Learning the max interface : Creating and animating a three-fingered Gaaboot ; Finding your way -- exploring the max interface ; Seeing it all -- working with the viewports ; Saving your scene -- working with files and xrefs ; Customizing the max interface and setting preferences -- Working with objects : Creating and editing primitive objects ; Selecting objects and setting object properties ; Transforming objects -- translate, rotate, and scale ; Cloning objects and creating objects arrays ; Grouping and linking objects ; Working with the schematic view ; Introducing modifiers and using the modifier stack -- Modeling : Modeling basics and working with subobjects ; Drawing and editing 2D splines and shapes ; Using editable poly objects ; Painting deformations ; Working with mesh modifiers ; Surface modeling with patches and NURBS ; Building compound objects ; Creating particles and particle flows -- Materials and Maps : Exploring the material editor ; Creating simple materials ; Creating advance multi-layer materials ; Adding material details with maps ; Controlling mapping coordinates ; Creating baked textures -- Cameras and lighting : Working with cameras ; Basic lighting techniques ; Advanced lighting, light tracing, and radiosity -- Animation : Animation and keyframe basics ; Using animation modifiers ; Wiring custom attributes ; Animating with constraints and controllers ; Using the expression controller ; Working with the track view -- Character studio, Rigging, and inverse kinematics : Creating an animating bipeds ; Using physique to add skin to biped ; Controlling biped crowds ; Manually rigging a character ; Working with inverse kinematics -- Dynamics and reactor : Using space warps ; Creating a dynamic simulation ; Animating with reactor -- Rendering and mental ray : Rendering basics ; Using atmospheric effects ; Using render elements and effects ; Raytracing and mental ray ; Network rendering ; Using the video post interface -- MaxScript and plug-ins : Automating with maxsript ; Expanding max with third-party plug-ins ; What's new with max 7 ; Installing and configuring 3ds max 7 ; Max keyboard shortcuts ; What's on the CD-ROM ; Index ; End-user license and agreement.