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Essential 3DS Max Keyboard Shortcuts
18
Learning keyboard and mouse shortcuts will greatly speed up your work in 3DS Max. Although
3DS Max has gazillions of shortcuts, this article only lists the most common/ important ones.
Youll find yourself using most of these shortcuts without even thinking about it.

The most important 3DS Max shortcuts are preceded by an exclamation mark {!} .
1/4 Absolutely Essentials Hotkeys
! M Material Editor { }
! Alt+W maximize, minimize current viewport (works like the { } button}
! Z zoom in on selection (works like the Zoom Extents { } button}
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2/4 Mouse+Keyboard combinations
These are probably the most useful shortcuts. Youll find yourself using them more often than
anything else
! ALT+Middle Button - Orbit { }
! CTRL+Middle Button -Pan { }
Shift+Middle Button Pan on Restricted Axis this will restrict the pan axis to either x or y.
! Scroll Wheel - Zoom In/ Out Add the ALT key to this to zoom in in smaller increments { }
! ! Ctrl+Left click on sub-object icons will transfer your current selection to the sub-object you
clicked.
For example, if youve selected 20 edges and ctrl+click on the polygon icon, it will convert the
edge selection to a polygon selection.
3/4 Viewport
! P switch to the Perspective view
! Q Select { }
! W Move { }
! E Rotate { }
! R Scale { }
F - switch to front view
L switch to left view
T switch to the Top view
B Switch to the Bottom view
C switch to a Camera view
F switch to the Front viewport
! 7 Polygon Count
8 Environment & Effects Window
F2 Shade selected faces
! F3 switch between smooth and wireframe
! F4 edged faces
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Ctrl+C Create camera from view
ALT-Q Isolate Object
X Toggle Transform Gizmo
G Hide or show Grid
Alt+B Viewport Background
Space Selection Lock / Unlock
4/4 Workflow
! Sub-Object Selection Keys These are active when youre working on an Editable Poly/
Mesh object. If your using primitives, the keys will switch to the Modify Tab { }.
1 - Vertex
2 Edge
3 Border
4 Polygon
5 - Element
! Ctrl+Backspace remove selected edge and associated vertices


More Info:
Author: Tudor Nita
Born from an unhealthy cross-over between a rat and a pet hamster. Likes cheese, and chewing his
way through virtual cardboard walls.
Original photo: CGRats
Keytags: 3DS, 3ds max, autodesk, hotkey, keyboard, move tool, optimize, shortcut, shortcuts,
tutorial, workflow
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About the authors:
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Programmer and 3D enthusiast. Teaches web design, builds games and maintains this site in his
spare time.
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Iulian:
2D/ 3D artist. Loves game& product art.
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Vlad:
2D/ 3D artist. Works as a print designer and does 3D art in his spare time.
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