MAX Plugins.de News Archive
Archived Plugin News – May 2014
29.05.2014 - Commercial
Plugin Update: Utilities
Changes for v2.3.1.0 are:
- 'Edit Parameter' option now available for param block 2 parameters
- Internal assertion fixes when putting objects when Max is not holding
- Fixes an error when dropping a cluster template
- Fixes an error and crash when resetting a scene after creating a schematic scene node
- Fixes an error when creating 'Spring Thing' template from Zoo
- Pass-through node preview now updates when its parameters are changing
- Double clicking on a pass-through node now opens its modifier in the modify panel
Zookeeper is available for Max 2009 to 2015 and costs $249. A demo version is available here.
29.05.2014 - Commercial
Plugin Update: Modelling
Changes for v4.2.3 are:
- Adds support for Max 2015
- Improved V-Ray render performance on many-core machines
- Improved viewport peformance using animation modes
- Forest Lite can now be collapsed to editable mesh
- Forest Tools->Delete now works properly
Forest Pack Pro is available for Max 9 to 2015 and costs €190. A demo version is available here.
29.05.2014 - Commercial
Plugin Update: Modelling
Terrain v1.04 from Chris West
Changes for v1.04 are:
- Adds support for Max 2015
Terrain is available for Max 2008 to 2015 and costs $199. A demo version is available here.
29.05.2014 - R2012 to R2015
Plugin Update: Import / Export
Changes for v3.18.8 are:
- Adds support for Max 2015 and Maya 2015
- Fixes a problem loading Java plugins
- Recompiled using the latest librararies (FBXSDK 2015.1, jre 1.8.0-u5, Crosswalk 2015.0)
29.05.2014 - Commercial
Plugin Update: Utilities
VFB+ v2.45 from Rotem Shiffman
Changes for v2.45 are:
- Adds support for Max 2015
- Multi-layer PSD exporter now lets you save image with all elements as one file
- 'Send to PSD' now uses the PSD exporter
- Adds a 'Bloom Threshold' parameter to the filters panel
- You can now use Ctrl+left click and Ctrl+right click to zoom in/out respectively
- Fixes an exception when an images' height is a multiple of 512 and width is NOT a multiple of 4
VFB+ is available for Max 2009 to 2015 and costs $19. A demo version is available here.
29.05.2014 - Commercial
New Plugin: Utilities
Track Editor is a fast and simple tool for managing all of your animated tracks as well as working with controllers for quick and simple setups in complex rigs and systems. Track Editor groups tracks together based on the sub anim path found in the track editor. By grouping paths it makes it easy to control many tracks on non-instanced objects, modifiers, transforms, materials and maps as well as custom attributes on any Max object including modifiers and controllers.
Working with animation tracks in Max while working with complex systems such as character rigs and other time consuming animation projects there is no way to work with and control the values in an easy and effective manner. Track Editor implifies these tasks by grouping tracks together on selected objects and allows for fast access and input to the values. With features like Parameter Wiring and Controller Instancing it is also an excellent tool for technical directors for setup and management.
Track Editor is available for Max 2012 to 2015 and costs $19.95.
29.05.2014 - All versions
Site News: Itoo Software + EndUserEvent discount
Itoo Software are very kindly offering a 25% discount on all of their products to registered attendees of the End User Event 2014 in Utrecht, Holland next week. As far as I know there are still a few tickets available for the event, so if you are interested not only in getting a 25% Itoo discount but also in meeting a load of interesting people from the CG industry, head over to the EUE 2014 site.
They are also making a number of exercises available for download to go along with their talks on RailClone and Forest Pro at the EUE. Full details on the discount and downloads can be found on the Itoo Software EUE page.
29.05.2014 - Commercial
Plugin Update: Utilities
Changes for v6.2.0.32 include:
- Adds support for Max 2015, Maya 2015, Softimage 2015 and Composite 2015
- Adds support for Anime Studio 10, Clarisse iFX, DJV, modo 8xx and SketchUp
- Adds support for V-Ray's ply2vrmesh tool
- Adds support for DBR jobs from Max (V-Ray or mental ray)
- Adds support for modo distributed rendering (modo 7xx and later)
- Adds Redshift support and optional GPU selection
- New Cloud plugins have been added for OpenStack and Google Cloud
- Fixes a data formatting error in the Monitor
- And much more... a full list of changes and fixes can be found here
Deadline is available for Max 2010 to 2015 and costs $185 per node. A demo version is available here.
