Advance your 3D design expertise with this two-day Intermediate 3ds Max course. Master advanced modelling, materials, lighting, and rendering to produce complex, professional 3D visuals. Strengthen your creative workflow and technical precision. Join now and refine your 3ds Max skills.

This intermediate-level Autodesk 3ds Max course is designed for users who already have a basic understanding of the software and want to develop more sophisticated 3D modelling, animation, and rendering skills. Whether you work in design, architecture, visualisation, or entertainment, this course provides the techniques to bring your creative projects to life.
You’ll start by exploring mesh modelling and hard-surface techniques to build detailed and realistic 3D objects. You’ll then move on to dynamic simulations — using rigid bodies, cloth, and fluids to add movement and realism to your scenes. These essential tools allow you to simulate natural motion and physical behaviour within your projects.
The course also delves into advanced rendering techniques using Arnold (built-in) and V-Ray (third-party plugin). You’ll learn how to create daylight systems, interior and studio lighting setups, and optimise render settings for photorealistic results. Combined with your new materials, textures, and lighting control, these techniques will help you produce professional-quality imagery for design, film, or advertising.
Delivered in small groups at our London training studios or online, the course combines expert instruction with hands-on exercises. By the end of the two days, you’ll have mastered advanced modelling and rendering workflows, enabling you to produce detailed, realistic, and visually impressive 3D work.
Here is what you will learn on this 3ds Max course in more detail. Click the topics below to explore what is covered in each section.
Mesh modelling gives you complete control over shape and detail, making it ideal for precise hard-surface and organic designs. You’ll explore the full range of mesh tools to refine your geometry and achieve greater realism.
Introduction to mesh modelling tools in 3ds Max
Techniques for modelling hard-surface objects
Combining mesh modelling with procedural techniques
Manual editing and refinement of geometry
Creating custom objects and assets from scratch
Dynamic simulations bring physical realism to your 3D environments. In this section, you’ll learn how to use rigid bodies, collisions, and physical forces to create natural motion and believable animation effects.
Understanding and applying dynamic body systems
Working with rigid bodies and collision settings
Differences between kinematic, static, and dynamic objects
Simulating object interactions and environmental effects
Managing simulation settings for performance and accuracy
Cloth simulations allow you to add realism to soft surfaces and fabrics within your scenes. You’ll learn how to create and control cloth dynamics for everything from flags and curtains to upholstery and clothing.
Setting up and applying cloth simulations
Creating fabric materials for realistic effects
Simulating draped and folded cloth such as curtains, flags, and cushions
Managing collision objects and gravity for believable results
Adjusting simulation parameters for precision and performance
Fluid simulation adds another layer of realism, allowing you to represent liquids, smoke, and gases within your 3D environments. You’ll explore how to use 3ds Max fluid tools to simulate natural, dynamic effects.
Introduction to fluid dynamics and simulation concepts
Adjusting parameters such as viscosity and density
Simulating water, smoke, and liquid motion
Rendering fluid simulations with high-quality lighting and materials
Exporting and compositing fluid renders for final output
Rendering is where your work comes to life. This section focuses on achieving professional lighting, reflections, and shadows using both Arnold and V-Ray renderers. You’ll discover how to set up realistic scenes for both interior and exterior visualisation.
Using V-Ray and Arnold for professional-quality renders
Setting up daylight systems for accurate outdoor lighting
Simulating interior and studio lighting environments
Balancing render quality with speed and optimisation
Comparing and combining V-Ray and Arnold techniques for best results
Every Docklands Media course comes with a range of added benefits to support your learning at no extra cost.
Receive an official certificate of completion to validate your training. Ideal for portfolios, CVs, or proving your skills in 3ds Max.
Access our email and phone support for a lifetime. Contact us with any technical questions related to what you have learned on your 3ds Max course.
Need a refresher? Retake the same 3ds Max course for free within 24 months. A great way to solidify your learning or get up to speed with new software updates.
Receive training notes, project files, and 7-day access to instructor-led video tutorials. Perfect for reinforcing key lessons and practising at your own pace.
We're committed to providing the best training experience possible. That's why we offer a range of discounts and flexible payment options to make your 3ds Max course more accessible and affordable.
Get discounted rates when booking for two or more people, or if you're enrolling from a charity. Save 5–15% depending on your group size or institution type.
Book your 3ds Max course at least three months in advance and get 10% off. Secure your place early and save on top-quality creative training.
If you're not fully satisfied on the first day of your 3ds Max course, let us know. We'll do our best to make it right—or refund you in full. No hassle, no risk.
Spread the cost of your training over 3, 6, or 12 months. Our instalment plans help make creative learning more accessible, with interest rates as low as 5%.

Ricardo's skills are so diverse that it would be impossible to list them all. He is an extremely talented architect and CAD technician, as well as one of the very first Autodesk Certified Instructors in the UK. And all round CAD wiz!
Hear directly from professionals and teams who’ve trained with us, sharing their experiences and the impact our training has had on their creative journeys.
As well as creative individuals, we are also the preferred training provider for some of the most successful global brands and organisations.
Just a few of the common questions asked by our students.
No. The course is suitable for complete beginners as well as students with some prior 3D experience. You’ll start with the fundamentals and progress to more advanced modelling, animation, and rendering techniques.
We use the latest version of Autodesk 3ds Max to ensure you’re learning up-to-date tools, features, and industry-standard workflows. Older versions are mostly compatible, but updating is recommended.
Yes. All exercises are based on real-world projects, so you can apply what you learn directly to professional or personal creative work.
Absolutely. 3ds Max is widely used across multiple creative industries, and the skills you gain can be applied to film, television, games, and advertising projects.
Yes. The course covers polygon and spline modelling, object manipulation, keyframe animation, procedural animation, and camera techniques.
Yes. Projects completed during the course can be used to showcase your 3D modelling, animation, and visualisation skills to employers or clients.
For optimal performance, we recommend a modern computer with at least 16GB of RAM, a multi-core processor, a dedicated GPU, and sufficient storage for large 3D scenes.
Contact us today to learn more about our courses and how we can help you achieve your creative goals.
Docklands Media’s 3ds Max Intermediate course is designed for learners who already have a basic understanding of the software and want to develop more advanced, professional-level skills in 3D modelling, animation, and rendering. This course is ideal for those looking to improve efficiency, expand creative control, and produce more complex 3D work.
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