The rule of thirds in 3ds Max

Lesson by Ciro Sannino - Auth on July 5, 2011, filed in: 3ds Max Tutorials, 3ds max tutorials

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The Rule of Thirds is a basic principle of photographic composition we should know. Its so simple rule that
allows even novice user to create a good composition in a simple and effective way.
The method consists in dividing the image into 3 equal parts, horizontally as vertically, resulting in a grid like
this:

The points of intersection are called points of interest. Place your subject on these points and the picture will
result dynamic, balanced and organized. This simple rule allows us to decentralize the subject in a right way.
Here are some examples:

Even without grid is not difficult to see the same pattern in the picture below:

Many real cameras (and also photoshop-cut tool) display this grid. The purpose is to facilitate the
composition of every image using the rule of thirds.
Now that we felt in love for this rule we would the same grid in our viewports to better organize our 3d scenes,
inst it? Unfortunately at present there isnt any button in 3ds Max to do that, so we have to make it ourself.
For the purpose you can use the show safe frame option: Shortcut > SHIFT + F (it shows the real render
proportions)
Heres how we can manipulate this function in order to get our idea:

Just go to [+] > Configure> Viewport Configuration.

(In versions of 3ds Max in which there is no [+] then > click right button on the viewport name..)
Then set the values as indicated:

Activating Show Safe Frame (Shift + F) the viewport looks like this:

(To turn off this lines just unflag Action Safe and Tilte Safe)
Our viewport is ready to guide the composition through the rule of thirds.
GREAT STUFF CIRO BUT ARE YOU FORCING ME TO ALWAYS APPLY THIS RULE?!
Jacques Loussier played an amazing Bach-jazz in the 60s, but first of all he was able to play the Classic
Bach perfectly. Of course you can go over this rule, but only after it is fully owned. In art you cant have rigid

rules and getting good results everytime. Its impossible! It must always be adapted, mixed to situations and
alsoviolated with consciousness.
Here is a practical example that will make you smile ^ _ ^
The Rule of Thirds helps to get a dynamic compositions, ok. But if you do the exact opposite center the
subject you get the maximum static. Its obvious.
There are cases in which the subject must be completely static. My next picture is a great example: my actor
is relaxed, sleeping, dreaming 1000 things to sniff. If I center the subject the picture works fine.