Update: Autodesk 3ds Max 2021.3 Released

Last week, Autodesk released 3ds Max 2021.3, an update that includes new Retopology Tools. Below, a list of the highlights.

Autodesk 3ds Max 2021.3 Update Highlights

• Autodesk Retopology Tools 1.0
• Materials and Shaders Evolution
• Brilliant Viewport
• Arnold Renderer
• Path Deform
• Selection Methods
• Spline Chamfer
• Enhanced Subdivide and Remesh Algorithms
• Render Settings
• Script Execution
• Security
• Plugin Management

Autodesk 3ds Max 2021.3 is focused on modernization, performance, and fit & finish.

We have added new capabilities to the viewport, improved modeling efficiency for artists with enhancements to popular modifiers, and continued to make 3ds Max robust and secure with performance improvement and new security features.

Autodesk Retopology Tools 1.0

• Retopology Modifier
  •  Utilize the Retopology modifier to analyze the geometric mesh data below it on the modifier stack and reconstruct polygonal mesh data as clean quad-based topology. Various algorithms are provided to best suit the needs of your workflow.
• ReForm Algorithm
  • ReForm is an automated retopology solution developed by Autodesk that generates new quad based geometry with uncompromising accuracy to follow the curvature and shape of the incoming mesh data.
  • Users can help guide the results of ReForm by utilizing existing mesh data such as smoothing groups, material ID boundaries, UV data, Boolean Seams, Normals, edge selection, or angle variance.
  • ReForm is perfect for almost any type of mesh data such as scanned, sculptural, generative, or modeled.
• Quadriflow Algorithm
  • Quadriflow is an automated retopology quadragulation method that is somewhat slower than Instant Meshes but can produce better results that more closely follow the input topology than what Instant Meshes provides.
• Instant Meshes
  • Instant Meshes is an automated retopology algorithm that can very quickly produce a new quad based topology that can approximately follow your input mesh data. It is best applied to scanned or sculptural data where you need a close approximation.
• Mesh Clean Modifier
  • When importing mesh data into 3ds Max from other 3D application, this data can often be malformed and have a variety of problems that can not only affect the ability of the Retopology modifier (as it attempts to reconstruct your geometric mesh data) but can affect your ability to perform various actions in 3ds Max as well.
  • Utilizing the Mesh Cleaner modifier, you can quickly analyze and repair malformed mesh data.

In addition, this update includes several fixes. For full release notes, visit the Updates tab on the 3ds Max product page.