28.05.2014 - Commercial
Plugin Update: Connection
Changes for v2014.5 are:
- Adds support for Max 2015
- New physically accurate photometric sunlight model
- Photometric lighting produces physically plausible HDR outputs
- Higly optimized unbiased area light rendering algorithm minimizes noise
- You can now turn point lights and spot lights into photometric lights
- Adds photometric light color presets, with corresponding color temperature
- You can now use IES distribution profiles on photometric lights
- Adds loading of custom IES profiles
- New IES profile viewer allows previewing of light distribution
- Adds light portals to help render indoor scenes more efficiently
- Vue can now automatically place light portals on meshes
- Spectral atmospheres can now use photometric lighting
- EcoSystem clumping controls how plants from the same species grow close to one another
- Improved EcoSystem algorithms efficiently create and render vast EcoSystems of very small items
- Improved EcoSystem algorithms improve computation of both Static and Dynamic EcoSystems
- Integrated Plant Factory quality setting optimizes render time and memory resources
- Add/Remove/Clear EcoSystem populations through Python callbacks
- Access global EcoSystem through Python callbacks
- EcoParticles can be set to collide with Static EcoSystem instances
- Ultra-realistic SolidGrowth vegetation: 175+ species
- Health and Seasonality parameters for TPF vegetation are now animatable
- Advanced pre-computing of GI on TPF billboard plants speeds up rendering by up to 20x
- Improved Normal Mapping algorithms on TPF vegetation boosts plant rendering quality
- You can now access TPF Mesh resolution directly from the Plant Editor
- Easily change the height of Infinite procedural terrains in the Terrain Editor
- Create Terrains from an existing heightmap file through Python callbacks
- Create background planets with custom images
- Manually adjustable shutter speed, film speed and f-number (with photometric lighting)
- Post-render Color Channel editor
- Adjust color curves separately or all together
- Tone Mapping options allow customization of profiles from Post-render and Camera Option dialogs
- EXR passes available in full float, 32-bit unsigned integer or 16-bit precision
- Export all rendering passes as OpenEXR 2.0 32-bit multi-layer files
- Wold Point Position pass available in the multipass options
- Rendering compatible with V-Ray 3.0
- Save/reload camera as .Vob files
- Set physical position of the sun by date, time and location on Earth
- Import and export camera data as FBX
- Import and export camera data as Nuke .CHAN
- Textured model imports as 3DS, 3DMF, COB, DAE, DEM, DXF, LWO, OBJ, PZ3, PZZ, RAW, SHD, VRML, MDD, FBX
- Import Plant Factory 3D Plants as .TPF, .VOB, .FBX
- Rendernodes can be set to render the GI Prepass only
- Rendernodes can load a pre-computed GI Prepass
- And much much more. A full list of changes can be found here
Vue 2014.5 xStream is available for Max 2009 to 2015 and costs $1695. A demo version is available here.
28.05.2014 - Commercial
Plugin Update: Texturing
Changes for v2.01 are:
- Fixes some bake elements being incorrectly considered incompatible
- Fixes an issue with the network render batch merge
Flatiron is available for Max 2010 to 2015 and costs €299. A demo version is available here.
28.05.2014 - Commercial
Plugin Update: Texturing
Changes for v2.0 are:
- New UV tile creation process
- Adds support for Max 2015 and Maya 2015
- New simplified web manageable licensing
UV-Packer is available for Max 2010 to 2015 and costs €99. A demo version is available here.
28.05.2014 - Commercial
Plugin Update: Animation
Changes for v2.0 include:
- Adds new 'Only add' and 'Add by time' modes
- You can now have up to 6 effectors
- Improved falloff options
- Adds export of particles as geometry
- Improved random selection
- Adds realtime Bullet physics
- Adds advanced position options
- You can now use Effectors as forces
Radius Effector is available for Max 2011 to 2014 and costs €29. A demo version is available here.
28.05.2014 - Commercial
Plugin Update: Texturing
Changes for v3.0 are:
- New UV tile creation process
- Adds support for Max 2015 and Maya 2015
- New simplified web manageable licensing
Unwrella is available for Max 2010 to 2015 and costs €149. A demo version is available here.
28.05.2014 - Commercial
New Plugin: Renderers
moskitoRender is a GPU renderer for Max with a non-restrictive, highly optimized approach. It has no materials of its own, but supports all of the 1,300 materials from the Autodesk Material Library as well as the standard Max materials. It is a true Physically Based Spectral Rendering solution meant to replace any one of the standard 3ds Max rendering options, creating images based on strict unbiased path-tracing methods. moskitoRender offers a true continuous workflow with easy setup, less parameters and lightning fast results.
moskitoRender is available for Max 2013 to 2015 and costs €295. A demo version is available here.
28.05.2014 - Commercial
New Plugin: Modelling
Carver, a commercial MAXScript, is an enhanced carving tool similar to the Carve tool in Hammer. It allows you to use one or more cutter objects to carve into one or more other objects. Unlike the Boolean functions in Max (ProBoolean) it will create multiple independent blocks or sealed elements. If the original block is convex, all pieces will be convex as well.
Update: I had the version number wrong, it should have been v1.1. Fixed.
Carver is available for Max 2010 to 2015 and has an introductory price of $2.95 .
21.05.2014 - Commercial
Plugin Update: Modelling
Changes for v2.3.0 beta are:
- Adds support for Max 2015
- Improved V-Ray render performance on many-core machines
- Random node can now use its own seed
- Adds 'Fixed Size' for Segment and Transform nodes
- Adds 'Evenly->Reverse' for all generators
- Adds 'Corner->Bevel Corner' for Linear Generator
- Display->Adaptative mode can now degrade to boxes or point-clouds (default value)
- Improved behaviour of 'A2S Generator->Evenly' segments in Free mode
- Fixes stability issues with Thea Render/Corona Render/V-Ray RT
- Fixes geometry issues with clipping area when scene units is meters
- Fixes a rare 'Display limit exceeded' error with scale mode
- Fixes geometry errors using bevels and negative Y segment offsets
- Fixes a crash with the Conditional operator using 'Material ID->Multiple of'
- Fixes geometry viewport/render differences when using high values in 'Segment->Transform'
- Fixes a crash turning on 'Generator->Reverse' without a spline assigned
- Fixes a bug that would change random values when editing a style
- 'Display->Render' settings are no longer ignored with certain render engines
- Fixes an error loading scenes saved on computers without RailClone installed
- Fixes a geometry error in A2S Generator using Spline Y and X Rotation
- Evenly rule now modifies type of line (Curve/Line) in the spline
- Arithmetic->Expression->XVertexAngle and XVertexAngle functions are no longer switched
- Fixes geometry errors using bevels on closed splines
- Materials now display properly in the viewport when assigning library styles
- Fixes the Style Editor disappearing on certain multi-monitor configurations
- Fixes 'A2S Generator->Clipping Area->Projection' being forced to Z with 'Extend X/Y Size to Area'
RailClone Pro is available for Max 9 to 2015 and costs €190. A demo version is available here.
