The command panel comprises six user-interface panels that give you access to most of the modeling features of 3ds Max, as well as some animation features, display choices, and miscellaneous utilities. Only one panel is visible at a time. To display a different panel, you click its tab at the top of the command panel.
Create panel
Contains controls for creating objects: geometry, cameras, lights, and so on.
Modify panel
Contains controls for applying modifiers to objects and editing editable objects such as meshes and patches.
Hierarchy panel
Contains controls for managing links in a hierarchy, joints, and inverse kinematics.
Motion panel
Contains controls for animation controllers and trajectories.
Display panel
Contains controls that let you hide and unhide objects, along with other display options
Utilities panel
By default, the command panel appears at the right of the 3ds Max window. You can "dock" it along other edges of 3ds Max window, or make it a floating panel. See Customizing the User Interface.
The name and color fields appear at the top of all command panels other than the Create panel. On the Create panel, the fields are contained in a rollout. You can change an object's name or color from any of these locations.
The Create panel provides the controls for creating objects. This is the first step in building a new scene in 3ds Max. Most likely, you will continue to add objects throughout an entire project. For example, when it is time to render a scene you might need to add more lights.
From the Create panel of 3ds Max, you place basic objects in your scene, including 3D geometry, 2D shapes, lights and cameras, space warps, and helpers. Each object you add has its own set of creation parameters, which define its geometry and other characteristics, depending on the type of object. Once placed in a scene, objects carry their creation parameters with them. You can change these parameters on the Modify panel.
The Hierarchy panel provides access to tools to adjust the hierarchical linkage between objects. By linking one object to another, you create a parent-child relationship. Transformations applied to the parent are also transmitted to the child. By linking more objects to both parent and child objects you can create complex hierarchies.
The Motion panel provides tools to adjust the motion of the selected object. Key timing and easing in and out of a key are parameters that you can adjust with tools on the Motion panel, for example. The Motion panel also provides an alternative to Track View for assigning animation controllers.
The Display panel provides access to tools that control the display of objects in the scene.
The Utilities panel gives you access to a variety of utility programs. 3ds Max utilities are provided as plug-ins. 3ds Max ships with the utilities listed below. Some utilities are available from third-party developers, so your setup of 3ds Max might include utilities not described here. Look for documentation describing these additional plug-ins by choosing Help Additional Help.
