3D
Studio Max, which is now called Autodesk 3ds Max, is a 3d modeling,
rendering and animation software suite developed by Autodesk . This software
is used by TV commercial studios, video game developers and
architectural and movie studios.
The
original 3D Studio product was created for the DOS platform by the Yost Group
which consists of Gary Yost, Tom Hudson &
Jim Kent. By seeing
the benefits of this 3d software,
David Kalish and Eric Lyons at Autodesk offered them a development contract.
After 3D Studio DOS Release 4,
the product was rewritten for the Windows NT platform, and renamed "3D Studio
MAX." This version was also originally created by the Yost Group. It was
released by Kinetix, which was at that time Autodesk's division of media and
entertainment. At release 2009, the product name changed to "Autodesk 3ds Max"."
Autodesk, known for its
popular computer-aided design software AutoCAD, purchased the product and all
rights to 3D Studio Max in 1998 and began redeveloping the software internally.
The user interface was redesigned to support true-color icons, and the software
was modified to use the "MAXScript" programming language. The product was once
again renamed to "3ds max" (lowercase) to better comply with company naming
conventions.
In 2005, the eighth version
of the program was released. It was branded with the official Autodesk logo and
the name was tweaked to read "3ds Max" (mixed case). The main changes to the
software were the addition of asset tracking and support for third-party
solutions. Autodesk Vault, a data management tool, was also bundled with the
software.
The 2009 full release saw
the name change to "Autodesk 3ds Max." This update unified the view navigation
controls with other Autodesk products. Photometric lights and Web previews were
added, as well as a viewpoint history feature for casual users. The
documentation, icons, tutorials and splash screens were all revamped to enhance
the user experience.
Autodesk® 3ds Max® and Autodesk® 3ds Max® Design software provide
powerful, integrated 3D modeling, animation, and rendering tools that enable
artists and designers to focus more energy on creative, rather than technical
challenges. The products share core technology, but offer specialized toolsets
for game developers, visual effects artists, and motion graphics artists along
with other creative professionals working in the media design industry on one
hand; and architects, designers, engineers, and visualization specialists on the
other.
Autodesk 3ds Max
Autodesk 3ds Max Design
3ds Max for Games
3ds Max for Television
3ds Max for Film
3ds Max Design for
Architecture
3ds Max Design for
Manufacturing and Product Design