21.05.2014 - Commercial
Plugin Update: Renderers
Changes for v3.00.06 are:
- Adds support for Max 2015
- Adds VRayPointParticleMtl material for shading point particles from .vrmesh/Alembic files
- Vrmesh exporter can now create a Multi/Sub-Object material when exporting multiple objects
- Adds lights include/exclude lists support to V-Ray RT CPU
- Implemented showing Safe Frame when rendering in a viewport with V-Ray RT
- Adds a VRayProxy option to render particles as points
- Adds a VRayProxy option to enable/disable Alembic full names support in visibility lists
- Adds VRayProxy support for hair and particles color channels from Alembic
- The VRayProxy 'Animation offset' parameter is now animatable
- VRayBump2Normal is now included in the V-Ray installation
- Adds VFB support for the 'track mouse' option in V-Ray RT with progressive sampling
- The Max LensFX plugin settings are now only applied if the Max VFB is used
- The default VFB Lens effects glare type is now 'From render camera'
- The intensity when using the VFB 'Mono' button is now based on the selected RGB components
- Adds VRayVrmatMtl exporter support for VRayBlendMtl
- Adds VRayVrmatMtl exporter support for Checker and Falloff textures
- Global subdivs multiplier can now go down to zero
- Hair&Fur/VRayOrnatrixMod/VRayHairFarmMod: fixes assigned materials order
- Fixes a MAXScript system exception error when cancelling the creation of a VRayLight
- Fixes issues with VRayLights and FumeFX with illumination map
- Embree: fixes a crash with XMesh and motion blur
- Rendering in DR mode with 'Use local host' unchecked no longer demands a render node license
- The DR 'Save hosts in scene' now works correctly when rendering through Backburner
- Fixes raw image output when enabled with an empty path
- Fixes the Reflection/Refraction trace sets' Clear button
- Reflection/Refraction trace sets now work in inclusive mode
- V-Ray RT progressive sampler settings are now exported in .vrscene files
- V-Ray RT: VRayParticleTex is now translated
- Region rendering with the V-Ray VFB now works when using V-Ray RT as production renderer
- Fixes a V-Ray RT Active Shade crash when undoing a delete of Forest Pro geometry
- V-Ray RT: fixes support of Material Frequency Particle Flow operator
- V-Ray RT/GPU: fixes a problem with the Lens effects source channel
- VRayDisplacementMod: fixes very slow rendering with animated Noise texture
- Fixes VRayClipper's material channel ID appearance in MultiMatte render element
- VRayGLSLMtl/VRayGLSLTex: fixes smoothstep output values outside the interpolation range
- VRayGLSLMtl/VRayGLSLTex: newly opened shaders are now added to the recent files history
- VRayOSLMtl/VRayOSLTex: newly opened shaders are now added to the recent files history
- VRayOSLTex: fixes a crash when assigned to dome VRayLight
- Fixes a VRayProxy crash with corrupt .vrmesh files with large number of voxels
- Fixes incorrect VRayProxy rendering of multiple instances with particles/hairs
- Optimized loading of scene with many Alembic proxies
- Optimized VRayProxy preview voxel loading routine
- VRayProxy now skips preview calculations if zero number of faces/hairs/particles is provided
- VRayPtex: changing PTex cache size now has an effect on rendering
- Adds a VRayPtex option for turning off anisotropic filtering for PTex textures
- Rendering VRayStereoscopic shade map sequences no longer causes crashes
- Fixes a crash after VRayIES light was created in 3D snap mode and Max was reset
- VRayLight: fixes 'Lock to dome orientation' option to work with nested textures
- .vrimg/.exr files are now saved if 'Generate preview' is enabled, and 'Memory frame buffer' is off
- VFB: the progressive sampler now creates a raw .vrimg/.exr file
- VFB: the Lens Effects are now applied to images loaded from the history
- VFB: the Lens Effects are now stored in the output file
- Cloning a VRayExtraTex element now clones the include/exclude list
- All VRayGLSLMtl/VRayGLSLTex user defined global variables are now initialized to zero
- VRayGLSLMtl/VRayGLSLTex: shader source files are now shown in the Asset Tracker
- VRayOSLMtl/VRayOSLTex: shader source files are now shown in the Asset Tracker
- Fixes vrimg2exr batch conversion output names generation
V-Ray is available for Max 2011 to 2015 and costs $1040. A demo version is available here.
