MAX Plugins.de News Archive

Archived Plugin News  –  July 2009
 

Plugin Update: Modelling / Animation

Changes for v3.0.27 are:
- Adds support for Max 2010 (32-bit and 64-bit)

LipService with LBrush is available for Max 8 to 2010 and costs $99. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Changes for v1.0 Build 1714 are:
- Bug-fixes


Plugin Update: Renderers

Changes for v5.6 are:
- Adds support for Max 2010 (32-bit and 64-bit)

Illustrate! is available for Max 2 to 2010 and costs $395. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Changes for v2009.07.28 are:
- Minor bug-fixes


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Changes for v1.0 Build 1713 are:
- Experimental hardware shader support
- Bug fixes


Plugin News: Last free week for Shaderlight...

Just a reminder that this is the last week that you can download Shaderlight for free from ArtVPS. Anyone who downloads Shaderlight v0.1 before August 3rd 2009 will be entitled to free upgrades to interim versions, and will qualify for 50% off the cost of the first full release of the interactive raytracer, available at the end of the year.


New Plugin: Renderers

This plugin enables Max to hook up to LuxRender, an open-source, free software rendering system for physically correct, unbiased rendering.

LuxMax Alpha 1 offers limited support for the following features:
- Materials
- Matte
- Matte translucent
- Glossy
- Glass
- Arealights
- Textures
- Constant
- Imagemaps
- Checkerboard
- Lights
- Max omni translation to point
- Max spot translation to spot
- Max directional to infinite
- Max camera support (no lens effects yet)
- Output to *.LXS files


Plugin Update: Utilities

Changes for v4.211 are:
- Adds support for V-Ray RT
- Viewport previews now try to ensure that viewport hardware shading comes out in the preview too
- The V-Ray 'duplicate override material' query is now only triggered IF an override material is assigned
- Fixes Backburner submissions to Max Design 2010 with command line submit active
- Deadline submissions with XRef cameras now render from the correct camera
- Deadline3x job submission names are now set to the current submitting user
- Lots of Deadline31 updates
- A Deadline 3.1 SP1 custom script is now installed
- Adds a workaround for setting the viewport background in Max 2010
- EXR submitted to the farm now sets the premultiplied alpha setting correctly
- Previews through the Preview Passes tool no longer have the Max viewport text in the frame
- Fixes a bug when setting the manager to something other than Backburner
- Fixes a problem with the default auto root path setting
- Capture selected object properties button now works if the auto-capture button is off

This version of RPManager is available for Max 9 to 2010 (32-bit and 64-bit) and costs $300. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Renderers

Changes for v1.0.431 include:
- Fix to support texture mipmapping of dynamic textures
- Adds support for mia_envblur

Rendition is available for Max 9 to 2010 and costs $395. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Utilities

Changes for v2.4.54 are:
- Fixes a bug with copying animated MentalRay Proxy files
- Previews are now copied together with MentalRay Proxy files

FilePathFinder Pro is available for Max 9 to 2010 and costs $25. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Materials

Changes for v2.6.00 are:
- Adds support for Max 2010 (32-bit and 64-bit)


Plugin Update: Modelling / Animation

Changes for v2.7.0.2 are:
- Adds support for Max 2010 (32-bit only)

LifeStudio:HEAD is available for Max 4 to 2010 and costs $930 (Standard) / $1800 (Pro). A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Changes for v0.5b are:
- Adds support for Max 2010 (32-bit and 64-bit)

Thanks go to Nash for recompiling this for Max 2010.


Plugin Update: Modelling / Animation

Changes for v1.7.0.80 are:
- Fixes a crash when rendering hair converted to cloth mesh
- Fixes a defect in rendering thick strands with more than one width sample

These fixes are for the latest build of hairfx (as part of Hairtrix) and can be downloaded here.

Hairtrix is available for Max 9 to 2010 and costs $695.


