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.
