What's New in Autodesk 3ds Max

Autodesk 3ds Max 2012 offers compelling new techniques for creating and texturing models, animating characters, and producing high-quality images. Incorporating tools that accelerate everyday workflows, Autodesk 3ds Max 2012 software helps significantly increase productivity for both individuals and collaborating teams working on games, visual effects, and television productions. Artists can focus on creativity, and have the freedom to iteratively refine their work to maximize the quality of their final output in the least amount of time.

NoteThis topic lists all significant new features, but does not include every change in 3ds Max. As you proceed through the documentation, keep an eye out for the icon, which indicates a new feature. You can also use the index in this help to find topics that contain information about new features. For topics that describe new program features, check the index entry "new feature." For changes in existing features, check the index entry "changed feature."

Following are lists (high-level, then detailed) of major new features with brief descriptions and links to the relevant reference topic:

• New Quicksilver hardware rendering
• New local edits to containers
• New Viewport Canvas features
• New 3ds Max Composite
• New Slate Material Editor
• Enhanced viewport material display
• Simplified material/map browsing
• New CAT character-animation toolset
• New FBX File Link for Revit files
• Better Inventor importing
• SAT Import/Export and solid-model support
• New Caddy interface
• New ribbon customization
• New Autodesk Materials library and workflow
• New Save to 3ds Max 2010
• New mental ray 2011
• SketchUp file support
• Improved OpenEXR support
• Enhanced SGI file support
• New and changed online resources
• Improved interactive selection
• Better snapping
• Bitmap pager changes
• Animation-preview changes
• Windows 7 Support