3DS Max Design 2013 Update 6

This is a cumulative update for 3DS Max Design 2013 so you may install from whichever version you currently have.

The download and readme can be found here:
http://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/3ds-max/downloads/caas/downloads/content/autodesk-3ds-max-design-2013-product-update-6.html

3DS Max Design 2014 Service Pack 5

3DS Max Design 2014 is now at SP5.

Please note: you will have to uninstall any beta or RC versions of 3DS Max from your system before applying this update.

The file can be found here:

http://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/3ds-max-design/downloads/caas/downloads/content/autodesk-3ds-max-design-2014-service-pack-5.html

Retopo Workflow between Autodesk Catch123D, 3ds Max and Mudbox

Autodesk’s Gary Davis has been a busy man over the past few days. In this video, he shows the basic concepts behind the workflow and interop of Autodesk Catch123D, 3ds Max  and Mudbox. Highlights include the FREE creation of high resolution, textured models using photogrammetry techniques in Autodesk Catch123D (3D models from real-world photography). The resulting, high resolution, triangulated mesh is cleaned up in 3ds Max and then, using the one-click interop between 3ds Max and Mudbox, a live link is created and the models is passed off to Mudbox.

Using the new Retopology feature of Mudbox 2014, a cleaner, quad mesh is generated with lower levels of detail, a normal map is extracted from the original high resolution mesh, and the final result is passed back to 3ds Max for use in tasks like rigging, lighting rendering or exporting to a game engine.

3ds Max / 3ds Max Design Service Pack 1 (SP1)

Service Pack 1 for Autodesk® 3ds Max® 2014 / 3ds Max® Design 2014 includes fixes for issues with stability and performance based on customer feedback.

Please select the correct version and readme before installing:

• 3ds Max® 2014 SP1
• 3ds Max® Design 2014 SP1

Happy Holidays from Micro Concepts

For the festive period we thought it would be good to create a Christmas related render:

Created in 3ds Max Design 2013 by Andy Roe at Micro Concepts.

Micro Concepts Ltd add 'Brand New' training courses to their portfolio

Micro Concepts Ltd are proud to announce that they can now offer the following training courses:

• An Introduction to 3ds Max Design
• AutoCAD Electrical - Piping & Instrumentation Design
• AutoCAD Electrical - Routing & Design
• Sketchbook Designer
• Autodesk Suites Workflows

Click on the links above or look at our website to see in detail what these courses cover.

Micro Concepts Ltd are also now very proud to announce that we are offering Personal Development courses:

• Communication Skills
• Presenting Skilfully
• Training The Trainer

For more information about Personal Development courses or any other courses we have to offer please contact training@microconcepts.co.uk.

Extension for Autodesk 3ds Max Design 2013

The Extension for Autodesk 3ds Max 2013 software and 3ds Max Design 2013 software delivers new solutions that help you create and refine the look you require, faster and more easily.

Features:

• MassFX mParticles - Create particle simulations that replicate real-world effects with the new mParticles module for the MassFX system of simulation solvers. With Birth operators optimized for MassFX simulations, a preset flow for easier initial setup and two easy-to-use modifiers that enable particles to affect standard mesh objects, mParticles helps you create stunning simulations with less effort.

Inventor 2013 Suite Workflows

A Suite Workflow is a mechanism for exporting an engineered design from a source Autodesk product to a target product for detailed rendering or animation. Settings in the workflow automatically transform the design objects for presentation in 3ds Max Design or Showcase. For example, the 3ds Max Design as Solids workflow sends Inventor Models to 3ds Max Design as solid bodies. The Showcase Constraint Animation workflow shows a mechanical assembly in motion, converting a range of constraints into animated behaviors. You can use workflows to prepare for design reviews and to create vivid presentations.

Depending on the suite you have, the source product is either AutoCAD, Inventor or Revit. The target product is always 3ds Max Design or Showcase. The workflows supplied with a suite can vary according to the suite level (Standard, Premium, or Ultimate).

A workflow applies pre-selected settings in 3ds Max Design or Showcase to the design data from the source product (AutoCAD, Inventor or Revit). Different workflows are provided with each source product, and workflows can be optimized for specific purposes, such as high-quality rendering or lighting analysis.

Inventor (Product Design Suite) Workflows are available from the main application menu:

3ds Max Design Interface Colour Scheme

Like us, you may want to change the appearance of 3ds Max Design to make things clearer to work with.

If this is something of interest, please follow the steps below:

• First go to the Customize menu > Custom UI and Defaults Switcher...

Tea Break Video - 3ds Max Design

This video was recently released by Autodesk showing some of the best work created by Autodesk customers in post production using Autodesk products like Flame, Smoke, Maya, 3ds Max and Softimage.

We thought we would share this to inspire those of you who were wondering what you can use 3ds Max Design inside your Product Design Suite for.

3ds Max Design 2013 Tabbed Layouts

Easily create and switch between a number of Viewport Layout configurations, in order to have efficient access to the views required for a particular task. Layouts can include both 3D and extended viewports. Selecting a different layout is as simple as clicking on its icon, or pressing a hotkey. Artists can share customised View Tabs with other users by saving and loading presets.

Set Units to Metric and mm

With the inclusion of Autodesk 3ds Max Design 2012 in many of the new Design Suites, there are more people starting to experiment with this product. We thought it might be useful for you to know where the Units settings are to help get you setup correctly.

• To customise the default Inch Units, go to the Customize menu > Units Setup.

Autodesk Suite Updates Page Added

With the introduction of the Autodesk Design Suites (2012), you now have lots of packages to manage, ensuring they are all up to date with the latest Service Packs etc. So, to help make this easier, we have added an Autodesk Suite Updates page to the Technical Downloads section on our website.

This will give you an idea of the latest Service Packs for each product in the relvant Autodesk Suite you have installed.

Please visit the new page at:

http://www.microconcepts.co.uk/members/downloads/autodesk_suite_updates/

How to Create a Central Material Library for 3ds Max

When you have a Material that you wish to reuse and share with your colleagues, you can save the Material to a Central Library for all users to access. See the steps below to achieve this:

• Select the material in the Material Editor and pick Get Material.

LABS - LaunchPad Technology Preview

The LaunchPad Technology Preview accelerates design efforts by providing a single portal into Product Design Suite applications, project data, and workflows. The LaunchPad’s one-click workflows prepare your design data in the Suite environment that is most appropriate to your task so you can quickly start designing, engineering, simulating, and visualizing your design. The LaunchPad is intended for users who already have Product Design Suite installed.

Enabling the Vault Add-in for 3DS Max

Here is a handy tip for those of you that have Product Design Suite (with 3DS Max Design) or 3DS Max and wish to utilise Vault (Asset Tracking).

Before you try logging in to Vault from Asset Tracking, go to the Application Menu > Manage > Asset Tracking > Options > untick Disable Asset Tracking.

Once this setting is unticked you will be able to log into Vault and start managing your files as with Inventor and AutoCAD.

Current Service Packs for 2012 Products

We thought it was about time we highlighted the currently available Service Packs for the 2012 Autodesk products, which are included in the new Product Design and Factory Design Suites:

- Inventor Fusion SP2

- Autodesk Mudbox SP3

- Autodesk Showcase SP1

- Factory Design Tools SP1

- Autodesk 3DS Max Design SP1

- Autodesk Sketchbook Designer SP1

These can all be found on the Autodesk website, or listed on our own Micro Concepts Website. Alternatively, click on the relevant link above!