Spline-based modeling is also supported, as well as the NURBS-based tools for working with meshes. The feature set of Autodesk 3ds Max is impressive: full support of parametric and polygonal modeling, clogth, light and particle simulation. There are also free alternatives to 3ds Max that will be covered in this article. Luckily, there are free trial (that's active for 30 days) and an educational license (which lasts for three years) available. And even if they could afford it, it's not a small amount of money for something you would like just to try your hand at.ĭoes the free version exist? In a way, yes. And while that might not be a problem for those already in the industry, for a regular beginner or a hobbyist paying $1,545 a year is not always a smart idea. Unsurprisingly, 3ds Max is also expensive. 3ds Max is also considered very user-friendly and easy to learn – its interface is intuitive, the way the features are presented is not overblown and the amount of documentation and online tutorials seems to be endless. Along with another Autodesk's product – Maya – 3ds Max has also become an industry standard in movie making and television, mostly being used for designing initial models, while the animation and VFX niches are occupied by Maya and Houdini. 3ds Max is used by landscape, interior and industrial designers, engineers, independent 3D artists and for creating video game assets. It's believed to be a go-to solution for anybody who considers a serious career in 3D.

First released in 1996, the program has since gained a huge following – its reputation and popularity are tremendous. It's developed by Autodesk and available only for Windows. 3ds Max is a commercial 3D modeling and animation software.

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