Whenever one thinks of 3D effects, explosions often come to mind. With this tutorial you will learn how to create one of the simplist explosion effects there is, that of a 3D box.

1. Creating a box is a simple process that can be accomplished in many ways. The following makes extensive use of the Command Panel.

Select the Create tab , then Geometry

2. Click the "Box" button and drag out an area you would like the box to take up and then drag up, creating the height of the object.

3. Once the box is created move to the Modify tab [] and scroll down to the Parameters rollout.

The Parameters rollout can be used to modify the length, width, and height of an object. Segmentations can also be made in order to help in the modification of the object's mesh at a later time.

4. By switching back to the Create tab [], select the Spacewarps [].

5. Select the and click the Bomb Button. Place the bomb next to the box in your scene.

6. At this point it is necessary to bind the bomb to your box. In order to accomplish this important task you will need to become familiar with your Main Toolbar and the Bind To Spacewarp button.

7. While this button is depressed the pointer icon will change while over a target object, such as the box and/or spacewarp, such as the bomb. While the Bind to Spacewarp button is depressed, click and hold your mouse down on the bomb and while holding the click - drag your mouse onto the box.

8. When you have the cursor over the box, relase the click and the box will flash white for a moment, indicating that the bomb is now affecting the box.

9. In order to see the explosion you will need to use the Timeslider. This usefull device will allow you to sweep back and forth through frames to see the effect of the bomb on the box. Move the timeslider past frame 5, the default frame that the bomb should start exploding the box.

10. You will see a very uniform box exploding. It will be a bit dull and quite static. In order to change this you will need to change the parameters of the bomb and possibly the box.

11. If you would like to increase the debris from the box, then you need to increase the number of segments associated with the box. Changing the spin, chaos, and min/max fragment size will help create a more interesting and dynamic explosion.

12. Remember that you can always move the bomb and the box will always explode away from the bomb.

13. In order to heighten the explosion's visual impact, Combustion/Fire Effect can be added to create a burst of flames. To add Combustion/Fire Effect, click on the Helpers Button [] on the Command Panel and choose Atmosphere Apparatus from the pull-down list.

14. Select Sphere Gizmo and in your scene drag your cursor from the center of the box to where you want the fire to extend. A spherical shape will be created. The spherical object is simply a placeholder and it needs to be filled with something.

15. Before continuing, you may want to go into the Modifify options and click on the hemisphere option. If you use the full sphere the fire looks like an explosion happening in space, while the hemisphere looks as though the explosion is emanating from the ground.

16. While the Sphere Gizmo is selected, open the modify panel, and Add Atmosphere and select Combustion (For 3DSMax 3.x) or Fire Effect (For 3DSMax 4.x) from the options.

17. Highlight the Combustion/Fire Effect you just added by clicking on the selection and hit Setup. The defaults for all options should be fine except for the very last few. These have to be changed. Click on the explosion and setup the timings.

18. Move the Timeslider back and forth to get a sense of the height of your explosion. If you feel that the explosion peaks at frame 20, for example, then set the Combustion/Fire Effect to explode between 0 and 40 frames. This will ensure that the fire also peaks at 20 and then fades to smoke.

19. Finally, render out your scene into a movie and view your creation.