GMax Fundamentals

Click this line to see the final videos

GMax Fundamentals is what I call the process of using GMax to learn something about 3dsmax by using the instructional videos from 3DBuzz titled, "Mastering 3DSMax The Fundamentals". I believe the original class took place sometime in 2006 or so and used version 8 of the application. GMax is based on 3DSMax version 4, however a lot of the instruction translated fairly well despite several limitations in GMax. Link to the United3DArtists WIP page

Project 1 - The Talented Ball:

talented ball gmax — The first project was the bouncing ball. There is no rendered animation for this project

Project 2 - F14 Attack:

transparency cockpit — Cockpit detail not scene in the video because of GMax material limitations

carrier rear — Rear detail not seen in the video

Project 3 - Dragon's First Birthday:

UV map via morph. Click to see a morph video

UI, morph targets and control objects on fully textured dragon.
The Hand Controls section of the UI dose not do anything because of GMax limitations. There are multiple controls on the tail to try to simulate Spline IK found in 3dsmax.

morph test — Morph expression test.
The dragon has cartoon style eyes so their shape changes with the expression. The final version uses spherical non-deforming eyes because the FFD deform in GMax didn't work with motion.

Notes:

Shortcuts. Some changed to match 3dsmax:

w(GMax) => alt-w(3dsmax) - maximize view
z(GMax) => alt-shift-ctrl-mmb(3dsmax) zoom view
e(GMax) => z(3dsmax) - zoom extents selected
f3 - wireframe/smooth
f4 - smooth + wireframe
shift-z - undo view change
space bar - selection lock
Animate button(GMax)== Autokey(3dsmax)
right-click - quad menu
ctrl-right-click - create quad menu
alt-right-click
shift-right-click - snap quad menu
ctrl-alt-middle - zoom view
w - move
+/- change gizmo size
e - rotate
ctrl + spinner = faster spinner
ctrl-i - invert selection
middle mouse - pan view
m - move keys
ctrl-c - 3dsmax create camera from view. Gmax only match camera to view. Select a camera then ctrl-c to match the camera to the current view.
s - toggle snap mode
alt-s - snap override does not work for GMax. Snap override from snap quad menu does work.
/ - play animation, .(period)(3dsmax) next frame apply to GMax "Forward Time One Unit" - now can use MWSnap + vbscript to "render" image sequence

Convert to editable poly. Editable mesh is an older system but still useful for some GMax functions like edge extrude by shift drag.

GMax playblast vb script - used with MWSnap to create image sequences from GMax

The period shortcut for frame advance must be setup in GMax
Set GMax time to the first frame
Tools - Settings - Snapping set to not restore MWSnap after snapping
Tools - Settings - Auto saving activate, set folder, filename and numerical suffix
Minimize MWSnap and maximize GMax
Run the script and wait

Whle left mouse is down can instant undo with right click(cancel current operation)

Wire parameters are sensitive to the set animation range. They only work inside the time range set when they are created. Workaround is to copy the expression to the clipboard, disconnect the link, reconnect and paste the expression back into place.

Bug: Parent reference corrdinate system translation is not relative to the parent.

Snapping perpendicular only works in creation mode. Tangent only works in creation and on circle and curves. Gizmo limited to 2 axis so need to use screen coordinates to snap in 3D space. GMax needs pivot snap because it can't just select the center of an object.

GMax edge delete == 3dsmax remove edge

Cannot shift-drag an edge of an editable poly to get extruding action. Only works in editable mesh.

Array tool has no preview mode. UV tools small subset of those in 3dsmax. Screen shot only way to export UV layouts.

Big bones filling the geometry did not help with initial skinning and made more difficult to work with.

GMax Xref gave me a lot of trouble on Project 2, F14 attack

Screen captures better with Direct3D. OpenGL and Heidi don't look as good but are much faster the directX.

MWSnap needs to be minimized before creating an image sequence.

UV process(from sketchy notes):

make a selection
uvw map it
collapse
unwrap uvw to adjust
collapse
repeat

Bump maps, specular maps and transparency maps don't show in the viewport.

Default keyframe type set in Customize > Preferences, Controller Defaults, Set Defaults... BezierFloat, Set..., now can choose in and out type for better control.

3dsmax when rigging can select all control objects, alt-right click and set as skin pose making a default pose. GMax does not have this.

GMax has no pelt mapping. Manual workaround:

Break the model into elements along the desired seams using edge select
Split(not divide). Save the selection by naming it.
Create a morph and manually flatten the elements.
Do planar UV mapping on it.
Morph back into shape
Assign any material id's needed for multi-materials
Weld vertices back together.

Gmax does not have these features discussed in the lessons:

Layers - create selection sets to help with organization
Reaction Manager for set driven keys - wireparameters can be used for some things
Custom Attribute modifier - just use custom parameters that can be added to a modifer or base level
Flex modifier
Deflectors
Rendering
Ring or loop selection, expand/contract selection, paint soft selection.
Remove - only has delete
Cannot extrude vertices or edges. No bridge tool. No connect. No relax. No paint deformation.
Symmetry modifier - closest is the mirror modifier
Cross sesction. Connect copy.
Copy and paste tangents.
Shell modifier, lattice modifier.
Rename tool.
Chamfer box or extended primitives like L-ext or stairs
Ramp material, procedural material, environment, glow effect
Gimbal coordinate system
FFD modifiers only, it is not a separate object FFD
Skinning weight table and weight tool and Bone editing tools
Spline IK
Edit Poly modifier, only has edit mesh modifier