Autodesk 3ds Max

autodesk.com/products/3ds-max
Design & Prototyping
Weekend Project

Create immersive worlds and high-quality designs

How to Replace Autodesk 3ds Max

Overview

Autodesk 3ds Max is professional 3D modeling, rendering, and animation software that enables creation of expansive worlds and premium designs. It provides robust modeling tools, intuitive texturing and shading capabilities, and professional-grade rendering with full artistic control. Used by studios worldwide for game development, film and TV productions, and design visualization projects.

Features

32 features across 6 categories

3D Modeling(5)

Mesh and Surface Modeling

Create parametric and organic objects with polygon, subdivision surface, and spline-based modeling features

Modifier Stack WorkflowPremium

Explore design ideas using a range of robust modifiers that can non-destructively enhance creations

Retopology ToolsPremium

Automatically reconstruct polygonal mesh data as clean, quad-based topology with amazing accuracy

Smart Extrude

Interactively extrude faces on 3D objects using flexible extrude operations like cut-through and overlap, with automatic face rebuilding and stitching

Spline WorkflowsPremium

Create curved or angular 3D shapes using several intuitive spline tools

Also in: AutoCAD

Animation and Effects(5)

Animation Controllers

Handle all animation asks with easy-to-use, modernized animation controllers

Character Animation ToolsPremium

Create procedural character animations and rigs with CAT (character animation toolkit), biped, and crowd tools

Motion Paths

Preview and adjust animation paths directly in the viewport

Particle Flow Effects

Produce sophisticated particle effects such as water, fire, spray, and snow

Realistic Fluids

Create realistic behaviors and replicate gravity and collision effects for liquids like water, oil, and lava

OpenUSD Workflows(5)

Light Linking

Do light linkings in USD, giving more control for lighting a scene

Lights in Viewport

USD Lights are now visible in the viewport and can be selected and manipulated as other prims

OpenUSD Plugin - Open Source

The 3ds Max USD plug-in is available as an open source project for customization

OpenUSD Workflows - Seamless Import and Export

Import USD data as native 3ds Max data and export native 3ds Max data as USD data

USD Layer Editor

Edit layer hierarchy, target layers for editing, lock layers, mute and more with the USD Layer Editor

Rendering(6)

Color ManagementPremium

Ensure accurate reproduction of colors and compatibility across a variety of applications with OCIO support

Integrated Arnold RendererPremium

Render complex scenes and designs with Arnold for 3ds Max, including GPU rendering to view scene changes in real time

Interactive Viewports

Reduce design iterations with render-quality viewport previews of PBR materials and camera effects

Lighting

Illuminate and enhance scenes using photometric lights and standard lights

Physical Camera

Simulate real-life camera settings such as shutter speed, aperture, depth of field, and exposure

Scene Converter

Seamlessly change materials, lights, cameras, and renderers from one to another

Also in: Spline, Gatsby, D3

Texturing and Shading(5)

Bake to Texture

Streamlined, intuitive, and fully scriptable texture baking with support for PBR materials, overrides, and OSL workflows

High-Quality Materials

Make realistic objects with physically based rendering, Open Shading Language, and bake to texture

Material Editor

Add material finishes, change textures, and use vibrant colors to create photorealistic designs

Material Switcher

Manage the display of multiple material variants in a few simple clicks

Open Shading Language (OSL) Support

Generate high-quality textures using new or pre-existing OSL maps with any supported renderer, displaying accurately in the viewport

Workflow and Pipeline(6)

Extensive Plug-in Library

Access hundreds of industry-leading third-party plug-ins from the extensive community

glTF Support

Publish assets from 3ds Max scene to glTF for use in web applications, online stores, browser games, and other online outlets

Modern UI and WorkspacesPremium

Create custom workspaces with a modern, responsive, high-DPI-ready user interface

Multiple File Format Support

Easily share assets with support for file formats like glTF, USD, FBX, CAD formats, and more

Python 3 Support

Get tighter pipeline integration with support for Python 3

Software Security

Use Safe Scene Script Execution to protect work against malicious scripts and Malware Removal functionality to detect and remove known malicious scripts

Pricing

Annual Subscription

Custom - Contact for pricing
  • 3D modeling
  • Texturing and shading
  • 3D rendering
  • Animation and effects
  • OpenUSD workflows
  • Workflow and pipeline tools

Monthly Subscription

Custom - Contact for pricing
  • 3D modeling
  • Texturing and shading
  • 3D rendering
  • Animation and effects
  • OpenUSD workflows
  • Workflow and pipeline tools

3-Year Subscription

Popular
Lock in your price for 3 years
  • 3D modeling
  • Texturing and shading
  • 3D rendering
  • Animation and effects
  • OpenUSD workflows
  • Workflow and pipeline tools

Prepay Pricing (Occasional Use)

Pay-as-you-go
  • Available through Autodesk Flex
  • For infrequent users

Free Trial

Free - Up to 30 days
  • Full access to 3ds Max features
  • 30-day money back guarantee

Student/Educator Access

Free - 1 year
  • Free access for students and teachers at qualified academic institutions
  • Through Autodesk Education Community

Cost Calculator

Pricing data not available for Autodesk 3ds Max. Check their website for current pricing.

Build vs Buy

Should you build a Autodesk 3ds Max alternative or buy the subscription? Estimate based on 32 features.

Buy Autodesk 3ds Max

Better Value
Monthly costContact Sales
3-year totalVaries
Time to deployDays

Build Your Own

Development cost$24,000
Maintenance$360/mo
3-year total$36,960
Dev time~2 months

Buying Autodesk 3ds Max saves ~$36,960 over 3 years vs building.

Estimates based on 32 features and a BuildScore of 5/5. Actual costs vary.

Integrations

12 known integrations

ArnoldAutoCADAutodesk Platform ServicesFBXglTFGolaemMayaMedia & Entertainment CollectionMotionBuilderOmniverse CreateTyFlowUSD (Universal Scene Description)