MAX Plugins.de News Archive

Archived Plugin News  –  August 2018
 

New Plugin: Modelling

ReDeform allows you to redefine object size with real world units. It has its own method of changing dimensions that moves object vertices respectively so an object stays in its original shape. It is a great method for right-angled objects such as furniture, kitchen cabinets, doors, shelves, tables and many others. The plugin also has a scale mode in which you can make scale adjustments more easily than with the simple Max scale.

ReDeform is available for Max 2016 to 2019 and costs $20. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Utilities

Changes for v1.12 are:
- Recent templates no longer lose their layout
- Changes the licensing method
- Deleting an Octopus now deletes the .MCR as well
- The installer now works properly with Max 2019
- The installer now works properly with Max 2013 and 2014
- You can now swap buttons using drag n drop
- Axis has been integrated into Octopus
- Adds new Axis based variables which can be used inside your spinner code
- Adds a 'Toggle Action' button
- Command Editor now has a toggle returning script line to check the current state of your toggle
- If you hold down shift before you start spinning, you can now stack spinner actions
- Adds a new Snap Menu template
- Adds a new Axis based Cloner template
- F2 / F3 / F4 now work to toggle between shading modes as well as filled polygon mode toggle
- Adds proper Octopus Nesting by moving between nested Octopus menus
- The middle cancel button is now an indicator that a commit is necessary
- Adds brand new and updated icons which are all now 32x32 pixels
- The base color for all icons is now red so the entire UI has been unified
- The stylus mouse wheel substitution has been moved to the TAB key

Octopus is available for Max 2013 to 2019 and costs €35. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Utilities

Changes for v9.0.5 are:
- Adds a brand new realtime statistics view over the Renderclients from Muster Console
- The Dispatcher service statistics now include processors, memory, network cards and disks usage
- Realtime statistics can now be stored as chunks which can be browsed individually
- It is now possible to open a log of an in-progress chunk from the chunks view
- The Frames mask now accepts negative numbers by prepending numbers with an 'm'
- Fixes a console bug where refreshing the entire chunks view may produce a console crash
- Fixes a Windows render client bug that stalled renders due to process output collection
- Fixes a Dispatcher bug where successfully rendered chunks got logged as having warnings/errors
- Fixes a Dispatcher issue where it was not possible to retrieve off-line nodes after a restart
- Fixes a Dispatcher issue where history chunks were not loaded in the chunks view correctly

Muster is available for Max 6 to 2019 and costs $85 per node. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Changes for v1.2.30 are:
- Arnold: adds a map for color, roughness, metalness, transparency and emission color
- Detect Arnold material: Standard Surface
- Adds draco compression using the gltf-pipeline module
- Fixes image transformation from uri to binary
- Adds an unlit attribute to gltf materials


Plugin Update: Renderers

Changes for v2.6.20 are:
- Max Material / Texmap class names and categories will be changing in a future release
- Adds Max support for Redshift Math and Color shaders
- Adds the missing 'Environment Alpha Replace' option to Redshift Volume Scattering in Max
- Fixes a Max bug where Manage Scene States did not work when Redshift is installed
- Fixes a Max bug where Deadline renders failed using Redshift File Output
- Fixes a Max bug where mesh extraction produced incorrect results for AXYZ Anima Actor objects
- Fixes a Max bug where the Verbose logging setting was not applied at the beginning of a render
- Fixes a Max bug where Deadline + Redshift File Output results in AOVs saving to the wrong file
- Fixes a Max bug where additional light group output files could be written
- Fixes a Max bug where transforming a Redshift Volume did not update IPR
- Fixes a Max bug where IPR doesn't respond to scene changes
- Fixes a MAXScript access violation at startup
- Improves Max scene translation performance for Ornatrix hair with deformation blur
- Adds Maya support for the version label tag in file name prefix
- Adds support for the Maya 2017+ colorConstant and colorMath nodes
- Fixes a Maya crash when baking
- Fixes the incorrect message 'Denoising Beauty' in Maya
- Fixes a Maya bug that could cause precision to drop for large numbers written to AOV files
- Fixes a C4D issue where User Data changes in Fracture objects were not always reflected
- The Houdini shelf buttons to add the OBJ/Camera spare parameters now update correctly
- Adds a new HScript command 'Redshift_updateSpareParameters'
- The Houdini IPR no longer updates the scene after param UI change type events
- Adds a new plugin build for Houdini 16.5.571
- Fixes incorrect GI for ray-marched volumes when global volume fogging is enabled
- Fixes global fogging GI and Environment scales for GI ray-marched volumes and surfaces
- Fixes a bug in the RS Math cross-product shader that would produce incorrect results
- Fixes bugs in the RSColorRange shader node that caused incorrect clamping or incorrect alpha
- The RS Texture Sampler node now uses the default/invalid color for missing textures
- Fixes visual corruption and missing light meshes when instancing a proxy area light

