nPower Software have announced that their upcoming plugin Power Pro-E to Max is now in Beta and that they are looking for testers. For more information look here.

Changes for v1.3.2 are:
- Adds support for 64-bit Max 9

RTSquare is available for Max 6 to 9 and costs $800. A demo version is available here.

Changes for v3.0 are:
- A few bug-fixes
- Removes the watermark
- Parts of the plugin have been recoded and are now more efficient

This version doesn't work for animations, there is a commercial version for $50 which does. Contact the author for registration details.

I finally got around to getting XIdMary compiled for Max 9 (32-bit and 64-bit). I hope that it is OK, I compared it to the Max 6 version and it seems to work the same.

Changes for v1.08 are:
- Resolves some compatability issues with Max 7 and 8
- Minor bug-fixes

LBrush is available for Max 7 to 9 and costs $395. A demo version is available here.

Changes for v9.05 are:
- Too many to list, take a look here

3D Photo Browser for 3D Users is available for Max 4 to 9 and costs $69. A demo version is available here.

Changes for v7.24 are:
- Adds an alternative OpenGL mode which can solve problems on some graphic cards
- Update Thumbnails now respects the current scene zoom factor
- Improved HDR file support
- DirectX no longer fails to initialize on some computers
- Merge points feature now works correctly when using 0 as merging factor
- Topological and geometric cleaning no longer crash the application
- Scenes now display correctly with extreme zoom settings
- Compatibility improvement for Windows Vista
- The software now handles large files (>90MB) correctly

Polygon Cruncher is available for Max 4 to 9 and costs $129. A demo version is available here.

Changes for v1.0.40 are:
- Adds support for Max 7

Changes for v3.03H are:
- Adds a newly refactored XRef system that is less intrusive and easier to maintain

Changes for v0.999b are:
- Adds dynamic real-time reflection support for auto reflection maps
- New Render Reflection Map offers a more selective method for dynamic real-time reflection
- New seperate rendering settings rollout has been added to the Application Editor
- Viewport zoom or panning is no longer reset on scene updates
- Publishing of self installing files is now stable
- The level-of-detail controller is available again
- Fixes several minor bugs

Click-VR Visualizer is available for Max 5 to 9 and costs €980. A demo version is available here.

Changes for v1.5 are:
- Enhanced multi-processor support
- The preview engine has been improved
- Key parts of the core engine have been rewritten
- Memory handling has been greatly improved
- MXI files are now much smaller
- Renders can now always be resumed
- Improved log system
- Improved file management system
- Improvements to the Environment systems
- Calculation of IOR data has been improved
- Adds a new Matte Material and Shadows Channel
- The materials editor has been rewritten
- Improvements have been made to motion blur
- New SimuLens system to simulate the camera diaphragm
- Adds Z-clip planes
- Maxwell Studio has been rewritten
- Improved Maxwell Studio UI
- HDR output is now possible inside Maxwell Render
- Supported texture formats have been expanded
- Network rendering has been improved
- All of the plugins have been improved

Maxwell Render is available for Max 7 to 9 and costs €895. A demo version is available here.

Changes for v1.45 are:
- Fixes a critical bug where Max was crashing due to Sub-Material instances being replaced

AF Tile is available for Max 3 to 9 and costs $24.99. A demo version is available here.

This plugin combines the cache operators from Particle Flow Tools: Box#1 and Box#3 into one package - Cache Disk, Cache Selective, Express Save and the utility Repair Cache System. It allows you to cache unlimited amounts of particles to disk, saving calculation time and freeing up memory.

Particle Flow Tools: Cache is available for Max 6 to 9 and costs $49 for a one-year standalone license. A one-year network license is also available for $119.

Changes for v2.7 are:
- Per Frame Dependencies (a frame won't render until the same frame from another job is complete)
- Submit scene files to Deadline by simply right-clicking on them
- Automated assembly for Tile Rendering is now supported by 3ds Max, Maya, and XSI
- Great improvements to Deadline Pulse's performance while reducing the load on your network
- New plugin support for Maya 8.5, Fusion 5.1, XSI 6, FPrime for Lightwave, VRay Standalone, Cleaner XL, Frame Fixer, Indigo, Particle Illusion, VIZ and Vue

Deadline is available for Max 5 to 9 and costs from $90 to $130 per node. A demo version is available here.

