When Your 3D View Turns Rebellious 🎢
If suddenly your view in 3ds Max seems to have gone on strike and doesn't move like before, relax. It's not the end of the world, even if the cold sweat says otherwise. Most likely, you've accidentally touched something, because the software, although it sometimes seems so, doesn't have a personality to make your life impossible on purpose.
Check the View Mode, Just in Case
Before cursing the 3D gods, make sure you're in a perspective view (Perspective or Camera). If you're in Top, Front, or Left, forget about orbiting like an astronaut. Press P to return to Perspective and check if you can now move freely with Alt + left-click. If not, keep reading, there's more. 🕵️
Is the Mouse in Zen Mode?
If the problem persists, your mouse might have decided to take a break. Try the following:
- Close other programs that might interfere (graphics tablets, mouse customizers).
- Try another mouse, in case yours is on strike.
- Check that the left button isn't stuck (yes, it happens more than you think).
Lost Shortcuts and Hidden Modes
If all of the above fails, open Customize > Customize User Interface and check that the navigation shortcuts are active. In recent versions, there's a button in the upper right corner of the viewport that switches between classic and modern navigation. If you accidentally set it to Walkthrough mode, this is where you fix it. Voilà! ✨
Pro tip: If nothing works, reset the preferences. Close 3ds Max, find the configuration folder in AppData, rename it, and restart. The program will create a new clean configuration.
The Irony of 3D Distraction
The funniest thing is that, in 90% of cases, the problem was something ridiculously simple, like having the gizmo selection mode activated or being in an orthographic view. And while you were sweating ink, a colleague fixed it in three seconds with an "Oh, you had this pressed". The life of a 3D artist… 🤦♂️
So now you know: before reinstalling or throwing the keyboard out the window, check these steps. And if all else fails, there's always the option to blame a digital poltergeist. Good luck! 👻