The documentation set for 3ds Max ® comprises online material only. Most documents are available from the Start menu Programs Autodesk [program folder] Help folder, as well as from the Help menu within 3ds Max or the Additional Help dialog.
- Installation Documentation Set You can access all of the documentation associated with installing, deploying, and licensing Autodesk 3ds Max 2012 from the installer. The Installation Overview and FAQ is also provided locally in case an internet connection is not present. Refer to the following table for direct links to
these documents:
- Autodesk 3ds Max and 3ds Max Design Help: This document covers fundamental concepts and strategies for using the product, as well as details about the features of
3ds Max / 3ds Max Design.
Access the reference by choosing Help Autodesk 3ds Max Help or 3ds Max Design Help.
- Autodesk 3ds Max 2012 Tutorials and Autodesk Autodesk 3ds Max 2012 Design 2012 Tutorials: Contain tutorial information and detailed procedures to walk you through increasingly complex operations. This is the best
source for learning 3ds Max .
Access the tutorials by choosing Help Tutorials.
- MAXScript Help: Describes the MAXScript scripting language. If you're new to MAXScript, check out the “Learning MAXScript” chapter there.
Access the MAXScript Help by choosing Help MAXScript Help.
- Additional mental ray® Help Files: Documentation from mental images® is available from Help menu Additional Help mental ray Help. There, you'll find the mental ray Reference, comprising the mental ray Manual, mental ray Shader Reference, and LumeTools Collection. Further PDFs describing more complex concepts are available from Help menu Additional Help mental ray Supplementary Help.
NoteThe Autodesk 3ds Max 2012 Help documents most mental ray components available in the 3ds Max user interface. This includes documentation for lights for mental ray and specific shadow types, controls for adding mental
ray shaders to lights and cameras, mental ray materials, custom shaders for 3ds Max, and the mental ray renderer controls.
- Additional Backburner Files: Backburner lets you render on multiple computers over a network. Procedures for using Backburner from inside 3ds Max are documented in this Autodesk 3ds Max Help File (see Network Rendering). For further information on using and configuring Backburner go to the Help menu in Autodesk Backburner.
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covered better or differently, as well as your overall views on the documentation set.
Please send us email about the documentation set by clicking the “comment” link at the bottom of this or any other page in
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