3ds Max 9 Bible
If you're new to the Max interface, the first order of business is to take a stroll around the block and meet the neighbors. The Max interface has a number of interface elements that neatly group all the similar commands together. For example, all the commands for controlling the viewports are grouped together in the Viewport Navigation Controls found in the lower-right corner of the interface.
| Note | If all the details of every interface command were covered in this chapter, it would be an awfully long chapter. So for those commands that are covered in more detail elsewhere, I include a cross-reference to the chapter where you can find their coverage. |
The entire interface can be divided into five easy elements. Each of these interface elements, in turn, has groupings of sub-elements. The five main interface elements are listed here and shown separated in Figure 1.1:
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Menus: This is the default source for most commands, but also one of the most time-consuming interface methods. The menus are found along the top edge of the Max window.
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Toolbars: Max includes several toolbars of icon buttons that provide single-click access to features. These toolbars can float independently or can be docked to an interface edge. The main toolbar is the only toolbar that is visible by default.
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Viewports: Four separate views into the scene show the Top, Front, Left, and Perspective viewpoints.
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Command Panel: The major control panel located to the right of the four viewports, it has six tabbed icons at its top that you can click to open the various panels. Each panel includes rollouts containing parameters and settings. These rollouts change depending on the object and tab that is selected.
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Lower Interface Bar: Along the bottom edge of the interface window is a collection of miscellaneous controls.
In addition to these default elements are several additional interface elements that aren't initially visible when Max is first loaded. These additional interface elements include the following:
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Floating toolbars: Several additional toolbars are available as floating toolbars. You access them by choosing Customize
Show UI Show Floating Toolbars or by selecting them from the toolbar's right-click pop-up menu. -
Quadmenus: Right-clicking on the active viewport reveals a pop-up menu with up to four panes, referred to as a quadmenu. Quadmenus offer context-sensitive commands based on the object or location being clicked and provide one of the quickest ways to access commands.
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Dialog boxes and editors: Some commands open a separate window of controls. These dialog boxes may contain their own menus, toolbars, and interface elements. A good example of this interface element type is the Material Editor, which has enough controls to keep you busy for a while.
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