This is an example of standard primitives

Standard primitives are parametric 3 dimensional objects and we can change the parameters here:

This standard primitive can be changed by altering its parameters for length width and height and very importantly its segments.

Note to self: use the f4 key to toggle the segments of the primitives.

This is parametric modelling

Note to self: A face = A three sided polygon in 3ds max. Anything with 4 or more sides is a polygon.

By introducing segments we create more polygons, edges and more vertices.

By right clicking your object and clicking on object properties you can find out how many vertices and faces you object has.

Before you start modelling it’s extremely important to choose the correct unit setup!!

You can create shapes using the keyboard entry method.

A mesh is nothing more than the object you are currently creating and looking at.

Box modelling using modifiers.

Add an edit poly modifier

This form of modelling is non-destructive

After pressing f3 to go into wire frame mode I have selected half of the box via segments by using the polygon sub-object level.

I have cut the cube in half at the sub object polygon level.

Next I added a symmetry modifier.

The symmetry modifier should be added to the top of the stack!

On the edge sub object level make sure the show end result is always on.

You can then select certain bits of the object which you can then edit to your requirements.

Using the Polygon sub-object level you can select certain point of the face to then extrude or vice-versa.

These are just further ways you can edit your shape.