Whether you’re a 3D Max novice or an experienced animator upgrading from a prior version this 3DS Max 2009 Tutorial Video is the ideal way to gain the skills to take your creativity to the next level. Authored by 3D and animation expert Sandeep Kulkarni this training course covers over 140 in-depth lessons with a total duration of 12 hours. The tutorial uses a combination of proven teaching methods, practical examples and hands-on exercises backed up with high quality narrated videos, you can now benefit from affordable, in-depth tuition from the comfort of your own desk and learn at your own pace.

Topics covered include:
Welcome & Overview
System Requirements
Some New Features in 3ds Max 2009
User Interface (UI)
Overview pt. 1
Overview pt. 2
Transforms & Selections pt. 1
Transforms & Selections pt. 2
Customization of the UI pt. 1
Customization of the UI pt. 2
Preferences
Scene Management
Naming Objects & Renaming Objects
Select by Name Dialog
Layers
Scene Explorer
Selection Sets
Setting the Project Folder
Schematic View
Different Tools
Mirror
Array
Align
Snapshot
Display Tools
Hiding & Unhiding Objects
Freezing & Unfreezing Objects
Hide by Category & Selection Filters
Some Display Properties
Display Floater
Groups & Cloning
Cloning
Working with Groups pt. 1
Working with Groups pt. 2
3D Primitives & Modifiers
Standard Primitives
Extended Primitives
Doors & Windows
AEC Extended
Stairs
Different Modifiers pt. 1
Different Modifiers pt. 2
Modifier Stack
Configure Modifier Sets
2D Shapes
Different 2D Shapes
2D Shapes as Models
Edit Spline vs. Editable Spline
Loading Background Images
Editing Background Images in Photoshop
Editing 2D Shapes pt. 1
Editing 2D Shapes pt. 2
Editing 2D Shapes pt. 3
Building 3D Objects from 2D Shapes pt. 1
Building 3D Objects from 2D Shapes pt. 2
Lofting pt. 1
Lofting pt. 2
Lofting pt. 3
Polygonal Modeling
Edit Mesh vs. Editable Mesh
Edit Poly vs. Editable Poly
Selection Tools
Soft Selections
Edit Vertices Rollout
Edit Edges Rollout
Edit Borders Rollout
Edit Polygons Rollout pt. 1
Edit Polygons Rollout pt. 2
Edit Geometry Tools pt. 1
Edit Geometry Tools pt. 2
Subdivision Surface Tools
Painting Deformation
TurboSmooth & MeshSmooth
Symmetry
ProBoolean
Introduction to Materials
Basics of the Material Editor
Different Shader Types
Some Shader Parameters
Applying 2D Map Co-ordinates & Bump Mapping
Applying 3D Maps & Show End Result Toggle
Compositor Maps pt. 1
Compositor Maps pt. 2
Color Modifiers
Other Maps
Displacement Mapping
Material Map Navigator
UVW Mapping pt. 1
UVW Mapping pt. 2
Different Materials pt. 1
Different Materials pt. 2
Different Materials pt. 3
Get Material
Saving Scene Materials & Material Libraries
Put to Scene & Adding Extra Materials
UVW Unwrapping pt. 1
UVW Unwrapping pt. 2
UVW Unwrapping pt. 3
UVW Unwrapping pt. 4
Introduction to Lights
Different Light Types
Light Attributes pt. 1
Light Attributes pt. 2
Light Attributes pt. 3
Shadows & Shadow Attributes
Introduction to Cameras
Different Camera Types & Camera Controls
Camera Parameters
Clipping Planes & Environment Ranges
Safe Frames
Introduction to Rendering
Some Render Settings
Rendering Still vs. Multiple Images
Render Elements
Rendered Frame Window
Animation
Time Configuration
Auto Key / Set Key / Create Key & Pivots
Animating on a Path
Curve Editor & Dope Sheet
Animating Modifiers
Animating Materials
Animating with Controllers
Animating with Constraints

Atmospherics & Effects
Fire Effects
Fog
Volume Fog
Volume Light
Particle Systems & Space Warps
Spray & Snow
Super Spray
PArray
Space Warps pt. 1
Space Warps pt. 2
Introduction to Particle Flow
Video Post Effects
Starfield
Lens Effects Glow
Lens Effects Highlight
Lens Effects Flare
Camera Cutshots
Introduction to Simulation in 3ds Max
Reactor Rigid Bodies & Soft Bodies
Reactor Rope & Water
Cloth Simulation pt. 1
Cloth Simulation pt. 2
Hair Simulation
Introduction to Biped & Bones
Structure for the Biped
Fitting Biped to the Character pt. 1
Fitting Biped to the Character pt. 2
Fitting Biped to the Character pt. 3
Physique
Introduction to Bones
Skin
IK vs. FK
What Else is Possible With Bones & Biped?
Conclusion
Wrap Up
About the Author

To help you evaluate this 3DS Max training course the first three chapters have been made available for free.

Useful Plug-ins for 3DS Max 2009.
The functionality of 3DS Max can be enhanced and extended by using 3rd party plug-ins, the possibilities are endless. More information on the subject of 3DS plug ins can be found here:
 http://3dnews.wordpress.com/2008/08/29/particle-flow-tools-freebies-3ds-max-2009-plugin/