The developers of NodeJoe have released a new public beta version for testing (v0.822).

Changes for v0.822 are:
- Adds zoom and pan tools
- Ctrl + Alt + middle mouse button switches to a temporary zoom mode
- New shortcuts for the zoom and pan tools
- Preview rendering now works with incomplete implementations of materials
- The handling of XRef materials works now correctly
- Show Background in Preview is now only available for materials

Changes for v1.5 are:
- VRay 1.5 support including VRayLight, VRayPhysicalCam, VRaySun/VRaySky, VRayMtl
- Depth of field pre-visualization
- Vertex color support
- Full support for ATI and nVidia cards
- Improved rendering performance
- Adds support for Max 9 (32-bit only) and VIZ 2008
- Minor bug-fixes

Redviewer is available for Max 7 to 9 and costs €190. A demo version is available here.

Changes for v1.01 are:

Util Shaders
- Added the ShadowPass shader
- Added Floor and Ceiling math shaders to the Color Suite
- Added the State Texture Coordinate shader
- Added Select Vector scalars

Multipass Shaders
- Exposed samples-based Multipass writing and merging shaders

Debug Illum Shaders
- Updated .mi declaration to include min version

I've recompiled the majority of the HABWare plugins for 32-bit and 64-bit Max 9:
- 3:2 Pulldown v9.0
- ACI to MAT v9.0
- Billboard v9.0
- Carrera v9.0
- ColorTab v9.0
- DEM to MAX v9.0
- Exclude v9.0
- HMesher v9.0
- HSpline v9.1
- IBitmap v9.0
- Interlace v9.0
- MLI to MAX v9.0
- Moebius v9.0
- Nurbser v9.0
- Panorama v9.1
- Patchwork v9.0
- Photometer v9.0
- Particle Texture v9.0
- Roller v9.0
- SGI Logo v9.0
- SnapShot v9.0
- Spider v9.0
- Sticks v9.0
- Terrain2 v9.0
- ToyTrain v9.0
- Water2 v9.0

I've also recompiled the Genesis3D NFO Exporter and KEY Exporter for 64-bit Max 9.

The only HABWare plugins I haven't done yet are Blobs and XIDMary. Both of these are going to need a lot of work to get them working in Max 9, and I don't know when I will be able to get them done.

Changes for v1.07 are:
- Fixes a minor issue with Lock/Bond operator related to lock surfaces
- Preset configuration for Max 9 has been adjusted
- Fixes licensing issues in Max 9

Particle Flow Tools: Box#1 is available for Max 5 to 9 and costs $195. A demo version is available here.

Changes for v1.07 are:
- Function sub-operator has been extended with new options
- Fixes a problem with Keep Apart operator and Particles suboperator
- Fixes a problem with Select Object sub-operator reference to a proxy PFlow particle system
- Data View loading and redraw functionality has been optimized

Particle Flow Tools: Box#3 is available for Max 6 to 9 and costs $495. A demo version is available here.

