, 93, 100–102, 101–102

text

cropping, 488

entering, 489

file I/O, 496–499

searching for, 488

transforming into commands, 488

texture maps, 515

#texturemap parameter type, 652

Texturemap plug-in, 648

.tga (Targa) format, 39, 399

THEN keyword, 490–491

.thickness property, 509

Thin Wall Refraction maps, 306

32-bit Targa sequences, 464–465

35mm output size options, 397–398

3-D map types, 304–305, 305–306

3D Studio MAX RPF (Rich Pixel Format) file format, 399

three-point lighting setup, 365–367, 366, 368–369

thresholds

with Surface modifier, 144, 144

weld, 136, 143

ticks for sliders, 556–557

TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) file format, 39, 399

time and timing, 35

in animation, 69–70, 69–70, 195–200, 198–199

animation playback, 36, 36

frames vs. fields in, 36, 36

function curves for, 37, 38

keys for, 36–37, 37

in rendering, 396–397

rescaling, 200

space warp, 424–425, 424

Time Configuration button, 428

Time Configuration dialog box, 198–200, 199

Time Control area, 69–70, 69–70, 198–200, 198–199

Time lock tool, 235, 235

Time Output section, 396–397

#time parameter type, 652

time segments, active, 200

Time Slider, 70, 70

timeline pane, 446

timer_callbacks.ms script, 618–619

timers, 618–619

timing. See time and timing

Tint color swatch, 382

toggle switches, 58

TOOL command, 645

tool_nurbsbox.ms script, 646–647

toolbars, 53–55

customizing, 59–61, 59–60

moving, 57–58, 57–58

for Track View, 202–203, 202

TOOLMODE commands, 632

tools, creating, 645–647

Tools menu, 45

tooltip property, 615

tooltips, 53

Top/Bottom materials, 328–329, 329

Top Material parameter, 328

top views, 7

Torus Knot primitive, 85

Track Bar, 234

Track View, 70, 71, 202, 202, 232

edit window in, 202, 205, 205

for function curves, 203, 204, 240–244, 241–244

hierarchy of, 202, 204

for interpolating between keyframes, 238–240, 239–240

for keys

creating, 232–234, 233

editing, 234–237, 235–236

moving and copying, 237–238

modes for, 203–204, 203–204

for objects, 204–205, 205

for parameter curve out-of-range options, 244–246, 244–245

for plug-in script parameters, 651–655, 653–654

properties in, 582–584, 583

for controller operations, 585–587

for key manipulation, 584–585

for key reduction, 587

for keyframes, 584

shortcut keys for, 693–694

toolbar for, 202–203, 202

Track View button, 54

Track View menu, 46–47

Track View Selected option, 225

tracks, 202

trajectory in animation, 201, 236, 236

Transform Gizmo, 426

transform tools, 632

Transform Type In command, 45

transformations in dataflow, 80

.transformcenter property, 632

transforming text into commands, 488

transforms, 26–27, 27

animating, 206

vs. modifiers, 125–126

transitions, 458

Translucency parameter, 319, 321, 328

translucent surfaces, 320–321, 320

transparency

alpha channels for, 460–461

filters for, 436

for Raytrace materials, 317–319, 321

Transparency parameter, 317–318

Transparency Environment parameter, 319, 321

Tri patches, 132

trimming surfaces, 167–168

troubleshooting network rendering, 410–411, 411

Truck Camera tool, 67, 67

Truck Light tool, 69, 69

TRY command, 570

tweening, 196

tweens, 196

2-D map types, 300–302, 302–303

2-Rail Sweep tool, 162, 163

two-sided materials

creating, 327–328, 327

and shaders, 285–286

2-Sided parameter, 285–286

Type button, 295

U

---

U Iso Curve tool, 162, 163–164

U Loft Surface tool, 162, 163

UDeflector space warps, 215–216

UI. See user interface (UI)