21.05.2014 - Commercial
Plugin Update: Utilities
Changes for v8.1.1 are:
- Fixes an issue with the archive flag of the jobs filtering view not working as intended
- Fixes sorting by archive status
- Fixes a crash that happens when saving a preset
- Includes a version column in the hosts view
- Fixes a sorting bug in the chunks view
- Custom environment now uses a , token to allow windows path variables to use ;
- The 'limit by' template in user rights now supports more than one value
- Distributions now include a full release of QT 4.8.5 as well as Pyside
Muster is available for Max 8 to 2014 and costs $85 per node. A demo version is available here.
21.05.2014 - R4 to R2015
Plugin Update: Import / Export
Changes for v3.50.01 are:
- Adds a new option: Limit texture size
- Updated the Repaint tool: material colors are now repainted
- Adds support for Max 2015
- Adds support for Maya 2015
- Fixes warning messages in the Max and Maya plugins
15.05.2014 - R2008 to R2015
Plugin Update: Utilities
Changes for v1.0 are:
- Adds support for Max 2013 to 2015
Thanks go to John Brandwood for cleaning up the code and moving it to Max 2013 for me!
15.05.2014 - R2008 to R2015
Plugin Update: Global Utilities
Changes for v3.0 are:
- Adds support for Max 2013 to 2015
15.05.2014 - R6 to R2015
Plugin Update: Import / Export
Changes for Build 1854 are:
- Bug-fixes
15.05.2014 - Commercial
Plugin Updates: VIZPARK support for Max 2015
Other than the plugins listed below, VIZPARK have also updated all of their other plugins to support Max 2015:
- Color Extract v1.1.10
- Crossmap v1.3.9
- Automap v1.0.6
- Color Combine v1.0.1
- Color Extract LE v1.1.9
- Crossmap LE v1.3.8.0
15.05.2014 - Commercial
Plugin Update: Texturing
Mosaic v1.0.0 from VIZPARK
Changes for v1.0.0 are:
- Adds custom bond patterns similar to Walls & Tiles
- Adds Corona material version 1.0.0 beta
- Includes new Crossmap 1.3.9
- Online update check now works correctly
- Loading saved materials from material library now works correctly
- Fixes a problem with similar mosaic source color when using multiple MOSAIC materials
Mosaic is available for Max 2011 to 2015 and costs €59.
15.05.2014 - Commercial
Plugin Update: Texturing
Changes for v1.3.1 are:
- Adds support for Max 2015
- Crossmap 1.3.9 is included
- Adds a Corona Render material version
- Saved materials are now loaded correctly
- File path is now remembered when loading bitmaps from a folder
- Online update check now works correctly
- Fixes the 'override effect ID' error message in the standard material version
- Fixes some problems with preferences and autoload button script errors
Walls & Tiles is available for Max 2011 to 2015 and costs €59. A demo version is available here.
15.05.2014 - Commercial
Plugin Update: Utilities
Changes for v12.5 are:
- Adds support for Max 2015
- Adds support for Maya 2015
- Adds FBX file support
- Adds Cinema4D file support
- Sketchup import/export has been rewritten and now supports Sketchup 2014 files
- Sketchup now supports front and back materials without duplicating polygons
- Collada has been highly improved
- LXO file support has been highly improved
- Lightwave now finds texture files in most cases
- DXF file support has been rewritten
- 3D engines now support instantiation
- Unity and scale factor are now taken into account by most of the parsers
- Adds a Unity scale factor dialog
- Adds new 'Collapse mesh by material' feature
- 'Merge confused points' algorithm has been rewritten
- 'Merge confused points' now includes channel optimization
- Merge faces now removes duplicated faces
- 3D viewer left panel split position is now saved
- Adds new Select All / Invert Selection / Reselect commands
- Adds new Show All / Invert Displayed Objects / Reshow Objects commands
- WIA image acquisition has been improved
- Twain support has been removed
- Video file reading is now performed using the default application
- Error windows now only appear when a crash occurs
- Many bug fixes (thanks to users that send crash error reports!)
- Wavefront no longer fails when the file contains very long lines
- VRML97 textures path are now correctly read
- 3ds: mesh position is now correct when exporting
3D Browser for 3D Users is available for Max 6 to 2015 and costs $69. A demo version is available here.
15.05.2014 - Commercial
Plugin Update: Texturing
Changes for v4.0.1 are:
- Fixes a bug in Multi-Stitch
PolyUnwrapper is available for Max 2010 to 2015 and costs $34.99. A demo version is available here.
15.05.2014 - R2010 to R2015
Plugin Update: Objects
gw::Ivy v0.96b from GuruWare
Changes for v0.96b are:
- Multiple undo/redo's after adding a custom leaf-mesh no longer messes up the ivy material
- Opening the vertex-color dialog no longer crashes Max
- Nitrous viewports now update when changing custom leaf transforms
- Growing is now 5-10 times faster in the Nitrous viewport
- Drops support for Max 9, 2008 and 2009
15.05.2014 - R2010 to R2015
Plugin Update: Import / Export
Changes for v0.99-2b are:
- Adds support for Max 2015
14.05.2014 - Commercial
Plugin Update: Utilities
Changes for v2.3.0.0 are:
- Clicking on a wire between two objects or passthrough nodes produces a new 'Insert Modifier' menu
- Schematic nodes for entities with an icon preview are no longer made big
- Modifier palette and context-menus now contain WSMs as a sub-category
Zookeeper is available for Max 2009 to 2015 and costs $249. A demo version is available here.
