Autodesk, Inc., design software provides great tools for building complex designs that range from mechanical to civil, and 3ds Max Design software is a great tool for generating visually striking rendered animations. This round table will discuss topics related to the use of 3ds Max Design software for the rendering and animation of CAD models from other Autodesk design software systems. We will discuss importing and linking models from programs like Revit software and Inventor software, and we'll cover the use of the Civil View feature set for visualizing AutoCAD Civil 3D software geometry. We will examine strategies for working efficiently within 3ds Max software, and we'll look at the animation of specific moveable parts. We'll also discuss the tools that are available for editing keyframes and tweaking the overall look and timing of the animation. To wrap up the discussion, we will review the multiple rendering options available in 3ds Max Design software and discuss which option can be best suited for which particular task.

This class will describe how to do renderings from a Revit software model inside of 3ds Max software. Maximizing on the connecting power between 3ds Max software and Revit software, you will learn how to efficiently create a pipeline between the 2 applications, and you will discover some effective ways to maximize on the 2 applications in specific situations. You will also learn how to create realistic renderings with very minimal effort thanks to the simplicity, accuracy, and speed of the NVIDIA iray rendering engine. All of this combined will create a workflow that will enable you to create and iterate renderings of your designs in a demanding work environment.

In this class we will provide a guided, hands-on experience for working with both Simulation Composite Analysis software and Simulation Composite Design software.

In the construction industry, multiple software systems are used to complete the various day-to-day tasks. This class will walk you through the software systems used—including InfraWorks software, AutoCAD Civil 3D software, Revit software, ReCap software, and Navisworks Manage software—and how these systems are incorporated to different stages of the building and construction process.

Have you ever said to yourself, “We pay for modern software tools, CAD managers, IT, hardware, implementation,and training, but I can’t help feeling we aren’t getting all the productivity we should have.”? In my experience, most senior management staffs have thought this at some point—but why? In this class, we’ll explore the role senior management can play in making new tools perform through motivation, CAD management intervention, implementing mission goals, customer interaction, and expectation management. Along the way, we’ll explore the key failure modes that impede technology productivity that CAD managers and users often miss. These include poor user psychology, contractual barriers, negative peer pressure, and lack of mission focus. Make no mistake, senior management really does have a role in rolling out new software technology, and this session will help you understand that role better so you can get the most from your software environment.

You may have at times said to yourself, “We pay for modern software tools, hardware, implementation, and training, but I can’t help feeling that we aren’t getting all the productivity we should have.” In this session we’ll ponder why some companies succeed with new software while others flounder, and we’ll explore the key role the CAD/Building Information Modeling (BIM) manager can play in achieving the success that leads to high productivity. We’ll cover defining your CAD tools and finding technology accelerators, and we’ll also look at test piloting, training ladder methodologies, project management-based tool analysis, and the profound impact of mission management when implementing software. If you are responsible for CAD/BIM management, training, or project execution using CAD tools, you won’t want to miss this session.

Inventor software is a great tool for building complex mechanical assemblies, and 3ds Max Design software is a great tool for generating visually striking rendered animations. This class will fuse the 2 software programs and cover topics related to the animation of Inventor software assemblies using 3ds Max 2015 software. Designers will learn how to import an Inventor software assembly that is going to be used for animation in 3ds Max software. They will learn strategies for building a hierarchy based on the animation requirements for the imported models. The class will step through the process of creating keyframe animation of specific moveable parts. Finally, attendees will learn about the tools that are available for editing keyframes and tweaking the overall look and timing of the animation. To complete the process, attendees will learn how to use the Quicksilver hardware renderer to configure and render an image sequence for final output.

This lab will demonstrate 3 different easy-to-use rendering options available with 3ds Max Design software. We will use an Inventor software model as a source example, but you could apply these rendering options to any other model supported by the 3ds Max Design software importer. First, we will render the model using the mental ray rendering machine's daylight system, which is one of the default rendering options. Secondly, while using one of the 3ds Max Design software sample files, we will render the model in a lighting studio setting. Finally, we will show you a simple way of loading a high dynamic range imaging (HDRI) image to use as base lighting and background for an image (similar to a Showcase software environment dome). This lab is intended for Product Design Suite software users who have a basic knowledge of 3ds Max Design software and would like to gain intermediate knowledge of rendering options. We will discuss the strengths of the mental ray and NVIDIA iray rendering engines and clarify when they should be used in production. This will be a fast-paced lab that concentrates on rendering knowledge.

Tracking the software used within an organization is an important job. If it’s your job, what methods and approaches do you use? Even with the best intentions, it can be easy to make mistakes which, if left unchecked, could lead to much bigger problems. This class will show you common Software Asset Management mistakes that are applicable to AutoCAD and many other Autodesk products. You’ll learn how to spot the tell-tale signs that can help you identify mistakes. You’ll discover practical ways to minimize the problems and take the first step towards better management of the software in your organization. You’ll also see what is possible in the mid- and long-term to improve your Software Asset Management skills and practice.

This class will cover best practices for running your Autodesk software on virtualized desktops and workstations or virtualized servers. We’ll look at use cases across products, license types, and virtualization providers to explain how to set up these scenarios and what you can do under our terms of use. We will also touch on how to get support if you encounter issues running your Autodesk software on virtualized hardware, and we’ll cover some common pitfalls to avoid.

