MAX Plugins.de News Archive

Archived Plugin News  –  February 2001
 

Plugin Update: Utilities

Changes for v1.1 are: Option to override Fence selection with Uzife's lasso, customisability, and a few bugfixes.


New Plugin: Renderers

Luminaire gives Max 4 lighting control you never thought possible. Add advanced radiosity lighting to your scene to give it that extra sense of realism. Have a swimming pool naturally reflect and refract light, producing those caustic effects you would expect. Turn any object, including particle systems, into a source of light.


Plugin Update: Renderers

Changes for v1.1 Beta 4 are:
- Improved the Area Light rendering method.
- Updated the Lightmap Utility.
- Max 4 version is now available.


New Plugin: Objects

Forest is a plugin designed to give a complete solution for creation of vast surfaces of trees and plants. There are other plugins that allow you to create beautiful trees (with thousands of faces), but only 'Forest' enables you to create a complete forest with thousands of trees using only a fraction of the resources.


New Plugin: Shadows

When you create trees using planar geometry, they cast ugly rectangular shadows. You must use Raytrace Shadows to get a good projection, but it's very slow. This plugin builds a perfect shadow for Forest objects in all conditions. It works as a Shadow Map and there are no problems at render time.


New Plugin: Utilities

A tool that is used to automatically change the active camera in all Forest objects (for use with Forest Lite).


New Plugin: Utilities

A utility to reduce duplicate materials in complex projects.


New Plugin: Utilities

This plugin aligns the pivot point of a selection of objects over the surface of a base object. Can also conform a spline over the surface.


New Plugin: Modifiers

Clone is a modifier used to create replicated objects, similar to the Array tool in Max but parametric.


Plugin Update: Objects

Changes for v1.4 are:
- Bug using random materials with probabilities is fixed.
- Incompatibility with Afterburn fixed.
- Fixed bug when creating object from MaxScript.
- Internal changes for Max 4.


Plugin Update: Shadows

Changes for v1.6 are: Bug using material ID different from 1 is fixed, and updated the code for Max 4.


Plugin Update: Utilities

Changes for v1.4 are: No actual changes, just updated the code for Max 4.


Plugin Update: Utilities

Changes for v1.1 are: No actual changes, just updated the code for Max 4.


Plugin Update: Utilities

Changes for v2.2 are: No actual changes, just updated the code for Max 4.


Plugin Update: Modifiers

Changes for v2.1 are: No actual changes, just updated the code for Max 4.


Site News: New MAX Plugins.de forum

I have just opened up a forum here. If anyone has any news or tips about freeware plugins, you can leave me a message there. There's a link at the top of every page, or you can click here.


Plugin Update: Utilities

Changes for v1.09 are:
- There's a new dialog box to enter motion name & type before exporting Character Studio motions.
- The character's ID is now exported for skins as well (previously only for BIPED parts).
- There was a memory leak when exporting packed ZCB files! Fixed.
- Fixed a bug in the lighting module.
- Cropping values are now exported for materials as well.
- and much much more...


New Plugin: Modifiers

AURAN Jet is a game authoring software currently in Beta, and available for free download. With this plugin you can assign weights to vertices which then affect how the mesh will be progressively collapsed by the Jet exporter.


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Changes for v1.0.0.3 include: The exporter works with AURAN Jet Beta2, and now exports in the following file formats: *.im (Indexed Mesh), *.pm (Progressive Mesh), and *.kin ( Animation File).


Site News: New MaxScript database

If you're looking for scripts for Max 4, you have to try MaxScripts @ TDP.nu. The site is still in Beta, but should be up and running for March 1st.


New Plugin: Import / Export

Like the name says, exports models in the format of Quake 3 Arena. This was recompiled for Max 4 by Rudolpho Cazabon, and is actually an older version than the one available for Max 3.x (v0.6b).


New Plugin: Objects

With this plugin you can turn any object into a light source. This is done by putting a light on every vertex of a mesh. These lights can be omni or free direct. There are no changes from the R3 version, it has just been recompiled.


New Plugin: Import / Export

This is a simple plugin for exporting your scene to a *.txt file. There are no changes from the R3 version, it has just been recompiled.


New Plugin: Import / Export

MaxMan is a plugin that is capable of producing a RenderMan RIB file from a Max scene. MaxMan preserves all geometry, animation, textures, and allows assignment of RenderMan shaders. This 'BMRT Only' version is free, and can only be used together with BMRT


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Changes for v1.5 include:
- Initial build of MaxMan for Max 4 included.
- MaxMan can now create tiled RIBs for rendering sections of the one image (this is particularly useful for BMRT users with multiple CPUs).
- Delayed read archive was turning into read archive when replace hierarchy was enabled - Fixed.
- An output map with no input wasn't producing the correct result - Fixed.
- Some problems existed when using pre/post render MaxScripts - Fixed.
- Added support for Meta-Reyes primitives.
- The use of ObjectInstance rib-mode should no longer result in some surfaces being inverted when rendered with BMRT.
- Basic support for Blur's 'dirt' map is now implemented.
- Subdiv models with multiple materials are now handled properly.
For more information go here.


