Create a Marching Army Animation using Particles in 3ds Max

on Jan 7th 2010 with 30 comments
Tutorial Details

As you may already know, particles can be used to do just about anything you could possibly imagine. In this tutorial, we’ll be taking a look at just one of the very cool ways particles can be used to make your life much much easier. Of course we won’t be able to take a look at all the things that can be done with particles, but we are going to create something very exciting….a marching 3d army where we have full control over the position and animation of the soldiers!

Final Effect Preview

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Video 1

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Video 2

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Video 3

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Note: click the ‘Monitor’ icon to view tutorial in full-screen HD.

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Hello, my name is Hugo Tromp and I'm a 3d artist. I love working with 3ds Max, but I also work with software like Maya, and for Photoshop post production. I've been in the CG world for only 3 years or so, but I enjoy every aspect of modeling, animating, and compositing, and always strive to stand out and be creative! My site is http://www.creativecaptain.com/.  

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  • http://www.ninjaeffects.com Markus Gustafsson

    That looks cool! I dont use 3Ds Max but that looks awesome!

  • RAVI CHANDRA

    Cool Dude . Nice work u done

  • Stefan

    Great one! Exactly what I’m looking for :)
    Thanks mate :)

    • pahdre

      hey Stefan I like your work. we should link up.

  • Gareth

    You spelt exciting as “exiting”.

    • Mike

      Good job on pointing out that he “spelt” that wrong. That wuz an importent comment.

    • Emin

      Haha… sorry. Did you spelled “spelt” ironically? ;)

  • EmbeR

    Great tutorial, thanks

  • Alex

    hah… you wondered why there are only 5 soldiers in the viewport and 9 in the rendering…. check out the percentage of particles in the modify bar when your pflow is selected

  • http://www.youtube.com/v4vfx ramesh

    looking great !! thanx a million.

  • http://www.creativecaptain.com/ Hugo Tromp
    Author

    Heey,

    Thanks for the great comments. I was wasn’t sure how to spell exiting so thanks for the comment. I’ll remember it forever :)

  • mirek

    looks awsome , :)

  • JohnnyFerns

    Buddy, thats a very nice tutorial. I needed something like that for a very long time. Thanks a lot..

  • http://www.creativecaptain.com Hugo Tromp
    Author

    Oh yeah stupid. The viewport shows only something like 50% of the particles. Thanks! :)

  • Ari Lieb

    This… is.. so… COOL!!!!! I HAVE been looking FOREVER for a tutorial on this!!!!!!!!! THANKS A BILLION MAN!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!! :D

  • Xa

    on the image two heads O.O? (third on the middle)

    • kml

      I can see that too! xD double head , perhaps a failed clone :P

  • http://bit.ly/5RQv0e Dumm

    looks very good. I’m willing to try this tutorial. thanks

  • Anoniem

    yeah uhm…… it looks cool, but i dont think i will be able to do all that shit. but that doesn’t matter.

    Great tutorials

  • Sebastiaan Swinkels

    3Ds Max is the only reason i’d have to keep a windows pc around. Well that and Modern Warfare 2 haha. I need to get back into this, been a long time. And there certainly seems to be better learning material around these days

  • yuda

    wow that so cool thanks…so much

  • LosPescados

    awesome tutorial ! Just great!

  • waseem

    thanks man…..

  • http://3d-studio-max-free.blogspot.com/ Kozby Show

    I don’t want to spam but I think this will be a useful spam… lol !
    Every army needs a characters sooo I have this little blog
    with lots of free rigged 3d models for 3ds max ,
    check it out if you want (for link click on name)

  • safa

    Really thanks for this tutrial. it was so usfull for me thanks so much:)

  • sonal

    Thanks

  • Igor3D

    In first video its wrong that LoR scene exist millions particles.
    I watch portfolio from one guy who work with this. They made a sprite base flow and combine it with real time footages.

  • vitorijoski

    nice tutorial….. but why are the others characters can not walk in biped mode mixer…!!!!
    pls halp

  • naimatullah

    I want to work in 3d studio max house elevation & interior pleas call me

  • za

    unfortunatly its not work with biped rig or bone …. ive tried and the particle wont animate… does any one hav the solution