I've been doing 3d for about 18+ years now. Time flies when you look back at things and how far things have come. But one thing that has never gone away since doing this type of work is speed. How fast can you get it done in time for a certain deadline. I'm sure you could apply these tips to other software packages in some way or form. Hopefully some of these tips will help you if you are just starting out. And for those of you who already know the ropes might already be doing most of these things. I'm going to cover 3 things that should help you in 3d studio max when trying to meet those short deadlines.
1.Hotkeys
The first thing I'd like to cover is Hotkeys! Now I know most of us know the basic functions of 3d Max. But have you gone in and actually made your own hotkeys for your work flow? For me this has helped me so much time by using hotkeys. Rather than moving the mouse and clicking the icon and going from there. The less clicks the better! Just clicking a button and opening a window that normally would have taken probably 3 extra clicks. I know 3 clicks doesn't sound like a lot. But in the long run when you do a task more than once it does add up! So Hotkeys! Learn them for not just 3D Max but even other software! Hotkeys will cut your time on meeting those deadlines when your up late at night trying to get something out by the next morning.
2.Scripts
Now the next thing that will give you fewer clicks are the use of scripts. Now there are a few places you can go and find some really good scripts to speed up your workflow! The scripts that are a must for me are Soulburn scripts by Neil Blevins. And also going to JokerMartini's website, you will not be sorry on how fun his scripts can be. These scripts will get you a long way in a pinch if you use them correctly. If you feel like looking for some new scripts along the way you can also find some really good ones on http://www.scriptspot.com
Also don't be afraid of trying to create your own macro script in 3d Max. Use this cheat sheet to get you off the ground. I know I have used this cheat sheet to help me understand the basics. Cheat Sheet Link
3.Render less
I know we get impatient and want to see every update we have done in 3d max. But unless your using a real-time renderer it just kills so much of your time. Send that render to the backburner and not on your working machine. In my experience my scenes get very heavy and really take a bit of a hard hit on rendering. But if you can resist from pressing render button every chance you get it can save you lots of time! And in the end time is money.
So that's it, those are my 3 top tips for improving your workflow and speed in 3d max. If anything your already doing these 3 things already. I know deadlines can creep up and catch you off guard. But working smarter and not harder will save you so much work in the long run!
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