Features

Key Features

Retopology tools

Automatically optimize the geometry of high-resolution models to create a clean, quad-based mesh geometry.

Smart Extrude

Extrude faces on 3D objects in an intuitive and flexible way. Rebuild and stitch together adjacent faces automatically.

Open Shading Language support

Create or use pre-existing procedural OSL maps with any supported renderer.

Interactive viewports

Reduce design iteration with render-quality viewport previews, displaying physically based rendering materials and camera effects directly.

Integrated Arnold renderer

Arnold for 3ds Max (MAXtoA) supports interactive rendering directly from the interface.

Software security

Use Safe Scene Loading to protect your work from potentially malicious scripts that could be part of scene files.

Baking to texture

Experience streamlined, intuitive, and fully scriptable texture baking.

3D Modeling

Retopology tools (enhanced)
Automatically reconstruct polygonal mesh data as clean quad-based topology with uncompromising accuracy. These tools can be used to reduce complex and high-resolution assets and enhance generative designs and traditional modeling work inside of 3ds Max.
Smart Extrude (enhanced)

Interactively extrude faces on 3D objects using flexible Smart Extrude operations like cut-through and overlap. Rebuild and stitch adjacent faces automatically without needing to manually repair hidden faces or geometric data.

Mesh and surface modeling

Create parametric and organic objects with polygon, subdivision surface, and spline-based modeling features.

Modifier stack workflow

Rapidly conceptualize, iterate, and explore design ideas using a range of unique modifiers.

Spline workflows

Create and animate geometry in several intuitive ways with spline tools.

Texturing & Shading

Open Shading Language support

Generate high-quality textures that display accurately in the viewport using new or pre-existing OSL maps with any supported renderer.

Baking to texture

Experience a streamlined, intuitive, and fully scriptable texture baking experience with support for PBR materials, overrides, and OSL workflows.

Material editor

Add material finishes, change textures, and use vibrant colors to create photorealistic designs.

Lighting

Illuminate and enhance your scenes using photometric lights and standard lights.

3D Rendering

Integrated Arnold renderer

Use the Arnold GPU renderer to view scene changes in real time, including lighting, materials, and camera.

Interactive viewports

Reduce design iteration with render-quality viewport previews, displaying PBR (physically based rendering) materials and camera effects directly.

ActiveShade viewport

With an interactive rendering experience, see your scene in a near-final rendering quality as you’re working.

Physical camera

Simulate real-life camera settings such as shutter speed, aperture, depth of field, and exposure.

Scene converter

Seamlessly and consistently change materials, lights, cameras, and renderers from one to another.

Animation & Effects

Character animation tools

Create procedural character animations and rigs with CAT (character animation toolkit), biped, and crowd tools.

Motion paths

Preview and adjust animation paths directly in the viewport.

3ds Max Fluids

Create realistic liquid behaviors such as water, oil, lava as well as replicate gravity and collision effects.

Extensive plug-in library

Access hundreds of industry-leading third-party plug-ins from our extensive community.

Particle Flow effects

Create sophisticated particle effects such as water, fire, spray, and snow.

Workflow & Pipeline

GL Transmission Format support (new)

Publish assets from your 3ds Max scene to glTF 3D content for use in web applications, online stores, browser games, and other online outlets.

Software security (enhanced)

Use Safe Scene Script Execution to protect your work against malicious scripts & the Malware Removal functionality to detect & remove known malicious scripts from files.

Modern UI and workspaces

Create your own custom workspaces with a more modern, responsive, high-DPI-ready user interface.

Pipeline integration support (enhanced)

Easily customize 3ds Max to fit your production pipeline needs

Python 3

Get tighter pipeline integration with support for Python 3.

Have Questions About Complex Applications?

Speak to us about your operational requirements or outcomes and we'll tailor a solution best suited to your business.