3ds Max 2026.1 Now Available

Alongside the release of Maya 2026.1, Autodesk also rolled out an update for 3ds Max with several efficiency-focused enhancements. The standout feature in 3ds Max 2026.1 is the new Attribute Transfer modifier, which enables a non-destructive workflow for tasks that previously required scripting, such as transferring normals, UVs, and vertex colors.

The Position option lets you change the vertex positions of an object to reflect the surface of a reference object, without moving its location in the scene. Normals option modifies vertex normals either using a spherical reference or by sampling a separate reference object, helping achieve smoother shading and visual consistency. UVW updates the first UV channel to match that of a reference object, even if the meshes aren't topologically identical, which is helpful for UV consistency. Extra Channel generates data for a chosen map channel from the reference object. Vertex Color copies color data for consistent shading across objects.

Several existing modifiers have also been improved. The Push modifier, traditionally used to "inflate" or "deflate" geometry, now includes additional controls such as normal relaxation, collision handling, and an axis multiplier for more precise deformations. The XForm modifier, which allows non-destructive transformations, now offers four transformation modes: in addition to its original behavior, users can now apply transformations in local space, world space, or relative to another object in the scene.

USD for 3ds Max introduces the new Promote to 3ds Max Object feature, allowing artists to convert USD geometry into native 3ds Max objects for editing with familiar tools. 3ds Max 2026.1 also includes improvements to the Arnold renderer and more, which you can explore in the release notes.

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