3ds Max To Blender Comparison

It has been interesting learning the differences between both programs. The workflow is different and the tools are often named different.

I have put together a comparison of tools that are often used. Seeing as Blender is more hotkey oriented alot of the tools are accessible with a hotkeys.

I have been learning 3ds Max 2011 with the Graphite Modeling Tools, so some things here may have changed from older versions of Max.

Quick Tips: "Toolbar" (T) and "3D View Properties" (N) are both activated in the 3D View with the hotkeys or by going to the View Menu at the bottom.

There are also "Properties Panels"  that are on the right, these "Properties Panels" are different than the "3D View Properties".

To add a Modifier you will need to go to the Modifier Properties Panel.

RMB (Right Mouse Button), LMB (Left Mouse Button), MMB (Middle Mouse Button).

Comparison Chart
Here is a Comparison Chart that should give you some clues to the different naming and functions of the tools that are similar between both applications.

3ds Max	Blender
Move (W) / Rotate (E) / Scale (R)	Translate or Grab (G) / Rotate (R) / Scale (S) You can use the widget as well
Select (Q) Deselect (LMB Click)	Select All / Deselect All toggle with (A)
Constrain To Axis using the Gizmo	(X,Y,or Z) or (Shift-Axis you want to exclude) Press an Axis twice to constrain to the Local Axis instead of the Global Axis. (eg. XX)
Show Hide the Gizmo (X)	Show Hide the Widget (Ctrl-Space) or the button on the header
Wireframe View Toggle (F3)	Wireframe Draw Mode Toggle (Z)
Edged Faces (F4)	Object Properties Panel (Cube icon) > Enable "Wire" under the Display heading
Editable Poly (RMB > Convert to Editable Poly)	Once you have added your obect they can be edited with Edit Mode (Tab)
Sub-Object Mode	Edit Mode (Tab)
Vertex/Edge/Polygon	Vertex/Edge/Face Select Mode (Ctrl-Tab) Buttons also located on the 3D View header
Border	Select Border (Alt-RMB) Works in both Edge and Vertex Select Mode.
Element	Linked Mesh Select (L and Ctrl-L) in Edit Mode
Create Standard Primitives / Splines	Add Menu (Shift-A > Mesh/Curve) or at the top of the screen in the Add Menu
TurboSmooth Modifer / NURMS	Subdivision Surface Modifier (Ctrl-1,2,3)
Mesh Smooth	Subdivide Smooth (W > Subdivide Smooth)
FFD Modifier	Lattice Object (Shift-A > Lattice) then add Lattice Modifier to your object
Shell Modifier	Solidify Tool (Ctrl-F > Solidify) / Solidify Modifier
Symetry Modifier	Mirror Modifier
Mirror Modifier	Mirror Tool (Ctrl-M) Works in Edit Mode as well
Rectangle Selection Region (LMB-Click and Drag)	Box Select (B) MMB Deselects, RMB Deactivates the tool.
Paint Selection Region (Q to Toggle different Selection Modes > Paint Select)	Circle Select (C) LMB Selects, MMB Deselects, RMB Deactivates the tool. Scroll button changes size of the Brush
Loop Select (Alt-L)	Loop Select (Ctrl-E > Edge Loop or Alt-RMB)
Ring Select (Alt-R)	Ring Select (Ctrl-E > Edge Ring or Ctrl-Alt-RMB)
Attach	Join (Ctrl-J)
Detach	Separate (P)
Weld	Merge (Alt-M)
Bridge	Enable the Addon Script in the preferences (Ctrl-F > Bridge)
Snap Tool (S)	Snap Tool (Shift-Tab) or Press the 'Magnet Icon' on the 3D View header
Snap Options (RMB the Icon)	Snap Options are on the header beside the Snap Tool toggle button
Swift Loop (Graphite Modeling Tools) or Ring Select (Alt-R) > Connect (Ctrl-Shift-E)	Loop Cut (Ctrl-R) or (Ring Select > W > Subdivide)
Select by Name (H)	Outliner Window (Top Right)
Affect Pivot Only	Set Origin (Shift-Ctrl-Alt-C)
Maximize/Minimize Viewport (Alt-W)	Quad View (Ctrl-Alt-Q)
Orthographic / Perspective (U / P)	Orthographic / Perspective - Is a single toggle button (NUM 5)
Top (T) / Front (F) / Left (L) 3ds Max uses the Left View more than the Right	These are all on the Numpad. Top (NUM 7) / Front (NUM 1) / Right (NUM 3) Hold (Ctrl) to invert the view. Blender uses the Right View more than the Left.
Center View to Selection (Z)	Center View to Selection (Numpad Period button)
Isolate Object (Alt-Q)	Local View (Numpad Forward Slash)
Expert Mode (Ctrl-X)	Expand Window (Shift-Space)
Background Image (Alt-B)	Baground Image (N > Background Image > Open Image) Both programs support drag and drop background images.

Workflow Differences
Blender has some tools that give you a completely different workflow from Max. The 3D Cursor and the way object settings are modified during object creation are both done differently in Blender.

• The 3D Cursor
  It is an integral part of the workflow in Blender and is used to control the pivot point of objects as well as editing geometry. 'Manipulate pivot points only' Beside the Pivot Point Selection tool on the header Working Pivot - Snap (Shift-S)
  
  
• Modifiers
  Modifiers work differently in each program. They both have similar features and functions. Max has lots of modifiers and many operations rely on them, Blender has a smaller selection. This video explains how they work in Blender.

• Object Creation Settings
  You can change settings at Object Creation with Max before you convert the object to an editable poly. In Blender you can only change the object settings immediately after object creation in the 'Operator panel'. The settings are accessible on the toolbar on the bottom left corner of the window or by pressing (F6) to get the object settings popup window.

For the Adventurous Tiger
If you are feeling adventurous you can also find more addons that are not in the official beta releases, Blendtuts goes over how to get these builds at Graphicall.org.

You get the latest builds of blender with bug fixes and sometimes new features this way. Some of my favorite Addons such as Vertex Slide, Loop Tools, Bridge and Bevel, you can find in builds by filiciss.