New Plugin: Import / Export

An export plugin for Pulse Entertainment's Pulse format, for interactive, rich media animation on the Internet. Part of the Pulse Creator Pack.


New Plugin: Import / Export

This pack allows you to export objects or scenes from Max 4 to the Cult3D Designer software where you can create Cult3D Animation objects.


New Plugin: Modifiers

This is the Max 4 version of the polygon reduction plugin with support for texture coordinates.


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Changes for v4.4.0.1124 are: Producer will now recognize .bmp, .jpg, and .tga as well as .pct file formats for reading lightmaps, the culling checkbox in Max is now supported, Producer 4.4 should export correctly with international regional settings, Setting cropping width and height values to 0.0 in the Material Editor does not crash Producer.


Plugin Update: Utilities / Materials

Changes for v1.1 are: DirtyReyes is now a utility plugin , not a modifier.


Plugin Update: Utilities

Changes for v1.0a are: A few bugs fixed by Adam Pletcher from Volition Inc., and recompiled. This fixes the bug that was causing Max to crash on exiting the program.


New Plugin: Import / Export

This is the UNofficial (I think) Taldren plugin for Max 4 that is used to export models to Starfleet Command Volume II.


New Plugin: Import / Export

This is the UNofficial (I think) Taldren plugin for Max 4 that is used to import models from Starfleet Command Volume II.


New Plugin: Import / Export

This is the official Taldren plugin for Max 3 that is used to export models to Starfleet Command Volume II.


New Plugin: Import / Export

This is the official Taldren plugin for Max 3 that is used to import models from Starfleet Command Volume II.


New Plugin: Materials

Stress is a Texture map plugin that composes 3 different maps using the compression and strain of the mesh object to which it is applied.


New Plugin: Utilities

ModSpace is a utility that copies the Modifier space from one object to another.


New Plugin: Modifiers

TLUnwrap is a modifier that unwraps any mesh object using a mapping channel, keeping all mapping channels, materials and maps without change. This unwrapped mesh can be rendered in mapping space, and the rendered image can be used to paint textures using other maps as reference.


New Plugin: Utilities

This is a really useful utility that expands on the Max Lasso selection tool. With Uzife you can draw freehand selections, or use your mouse like a marker pen to highlight your selection.


New Plugin: Modifiers

FreeMorph is designed to simplify the creation of 3D morphing between mesh-objects with different topology.


New Plugin: Objects

Patch edges is a tool that converts patches and some primitives to splines.


New Plugin: Objects

Mapale is a powerful non-linear animation plugin. It is a morphing-like system for transform controllers that keeps a record of a group of objects, and morph their position between a set of 'shapes'.


New Plugin: Materials

A special procedural plugin that allows fine touch-up smoothing of hard edges, so your object can become not just photo-realistic, but much more real-life looking. This build will expire on March 31st, 2001.

Webmasters: please DON'T mirror this plugin, use the link above, as we are trying to determine how many people are interested in this plugin. Thanks, Dave + Ivan.


New Plugin: Import / Export

Changes for v4.0 are: Fixed a bug that output blocks for groups incorrectly. The problem happened when you cloned a group in Max. The two groups nodes were incorrectly combined into a single block; Changed the quad formation logic to better duplicate the quad formation in Lightscape.


New Plugin: Import / Export

Changes for v4.0 are: Fixed a bug that prevented Max from importing files with more than 32767 material, textures, layers, or lamps; Fixed a bug that crashed VIZ on Windows 98 systems. If you typed an invalid entry in one of the numeric fields in the dialog, VIZ would crash; Fixed a bug that crashed VIZ when undoing the deletion of a Lightscape Mesh; Fixed a couple of bugs when importing area and linear lights into VIZ. The scale from meters to VIZ units wasn't being applied, and the transform applied to the distribution was being applied; Fixed an assert when loading VIZ R2 files that use LS Colors and LS Mesh modifiers in VIZ R3.


Plugin Update: Materials

Changes for v0.04 are: one bug fixed, and a serious improvement in performance. This build will expire on March 31st, 2001.

Webmasters: please DON'T mirror this plugin, use the link above, as we are trying to determine how many people are interested in this plugin. Thanks, Dave + Ivan.


Plugin News: REYES Infográfica

The official site for the free REYES Infográfica plugins is now up and running. Just click here.


Plugin Update: Utilities

Changes for v1.08 are: Now supports Max 4 and Character Studio 3, the Flexporter SDK has been modified (v1.03) in order to be compatible with Max 4, the VC++ projects for the ZCB and ASCII exporters have been reorganized, non-official support for keyframes.


New Plugin: Objects

This is a straight recompile for Max 4, no changes at all.