Changes for v3.1 are:
- Adds 'Reflection Falloff' and 'Refraction Falloff' to p_MegaTK
- Adds NaN remover to p_MegaTK, all NaN and infinite values will be replaced by zero
- Fixes a problem with basis vector in occlusion in p_MegaTK shader
- Adds 'Inverse Transparency' to p_shadow_transparency shader
- Adds 'Opacity Mode' for occlusion in p_MegaTK shader
- p_MegaTK shader can now be used as a shadow shader
- Adds 'Ignore Bump' option for indirect illumination in p_MegaTK shader
- Fixes a problem with fresnel values higher than 1
- Fixes a problem with 'Enable Filtering' option in p_MegaTK_pass shader
- Adds new p_grade_color shader
- Adds 'Absorbtion In' and 'Absorbtion Out' in p_MegaTK (replaces 'Transparency/Absorb')
- Replaces 'Fading Distance' in p_MegaTK with 'Falloff Start' and 'Falloff Stop' in reflect/refract
- Adds 'Falloff to Color' option in p_MegaTK shader for reflect and refract
- Adds some optimization for FG rays with multi sampled reflection/refraction
- Adds 'Reflection Depth' and 'Refraction Depth' override for p_MegaTK
- Adds 'Wet Specular' model for p_MegaTK shader
- Commented out some unneeded shaders: 'p_fg_light', 'p_fg_no_light' and 'p_saturation'
- Adds 'Quadratic Distance', 'Cubic Distance' and 'Cubic' attenuation to p_PointTK and p_SpotTK
- Adds different modes for p_motion_to_rgb shader ('Camera Space', 'Raster Space' and 'Krokodove')
- Fixes a problem with incorrect saving of mr motion vectors with p_OpenEXR_saver
- Changed logic of specular pass in p_MegaTK_pass shader
- Adds 'Environment' and 'Shadow' slots for p_ray_type shader
- Adds 'Reflection Depth' and 'Refraction Depth' for p_ray_type shader
- Fixes a problem in p_color_to_float shader with 'shadow' and 'displacement'
- Adds 'Light Threshold' to p_PointTK and p_SpotTK
- Adds 'Light Radius' and 'Shadow Rays' to p_PointTK, p_SpotTK and p_DirectTK shaders
- Adds 'Soft Cone Falloff' parameter to p_SpotTK
- Fixes a bug in p_shadow_transparency shader in 'simple' or 'sort' shadow mode

Animation Bank is a plugin which allows you to store different animations in a single .max file. In other words you can keep Stand, Walk, Jump, WeaponEquip animations in the same file, while leaving all other things like Skin, Physique etc. unchanged. The target audience of this plugin is Game Developers.

Changes for v2.7.0.21 are:
- A few minor changes, take a look at the ChangeLog

Granny Exporter is available for Max 5 to 9, and is part of the Granny Toolkit which costs $12500.

Changes for v3.03G are:
- A load of bug-fixes. The whole list can be found here

Changes for v2.7.0.20 are:
- Fixes a name error with visibility tracks in the Max exporter
- Fixes a few exporter installer issues with the one-click executable
- Fixes a problem with Max current vertex channel
- Fixes face mapping for the alpha channel
- Loads of other minor changes, take a look at the ChangeLog

Granny Exporter is available for Max 5 to 9, and is part of the Granny Toolkit which costs $12500.

Changes for v0.56b are:
- The plugin now works in Max 7

Changes for v1.5 are:
- Adds Subsurface Scattering for skin and other translucent materials
- Adds Perlin Noise to create procedurally generated texture effects
- Adds a Glow Material for creating bright glowing objects
- Adds Bump Mapping for adding surface detail with a gray-scale height map
- Adds Object Space Normal Mapping, an extended normal map format
- Adds DXT5 Normal Maps for high quality four to one compression
- Adds Relief Mapping
- Adds Refraction for transparent objects
- Adds Multi-Subobject Materials for multiple shaders on a single model
- Adds Projected Texturing in world or object space
- Adds DXSAS Support, Microsoft's standard for annotation and syntax
- Adds Custom Code Nodes so you can insert custom HLSL code into the node tree
- Instruction Count Report shows shader's performance and allows for optimization

ShaderFX is available for Max 6 to 9 and costs $249. A demo version is available here.

The sixth new build of Brazil r/s v2, build 1231, is now available from the SplutterFish FishMarket Account (if you have upgraded to Brazil r/s v2). You can find a full list of enhancements and bugfixes here.

