Animated Text Effect in 3ds Max

Written by zelal
Category Animation and Text Rating:   Hits: 10575   Added: Sunday, 06 Sep 2009
In this beginner-level tutorial, we will apply two basic effects on a text. One is modifier effect (Bevel) and another is rendering effect (Video Post > Lens Effect Highlights). At the end, it may not be a stunning output. But, may be, some beginners can learn some basic techniques. When we finish with tutorial we will an result as shown below: Final rendered text effect.
Step 1
Choose Create panel > Shapes (Splines) > Text and click on the center of the Front viewport to place the text with the default wording “MAX Text”.
Figure 1.  Click here to view larger image.
Step 2
Have you noticed the GIF image at the upper-left corner of this website? It is “3DS Max Resources” with two lines. We will use this text for this tutorial. Let’s make the 1st Line. While the Text01 is still selected, go to Modify panel and Type “3DS Max” in the Text box and choose “Century Gothic Bold” from the Font drop-down list.
Figure 2.  Click here to view larger image.
Step 3
Make a clone of this text by SHIFT+ Move (down) method in the Front viewport.
Figure 3.  Click here to view larger image. Step 4 You must choose “Copy” option (NOT “Instance”) in the Clone Options dialogue box. Then click OK. Figure 4.  Click here to view larger image. Step 5 Now, in the Modify panel, type “Resources” under the Text box. Lower the Size (font-size) to 65. To match the overall width of this 2nd line to that of the 1st line, set the “Kerning” value to 11. Figure 5.  Click here to view larger image. Step 6 We will merge two text-lines into a single spline object to aid our working process. Select Text01 (i.e. 1st line) and apply an “Edit Spline” modifier to it. Figure 6.  Click here to view larger image. Step 7 Under Edit Spline modifier, enable “Attach” button and then click on the Text02 (2nd line) in the viewport. Disable the Attach button. Now we have only a single spline object comprised of two text-shape lines. Figure 7.  Click here to view larger image. Step 8 Apply a “Bevel” modifier to it. Figure 8.  Click here to view larger image. Step 9 Maximize the Perspective viewport. Then, under Bevel modifier > Bevel Values roll-out, set the Height value to 8 for Level 1. Then check Level 2 option. Set the Outline value of Level 2 to -2. Now check Level 3 option. Set the Height value of Level 3 to -3. Notice the change(s) in the viewport after each sub-steps of this step to get an idea how Bevel modifier works. To avoid any possible intersecting problem in the shape check “Keep Lines From Crossing” option under the “Intersections” group. Figure 9.  Click here to view larger image.