14.05.2014 - Commercial
Plugin Update: Import / Export
Changes for v2.9.29.0 are:
- Adds a new button in Animation Studio to Re-bind all unbound animation slots
- Fixes a memory leak that could crash the Studio if left on a modal dialog
- Adds support for Softimage XSI 2015
- Right-click on animation file now unbinds it from animation slot
- Fixes an assert/leak when adding a copied animset and then undoing
- Fixes memory corruption when SetMask is called with the return x value of GetMask()
- Changes exporter default texture size from 256x256 to 1024x1024
- Adds a proper UI to the TwoBone IK node
- Fixes a character offset error in the Aim At IK node display
- Fixes an uninitialized variable in the new event edge path
- Fixes a crash when deleting key/value pairs from blend node
- Adds lua interace to node key/value pairs
- Adds some error logging to the event track API for anim_source
- Removes OutputDebugStrings from maya_granny_tool_interface
- Adds hints about preprocessor conversion steps in file versioning and 64-bit conversion steps
Granny Exporter is available for Max 2009 to 2015, and is part of the Granny Toolkit which costs $17,500.
13.05.2014 - Commercial
Plugin Update: Modelling
CorVex v1.58 from Shawn Olson
Changes for v1.58 are:
- Fixes a bug when opening scenes with CorVex objects created before v1.5
- Minor optimizations
- The 'Get Settings From Corvex' function now acquires properties added after v1.5
CorVex is available for Max 2010 to 2015 and costs $10.
13.05.2014 - Commercial
Plugin Update: Modelling / Animation
Changes for v2.5.8.0 are:
- Startup macrocripts are now installed into the right directory
- Fixes a crash when using Hair Export modifier without a correct hair node selected
- Fixes incorrect vertex coordinates when exporting animated hair to an OXH file
Ornatrix is available for Max 2009 to 2014 and costs $499. A demo version is available here.
09.05.2014 - Commercial
Plugin Update: Renderers
Changes for v2.7.0 Beta 7 include:
- Adds support for Max 2015
- Much faster motion blur (motion and/or deformation)
- Much faster displacement mapping (specially for fine details)
- Faster warm-up for very heavy scenes
- Adds a built-in MAXScript material converter
- Fixes a bug with 'Pwr_Boolean' in PowerNURBS
- Adds a progressbar when exporting to .rcs
- Arion Sky light is now aligned with the horizon in the viewport
- Adds an auto-update option for the material shaderballs
- Adds proper shaderball resolution
- Adds per-material preview passes control
- Adds some statistics to the ArionFX panel
- Adds Clamp U/V in the FileTex node
- Adds control-based enable/disable to the UI
- Adds a new Arion toolbar
- Adds a new Arion camera
The shipping version of Arion for 3ds Max (v2.0.3) is available for Max 2010 to 2014 and costs €595. If you have a license for 2.0.3, you can download this beta from the Customer Are.
09.05.2014 - Commercial
Plugin Update: Renderers
Changes for v1.3.05.091.1086 are:
- Bug-fixes
Thea for 3dsMax is available for Max 2009 to 2014 and costs €320. A demo version is available here.
09.05.2014 - Commercial
Plugin Update: Animation
Changes for v4.63 are:
- You can now copy selected bones settings to other bones by shift-clicking them
- Influence visualization now shows influences with more than one bone selected
- Fixes bones being assigned incorrectly in rare cases
BonesPro is available for Max 2010 to 2015 and costs €299. A demo version is available here.
09.05.2014 - R2010 to R2011, R2013 to R2014
Plugin Update: Import / Export
Changes for v0.1.4 are:
- Adds support for Max 2013 (64-bit only)
08.05.2014 - R2013 to R2015
New Plugins: Objects
I found the code for these plugins on GitHub last week, and after checking with Steven, I've compiled versions of them for Max 2013 to 2015. Here is a short description of each plugin.
iWave Ocean v1.0
iWave Ocean is based on Jerry Tessendorf's ocean simulation course notes from SIGGRAPH. The plugin supports generating ambient waves on an open ocean; at the heart of the process, they use an FFT to sum many individual waves constructed from a statistical model. It also supports dynamic interaction with collision objects using a convolution kernel over a grid of wave points (Tessendorf's 'iWave' method).
Diamond Square v1.0
This plugin generates terrain using the diamond-square algorithm over a grid. It generates UV coordinates covering the grid, it wraps (ie. the left edge of the grid is a continuation of the right edge and the top edge is a continuation of the bottom), and it is iterative.
Tessendorf Ocean v1.0
This is a version of Tessendorf's FFT ocean simulation for Max. The default parameters will produce a calm, rippling ocean surface, increasing the speed produces more turbulent waves. It is animatable by keying the Time parameter, has customizable scale, amplitude, speed, direction and choppiness, the resolution can be specified through length and width segments (like a normal plane), and it automatically generates UV texture coordinates.
08.05.2014 - R2008 to R2012
Plugin Update: Global Utilities
Changes for v3.0 are:
- Adds support for Max 2008 to 2012 (32-bit and 64-bit)
Thanks go to John Brandwood for recompiling this!
