Autodesk 3ds Max 9 Now Shipping

By DE Editors

Autodesk (San Rafael, CA) 3ds Max 9 marks the first full release of 3ds Max with both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows executables. In addition, more memory can be addressed to create more realistic renderings.

With the addition of mental ray 3.5 rendering software, a 3ds Max 9A user can render improved realistic scenes. New architectural and design shaders allow the creation of effects such as blurred reflections, frosted glass, and glossy car paint. The ability to create bump mapping on glossiness only and to simulate round corners and soft edges makes objects appear even more true to life.
 
mental ray 3.5 adds a simplified user interface. It also has a unified indirect lighting model that provides consistent results when switching between different 3ds Max radiosity modes. There are core performance enhancements such as greater viewport interactivity when working with dense meshes, and the ability to switch between high-res and low-res bitmap proxies.

This version allows for layered animation, and has numerous enhancements for improved character animation. Pro Booleans is a new tool for modeling with Boolean operations, allowing a user to model inorganic shapes. There are also hair and cloth improvements and Xref object enhancements.
 
The Autodesk FBX 3D authoring and interchange format enables you to exchange assets between 3D applications. FBX Enhancements include improvements to mesh compatibility and pixel accuracy when transferring assets and data between 3ds Max and Autodesk Maya software.
 
Support for all shader types is now available via MaxScript, including HLSL and Cg shaders, enabling the user to work with CgFX files alongside .fx files in the viewport. Shader display has also been optimized for improved performance.

For more information and to download a demo, visit autodesk.com.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company's website.