Currently, there are multiple reasons why you may need to design a circular array of objects in your editing program, in this case 3D Studio Max, where you can also create texts in three dimensions.
For example, a basic exercise when learning to use this program, and especially the function that we are going to see today, is to anchor or use as a pivot , a figure with respect to other adjacent figures.
This option, although it may not seem like it, has many interesting uses that can be used to simulate, detail or show certain daily activities .
Said ‘pivot’ mentioned, it could be a table, and our need is to add people or chairs, or both (people sitting on the chairs) around it . In the same way, a kind of bush can be made in the center, and people meditating around it.
Of course, within the program you can edit colors and use other shapes. Regardless of what you need, this program can do what you ask for.
Let’s not wait any longer! Let’s see next, the best detailed explanation you can get on the web about how to create a circular array of objects in 3D studio max or even hide objects and lock them.
First steps to create a circular array of objects
Once the program is open, click on the ‘create’ option on the right side, then click on the button just below ‘shapes’. Now select any object you want or need.
For this tutorial we will use the cylinder, click and place it in the corresponding area. Then two possible cases can be derived , the first, that the other figure to be anchored, is the same cylinder created or any other figure.
In this article, we select the created cylinder, copy it and with the shift key pressed, we move the cylinder to the side we want on the X or Y axis.
Now, you will see a window with several options, select where it says ‘object’ the option ‘copy’ and click on ‘ok’. Then, if you like, you can change the color of the figure and the interface of your design.
If you want to add another shape and not copy the same cylinder, simply select it and place it in the area you want. Subsequently, change the pivot of said figure and change it for the cylinder or used object.
How to repeat or copy objects for a circular array
Click on the main figure (the pivot), and then press the button of the upper headband, with the image of several squares and an arrow, when placing the cursor over it it says ‘Use transform coordinate center’
When the list of options is displayed, you choose the third one, select the object you want to repeat , then in the upper headband, click ‘tools’ and in the drop-down list press ‘array’.
It is very important that you press, in the new ‘array’ window, the ‘Reset All Parameters’ button to delete the coordinates indicated there.
Then, in the box titled ‘array dimensions’, in row 1D headed by the column ‘count’, we indicate the number of times we want the previously selected figure to be repeated.
Now, click on the arrow directed to the right , located in the middle of the three at the top, in addition, in column Z, enter the number 360. By pressing the ‘Preview’ button you will be able to finally visualize , the circular matrix.
Recommendations based on the price of 3d Studio Max and other programs
If at any time you looked for the prices of the 3d studio max and were surprised, hold on tight to your chair as other programs are even more expensive.
For example, the famous AutoCAD used especially by architects , has a monthly license of € 266.20, however they have a fee in case of paying the entire year, which has been resulting in approximately € 177.
In the case of the Revit program , the monthly license costs € 381, in the same way, if you pay for the full year, each month it costs you approximately € 253, almost the same as the monthly payment for AutoCAD.
For the creation of video games and animations , the monthly license of the Maya program is equal to that of 3d studio max where you can insert plans and images for a cost of € 254.10, reducing by an approximate of € 170.