08.05.2014 - Commercial
Plugin Update: Import / Export
Changes for v1.52 are:
- Adds support for Max 2015
- Drive detection has been improved
- Adds a new octree algorithm
- The openedges algorithm has been improved
- Internal changes to the installer
Din3D Importer is available for Max 2010 to 2015 and costs €59. A demo version is available here.
08.05.2014 - R2010 to R2011
New Plugin: Render Effects
Point3Render is a prototype for a new hair effect based on a render effect plugin. It offers full control over the hair creation process using a mesh, several splines and some hair emitters.
08.05.2014 - Commercial
Plugin Update: Post FX
Changes for v1.01 are:
- Adds support for Max 2015
SpotMask is available for Max 2010 to 2015 and costs €99. A demo version is available here.
08.05.2014 - Commercial
Plugin Update: Texturing
Changes for v2.2.1 are:
- Minor fix to the user interface
Bitmap2Material is available for Max 2012 to 2015 and costs $149. A demo version is available here.
08.05.2014 - Commercial
Plugin Update: Particles / Animation
Changes for v2.2 include:
- Improved user interface
- Adds grid-based self illumination for fast, artifact free illumination
- Improved point shader with light cache support for rendering millions of particles
- Phoenix FD properties menu with right-click access to per object overrides
- Morphing Tools with new 'Attraction Forces' to control fluid direction
- New 'Animation Loop' setting to seamlessly loop simulation sequences
- Adds direct RGB color settings to mix colors used in smoke and liquid simulations
- Adds PRT file export for foam, splash, and drag particles
- Adds import of Field3D and OpenVDB files which can be rendered with Phoenix FD volume shaders
Phoenix FD is available for Max 9 to 2014 and costs €700. A demo version is available here.
07.05.2014 - R2015
Plugin Update: Bitmap I/O
Changes for v1.2.4 are:
- Adds support for Max 2015
07.05.2014 - Commercial
Plugin Update: Modelling
Changes for v3.3 are:
- Adds Viewport Stats
- Adds new options to Move2Grid
- Adds Inbetween Instances Tool
- Adds Offset Instances Tool
- Adds Smooth Loop to Relax
- Adds Unify Normals Tool
- Adds Load Material Library into Slate Material Editor
- Adds local mirror to Mirror X/Y/Z and improved the old mirror features
- MiniInterface buttons are now generated based on the Max UI Colors
- Move2Point now uses Transform Gizmo Constraint for axis
- Adds EPoly Constrains Menu to Sub Object button (rightclick)
- Adds macroscripts for Increment Selection
- Adds Auto Weld to Quads Extend (SmartQuads)
- Adds Snap to KeyFrames to Time Slider (Shift)
- Adds per edge Loop mode to MakePlanarXYZ as default, CTRL for regular mode
- Adds support for Elements to RandomSelect
- Adds Spin on local axis and Zero X,Y,Z rotation to RandomFly
- Adds alternate instances select to Similar select
- Adds more options for Object ID to Material ID window
- Adds to NonQuad ctrl for Triangles and shift for faces with more than 4 sides
- Improved Loop/Ring, AutoConnectBridge, Mirror X/Y/Z, WorkingPivot, CenterPivot, Edge RingConnect
- Adds EditPoly support to SubObject, Loop, Ring, PlanarLoop, Relax and SmoothingGroups
- Adds support for EditPoly, EditableMesh and Splines to GetSetPointPos
- Adds support for EditPoly to Chamfer, Extrude, Inset, Cut and TargetWeld from HotBox
- UnwrapUVW support for Loop, Ring, GrowSelection, ShrinkSelection, GrowLoop, GrowRing, ShrinkLoop
- Adds Set Object Height Ratio to scale the length and width but maintain the size ratio
- Adds Drag, Extend, Optimize, StepBuild, Topology and Strips to quickTopo
- Fixed bugs, code cleanup (6k+ lines removed) and rewrites
- Removed Noise Tool and Smooth Tool
RappaTools is available for Max 2010 to 2015 and costs $34.99.
07.05.2014 - Commercial
Plugin Update: Modelling
Changes for v1.2 are:
- Adds support for Max 2015
Tension Modifier is available for Max 6 to 2015 and costs $20. A demo version is available here.
07.05.2014 - R9 to R2014
Plugin Update: Renderers
Changes for v0.4.4 beta are:
- You can now make emitters invisible
- Fixes a few minor bugs with Blender usage
06.05.2014 - R2012 to R2015
Plugin Update: Utilities
Changes for v0.88 are:
- Adds support for Max 2015
06.05.2014 - Commercial
Plugin Update: Renderers
Changes for v1.56 are:
- Adds support for Max 2015
- Improved reliability of network licenses' network communication (Japan only)
Liquid+ is available for Max 2012 to 2015 and costs ¥46,200. A demo version is available here.
06.05.2014 - Commercial
Plugin Update: Texturing
Changes for v3.09 are:
- Adds support for Max 2015
- Enhancements to 'Pencil+ 3 Line' scripting
- Enhancements to 'Pencil+ 3 Material Render Elements'/'Zone Alpha Outputs'
- Fixes display errors in GUI of 'Pencil+ 3 Material'
- Fixes the Cancel button sometimes not working correctly in the color picker
- Fixes a problem with lines being drawn on unexpected parts
- Fixes a freeze problem when setting the Stroke/Random Length value to 100
- Fixes a problem where the 'Line Merge' dialog was displayed when opening a scene file
- Improved reliability of network licenses' network communication (Japan only)
Pencil+ v3.09 is available for Max 2012 to 2015 and costs ¥52,500. A demo version is available here.
