SUMMARY: Though 3ds Max 2009 was a quick release, it is still a substantial package that delivers much needed fixes, new tools and technology. 3ds Max 2009 is worth the upgrade price.
TARGET APPS 3D modeling and animation for feature films, broadcast, special effects, game development, education and training, scientific and architectural visualization
WHAT IT COSTS YOU $3,495; $895 (upgrade from existing version)
WHAT’S COOL This release introduces the cool SteeringWheel and ViewCube standards, which greatly speed up productivity. Also new in 3ds Max 2009 are better Biped tools, new Photometric lights, Reveal rendering, new materials and shaders and an update to mental ray 3.6.
WHAT’S MISSING The 3ds Max modeling tools are due for an update and digital sculpting should be part of the 3ds Max toolset, not a separate program. More important, Autodesk should make Nucleus nCloth technology a standard across all of its 3D programs.
Specs
Operating System 32-bit version: Microsoft Windows Vista or XP Professional (SP2 or higher) 64-bit version: Microsoft Windows Vista or XP Professional x64 Supplemental software: DirectX® 9.0c (required) Hardware 32-bit Version: Intel Pentium 4 or AMD Athlon XP or higher processor
512 MB RAM (1 GB recommended)
500 MB swap space (2 GB recommended)
Hardware-accelerated OpenGL and Direct3D supported 64-bit version: Intel EM64T, AMD Athlon 64 or higher, AMD Opteron processor
1 GB RAM (4 GB recommended)
500 MB swap space (2 GB recommended)
Smart Advice
3ds Max has greater OBJ translation fidelity, along with more export options. This makes it easier to move data between 3ds Max and Mudbox or other digital sculpting applications.
A free 30-day trial is available for Microsoft Windows Vista and XP users on the Autodesk Web site.
Another version of 3ds Max, 3ds Max Design, is intended for architects, designers and other visualization fields, and includes all the same features except for the software development toolkit.
Biped has received several enhancements including better pivot options, a new Fore Feet option that makes the character rig behave like a quadruped, Triangle Neck links the clavicles to the top of spine for more natural motion, Mirror Animation facilitates mirrored Biped animation.
3ds Max 2009 now has specific indoor and outdoor lighting tools. The new template-based Photometric lights reproduce the characteristics of distinct lighting methods such as incandescent of fluorescent bulbs. For outdoor or environmental lighting the SkyLight system has features two lighting models for more realistic results.
ProMaterials, a library of ready-to-use mental ray materials, provides access to common, real-world materials such as glass, paint and concrete. Other mental ray goodies include new Production Shaders and Render Elements, BSP2 acceleration, improved Final Gather controls and mental ray Proxy Objects.
3ds Max’s new Reveal Rendering gives users better control over final renders with streamlined rendering tools and Iterative rendering. With Iterative rendering users may can quickly preview scene changes in the Framebuffer by selecting the region or object to be rendered.
The new ViewCube is a handy viewport navigation tool that makes it easy to move or orbit around a scene. On the other hand, the more complex SteeringWheels provide tools to move the camera and to create walkthroughs. While the ViewCube is easy to master the SteeringWheels will take practice to master.
Comments (1) for "Autodesk 3ds Max 2009"
1.
its the best software i have ever come across.
Posted by ERNEST ADDO ASINOR on Friday, February 27, 2009 @ 04:58 AM
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