Lines with AutoCAD precision.
Dynamic Line brings the AutoCAD line workflow into 3ds Max: click, type the exact distance and angle, and press Enter. No more eyeballing splines and fixing them coordinate by coordinate.
Type the measure. Done.
Max’s native line lets you click and drag — and hope you nailed it. Dynamic Line lets you type the exact distance and angle for each segment and confirm with Enter, just like AutoCAD. No drawing a spline and then fixing it vertex by vertex. Accepts period or comma as the decimal — 1.5 or 1,5, either works.
the HUD follows the cursor with live distance and angle.
Lock the angle. Just type the rest.
Locked an angle? It persists across the next segments — you just type distances and the line keeps running straight in the fixed direction. Backspace on an empty field unlocks it and the angle follows the mouse again. And live snapping is one key away: O toggles Ortho (90°), P cycles Polar (45° → 15°). A typed angle always beats the snap.
Polar 45° — the cursor snaps to the right angles on its own.
Four moves.
Click
One click in the viewport starts the line. The mouse shows a live preview.
Type
Distance and angle on the keyboard. Tab switches and locks the active field.
Lock
The locked angle persists. O/P enable Ortho and Polar snapping.
Close
C closes the polyline; Esc finishes. You get a real, editable spline.
Built by someone who actually draws.
Precise numeric input
Type the exact distance and angle for each segment and confirm with Enter. No mouse guessing and fixing afterwards.
Persistent angle lock
Lock a direction and it holds for the next segments — you just type distances. Backspace on the empty field unlocks it.
Live Ortho & Polar snapping
O toggles Ortho (90°); P cycles Polar (45° / 15°). Snapping affects only the mouse angle — a typed angle always wins.
GeoSnap to existing geometry
The S key snaps the line to existing vertices and endpoints — even on the first point. Uses Max’s own snap system.
Viewport HUD
Distance and angle show right next to the cursor as you draw, with the locked field highlighted. No looking away.
Real, editable spline
The result is a plain Editable Spline — apply Extrude, Sweep, Lathe and any modifier, just like any line in Max.
Period OR comma decimal
A custom parser accepts 1.5 or 1,5 regardless of the Windows locale. No more 1.5 turning into 1 on PT-BR systems.
Multi-version with installer
Builds for 3ds Max 2022 to 2027. Drag the installer into a viewport — it detects the version and copies the right plugin.
Native line / eyeballing vs. Dynamic Line
| Native / eyeballing | Dynamic Line | |
|---|---|---|
| Type exact distance and angle | partial | available |
| Lock the angle, just type distances | not available | available |
| Ortho / Polar snap with one key | partial | available |
| Distance/angle HUD at the cursor | not available | available |
| Close the polyline with one key | not available | available |
| Period OR comma as decimal | not available | available |
| AutoCAD-style command flow | not available | available |
| Result is an editable spline | available | available |
Shortcuts
Keys only respond while the tool is active — and won’t trigger Max shortcuts by accident.
CLICKStart line / confirm pointMOVELive segment preview0–9 . ,Type distance or angleTABSwitch / lock active fieldENTERConfirm the point⌫Empty field: unlock fieldOOrtho (90°) on / offPPolar 45° / 15° / offSGeoSnap (vertex/endpoint)CClose the polyline (≥3 pts)ESCFinish the lineRMBRight-click finishesBefore you buy
Only AnimArq Roofs, on a monthly, six-month or yearly plan — renewal terms are shown at checkout. The other three are a one-time payment and work forever, and Dynamic Line is free.
Windows 64-bit, and the range depends on the tool: Smart Batch PRO 2022–2026, Floor Tiler PRO 2024–2027, UnChamfer + Make Instance 2023–2027, Dynamic Line 2022–2027, AnimArq Roofs 2025.
Yes, and the trial is the plugin itself, with no deadline. Unlicensed: UnChamfer handles up to 50 chamfer faces, Make Instance 3 instances per click and AnimArq Roofs generates up to 100 tiles. Dynamic Line is free.
Drag the installer into a 3ds Max viewport (it may ask you to run Max as Administrator), restart Max and add the button from the “AnimArq” category in Customize.
Yes — an Editable Spline like any other. Apply Extrude, Sweep, Lathe and any modifier.
No. While the tool is active, letters are captured by it and don’t trigger Max shortcuts. When you finish, everything goes back to normal.
Stop drawing lines by guess.
Click, type, Enter. AutoCAD precision inside 3ds Max — and it’s free.