06.05.2014 - R2015
Plugin Update: Modifiers
Greeble v1.6 from Tom Hudson
Changes for v1.6 are:
- Adds support for Max 2015
05.05.2014 - All versions
Site News: End User Event 2014
With just four weeks to go, I thought it was about time to make some noise about the upcoming End User Event in Utrecht, Holland. It is two days of talks, masterclasses and networking with other 3D artists from all over the world, with some big names lined up as speakers. And to make it perfect, it all happens in a pub!
This year it's taking place June 5th and 6th, and there are going to be people from Autodesk, Chaos Group, Itoo Software, NVidia ARC, Platige, Ephere, Simplygon, Neoscape and Corona (who I'm really looking forward to meeting). On top of that are a stack of very interesting talks by the people who actually use the software, and it is these that often make you realise that you are only using a small percentage of what Max actually can do.
For the amount of talent lined up this year, tickets aren't that expensive, so if you want to come along head over to the registration page at the End User Event site. If you do come, make sure to say 'Hi' to me while you're there.
Dave
05.05.2014 - Commercial
Plugin Update: Animation
Changes for v4.62 are:
- Adds support for Max 2015
- Optimized vertex painting tool
- Stability improvements and fixes
- New simplified web manageable licensing
BonesPro is available for Max 2010 to 2015 and costs €299. A demo version is available here.
05.05.2014 - R2012 to R2015
Plugin Update: Import / Export
Changes for v2.50 are:
- Adds support for Max 2015
Thanks go to Gildor recompiling the exporter for Max 2015.
05.05.2014 - Commercial
Plugin Update: Modelling
Changes for v1.0 are:
- Adds support for Max 2015
QuadSphere is available for Max 9 to 2015 and costs $2.99.
05.05.2014 - Commercial
Plugin Update: Texturing
Changes for v4.0 include:
- Adds support for Max 2015
- New 'Multi Stitch' lets you stitch multiple shells at once
- New packing algorithm and tools
- New tool for matching the shells' width and height
- New 'Grid Spacing' and 'Show/Hide Grid' button
- Adds support for rendering offset UVs
- New 'Cycle Checker Map' function
- New 'Cycle Freeform Snap Pivot' function
- New 'Grow Geometry Selection' function
- New 'Shrink Geometry Selection' function
- Adds support for localized versions (Japanese, Korean, Chinese)
- PolyUnwrapper Toolbar now automatically undocks when Unwrap Editor is maximized
- PolyUnwrapper Toolbar and other windows now stay on top of the Unwrap Editor
- New render mode: Shells Bounding Rectangle
- Adds 'Render Open Edges' function
- And much more... a full list of changes can be found here
PolyUnwrapper is available for Max 2010 to 2015 and costs $34.99. A demo version is available here.
03.05.2014 - R6 to R2015
Plugin Update: Import / Export
Changes for Build 1851 are:
- Adds experimental support for Max 2015
03.05.2014 - Commercial
Plugin Update: Modelling
CorVex v1.57 from Shawn Olson
Changes for v1.57 are:
- Adds a new UV parameter 'Distance Offsets'
- Adds several new Material ID parameters for controlling the MatID of segments in CorVex Objects
- Updates the Random ID function to work correctly with the second side of a wall
CorVex is available for Max 2010 to 2015 and costs $10.
01.05.2014 - Commercial
Plugin Update: Import / Export
Changes for v3.0.30 are:
- Adds support for Max 2015
- Re-adds support for Max 2011
- Max double-sided materials are now exported as front/back face materials
- Adds pre- and post-animation behaviors to referenced MXS nodes
- Adds controls for selecting the padding and format of MXS sequences
- Adds region rendering controls to cameras
- Adds support for hue adjustment to MxBitmap
- MultiScatter instances now use the render flags from the original object
- Adds focus camera button to FIRE window and toolbar
- Adds the name of the material to the backface material button
- Adds a rotation parameter in MxBitmap
- Negative values can now be used in the offset attribute of MXS reference nodes
- Double clicking a material in the MXS material overrides window selects the material
- Adds a way to set the MXS reference material overrides from MAXScript
- Exposed gsChannelDeep and gsUseGlobalMaterial to the maxwell renderer MAXScript interface
- Adds global settings for textures
- Adds use global, mirror X and mirror Y flags to MxBitmap
- Increased the limit for the depth channel max depth
- Adds back the MXS sequence rendering flag
- Fixes a MAXScript error when loading scenes with corrupted cameras
- Fixes incorrect export of particle flow motion data
- PFlow systems with a dynamic material node now export correctly
- Fixes a crash in the MXS reference object when no material overrides are set
- MXS references now display in the Nitrous viewport
- Fixes incorrect bounding boxes for Alembic reference objects
- Emitters beneath an IES emitter in the material tree now export correctly
- UV scale is now exported when tiling is off
- Material overrides are now saved with the proxy object
- Fixes a crash when previewing some materials
- Fixes a crash with V-Ray cameras
- IES files are no longer ignored when importing materials from MXM
- Alembic and MXS material overrides no longer disappear when the mesh is reloaded
- Alembic material overrides are now exported properly
- Fixes wrong normals for Alembic objects imported with CRATE
- Objects with no name or that only contain numbers in their name now export correctly
- The plugin no longer reserves a license in node mode when the active renderer isn't Maxwell
- Fixes incorrect camera position in FIRE in some cases
- Fixes an Alembic crash when the abc file had material references
- The MxBitmap enable sequence checkbox is no longer disabled when turning off viewport preview
- Hidden XRef scenes in the viewport are no longer exported
- MXS references no longer update their geometry when show in viewport is off
- MxBitmap previews no longer appear darker when using show in viewport
- Maxwell material viewport preview no longer ignores the hue shift parameter
- Fixes Max 2012 using a seat license even in node mode
- Fixes a MAXScript error when loading scenes made with older versions of the plugin
- Custom bokeh is now exported
- The offset parameter of the MXS reference object now works correctly
- Fixes wrong output paths in some cases
- Fixes a render error when materials contain empty bitmaps
- Fixes a problem with the viewport preview of MXS references showing old objects
- Fixes a crash when displaying Maxwell materials in the Slate editor
- The textured material wizard no longer creates materials with empty bitmaps
- Fixes garbage text in the log window when material translation failed in FIRE
- IES file names are now saved
- Fixes acrash when converting wizard materials to layered materials in Slate
- Fixes a crash when the wizard material is loaded as part of a multi-material
- Fixes a memory leak in the material UI
- Fixes incorrect size for the viewport preview of volumetric objects
- Fixes missing frame numbers in channel file names when rendering sequences
The Maxwell 3ds Max plugins come with Maxwell Render, which is available for Max 2011 to 2015 and costs €595. A demo version is available here.
