Autodesk GMAX Help/Tutorials

[sanddrag]

I recently downloaded the free Autodesk GMAX software and it looks pretty good, especially for being free, but the help files and tutorials don't work, or there aren't any.

I've never used any animation software before so this looks very complicated to me. I am fairly proficient in Inventor though if that helps any.

Does anyone know where I can go to get a tutorial on how to use GMAX? It looks like a very capable piece of software but only if it has someone who knows what they are doing behind the wheel.

Thanks.

[artdutra04]

I know that these links are from a SimCity 4 website, but they should help you. If you are looking for more help, check out any custom content Microsoft Train and/or Flight Simulator, Auran Trainz, or SimCity 4 forum. They all use Gmax for custom content, and they all probably have tutorials on Gmax.

Creating a Simple House in Gmax - Modeling (http://www.simtropolis.com/content.cfm?mode=omnibus&view=116)

Creating a Simple House in Gmax - Texturing (http://www.simtropolis.com/content.cfm?mode=omnibus&view=117)

Calibrating Photoshop for Gmax (http://www.simtropolis.com/content.cfm?mode=omnibus&view=131)

P.S. The tutorials for Gmax are a separate download. They are not bundled in with Gmax itself. I know this, becuase I downloaded Gmax and the tutorials a year ago while I still had dial-up - and both files were between 18-20 megabytes, which took half a day each on dial-up. http://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/images/smilies/6.gif

[jdiwnab]

I've never used any animation software before so this looks very complicated to me. I am fairly proficient in Inventor though if that helps any.

Inventor will only help with conceptualizing in 3D. It won't help you use Gmax. You don't create sketches or dimentions. You create the object and adjust properties.

The biggest difference between Inventor and Gmax, I think, would be object creation and adjusting. If you can get used to making boxes and then changing their size, you're doing good. If you can find the buttons to make a box (they probably not in the same spot as in 3DSMax v 4 ;)) click it, then in the window of choice, first to start, the second to set the base size, and the third to set the height. Information about the box you just made should be on the right. There should be 2 text boxes close to each other that allow you to change the box's properties. Get use to that with all the shapes and you should be in good shape.