I want to get started in directx programming. I already know c++, but am unclear on something. Direct3d can render graphics, right? Well could graphics be rendered in 3D Studio Max and still be programmed with DirectX (taking direct3d out of the picture)?

I''m not sure what your asking... try rephrasing the question.

you can create (and animate?) models in 3ds similarly to the way you can create and animate them in direct3d. however, the latter gives you more power when it comes to putting things on screen. plus, you can''t just use 3ds from within your game for rendering graphics; it''s either 3ds for everything (in this case your game will be pretty limited), or directx for everything.

Your game loads model files, takes the data from them, and asks Direct3D to draw a picture of it.

3D Studio Max makes the model files.

You could draw models through DirectX without using Direct3D, if you wrote a software renderer that went through DirectDraw. You wouldn''t want to, though. It would be harder to do, and the result would be worse.