01.05.2014 - Commercial
Plugin Update: Texturing
Changes for v1.0.3 are:
- Adds support for Max 2015
- New in Max 2015 only: baking Mighty Tiles Pro maps is now multi-threaded
- You can now batch crop tiles in the Tile Set Designer
- Fixes the wrong resolution setting for tile images when using V-Ray DBR
- Fixes the 'Stretcher Bond 1/3 3 Rows' bond for rendering with mental ray
Mighty Tiles Pro is available for Max 2012 to 2015 and costs €238.80 per year. A demo version is available here.
01.05.2014 - Commercial
Plugin Update: Modelling
Changes for v4.0 are:
- New 'Array Selection' add-on selects array members using boolean value
- New 'Export to Comma Separated Values (CSV)' add-on
- New 'Array Size' add-on for dynamic array count adjustment
- New 'Snap Shot' add-on creates single geometry from an array member
- New 'Key Frame Maker' add-on generates keyframes for array members in a specified time span
- New 'Array Linker' add-on links Max nodes using Para 3d controllers
- New 'Paint' add-on adjusts an objects color using controller output
- All parametric nodes now have output channels enabling more complex relationships
- New 'Reference Array' node generates multiple reference arrays from existing parametric arrays
- New 'Compound Node' combines members of multiple arrays as booleans or shape attachments
- New 'Contour Generator' node produces spline section cuts through a given array
- New 'Extract Wireframe' node converts edges of polygon members into splines
- New Packing Controller packs circles/spheres in 2d and 3d using two types of algorithm
- The Intersection Controller now supports line and geometry intersection
- The Intersection Controller now verifies object intersections with Boolean output
- The Intersection Controller now supports scalar output
- The Intersection Controller now has greater output functionality
- The Curve Controller now evaluates closed curves with True/False return output
- The Curve Controller now returns segment length
- The Curve Controller now evaluates curves at given T-parameters
- The Collection Controller now collects multi-dimensional inputs and can output in 5d
- The Collection Controller now generates collections from Intervals
- The Convert Controller can now transform matrices to scalar format rotation in x/y/z
- The Link Controller now has object override functionality
- The List Controller can now return items by specified dimension
- The L-System Controller can now generate one dimensional array output
- The Magnet Controller vector types now include effect position and rotation
- The Magnet Controller now has enhanced options similar to the scalar controller
- The Mesh Controller now has increased output functionality under Object Input
- The Mix Controller can now mix lists (join, subtract and intersect)
- The Offset Controller now supports string and object output
- The Para Link Controller now has additional 'look up' options
- The Polyline Controller now has additional 'search in' functions
- The Random Controller now supports 1D lists as output type
- The Range Controller now supports 1D lists as output type
- The Range Controller can now automatically calculate min/max input
- The Ring Controller has a new 'Start Angle' parameter
- The Text Controller now has additional text formatting functionality
- The Transform Controller has an enhanced user interface
Parametric Array is available for Max 2011 to 2015 and costs $150. A demo version is available here.
01.05.2014 - Commercial
Plugin Update: Renderers
Changes for v4.7.321 are:
- Adds support for Max 2015
- Adds unit scale (3DS Max scene is 10x smaller for FurryBall now)
- ActiveShade refresh optimizations
- Adds support for objects with the same names
- Adds a bump multiplier to the FurryBall material
- Adds support for displacement maps
- Fixes material editor preview
- Fixes some lights bugs
- Fixes FurryBall material specular
- Fixes render passes
- Fixes updating the GI node in ActiveShade
- Fixes updating meshes when they are created
- Fixes recomputation of environment maps
- Fixes render settings initialization
- Fixes updating of procedural textures
- Fixes bitmap output settings
FurryBall is available for Max 2013 to 2015 and costs €959. A demo version is available here.