I've recompiled the rest of Peter Watjes plugins for 64-bit Max 9:
- Particle Gravity v1.0
- Remove Dead UVs v1.0
- Mesh to Spline v0.4b
- Particle Displace v1.2
- Particle Spline Object v1.01b
- UVW Unwrap+ v1.2
- Object Deform v1.0a
- 3D Painter Prototype v1.02
- CrossSection Object v1.3b
- Hair v0.93
- Interpolate Spline v1.1
- Linked XForm+ v0.5
- Texture Map Blender v1.02
- Mask Modifier v1.2b
- Object Texture v1.01a
- Particle Control v1.02
- Camera Map Animated v1.0
- Radial Object Select v1.0

If you've already downloaded any of the 32-bit Peter Watje plugins, you should download them again, because I've compiled them all again (they're now smaller and faster).

Changes for v0.55b are:
- Interactive parameter changes are now possible
- Adds the lawn mower modifier which allows you to cut the lawn to a given length
- Fixes Mental Ray shader problem when using dried mode and background
- Fixes some minor update problems with animations

Changes for v0.2.17 are:
- The plugin has been rebuilt for Quest3D 3.6.5

Changes for v1.4c are:
- Fixes a bug in MyCreateProcessW()
- Fixes a bug in SwapChainProxy()

I've recompiled a few more of Peter Watjes plugins for 64-bit Max 9:
- Particle+ v2.01
- Particle Material v1.2
- Particle Blend Material v1.1
- Particle Paint v1.2

As well as recompiling Particle Paint, I've also updated it so that it works with Particle Flow.

Changes for v1.5 are:
- Fixes GI Custom Decay snapping the slider to 0
- The GI slider was too sensitive, it is now more forgiving
- Fixes 'Save Photons' causing crashes in some cases
- Starting caustics after GI no longer resets the Custom Decay Slider
- Restarting GI now re-analyzes the size of the world, fixing miscalculation
- Lights are now deselected on render, speeding things up
- Render callbacks have been streamlined, making the render preview button faster
- BlueCherry no longer crashes if it detects biped objects

BlueCherry is available for Max 8 and 9, and costs $15.

Changes for v1.0.5 are:
- Adds Eihort support
- Adds XML support

Changes for v3.36 are:
- Improvements to 'Biped Thief' based on customer feedback

Puppetshop is available for Max 8 and 9, and costs $249. A demo version is available here.

It would appear that Max 9 Service Pack 2 is causing some problems, especially with users on subscription that have installed the Productivity Booster extension.

If you've installed the Productivity Booster, according to the readme file you won't be able to install SP2 on top of it. You'll need to re-install Max, install SP1 and SP2, and then install the Production Booster.

Other people have reported that just running the MSP file in the Patch folder of the ZIP file lets you install the Service Pack on top of the Productivity Booster, and once SP2 is installed you'll need to install the Productivity Booster again to get it working again.

Up to now there hasn't been a reaction from Autodesk about the problems, as soon as they get around to offering advice on the problem, I'll post it here.

The developers of NodeJoe have released a new public beta version for testing (v0.821).

Changes for v0.821 beta are:
- Adds new 'Background' option in material previews
- Previews with V-Ray and other renderers now have the full resolution
- V-Ray and other renderers can now show the background selected in the Material Editor
- NodeJoe now starts faster
- Adds a new shortcut for 'Assign Material to Selection'
- Fixes viewport updates while changing parameters
- NodeJoe no longer renders previews if closed or minimized
- NodeJoe now works properly with multiple-monitor setups
- Improvements and minor fixes to the automatic layout algorithm
- The 'Open/Close NodeJoe' shortcut is now the same for both operations

Changes for v1.0 are:
- No changes, it's just been recompiled for Max 9 (32-bit only) by ajigroup

Changes for v0.1 are:
- No Changes, just a recompile for Max 9 (32-bit only)

Changes for v1.0b are:
- No changes, just a recompile for Max 9 (32-bit only)

I've started recompiling Peter Watjes plugins for 64-bit Max 9, as well as improving the 32-bit recompiles. The only problem is that I can't test the 64-bit plugins, so if they work OK, please let me know.