UNC (Universal Naming Convention), 407

Unclamped image source, 416

undefined materials, 558

UNDISPLAY command, 600

Undo button, 54

Undo command, 46

Undo/Redo command, 45

Ungroup command, 45

uniformscale command, 632

Unit Setup command, 47

Universal Naming Convention (UNC), 407

Unwrap UVW modifier, 271

UOmniFlect space warp, 438–439, 439

Update Scene Materials from Library tool, 282

Upper and Lower Zones parameter, 299

Use Attenuation Color, 387

Use Axis Constraints option, 153

Use Center flyout, 252

Use Curve parameter, 299

Use Environment Background option, 380

Use Map option, 380

Use option for attenuation, 353

Use Selection Center option, 148

Use Soft Selection option, 211, 213

Use Total option, 430

Use Transform Coordinate Center, 252

USEENVIRONMENTMAP command, 527

.useproxy property, 624

user interface (UI). See also interface, MAX

bitmaps in, 606–609, 607

interactive scenes, 572–576, 573

rollouts for, 566–572, 567–568

scripts for, 636

shortcut keys for, 689–693

shortcut menus, 576–578

utilities for. See utilities

user views, 10–11

utilities, 551, 552

alert messages, 564–566, 565

buttons, 552–554

check boxes, 557–558, 557

colorpicker, 559, 559

creating, 552–556

labels, 564, 564

pickbuttons, 560–562, 560

radio buttons, 562–564, 562

sliders, 556–557, 556

spinners, 554–555, 555

utility_bend.ms script, 554

utility_bump.ms script, 562–564

utility_bump2.ms script, 565

utility_bump3.ms script, 566

Utility Script files, 551

Utility tab, 64, 551

for Asset Manager, 361

in MAXScript, 474

for vertex color, 371

UV Loft Surface tool, 162, 163

UVW modifier, 115–116

UVW Map modifier, 114–115, 270–271

V

---

V Iso Curve tool, 162, 163–164

VALIDMODIFIER command, 522

.value property, 583

values, entering, 489

Values of key tool, 235, 235

variables, 482–483

comparing, 489–492, 492

declaring, 613–614

environment, 527–528, 527

for objects, 504

persistent, 616–617

vertex deltas, 216–217

Vertex Sub-Object button, 133, 136, 138, 153–154

vertices, 12–13, 13–14

animating, 211–214, 212–213, 596–598, 598

binding, 149

color of, 370–371, 546–548

fusing, 145

hiding, 144

for meshes, 542–543

for patches, 136

snap settings for, 143

for splines, 532–534, 534

for surface tools, 143–145

ticks for, 144

VFB (Virtual Frame Buffer), 391–392, 391

Video anti-aliasing filter, 404

video clips

compositing, 459–461

editing, 457–459, 459

Video Color Check option, 278, 398

video compression, 401–402, 450, 454

Video Compression dialog box, 454

video file formats, 40

Video Post, 445–446

for image filters, 452–454, 452, 456–457

for image input, 450–452, 451

for image output, 454–455, 455

loading Targa sequences into, 465–466

queues in, 455–456, 456

for scene events, 448–450, 449

shortcut keys for, 694–695

tools in, 446–448, 447

Video Post command, 46

View Align option, 270

#view_back viewport type, 629

#view_bottom viewport type, 629

#view_camera viewport type, 629

View Channel drop-down, 391, 392

view coordinates, 33, 33

View File command, 391

#view_front viewport type, 629

#view_grid viewport type, 630

#view_iso_user viewport type, 629

View Large Icons tool, 282

#view_left viewport type, 629

View List tool, 282

View List+Icons tool, 282

#view_persp_user viewport type, 629

#view_right viewport type, 629

#view_shape viewport type, 630

View Small Icons tool, 282

#view_spot viewport type, 630

#view_top viewport type, 629

#view_track viewport type, 630

viewing in 3-D, 7–8, 7–8

Viewing modes tool, 202, 203

Viewport Background command, 46

Viewport Background dialog box, 380

Viewport Configuration command, 47

Viewport Configuration dialog box, 344

#viewportchange event, 617

viewports, 8–10, 9

for cameras, 66–67, 67, 630

cursors in, 631

layout of, 627–629, 628

Light tools for, 68–69, 68

maps in, 516

non-orthographic views, 10–11, 11

orthographic views, 10

playback in, 199–200

redrawing, 630

for rendering, 394

safe frames in, 631

Standard tools for, 64–66, 65–66

types of, 629–630

Views menu, 46

Back command, 10

Viewport Background command, 126

Virtual Frame Buffer (VFB), 391–392, 391

Virtual Frame Buffer option, 400, 408

.visibility property, 508

VistaVision option, 398

volume fog, 385–386, 386

Volume Light Parameters, 386, 387

volume lights, 359, 386–388, 387

VPQueue pane, 446

W

---

wallpaper, 280

warm colors, 370

water

for faucet animation, 428–429, 428–429

MetaParticles for, 431–433, 432–433

Super Spray parameters for, 429–431, 430–431

Water map type, 304

watermarks, 602–603

Watje, Peter, 139

Waveform controller, 227

Web images, 39

Weight parameter, 169

weld coincident endpoints, 143

WELD command, 536

weld thresholds

for patches, 136

for surface tools, 143

Weld tool, 92

welding patch surfaces, 135–136, 135–136

whales, modeling. See Narwhale model

WHEN change handlers, 619–620

WHILE command, 493–494

Whole image source, 416

wildcards for objects, 506

Windows AVI movie file format, 40, 399, 406

Windows bitmap file format, 399

Wire parameter, 285–286

.wirecolor property, 508

with animate on technique, 531

Wood map type, 304

world coordinates, 31, 32

World Coordinates parameter, 328

world space

movements in, 80

origin in, 13

World track icon, 204

#worldunits parameter type, 652

writing MAXScript data, 497–498

X

---

X dimension, 5–6, 6

X rotations, 223

XForm modifiers, 26–27, 88, 150

for animating vertices, 212–214, 213

dummy objects for, 247–248, 248–249

Xref objects, 624, 636

Xref Objects command, 44

Xref scenes, 624–627, 625

Xref Scenes command, 44

XREFPATHS object, 636

XYZ controller, 223

Y

---

Y dimension, 5–6, 6

Y rotations, 223

Yellow cube icon, 204

yesnocancelboxes, 566

Z

---

Z-buffer information, 400

Z dimension, 5–6, 6

Z-Hi/Z-Lo image source, 416

Z rotations, 223

Zigzag plug-in, 672–673

zone lighting, 369

Zoom tool, 65–66, 65

Zoom All tool, 65–66, 65

Zoom Extents tool, 65, 65

Zoom Extents All tool, 65–68, 65, 67–68

Zoom Extents Selected tool, 65

© 2000, Frol (selection, edition, publication)