Software asset management is a valuable process for companies of any size. Having the ability to track license ownership and use will better ensure that you’re making the best use of your existing assets and will help you to avoid costly license compliance issues. Drew Jarvis—a Verafirm-certified software asset management professional—will take you through the benefits, best practice, and possible pitfalls of software asset management, along with practical implementation via the use of Network Inventory software. Come to this class and start making use of this powerful business driver in your organization. AIA Approved

This lab will introduce designers to the real-world use of, and best practices for, rendering Revit software models using 3ds Max software and the NVIDIA iray rendering machine. Learn key techniques for working with Revit software models inside of 3ds Max software, and discover what it takes to render photographic-quality images using the iray rendering machine. Explore the creation and application of the Autodesk, Inc., library materials to quickly create surface textures. Utilize the daylight lighting system to simulate outdoor lighting. This class will introduce the use of traditional architectural photographic techniques and composition for the creation of compelling images. Learn how to control the camera through the use of composition techniques like the rule of thirds and the diagonal method. Use 3ds Max software exposure controls to adjust the scene exposure, and then set up and render using the iray rendering machine. See how you can get ahead of the competition by creating visually compelling, photorealistic renderings using photographic compositions and the iray rendering machine.

This class covers the basics of the SketchBook Pro painting and drawing software for desktop computers. You will learn how to create painterly effects that mimic real mediums and textures, and we will teach these techniques through the lens of character creation and creature design.

Ideally, a dedicated software development team, skilled in the software development lifecycle, handles the task of customizing Autodesk products to meet your business needs. More often, however, it is the advanced CAD user or manager who handles this task, starting off by tinkering with a few lines of script-but ending up spending nights and weekends wrestling a mountain of now-mission-critical code. If this scenario sounds a little too familiar, please join us for a crash course in software development best practices, and discover some tips and tricks that should make your code-wrangling days more enjoyable.

Wouldn't it be great if we could go to a workstation, pull a proverbial trigger to uninstall everything we don't need anymore, and then pull another trigger to install everything we need now? We can't do that unless we find a way to 'weaponize' our software deployments. This class will share a company's experiences managing Autodesk, Inc., products and keeping its computers and users from 'blowing up.' Without using any special install tools (like Group Policy, for example), you will explore the techniques this company uses to reduce the steps and amount of time needed to install the applications as suites or individual products. In addition, this class will cover a way to reduce the time and effort needed to uninstall previous releases with little effort, including the extras. There are many techniques in use today and this class intends to add more weapons to the arsenal.

In this presentation we will discuss how to create and store standard parts (devices) into a library and how to build and store standard configurations of those parts into a catalog of controlled circuits. We will also detail various methods for developing a standard workflow, and we'll look at how to hone in on the most effective methodology using AutoCAD Electrical software. We will give consideration to the incorporation of existing (brownfield) projects, and we will demonstrate how to produce various drawing sets once rendering is complete. You will also learn how to extract a bill of materials from AutoCAD Electrical software and convert it into a standard format ready for exportation into a material ordering system. We will place emphasis on a step-by-step presentation approach, and we will allot time for questions and answers so that audiences will find the presentation useful, regardless of experience with AutoCAD Electrical software.

This hands-on lab will be a beginner's introduction to the C# programming language and how this can be used with the Autodesk software APIs to develop custom tools. Using examples from the Revit and Navisworks APIs we will run through what an API is and how to use it. This will include how to set up and write the first lines of code, where to get references, and how Autodesk add-ins work, as well as providing some examples. This class will also introduce you to some additional resources you can use to develop your knowledge further.

This class will present effective security practices for AutoCAD software developers, CAD managers, and advanced AutoCAD software users. We'll share the many lessons that the AutoCAD Security Team has learned over the past 2 years. Concepts include types of vulnerabilities and threats, existing AutoCAD software security features, and recommended system settings and administration. We'll also cover how to design secure APIs, how to design secure build switches and processes, and how to design testing strategies. The primary focus will be on desktop AutoCAD software, but we will also get into web and Internet issues.

This video provides a selection of valuable insights from BIM professionals on Revit productivity tools and practices adopted at their firms. It is hosted by Ideate Software and it features their Revit productivity solutions, such as Ideate Software, used by BIM managers and Revit users across the globe.

The City of Vancouver uses both Autodesk® applications and Pitney Bowes Software products extensively for creating and sharing 2D to 3D workflows, districtation, and other GIS, design, and infrastructure tasks. To date, Autodesk products have been used primarily for the design and maintenance of infrastructure and for 3D modeling and visualization, while Pitney Bowes Software MapInfo Professional® has been used for analysis on urban planning projects. With the announcement of the strategic partnership between Autodesk and Pitney Bowes Software, the City is expecting to be able to integrate workflows and information much more easily than ever before. This class will provide an overview of how a range of products are being used together. We will outline specific workflows, focusing on how to take advantage of existing 2D GIS data and to work through the plan, design, build, and manage lifecycle of infrastructure, and to visualize that same data in 3D.