The 3ds Max help thread

[Suludi]

Hi everybody,

 

seeing as there are several people like myself fumbling around with 3ds Max, I hope I'm allowed to start this thread. I'm completely new to 3dsM, and the program is seriously freaking me out. So maybe someone knows what I'm doing... even when I don't. ^^

 

I have the student Version of 3ds Max 2012, so maybe the features I'm missing aren't even implemented. But I can't even find THAT information.

 

1.

 

I can't store, mirror or load poses. The movie menu doesn't offer the option, it's simply not there. Not even greyed out. I'm working on Skyrim werewolves and humans, but no biped options are available, and I don't want to screw up the skeleton or animation files, so I'm not changing basic stuff.

 

2.

 

When I import an animation from skyrim, it screws up any animation I've already created in that file, even if I just tell it to start later in the timeline.

 

3.

 

When I create a new animation from scratch, there is NO option to add a note track later. I've searched and researched like mad but no matter which solution I find online, there simply IS NO OPTION to add the damned notes. Meaning I have to import an existing Skyrim animation, delete everything, deal with the screwed up pose, animate my own stuff over it, rename the notes and then find out that the animation gets totally mutilated in the game.

 

Help please?

 

[ZaZ]

Hi everybody,

 

seeing as there are several people like myself fumbling around with 3ds Max, I hope I'm allowed to start this thread. I'm completely new to 3dsM, and the program is seriously freaking me out. So maybe someone knows what I'm doing... even when I don't. ^^

 

I have the student Version of 3ds Max 2012, so maybe the features I'm missing aren't even implemented. But I can't even find THAT information.

 

1.

 

I can't store, mirror or load poses. The movie menu doesn't offer the option, it's simply not there. Not even greyed out. I'm working on Skyrim werewolves and humans, but no biped options are available, and I don't want to screw up the skeleton or animation files, so I'm not changing basic stuff.

 

2.

 

When I import an animation from skyrim, it screws up any animation I've already created in that file, even if I just tell it to start later in the timeline.

 

3.

 

When I create a new animation from scratch, there is NO option to add a note track later. I've searched and researched like mad but no matter which solution I find online, there simply IS NO OPTION to add the damned notes. Meaning I have to import an existing Skyrim animation, delete everything, deal with the screwed up pose, animate my own stuff over it, rename the notes and then find out that the animation gets totally mutilated in the game.

 

Help please?

 

3. You should Read the Pro Tutorial by 

Tutorial by xp32 and aeon

Its been Covered there , somewhat 

 

Cheers

 

Edit : Note Tracks should be Added to the NPC Root[Root]    Node

[Cyndi]

I know absolutely nothing about animating, but you might find this post interesting/useful:

 

http://www.loverslab.com/topic/15293-arroks-ssl-tbbp-animations-resource-for-modders-edited-10302013/page-22?do=findComment&comment=379622

 

It is more about sex animations, but I would think that wouldn't make much of a difference.

 

Arrok mentions getting 2011 max instead of 2012; for a few reasons, but you can get havok tools for 2012. That said, I have no remote clue if the tool itself is any different from the 2011 version there of. Anyway you can get a student version of 2011 from the same place you got the 2012 one aswell so if worst comes to worst....

 

 

[Suludi]

 

Hi everybody,

 

(whine bitch complain)

 

3.

 

When I create a new animation from scratch, there is NO option to add a note track later. I've searched and researched like mad but no matter which solution I find online, there simply IS NO OPTION to add the damned notes. Meaning I have to import an existing Skyrim animation, delete everything, deal with the screwed up pose, animate my own stuff over it, rename the notes and then find out that the animation gets totally mutilated in the game.

 

Help please?

 

3. You should Read the Pro Tutorial by 

Tutorial by xp32 and aeon

Its been Covered there , somewhat 

Note Tracks.jpg

 

Cheers

 

Edit : Note Tracks should be Added to the NPC Root[Root]    Node

 

 

Thank you but that menu isn't in my programme.

 

I don't have

 

Modes - Controller - Tracks - Keys - Time - Options - Display - View - Utilities

 

but only

 

Modes - Settings - Keys - Controller - Utilities - Track View-View (whatever that is supposed to mean)

 

So if the menu was there, I think I would have found it...

 

Cyndi: Thank you, I know that thread and have followed Arrok's instructions slavishly (is that a word? ^^). Sadly, there's nothing in there to help me with my current problems. I'm a bit reluctant to switch to 2011 but maybe I'll have to.

[Ark of Truth]

Question: How do you get 3ds Max to render stuff with textures. All of my stuff is suddenly grey.

 

As much detail in the instructions as possible please

 

 

EDIT: NVM FIGURED IT OUT

[ZaZ]

Hmmm Strange , 

Try Selecting all bones and then enter into

-Graph Editors

-Track View Dope Sheet 

 

Im Quite Sure it should be there 

 

if Not a Re-install 

Cheers 

[Suludi]

Hi everybody,

 

(bitch moan complain)

 

3.

 

When I create a new animation from scratch, there is NO option to add a note track later. I've searched and researched like mad but no matter which solution I find online, there simply IS NO OPTION to add the damned notes. Meaning I have to import an existing Skyrim animation, delete everything, deal with the screwed up pose, animate my own stuff over it, rename the notes and then find out that the animation gets totally mutilated in the game.

 

Help please?

 

Okay, after much tearing of hair, gnashingof teeth and hating on 3d in general and 3ds Max in specific, I found a solution by customizing a menu thingy called Quads.

 

Customize User interface - Tab Quads - Menus

 

At last, the program admitted the existence of "Track View - Note Track" and allowed me to add this menu option to my dope shit, err, sorry. Bad Freudian here. I meant dope sheet. *looks very very honest*

 

But of course I encountered a new monster rising from the deep. Exporting an animation ignores everything I've done with IK solvers. Baking doesn't help. [insert rage explosion here]

[FastestDogInTheDistrict]

Since this is open to all, I'll ask here:

 

When rotating an object, is there a way to command the rotate gizmo to rotate by 90 degrees rather than try painstakingly by hand to manually get an exact 90 degree turn?

 

[Suludi]

You should have options to enter the x, y and z position changes somewhere on the lower right of the screen, underneath the timeline.

[Vioxsis]

Another way would be to set the angle snap to 90 degrees, by right clicking the angle snap toggle button.

 

 

[FastestDogInTheDistrict]

Many thanks people! I was playing with weapon mashups a short while back & this was really bugging me!

 

[Darkest Pickle]

I just started with Max as well and this tutorial series

is THE best resource I've found yet. He goes over everything in the pro tut posted above and then some. Seriously, if you are new to max, WATCH THAT TUTORIAL!

[FastestDogInTheDistrict]

(Maybe this might be the better place for this kinda query)

 

Quick question people: 

 

Can anyone recommend some good, English-friendly, BEGINNER-friendly, 3dsmax tutorials for making hair for Skyrim?

 

[Suludi]

I just started with Max as well and this tutorial series (...) is THE best resource I've found yet. He goes over everything in the pro tut posted above and then some. Seriously, if you are new to max, WATCH THAT TUTORIAL!

 

Thank you!