Redshift is available for Max 2013 to 2019 and costs $500. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Renderers

Changes for v3.08.3 - 5.14 are:
- Updates to Octane render 3.08.3
- Fixes an issue with movable proxy instances when 'Clear node cache when render' is disabled
- Adds a 'Per object' setting to the 'Use obj render settings' flag in kernel settings
- Fixes Object layer helper viewport display

OctaneRender is available for Max 2013 to 2019 and costs $619. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Modelling

Changes for v1.2.1 are:
- Fixes a crash when adding multiple world space versions of the modifier

AdvArray is available for Max 2016 to 2019 and costs $20.


Plugin Update: Renderers

Changes for v2.3.0 are:
- Adds a diffuse backscattering option for simple backlighting
- Adds clearcoat thickness and transmission color
- Adds refraction absorption, for glass and liquid objects that scatter light
- Adds per lobe normals
- Refractions (Glass) now default to not allow caustics
- Render settings have been reorganized, allowing clearer user control of render settings
- Different device configurations for viewport and final renders are now possible
- You can now set the number of CPU threads for CPU renders
- You can now control ray depth separately for diffuse, shadow, reflections and refraction
- Adds support for Max 2019 (and drops support for Max 2016)
- Adds an ambient occlusion node
- Adds support for iterative progressive resolution rendering in Active Shade
- Improves performance of Uber materials when mesh polygon counts are high
- Physical Lights have been made more consistent with Max native lights
- Physical Lights now work in Active Shade mode
- Adds 'Camera Motion Blur'
- GLTF export is now better supported
- The sun position component has been rewritten
- The renderer hardware selection UI has been improved
- Fixes a hang while in Active Shade and CPU mode
- Adaptive subdivision now uses less memory
- Float Tiff textures should now work properly


Plugin Update: Utilities

Changes for v2.1 are:
- Adds support for Forest Pack

Mirza Link Manager is available for Max 2012 to 2019 and normally costs €99. Currently you can get a license at a 20% discount for €79.20. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Utilities

Changes for v1.6 are:
- You can now Cut/Copy/Paste assets in Connecter without losing any catalog data
- Add/remove previews has been streamlined
- You can now delete the actual preview files
- You can now auto-hide images assigned as previews
- Improves drag & drop work with categories
- Adds a context menu in gallery mode
- Adds version 2.5 of the Connecter MAXScript
- Fixes a bug that prevented the material export from working properly
- Minor tweaks and bug fixes


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Changes for v2.6 are:
- Adds support for the Composite map
- Adds support for horizontal rotation limits for the camera
- Adds support for different System and Display Unit scales (not only meters)
- Export has been significantly accelerated (up to 2-3 times)
- Adds support for bump maps in physical materials
- Updates the Open Graph metadata for the default Player app
- The Puzzles editor now consists of 2 tabs/workspaces
- Adds a new puzzle that allows for deeper customization of an application
- Adds a puzzle that configures the preloader
- Fixes a crash in Max 2015 and 2016 with UVW Map and Editable Poly modifiers in the scene
- Fixes annotations that were visible behind the camera
- PBR roughness now works properly on iOS

Verge3D is available for Max 2015 to 2019 and costs $290. A demo version is available here.


Site News: Lack of updates recently...

Sorry that it's been so quiet here recently, I've had loads of real-life work to do and then I was on vacation. I'm back now and will start catching up on everything here over the next few days.

Dave


Plugin Update: Animation

Changes for v1.2 are:
- Adds support for Max 2019
- Improves performance
- Registry/installer improvements
- Miscellaneous UI and stability improvements

pMorph is available for Max 2015 to 2019 and costs $95. A demo version is available here.


Site News: MAX Plugins.de turned 18 last month!

On the 12th of July 2000, MAX Plugins.de went online after a month or so of getting everything set up. 2000 seems to have been a good year for Max sites, because both MaxUnderground (now called CG Press) and ScriptSpot also started in that year. Since then the site has become very popular, and although I was worried for a while that the site was looking a bit old, people seem to like the fact that I've kept it simple. The only changes here in the last few years have been to improve the functionality.

Up to the end of July, the site has had over 31.2 million pageviews (2016 - 25,404,396, 2014 - 19,295,890, 2012 - 14,590,431). Unfortunately my page impression statistics only go back to 2005, so the actual figures are probably a bit higher than that.

The database has a total of 9,854 free plugins, 764 commercial plugins and 257 mental ray shaders. The free plugins total looks high because many of the Max 4 plugins also work in Max 5, so they've been counted twice. The same goes for Max 9 / Max 2008 and Max 2010 / Max 2011, Max 2013 / 2014 and Max 2015 / 2016. The actual number of free plugins is around 5,000.

