3ds Max 2020.3 Feature Updates

3ds Max 2020.3 Feature Updates

The Autodesk 3ds Max 2020.3 Update is focused on increasing your efficiency, endurance, and precision. Building upon our recent 2020 Chamfer updates, this release brings you those enhancements directly in EditablePoly objects. New Viewport enhancements handle support for Arnold Lights, Arnold Alembic and Procedural objects. Improvements to the ATF importer include enhancements to Sketchup and JT formats for better visual and organizational precision.

Solutions in the 3ds Max 2020.3 Update

ATF Importer Update
Now supports all newer versions of SketchUp files.

  • Added the ability to import JT 10.5 files
  • Improved scene hierarchy for JT imports
  • The ability to import CATIA V4 files that were created in CATIA V5-6R2019
  • SketchUp importer enhancement with edge visibility
  • SketchUp importer enhancement welding of imported geometry
Scene from 3dwarehouse.sketchup.com user fitria N.


*Note: although no longer being developed, we will continue to support the legacy SketchUp importer for some period of time, to allow customers to transition their custom tools and pipelines to the new importer.


Chamfer and Modeling improvements
Chamfer enhancements made from 3ds Max 2020 through to the 3ds Max 2020.3 Update allow modelers to work more efficiently and to have the tools where they need them whether they’re in the modifier or EditablePoly objects.

  • New Chamfer Mitering types (Radial and Patch) are available in EditablePoly caddies/dialogs
  • We also updated chamfer algorithms to better handle edge cases, producing more pleasing geometry overall and avoiding degeneracies such as flattening or skewing of edges
  • Transform Toolbox now uses world units


Viewport Enhancements

Time-saving and quality improvements with the existing viewport.

  • Arnold lights are now supported in the viewport
  • Arnold Alembic and Procedural now have viewport representation
  • While in Active Shade, you can now change render settings without needing to restart Active Shade
 Scene courtesy or Turbosquid user CartoonFactoryScene courtesy of Turbosquid user CartoonFactory

Arnold MAXtoA Update
This update delivers several improvements from Arnold 5.4.0.1 Core, the MAXtoA plugin, and Arnold GPU beta bringing even more speed, power, and flexibility to artist workflows.

MAXtoA 3.2.66 “in the box” – Newer version may be available, check the 3ds Max Arnold render dialog for upgrades

  • Expose the clip_geo shader
  • Expose the shader_override node for overriding all the scene’s shaders
  • Expose the aov_read shaders
  • Added the option to have no background
  • Support for normal and height maps
  • Bake elements transfer

 

Image created by Lee Griggs using a scene by user shmud on flippednormals.com

 

*Note: For more information, see the Arnold 3ds Max User Guide

 

Fit and Finish
Various additional updates have been made to smooth out workflows.

  • PySide2 updated to 5.12.4 to match Qt version to resolve some instability
  • Addressed issue preventing Python developers to access with consistent results Python APIs and properties imported into Maxscript.
  • Physical Camera from previous version scenes no longer cause unpredictable behavior
  • Bitmaps used in OSL Map were previously locked from saving in other editing applications
  • UnwrapUVW
    • Texture Selection fixed when changing material IDs
    • Texture dropdown no longer loses all textures when reset
    • Select All and Inverse no longer select hidden or frozen UVs



Forge Design Automation API for 3ds Max
On October 28th, 2019, the Forge Design Automation V3 API was made public. Design Automation can be used to automate mundane, repetitive, time-consuming and error-prone tasks, which means:

  • Leveraging your existing 3ds Max scripts and plugins using the Design Automation API for 3ds Max
    Batch in the cloud
  • Expert 3ds Max artists can focus on more meaningful work
  • Less knowledgeable users can leverage the power of 3ds Max in the cloud via custom web tools
    built on Forge
  • There is a reduced need for local hardware resources and licenses
AEC Collections – See how products in the collection work together

AEC Collections – See how products in the collection work together

Create 2D designs and 3D models at the same time.
When you move to BIM (Building Information Modeling), you can still collaborate with customers who use AutoCAD.

 

Why a collection?

  • Be ready for anything with a full set of BIM tools

    Get an essential set of tools, including Revit and AutoCAD, at a great price. And with access to over a dozen more tools, you can try new workflows or projects.

  • Easier software and license management

    Eliminate the headache of managing multiple product licenses. Get insights on product use. Easily download, install, and use as many products within the collection as you want, whenever you like.

  • Access the latest and previous releases

    Ensure software compatibility with all team members by accessing previous versions when you need them. Stay current with the latest releases. Deploy updates whenever you want.

  • Choose access for individuals or teams

    Choose between subscriptions that provide single-user access for an individual or give teams permission to share licenses with multi-user access.

 

Uplevel your architectural practice with new resources from Autodesk

Uplevel your architectural practice with new resources from Autodesk

  • Are you an architect who needs to coordinate your design across an extended project team including BIM managers, structural, MEP, and civil engineers (to name a few)?
  • Do you have questions about how to work better as a team across disciplines or with firms collaborating on the same projects?
  • Are you looking to connect with other architecture professionals like yourself?

If you said yes to any of the three questions above, then this news is for you:

Architectural Community Virtual Meetup July 23, 2019

You won’t want to miss the first Architectural Community Virtual Meetup. Make time on the 4th Tuesday of each month to connect online as a community to check in with other architects and ask your questions about RevitAutoCAD, and other Autodesk software for architects. We’ll share tips & tricks at each meeting and will have open Q & A with architectural experts who will address your questions as well as suggestions. In July, we will have Michael Kilkelly, an architect who operates at the intersection of design and technology, as our guest speaker.

Michael Kilkelly

Michael is the founder of Space Command, a design and technology firm in Middletown, CT. He will talk with us about the content he created for the Autodesk Architect Learning Center.   We will discuss how the content benefits your teams and ultimately, your clients.

 

Project-Based Connected Learning Hub launching in July

I’m extremely pleased to share that we are very close to launching  a new learning hub delivering training that will help architects collaborating with other disciplines or firms on the same projects learn how to coordinate better. Because it’s project-based, the new Connected Learning Hub is the ideal place to learn industry best practices and try new or unexplored features of our software using  a practice project dataset we provide, which makes it ok to make mistakes. You can practice key workflows before implementing them on billable work. The best part is that it is geared toward the busy architectural professional. You’ll be able to improve your skills in just 15-20 minutes per day.

Here are the top four reasons to try this new learning experience:

  1. It’s project-based. All courses center on the same mixed-use development dataset that includes buildings, surrounding roads, and parking (shown in the image below). While courses can be taken individually, they all support a connected team environment.Mixed use development Connected Learning Hubrchitect
  2. Experience simulated interaction between disciplines. Architects never work in isolation, and the courses are driven by a strong story-line that has different roles interacting with each other. Collaboration is supported by community discussions, natively embedded into the course experience.
  3. It’s easy to fit into your schedule. Every module, course and challenge has a distinct structure and works with other content types. The information is chunked and organized so that it can deliver value in as little as 15-20 minutes, and at the same time can be architected to provide a full self-paced learning experience.
  4. Tangible value. Get proof of accomplishment upon completion that you can use to document your professional development.

Learn more and register here to be notified when the learning center goes live.

I look forward to seeing you take advantage of the Architectural Community Virtual Meetup and the new Connected Learning Hub. Your success matters to us.