New Plugin: Objects

This is a straight recompile for Max 4, no changes at all.


New Plugin: Materials

This is a straight recompile for Max 4, no changes at all.


New Plugin: Objects

This is a straight recompile for Max 4, no changes at all.


New Plugin: Modifiers

This is a straight recompile for Max 4, no changes at all.


New Plugin: Utilities

This is a straight recompile for Max 4, no changes at all.


Site News: Max 2.x database

Cartoon Reyes from REYES Infográfica has been added to the Max 2.x database. Unfortunately there is at this time no Max 3.x version of the renderer.


New Plugin: Modifiers

SurfReyes is a powerful tool for generating complex surfaces of varying curvature based on the principle of 'subdivision surfaces'.


New Plugin: Modifiers

A modifier for creating facial expressions, working in combination with Jedit.


New Plugin: Modifiers / Materials

Turns your nice and clean Max models into dirty, weathered ones with the help of some clever mapping.


New Plugin: Modifiers / Objects

The cloth simulator, used for such things as Thierry Muglers Virtual Fashion Show, has been released as a free plugin.


New Plugin: Objects

At last, the organic modeller from REYES Infográfica has been released as a free plugin.


Plugin Update: Utilities

Changes for v1.08 are: Now supports Max 4 and Character Studio 3, the Flexporter SDK has been modified (v1.03) in order to be compatible with Max 4, the VC++ projects for the ZCB and ASCII exporters have been reorganized, non-official support for keyframes.


New Plugin: Objects

This is a new version of the Point helper object in Max 4. It adds features such as letting you change the colour of the Point, and displaying a name in the viewport allowing you to see which Point is doing what.


New Plugin: Objects

If you downloaded this plugin yesterday, you need to download it again. The ZIP-file from yesterday contained the R3 version of the plugin instead of the R4 version. This is a straight recompile for Max 4, no changes at all.


New Plugin: MAXScript Extensions

This gives you control over the opacity of your program windows under Windows 2000. A value of 0 is transparent, 255 is opaque, allowing you to create translucent windows for your scripts. Thanks to Masayuki Sato for the info.


New Plugin: Videopost Filters

This is a straight recompile for Max 4, no changes at all.


New Plugin: Objects

This is a straight recompile for Max 4, no changes at all.


New Plugin: Videopost Filters

This is a straight recompile for Max 4, no changes at all.


New Plugin: Modifiers

This is a straight recompile for Max 4, no changes at all.


New Plugin: Videopost Filters

This is a straight recompile for Max 4, no changes at all.


New Plugin: Objects

This is a straight recompile for Max 4, no changes at all.


New Plugin: Bitmap I/O

This is a straight recompile for Max 4, no changes at all.


New Plugin: Modifiers

This is a straight recompile for Max 4, no changes at all.


New Plugin: Bitmap I/O

This is a straight recompile for Max 4, no changes at all.


New Plugin: Utilities

This is a straight recompile for Max 4, no changes at all.


New Plugin: Videopost Filters

This is a straight recompile for Max 4, no changes at all.


New Plugin: Bitmap I/O

This is a straight recompile for Max 4, no changes at all.


New Plugin: Videopost Filters

This is a straight recompile for Max 4, no changes at all.


New Plugin: Objects

This is a straight recompile for Max 4, no changes at all.


New Plugin: Videopost Filters

This is a straight recompile for Max 4, no changes at all.


New Plugin: Videopost Filters

This is a straight recompile for Max 4, no changes at all.


New Plugin: Videopost Filters

This is a straight recompile for Max 4, no changes at all.


New Plugin: Objects

This is a straight recompile for Max 4, no changes at all.


New Plugin: Videopost Filters

This is a straight recompile for Max 4, no changes at all.


New Plugin: Videopost Filters

This is a straight recompile for Max 4, no changes at all.


New Plugin: Videopost Filters

This is a straight recompile for Max 4, no changes at all.


New Plugin: Objects

This is a straight recompile for Max 4, no changes at all.


New Plugin: Objects

This is a straight recompile for Max 4, no changes at all.


New Plugin: Import / Export

Here's one I missed. Exports yours scenes to the XSI file-format.


New Plugin: MAXScript Extensions

This gives you control over the opacity of your program windows under Windows 2000. A value of 0 is transparent, 255 is opaque, allowing you to create translucent windows for your scripts. Thanks to Masayuki Sato for the info.


New Plugin: Modifiers

This is a straight recompile for Max 4, no changes at all.


Plugin Update: Renderers

Changes for v1.1 Beta 3 are: Fixed a major bug that was causing the photon map renderer to crash when Max had multi-threading turned on in the render preferences. This also fixes the problem with the radiosity controls floating panel not working.


Plugin Update: Utilities

Changes for v1.07 are: Custom exporters now have access to the main Flexporter text window, option to include Character Studio motion files in the main exported file, option to take the face areas into account in the normals computation, robuster bounding sphere code, shape material ID's now exported, and much more.