The following plugins are now available for 64-bit Max:
- Chase Gravity v1.0
- Cylindrical Gravity v1.0
- Planar Gravity v1.0
- Spherical Gravity v1.0
- Spiral Gravity v1.0
- CAlpha v1.0
- GAlpha v1.0
- See Buffer v1.0
- BlobMesh v1.0a
- Cellular 2D v1.0
- Noise 2D v1.1b
- Wave 2D v1.0b
- Blob Mod v1.2

Updated: I've added a few more...
- Scatter v1.63
- Deflector+ v1.1
- Particle Combustion v1.61
- Object Combustion v1.1
- Vertex Combustion v1.1
- Reverse Spline v1.0
- Conform Modifier v1.0a

Autodesk have released Service Pack 2 for Max 9 (both 32-bit and 64-bit). It includes a number of fixes specific to Windows Vista, as well as fixes across several functional areas including Animation, Backburner, Batch Rendering, Biped, Editable Poly, Editable Mesh, Hair, Materials, Maxscript, mental ray, Reactor, Render to Texture, SDK and UV Unwrap.

Changes for v0.998b are:
- Adds new checkbox 'Enable Max Lights in Real-Time View'
- Adds new 'Decay Selector' for the Spot Light entity
- Adds support for Windows Vista for exported executables
- The Spot Light Entity can now also be applied to Max lights
- Several minor bug fixes

Click-VR Visualizer is available for Max 5 to 9 and costs €980. A demo version is available here.

Changes for v1.07 are:
- Fixes a bug when using more then 10 channels would sometimes mess up their controllers

Changes for v2.06 are:
- Fixes a minor bug when switching painting weights between an object with modifiers on top of skinfx and another that didn't

Skin FX is available for Max 6 to 9 and costs $189. A demo version is available here.

Crosswalk is a Softimage initiative to help transfer XSI content in and out of Max and Maya pipelines using the latest dotXSI, COLLADA, and FBX standards. The Crosswalk components in XSI 6 have now been packaged as a standalone setup, containing updated Crosswalk software, featuring several bug fixes, as well as updated documentation in the Crosswalk guide, and updated Crosswalk examples.

Crosswalk for Max is optimized for dotXSI version 6.0, enabling Max 8 and 9 to read the dotXSI format using the plugin. Max doesn't need to be installed on the same system as XSI to enable data transfer.

Changes for v1.03 are:
- Fixes a bug when selecting a filter other than Show:All in the Material/Map browser

The fifth new build of Brazil r/s v2, build 1222, is now available from the SplutterFish FishMarket Account (if you have upgraded to Brazil r/s v2). You can find a full list of enhancements and bugfixes here.

This is a plugin front-end for the ctrl_Colors mental ray shader written by Francesca Luce. The plugin makes it a lot easier to understand all of the shader settings, and can be applied like any other texture map in Max.

It consists of 11 different shaders for working with colours: color_balance, color_correction, color_compose, color_keyer, color_picker, color_smoothranges, color_math and 4 shaders for color conversions.

This plugin only works if using the mental ray renderer.

Changes for v2.7 are:
- Adds support for Poser 7
- Adds support for Windows Vista
- Support for Max 9 will be added soon in a free update

BodyStudio is available for Max 6 to 8 and costs $179. The Max 9 version will be a free update soon.

Changes for v1.0.4 are:
- Exports meshes with dedicated geometry
- Exports material definitions into multiple OR single file(s)
- Automatic conversion of texture maps, eg .psd to .dds
- Shader support detection (material is still written even if shaders are not supported)
- Export of shader material with Diffuse with Specular maps

Changes for v3.35 are:
- Adds 'Biped Thief' to import Biped animations into Puppetshop
- Removes Clavicle Constraint option as it had a nasty bug

Puppetshop is available for Max 8 and 9, and costs $249. A demo version is available here.

SplutterFish have released the recompiled BlurBeta plugins for Max 9 (32-bit and 64-bit). There are 49 plugins in the pack, which is available here. Apologies to Scott for nagging so much about them.

Changes for v2.05 are:
- Adds 'Spring Scale' to control constraint-restlength over time

Skin FX is available for Max 6 to 9 and costs $189. A demo version is available here.