To Render a Preview Animation

To create a preview:

1. Choose Tools menu Preview - Grab Viewport Create Preview Animation.

   If you are using Alt menus, choose Rendering menu Screen Capture Create Preview Animation.

2. On the Make Preview dialog, change the preview parameters or accept the defaults, and then click OK.

   If the output type is AVI, 3ds Max renders the preview and saves it in a file called _scene.avi, in the path specified by Configure User Paths File I/O Previews. Immediately after rendering the preview, 3ds Max runs the Media Player with this animation loaded.

3. View the preview by clicking Play in the Media Player.

   If you dismiss the Media Player and then want to view the preview again, choose Tools Grab Viewport View Animated Sequence File. This restarts the Media Player with _scene.avi.

   You can save the preview under a different name, so it won't be overwritten the next time you make a preview. To do so, use Rendering menu Screen Capture Save Preview Animation As.