3ds Max 2022 Update 1 Highlights

Highlights for Update 1

• Faster Smart Extrude - Processing changes to a selection of faces with Smart Extrude is now many times faster with performance improvements in 3ds Max 2022.1. Previously, there were performance lags when performing a "cut through" on models with many faces and vertices with Smart Extrude. Now, meshing operations are faster when merging or cutting into geometry and restitching of intersection operations have been improved as well.
• Modifier Feature Updates - 3ds Max is an important tool for artists to not only create content, but to also bring that content together for assembly from a variety of sources into a final production. To ease artist workflow and respond to community suggestions, significant performance improvements have been made to modifiers.
• Smooth Modifier Update - to help artists modify/clear explicit normal data, the Smooth modifier now clears all Normals and Smoothing Group data when it is applied to an object (or a component selection). This enhancement to the Smooth modifier makes it easier for artists to apply new data for final production and maximize workflow efficiency.
• Deformation Modifier Updates - Performance improvements to modifiers that deform meshes and utilize Explicit Normals in 3ds Max will enable artists to work 2 to 4 times faster when working with modifiers such as Skin, Path Deform, Bend, FFD (all types), Mirror, Noise, Skew, Taper, Twist, Affect Region, Linked Xform, Melt, Skinwrap Patch, Spherify, and Surf Wrap.
• Symmetry Modifier Update - When using the updated Symmetry modifier, artists can adjust the weld threshold used to merge vertices along the cutting plane above or below the 0.01-unit default threshold. This enables artists to fill gaps along the mirror axis in models with gap geometry. This feature implementation was brought back based on customer feedback.
• New Selection Filters for Editable Poly and Edit Poly modifier - Two new Optional Culling selection filters, Backface and Ignore Occluded, have been added to Editable Poly and the Selection Rollout for Edit Poly modifier. When enabled, artists will be able to only select the components (vertices, edges, polygons) that are visible in their view. Hence, making it easier to select visible components only and preventing you from unintentionally selecting components that are occluded from view. These options replace the legacy Ignore Backfacing toggle. In addition, Target Weld and Bridge poly functions now perform better with these options enabled. Requested by games and VFX customers, this new filter will improve poly modeling workflows.
• Restore Factory Settings & Startup Failure Recovery - A new Restore to Factory Settings button has been added to the General Preferences tab to let you restore 3ds Max default settings from within the software if you experience unexpected UI behavior or performance issues. Additionally, on launch, if 3ds Max detects that initialization has been corrupted in a way that prevents it from launching, a Startup Failure Detection window now appears. (You can ignore the dialog and continue without restoring. If 3ds Max continues to fail at startup, the option will still appear.)

Enhancements and Changes

• Support for Vertex Colors in FBX Imports - Vertex Colors are now supported in FBX imports from a broader set of sources, enabling greater collaboration opportunities across different creative tools with less compromise.
• Multi-Threading of Noise Maps - Enhancements to the legacy Noise maps provides better multi-threading
• Improved Viewport Mesh Calculations - Artists will see faster viewport and rendering calculations when converting mesh data formats to GPU data formats.
• Retopology Tools 1.1 - Retopology Tools 1.1 is now included as a part of the main install of 3ds Max 2022.1. See the Retopology Tools 1.1 release notes for more details.
• Fluid Loader Particle ID Data - Fluid Loader has been updated to help VFX artists properly expose Particle ID data, making it easier for systems to identify each unique bit of particle data that is contained in the Fluid Loader object.
• Vertex Paint Improvements - Sub-object component selections can now be passed up the modifier stack to the Vertex Paint modifier. This will enable artists to utilize the component selection as a mask to control where you can paint. Vertices of hidden faces are no longer selectable with your mouse when using Vertex Paint.

More info in Autodesk 3ds Max documentation