I'd like to say a big thank you to the very few people who have actually helped support this site. You know who you are, and this place might well have disappeared by now if it wasn't for your support. Most people never seem to notice the PayPal button on the left, and over the last year only a handful of people have donated anything at all. All donations, no matter how small, help to keep the site going, so if this site has helped you out at all in the past, or if it helps you out in the future, please think about clicking on the PayPal button.

Hopefully I will be doing another birthday post this time next year! Also, try taking a look at the News Archive, there you can find every news item posted since July 2000. There is some very interesting stuff in there! All the best, Dave


Plugin Update: Utilities

Changes for v1.11.0 are:
- IgNite: removes gamma settings
- Sculpt: adds 'Find Double Objects'
- Sculpt: adds 'Find Double Verts'
- Sculpt: adds a new option to keep geometry as poly
- Sculpt: conform to surface is now 30% faster
- Scribe: adds splines with modifiers applied
- Illumi: adds a new feature to generate preview images for any HDRI
- Illumi: you can now edit HDRI details within Illumi
- Illumi: the Illumi rig can now hold multiple HDRIs
- Illumi: adds a camera selection option
- Illumi: adds UI scaling for larger display screen resolutions (Qt)
- Illumi: drops support for Moskito Renderer
- SiClone: adds support for optimised rendering in VRay 3.xx and VRay 4.xx
- SiClone: 40% speed increase in build times
- Disperse: adds support for optimised rendering in VRay 4.xx
- Scatter: adds support for optimised rendering in VRay 4.xx
- All plugins: adds a new dropdown menu with help links
- All plugins: drops support for Max 2014

SiNi Software is available for Max 2015 to 2019 and costs £180 per year. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Objects

Changes for v0.9 are:
- Adds support for V-Ray 3.6 in Max 2018


Plugin Update: Renderers

Changes for v1.8 are:
- Upgrades the underlying Iray engine to the latest 2018.0.1 version
- The AI Denoiser now works better with bright highlights
- The AI Denoiser now works with HDR images
- Adds a Bloom post-processing filter
- Adds a Backplate Mesh option for geometry
- Adds a new Iray for 3ds Max toolbar for quick access to dialogs and features
- Bitmap cropping/placement parameters are now supported
- Enables binary compression for MI/IVM export resulting in faster re-load times
- Stereo spherical camera parameters are now correctly communicated to Iray Server
- The Multi/Sub-object material is now correctly marked as compatible with Iray+
- Fixes a crash when launching a non-English version of Max with the plugin installed
- The Iray+ Colour Correction map now has all parameters exposed
- Fixes a bug where Iray+ procedural map previews were broken in Max 2019

Iray for 3ds Max is available for Max 2017 to 2019 and costs $295 per year. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Renderers

Changes for v3.08.2 - 5.13 are:
- Fixes a crash when using an Octane texture for non standard purposes
- Adds an option to use PhoenixFD displacement map for particles [experimental]
- Adds calls to PhoenixFD frame pre and post update functions
- Changes PhoenixFD particle group selection in the modifier to stop it changing during animation
- Fixes missing update of imager when switching cameras/perspective while in the same viewport
- Fixes export of animated environments
- Adds Ground color to the Daylight Environment
- Fixes issues with cloning objects while the viewport is open
- Fixes issues with undo, redo cloning, instancing, deleting objects while the viewport is open
- Fixes issues with the material editor preview cache
- Fixes the material color used in the Max viewport not being animated (Max 2014+)
- Adds an option to render transparency / opacity in the Max viewport
- Fixes issues when changing the Movable proxy setting while the viewport is open
- Adds an option to re-use object settings for new objects
- Adds 'auto sync' selection to the Octane Object Property dialog
- Adds a Distribution texture to the Octane light

OctaneRender is available for Max 2013 to 2019 and costs $619. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Modelling

Changes for v1.07 are:
- Increases the upper limit for the Segments (%) parameter

TurboSplines is available for Max 2012 to 2019 and costs $40. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Lighting

Changes for Drop 3 are:
- The Presets system has been greatly enhanced
- New Rig Presets are entire lighting designs containing multiple lights
- New Content Presets change the visual appearance of existing lights
- New Element Presets can be dragged onto your Content settings to update them instantly
- You can now save your own User Presets
- You can now use Presets to organise your purchased HDRI maps into a library
- Adds a large array of additional preset content
- Adds a new Octane Standalone connection
- The Houdini connection has been updated to support creation and control of area lights
- The Houdini connection now supports Redshift
- The Max connection has been updated to support V-Ray Next

HDR Light Studio is available for Max 2016 to 2019 and costs $995 plus $145 for the Max connection. A demo version is available here.