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Autodesk 3ds Max 2025.1 / 2026 INFORMATION HUB

🔧 Workflow Principles & Official Download

3ds Max is a professional 3D package written in C++. Runs on Windows 10/11. Core features include polygonal modeling (Editable Poly, Box modeling), modifiers, splines, particle systems (Particle Flow) and renderers (V-Ray, Corona, Arnold). The software uses a modifier stack for non-destructive editing and supports physics (formerly Reactor).

⬇️ Official Download (Free Trial / Subscription)

✅ Free annual license for students and educators — official Autodesk program.

This site is not affiliated with Autodesk. Links are provided for informational purposes only.

📁 Complete 3ds Max Formats Reference

Based on official Autodesk documentation and industry standards.

📀 Native Format

  • .MAX — primary scene format. Full compatibility only within the same major version. Save backward compatible up to 3 versions.
  • .CHR — characters.
  • .DRF — reactor files.

🔄 Import / Export (Universal)

  • FBX — standard for game engines.
  • OBJ — geometry and UVs.
  • Alembic (.abc) — animation cache.
  • USD / USDA / USDC — universal scene description.
  • Collada (.dae), VRML, STL.

🏗️ CAD / Engineering

  • DWG, DXF — direct integration.
  • Revit (.rvt) — linking.
  • STEP, IGES, SAT — solid modeling.
  • SketchUp (.skp).

🧪 Textures & Rasters

  • PNG, JPG, TGA, TIFF, EXR, DDS, PSD.

⚠️ Legacy

  • .3DS (DOS) — limitations: 8.3 filenames, 64k polygons. Not recommended.

🎯 Terminology: What does "template" mean in 3ds Max?

Depending on the context, the term "template" can refer to completely different file types. Use the correct names for accurate search:

  • .maxt Scene Template Files

    Official Autodesk term. Open via New Scene → Template. Set units, renderer, workspace, and starting geometry. Use when starting a project "from scratch".

  • .max Pre-made Scenes / Sample Scenes

    Professional "starter scenes" with configured furniture, lights, cameras, and interiors. Distributed as regular .max files. Ideal for interior visualization.

  • Shader Material Templates / Shaders

    Built-in presets in the Material Editor (Physical Material): Metal, Glass, Wood. Define glossiness, transparency, refraction.

  • .max / .fbx 3D Assets / 3D Models

    What beginners mistakenly call "model templates" (chair, house, tree). In professional catalogs (CGTrader, TurboSquid, 3DOcean), search using these labels.

🖼️ Examples of such scenes include fully modeled living rooms, kitchens, and office spaces with preset cameras and lighting — ready for instant rendering.

💡 Tip: Clarify your goal — creating a new scene, interior visualization, or material setup. This will determine the correct "template" type and save hours of searching.

🔍 Built-in backward compatibility: File → Save As → save up to 3 versions back (e.g., 2025 → 2024, 2023, 2022).

📊 Audience & Market Share

6,661+
companies use 3ds Max (2024)

6sense data, 3D rendering segment only.

35.32%
market share (#1)

Ahead of NVIDIA (31.7%) and KeyShot.

1,623
companies (20-49 emp.)

🌍 Geography: USA (48%), UK, Canada, Germany. Major clients: Ubisoft, Ernst & Young, Turner Construction, universities. Individual users — millions (estimated).

🚨 Cyber Threats in 3D Formats & Protection

Active vulnerability (2025): CVE-2025-11795 — critical vulnerability in JPG file parsing. Malicious JPG when opened in 3ds Max (versions <2026.3) causes Out-of-Bounds Write and allows arbitrary code execution. CVSS 7.8 (HIGH).

🛡️ Countermeasures:

📦 Where to download templates WITHOUT viruses (verified):

🔹 TurboSquid (Free 3D) 🔹 Free3D.com (moderated) 🔹 CGTrader (SafeCheck) 🔹 Sketchfab (Free)

⚠️ Avoid: torrent trackers, forums with direct file-sharing links without reviews. Always scan archives with antivirus. Remember: even JPG textures can exploit vulnerabilities.

⭐ Best practice: subscribe to commercial libraries (Evermotion, Archmodels) — guaranteed clean files.

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🧠 Why 3ds Max is the Industry Standard?

Support for a vast ecosystem of plugins (V-Ray, Corona, Forest Pack), procedural modeling, time-tested architecture. More than 35% of the 3D visualization market belongs to 3ds Max. Despite competition from Blender, Max remains an essential tool in architectural bureaus and game dev. Our resource is created for safe work with it.

This is a completely independent, non-commercial information project. We do not sell software, templates, or courses.