Autodesk Eduction Community

How to Use Autodesk 3ds Max Design for Architecture Visualization

Created to assist teams competing in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon, this resource provides instruction on using Autodesk® 3ds Max® Design software for visualization in six comprehensive modules. Learn how to create a daylighting system, adjust a photographic exposure to produce optimal renderings, analyze materials, and finally, create an architectural animation that is so realistic you feel like you are walking through your structure. This resource will enable you to quickly and easily produce amazing renderings and have the model and materials behave in the most physically correct and realistic manner possible.

Student Workbook

Follow the six modules and 18 lessons through easy-to-understand project-based exercises.

• Download the Student Workbook

Video Tutorials

Module 1

• Introduction
• Daylight Setup
• Exposure
• Adjusting Daylight
• Interior Lights
• Portal Lights
• Summary

Module 2

• Introduction
• Solid Materials
• Material Libraries
• Maps in Materials
• Common Materials
• Cutout Maps
• Substance Maps
• Summary

Module 3

• Introduction
• Optimizing Materials
• Optimizing Rendering
• Stylizing Global Illumination and Final Gather
• Summary

Module 4

• Introduction
• Lighting Analysis Assistant
• Image Overlay
• Summary

Module 5

• Introduction
• Camera Setup
• Animating a Camera Fly Through
• Summary

Module 6

• Introduction
• Animating Daylight
• Animating Sliding Doors
• Spinning Fans
• Opening a Hinged Door
• Turning on Lights
• Summary