3ds Max 4: Part Four

Over the last decade 3ds max has grown into one of the most powerful all-singing, alldancing 3D all-rounders in the business. Having long had a firm hold in the games development sector, Discreet has widened the focus of its development efforts and has now built up its application to the point where it is at least as good or better at nearly everything it does than rival 3D applications. The last release was good, but the efforts behind version 4 have resulted in an incredibly stunning and mature character animation toolset. And not surprisingly, its take-up has already been phenomenal.

Over the next five weeks, you'll get the chance to see what all the fuss is about as we demonstrate a few of the tricks this release has up its sleeve

This tutorial will take you through the whole gamut of 3D character work - from modelling, bones and IK set-up, skinning, animation and rendering - even throwing in a complex effect on the way. After working through the following pages, you'll be thoroughly versed in the key things that 3ds max 4 has to offer.

Download part four here

The other files and finished project can be downloaded from part one.