sketchup functions in 3ds Max

[anthonymiller]

Hi all ive recently started learning max coming from sketchup however im finding it hard to get out of sketchup habits. if anyone could explain if it is at all possible to do these similar functions in max i would really appreciate it

 

first the snapping ive heard it quite problematic in max is there anyway to snap in a similar fashion like in sketchup along edges and splines e.g. ends and midpoints and have it work as fast and fluid?

 

and lastly drawing splines on faces. in sketchup when i want to model a window or door or anything really i usually draw said item in 2d using the spline tools and then extrude or cut into this to get the desired object i cant seem to do this is max. ive been told, and been using connect to build up splines to model things like windows however this takes a very long time, is this the correct method or and i doing the complete wrong thing

 

thanks for your help

[Ismael]

Snaps,

http://docs.autodesk.com/3DSMAX/15/ENU/3ds-Max-Help/index.html?url=files/GUID-A88C8BB6-B739-4AD4-9145-6DF64AA4B198.htm,topicNumber=d30e171630

 

drawing splines on faces,

http://docs.autodesk.com/3DSMAX/15/ENU/3ds-Max-Help/index.html?url=files/GUID-A88C8BB6-B739-4AD4-9145-6DF64AA4B198.htm,topicNumber=d30e171630

[numerobis]

first the snapping ive heard it quite problematic in max is there anyway to snap in a similar fashion like in sketchup along edges and splines e.g. ends and midpoints and have it work as fast and fluid?

You can access the snap options using 'right click' on the snap button. But yes, the snap function in max can't be compared to the sketchup snap. It's much worse. Very unprecise/slow and no inference engine.

 

ive been told, and been using connect to build up splines to model things like windows however this takes a very long time, is this the correct method or and i doing the complete wrong thing

yes, connect or quick slice, cut or slice plane.

But for basic modeling operations like punching window holes in a wall, sketchup will always be much faster and more straight forward than max. The advantage in max is, that you can use modifiers like turbosmooth for sub-d modeling or procedural modeling.

So it all depends on your needs...

 

But you're right, the snap in max is really horrible and a big problem if you're used to work with such a great snapping system like in sketchup. I'm waiting for years now that it gets improved but i'm not sure if this will ever happen.

The same applies to the 3D-navigation which is much better in sketchup...

[theo@3drealism.com]

It all depends on how you like to model. I much prefer to use booleans, and ProBooleans work very well for me. It is very fast. ProBooleans work better with Editable Mesh that Editable Poly. Snapping to imported cad files work fine. Simply create walls and windows out of Boxes and subtract one from the other.

 

The main problem with snapping in Max is there are not enough snapping options. Otherwise it works well.