Stephen (and everyone),

To this day, I use a UI color scheme that replicates the colors used in 3D Studio MAX R3. I find this to be much more readable than the low-contrast gray UI that max has had since R4.

1.) To change the icons in max 2010 to look like the previous versions, go to your 3ds Max 2010/UI/Icons folder, create a Backup folder inside, then copy the entire contents of the Icons folder into the Backup folder.

2.) Next, go to your Max 2009 install, and copy the contents of the UI/Icons folder into your max 2010 UI/Icons folder. (Note: “SandyKoufax” said to retain the max 2010 icon files uvicons.bmp and vfb_controls_i.bmp, so don’t copy these over.)

3.) Load max 2010, and the old icons should show up.

4.) Now, copy the attached file JonColors.clr into your C:\Documents and Settings\YourName\Local Settings\Application Data\Autodesk\3dsmax\2010\enu\UI folder. Go to Customize/Customize User Interface/Colors, click on Load, and apply the JonColors.clr file. If the grid appears too dark, click on the Elements: Grids item, and click on Set by color and pick Apply Colors Now. (You can go back and forth between Set by color and Set by intensity to test out the effect.) If you like these colors, then save them as your max defaults.

Whenever I install a new copy of max, putting in my own UI colors is the very first thing I do, all the way back to 3ds max R4. Let me know if this works for you.

	Attachment
19416_F4iO3boJqObg44hV6Ml8.zip

Jon,

Please post a screen shot of what your set-up looks like.

Thanks,

Dean

Max Design 2012 SP2 / Win 7 Pro
NVidia Quadro FX 4800 x 2 (non sli)
HP Z800 - 2 Xeon X5680 @ 3.33 GHz; 36 GB ram

Here’s my max 2010 setup. I’ve used these background colors since max release 3. (I’ve decreased my actual max screen window size a bit here; I usually run full-screen, or 1920 by 1200 on one of my 24-inch monitors.)

	Attachment

ahh - memories ;-)

Jon:

there is a new color setting in the customize dialog where you can change the dark main appframe to a light version.
this would make your color scheme even more consistent....

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I am not so happy about the new icons either. Basically I have to learn 3ds max all over again. Icons are new and menus are all in a different and weird location. Why did it have to become so god damn hard to find buttons like “Open”, “Save”, “Reset”, “Import...”

Just re-instate the original File menu. http://area.autodesk.com/forum/index.php/forums/viewreply/114623/

Max 4.2 through 2013.
XP-64 (SP2)
NVidia 9800GTX-512 (Driver 266.58).
Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz, 8Gb Ram, DX9.0c.

To Jon and everyone, thanks so much for this. There were two reasons I was annoyed with Max 2010...one, no Deep Paint plugin (workaround is to use the .RH export/import from Right Hemisphere) and the non-descript gray icons. It’s really nice to have the old icons back...I kinda got used to them since like many of you I’ve been using Max for a long time (since version 1).

Thanks again!! :D

Dan Burke

P.S. Jon I was cleaning out my garage and I found an early book you authored titled, ‘3D Studio Max F/X’...fond memories!

Jon A. Bell 13 May 2009 09:14 PM

Stephen (and everyone),

To this day, I use a UI color scheme that replicates the colors used in 3D Studio MAX R3. I find this to be much more readable than the low-contrast gray UI that max has had since R4.

1.) To change the icons in max 2010 to look like the previous versions, go to your 3ds Max 2010/UI/Icons folder, create a Backup folder inside, then copy the entire contents of the Icons folder into the Backup folder.

2.) Next, go to your Max 2009 install, and copy the contents of the UI/Icons folder into your max 2010 UI/Icons folder. (Note: “SandyKoufax” said to retain the max 2010 icon files uvicons.bmp and vfb_controls_i.bmp, so don’t copy these over.)

3.) Load max 2010, and the old icons should show up.

4.) Now, copy the attached file JonColors.clr into your C:\Documents and Settings\YourName\Local Settings\Application Data\Autodesk\3dsmax\2010\enu\UI folder. Go to Customize/Customize User Interface/Colors, click on Load, and apply the JonColors.clr file. If the grid appears too dark, click on the Elements: Grids item, and click on Set by color and pick Apply Colors Now. (You can go back and forth between Set by color and Set by intensity to test out the effect.) If you like these colors, then save them as your max defaults.

Whenever I install a new copy of max, putting in my own UI colors is the very first thing I do, all the way back to 3ds max R4. Let me know if this works for you.

Dan is trying to get his total post number up.  ;)

Max Design 2012 SP2 / Win 7 Pro
NVidia Quadro FX 4800 x 2 (non sli)
HP Z800 - 2 Xeon X5680 @ 3.33 GHz; 36 GB ram

Right - gonna lock this until he works out his post is already here! I’ll unlock it in a bit when he’s calmed down :P

Ok, it’s open again.

If you get an error DO NOT KEEP HITTING SUBMIT - 99% of the time the post is actually there. Check in another browser tab before resubmitting!

Max 4.2 through 2013.
XP-64 (SP2)
NVidia 9800GTX-512 (Driver 266.58).
Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz, 8Gb Ram, DX9.0c.