Time it. Give it weight. Squash it.

The bouncing ball, one principle at a time. Move its helpers in the Viewport, create keys with Auto Key or Set Keys, then shape movement in Track View – Curve Editor and adjust timing in the Track Bar or Dope Sheet.

STAGE

3DS MAX WORKFLOW

The same keys as in 3ds Max

This workspace follows the default 3ds Max 2027 layout and keyboard shortcut set. Shortcuts work while the pointer is over the Max window or Track View. Customize › Hotkey Editor lists them all.

W E R: Select and Move, Rotate and Scale. Drag a helper or its gizmo axis in the viewport; right-click while dragging cancels.
N: Auto Key: the button, the Time Slider and the viewport border turn red, and every change is keyed.
' · K: Set Key Mode and Set Keys: pose first, then key it.
/: Play / Stop. In 3ds Max, Space is Selection Lock, not play.
, . · Home End: Previous and next frame · go to start and end.
F5 F7: Restrict the move to X or Z. The Transform Type-In below the viewport takes exact values.
Shift + drag: Copy keys in the Track Bar and the Dope Sheet.
Delete · CtrlA: Delete selected keys · select all keys of the curves shown in Track View.
CtrlZ · CtrlY: Undo and redo.
H · ShiftH: Select a helper by name · hide or show helpers.
MMB · Alt+MMB · CtrlAlt+MMB: Middle mouse button in the viewport: pan, orbit and zoom. The wheel zooms too.
ShiftV: Create Preview Animation: renders the viewport frame by frame and plays it in the Media Player (save .webm or .png).
Out-of-Range: Track View button or Edit › Controller › Out Of Range Types: Cycle, Loop, Ping Pong or Relative Repeat after the last key.

IN 3DS MAX

Rebuild the bounce in 3ds Max

This lab simplifies the application to the controllers needed for one ball. In a Max scene, use named helper objects or a custom rig, then animate their Position, Rotation and Scale tracks.

Create a ball and a helper hierarchy: Root for the path, SS_Top and SS_Bottom for deformation, and Rotation for rolling.
Use the Time Slider to choose frames. Enable Auto Key to record changed transforms, or use Set Key Mode and Set Keys after posing.
Open Track View – Curve Editor. Select the Z Position keys in the Key Window; use Auto tangents near the tops and Fast or broken tangents at the contacts.
Use Track View – Dope Sheet or the Track Bar to move keys closer together after each contact.
Turn on Trajectory in the Display panel to inspect spacing. Keep the ball above the floor while squashing and stretching.
Match Y Rotation to X travel so the ball rolls without sliding.
Check the result with Tools › Preview - Grab Viewport › Create Preview Animation (Shift+V) and play it in the Media Player.