Autodesk Released 3ds Max 2024.1

Autodesk has released 3ds Max 2024.1, introducing a range of improvements to its tools.

First of all, there are several Boolean modifier improvements, including a new caching method: Boolean result meshes are now saved with the scene file, making the workflow much faster. It now fully supports Smoothing Groups, Specified, and Explicit Normals operations.

The Array modifier has also been improved. All Array distribution types now have two new options for how to arrange elements in the mesh data: First, Middle, Last and Ordered. Additionally, you can use the new Variation parameter to adjust the angle of clones in your phyllotactic spirals. 

Moreover, the Copy and Paste Animation commands have been updated. You can now Copy and then Paste directly from an object or modifier parameter without needing to first prepare the data. Animation no longer requires matching controllers to be accessible through the right-click menu and has been unified with the Copy and Paste (Controller) commands found in Track view to create a new unified system. 

Autodesk also improved Smart Extrude: 

• When performing Smart Extrude operations on an Editable Poly object, modelers can take advantage of new polygon smoothing that is applied to the resulting faces.
• When performing a positive Smart Extrude that is co-planar to the original polygon surfaces, like extending the top polygon of a cylinder, 3ds Max tries to use the existing normals of neighboring faces on the new faces extruded with Smart Extrude, creating a smoothed result.
• When using Smart Extrude to create new geometry from an inward or outward extrusion, faces that are not planar to the previously existing geometry are automatically smoothed if they are within 30 degrees of tolerance from one another. This result is similar to applying a Smooth Modifier with an angle threshold of 30 degrees.

Other changes include the ability to set user-defined default settings directly in the UI, VertexPaint performance enhancements, Color management updates, and upgrades to MaxtoA 5.6.2.0 and USD for 3ds Max.

3ds Max 2024.1 is available for $235/month or $1,875/year. 

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Preview image by David Zuren