3ds Max Tutorial: Local Coordinates

In this tutorial, you'll learn the basics of working with Local coordinates. World coordinates are the XYZ axes of the world, also known as the Home Grid or the Construction Grid. Local coordinates are the XYZ axes of each object.

I'll start off by saying that I am not a writer, and this is written from my own opinion and experiences. I am self taught, my ways might be different that others, but in the end the only thing that matters are the results. (and how long it took to get those results) I chose to write this, because I have had a number of people asking me: "What should I do to my models to make them realistic and impressive?" and "Teach me!" (paraphrased) Well, this subject is too large to simply teach in a few paragraphs, it takes along time to learn. Here are a few of my thoughts, and hopefully a little insight to my way of thinking, for anyone willing to listen.

Once you get the hang of the surface modifier in 3ds max, you can quickly erect any shape you want by laying out your splines in 2D and then pulling out the depth which is the author's, Peter Watje, preferred method to modeling organic shapes i n3ds max with Surface Tools.

This tutorial will tell you how to create ambient occlusion with alpha maps in max with the help of just mental ray.

This 3D Studio Max tutorial for Reactor shall teach you how to animate a realistic looking collision of objects. This is an intermediate level tutorial that expects you to know your way around 3DS and the basics of Reactor. Here is the end result video that we are going to create in this lesson.