Chapter 2 - Viewports & Cameras in 3D Studio MAX | FREE tutorial , lesson & video training | Beginner

Chapter 2 - Viewports and Cameras in 3D Studio MAX ( 3ds max ) (Viewport & Camera tutorial, lessons)

	Author - Saju Asokan
	Last Updated: Aug 02 2008

Note: Please dont save this page for offline viewing. These lessons will be available online 24x7 free of cost. Your visit to each page on this site gives a small revenue through advertisements, that helps to keep this site online and meet the associated expenses.

| Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | of 7 |

Key Topics

View-ports in 3DS MAX

Changing Views, Minimize/Maximize views

Camera Handling

View-ports Panning and Zooming

Cameras in 3DS MAX

Select By Name, Camera Properties

Selecting objects using 'Select by Name' in 3D Studio MAX ( 3ds max ) - Tutorial

We have a teapot and a Camera in our scene. Since only two objects are there in the scene, it may be easy for us to select one of them by clicking on the object in a viewport in 3D Studio MAX ( 3ds max ). But it is not that simple when objects are numerous or when they are overlapped. We have a tool 'Select by Name' for the purpose. It is located at the Main Toolbar located at the top just below the menu bar in 3D Studio MAX ( 3ds max ). It is located to the right of 'Select Object' tool. Click on the 'Select by Name'

tool. The Select by Name dialog box appears with a list of objects in the scene in it. Select 'Camera01' from the list and click 'Select' in the dialog box. (Alternatively you could have double clicked on the Camera01 from the list to select it)

Modifying the Camera Parameters in 3D Studio MAX ( 3ds max ) - Tutorial / Lesson

Now that the Camera01 is selected in 3D Studio MAX ( 3ds max ), we can modify its parameters by going to the Modify Panel. Switch to the Modify Panel (panel next to the Create panel). It displays a large number of camera parameters. You can modify the name of the Camera at the top of the Modify Panel by typing in the new name in the place of 'Camera01' in the text box.

Look down in the Modify Panel in 3D Studio MAX ( 3ds max ). The Lens value specifies the focal length of the lens used in the camera. The smaller the value, the more powerful the lens is and wider the angle of view. The FOV in 3D Studio MAX ( 3ds max ) refers to Field of Vision which is the angle of view captured by the camera. It has direct relation to the focal length of the lens. You remember the Field of View tool present in the Viewport and Camera tools? It performs direct manipulation on the FOV parameter of the lens. It increases and decreases the angle of view of the camera. Try entering various values in those fields
The figure on the right will give you an idea about the effect of Focal Length on FOV. The higher power lens of 15mm is used in the first case where as a lower power lens of 135mm is used in the second image. Both are the pictures of the same box. The higher FOV (lower lens value) gives higher angle in 3D Studio MAX ( 3ds max ). Hence those objects that are closer to the lens appears very large and those away appears very small. Analyze both the images and you will understand the variation.

Next comes the Orthographic projection check box. It makes the camera orthographic. It loses its perspective nature (Closer objects larger, farther objects smaller). Next we have a set of stock lenses that gives standard focal length values. Click on them in 3D Studio MAX ( 3ds max ) to see the effect.

Another relevant parameter is the Environment Range. It contains a near Range and a Far Range. The range in 3D Studio MAX ( 3ds max ) is nothing but the distance of the object from the lens of the camera. Only those objects that fall within this range gets displayed in the view of the camera. In situations when certain objects are too far away or too large, we will have to increase the Far Range value. Otherwise the object wont get displayed. We will find its application later during our training.

There are a large number of other parameters. We will discuss many of them later during our training. Once again you have crossed a milestone. Chapter 2 of the Basics is complete. Congrats. I know that you have put in so much effort to master 3D Studio MAX ( 3DS MAX ) this far. Don't let your spirit go down. Proceed with full vigor and enthusiasm to the next Level.

<< Previous page

[ Back to 3D Studio MAX ( 3DS MAX ) contents ]

3D Studio MAX ( 3ds max ) free tutorial / lesson

Warning: include(/home/saju/public_html/include-pages/ads/right-pane-mid-ad.php) [function.include]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /home/saju/public_html/Pages/Learners-corner/3DS-MAX/basics/Chapter-2/chap-2-viewports-cameras-page7.php on line 452

Warning: include() [function.include]: Failed opening '/home/saju/public_html/include-pages/ads/right-pane-mid-ad.php' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/lib/php:/usr/local/lib/php') in /home/saju/public_html/Pages/Learners-corner/3DS-MAX/basics/Chapter-2/chap-2-viewports-cameras-page7.php on line 452

3DS MAX Tutorials

BASICS

	C01: Getting Started with 3DS Max
	C02: Viewports & Cameras
	C03: Texturing, Lighting, Rendering
	C04: Keyframe animation

INTERMEDIATE

	C05: Primitive Modeling basics
	C06: Primitive Modeling continued
	C07: Setting up a Scene
	C08: More on Materials & Textures
	C09: More on Lighting
	C10: Fire Effects in 3DS Max
	C11: More on Keyframe animation

ADVANCED

	C12.1: Modeling a human Head
	C12.2: Modeling a Female Body
	C12.3: Modeling a human Arm
	C12.4: Modeling a human Leg
	C12.5: Combining the human model
	C12.6: Modeling a human ear
	Ch-13: Character rigging

	How do you rate this page's content ? Please send us a Quick FEEDBACK , which helps us to serve you better
[Close]