Thread: 3D Graphics -- How?

Just wondering, how do 3D Modeling/Animating programs (Maya
3D Studio Max) handle graphics in Windows? Do they use
OpenGL/Direct3D in their render-engine, and the GDI previous to
rendering (you know, when you're actually creating the scene)...?

If they don't use Direct3D (I have the PLE of Maya installed, but
I don't remember reading that it requires DirectX) or OpenGL,
how do things get rendered?

I'm new to the Windows Programming scene..

Originally posted by ethic
Just wondering, how do 3D Modeling/Animating programs (Maya
3D Studio Max) handle graphics in Windows? Do they use
OpenGL/Direct3D in their render-engine, and the GDI previous to
rendering (you know, when you're actually creating the scene)...?

If they don't use Direct3D (I have the PLE of Maya installed, but
I don't remember reading that it requires DirectX) or OpenGL,
how do things get rendered?

I'm new to the Windows Programming scene..

I don't do any modeling but I know people who do. I was over at my friends house when he was installing 3D Studio Max and it prompted him and asked if he wanted to use OpenGL or DirectX for rendering. So, I guess there you have it.