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Changes for v1.0 Beta VI are:
- You can now import MSH (compiled mesh), MRM (multi-resolution mesh) and ZEN files (without vobs)
- The 3ds exporter can now rename materials to prevent them from being classified as 'TRASH' by Spacer


Plugin Update: Utilities

Changes for v1.1 are:
- Adds support for Max 2010 (32-bit and 64-bit)


Misc Update: A couple of hotfixes for Max 2010

Autodesk have released two hotfixes for Max 2010 and Max Design 2010:
- Hotfix One addresses a problem that doesn't allow online activation or license transfer from behind a proxy server
- Hotfix Two fixes a crash that may occur during the Activation Licensing Service process, when launching Max 2010 on a 64-bit platform


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Changes for v2009.07.18 are:
- Recompiled to support the latest version of SceneEngine


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Changes for v0.9.6 are:
- Adds support for Max 2010 (32-bit only)
- Installer now properly detects non-English versions of Max
- Changes preview camera navigation to be more like Max navigation (pivot based)


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Changes for v2.3.0 are:
- Adds support for Max 2010 32-bit and 64-bit)
- Improved Max x64 support
- Disables vertex welding for skinned meshes to avoid the indexing bug
- Fixes issues with skelfile vs skeleton when exporting skinned meshes

This was updated a while, but I only just noticed it...


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Changes for v1.2 are:
- Adds support for Max 2010 (32-bit and 64-bit)


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Changes for v1.4.1 are:
- Fixes the 'bad parameter values in default shaders' bug
- Fixes an installer package problem seen by some users


New Plugin: Utilities

This commercial MAXScript lets you have an unlimited number of materials in the material editor. It works with pages, each page showing the 24 slots available in the ME. If you turn the page, you get 24 new slots. It also has Save and Load functions, as well as Reset and AutoArchive.

MaterialMultiSlots Pro is available for Max 9 to 2010 (I think) and costs ¥1000. A demo version is available here.


New Plugin: Utilities

This commercial MAXScript converts VRay materials to Standard materials and Standard materials to mental ray Arch & Design materials, and supports Diffuse, Bump, Displace, Reflection, Refraction, Opacity maps.

MaterialConverter Pro is available for Max 9 to 2010 (I think) and costs ¥2000. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Utilities

Changes for v1.1.2 are:
- Fixes a crash when running on 64-bit Max and using Max delegates (actually a .NET CLR bug)
- All type interfaces (except for generic ones such as Tab<...>) are now derived from IDisposable
- IControl.GetValue and SetValue are now properly implemented


Plugin Update: Renderers

Changes for v1.0.430 include:
- Fixes progressive renderer to prevent clamping of RGBA channel at pixel level

Rendition is available for Max 9 to 2010 and costs $395. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Texturing

Changes for v5.4.2 are:
- A few minor bug-fixes

PolygonMap is available for Max 8 to 2010, and costs $50. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Utilities

Changes for v2.4.50 are:
- Adds 'Make Report' function
- Adds 'Deep relink' function
- FilePathFinder settings are now saved when installing new versions

FilePathFinder Pro is available for Max 9 to 2010 and costs $25. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Changes for v2.0.3b are:
- Adds logic to detect whether to include skeletons for mergable submeshes
- Adds a load of OgreMax pass settings (corresponding to the Ogre settings)
- Modified 'Export Selected Objects' so it exports all the valid selected hierarchies of objects
- Increases the number of texture units in an OgreMax pass to 16
- Fixes a bug when merging two meshes with animations that shared the same skeleton


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Changes for v1.0.11 are:
- Fixes several issues
- Streamlines the exporting process
- Provides dramatic increases in exporting speed over networks


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Changes for v1.0 are:
- Adds support for Max 2010 (32-bit and 64-bit)

Smart Render Graphic Exporter is available for Max 5 to 2010 and costs $29 (introductory price). A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Renderers

Changes for v3.0 Build 173 are:
- Adds support for Max 2010 (32-bit only)

Swift 3D MAX is available for Max 3 to 2010 and costs $295. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Changes for v1.4.0 are:
- Adds support for Max 2010 (32-bit only)
- Export multiple texture maps as shader from standard Max material
- Work-around for the bug where Effects/Shaders were not always recognized by IGame
- MaxScript API
- Documentation / Manual is now properly installed into Start menu program list
- GUI improvements
- Bug fixes


Plugin News: r|Shaders development update

Alessandro Cangelosi has updated his site with more information on his upcoming r|Shaders Core Zero plugins. He is gearing up to release the first shaders in a couple of weeks, with others following a month or so later.

He has not only released pricing information for the shaders, including special prices for pre-orders, he is also offering a crossgrade for owners of the rebelThink Natural:shaders plugin.


Plugin Update: Texturing

Changes for v2.03 are:
- Padding between UV charts has been adjusted
- UV charts now keep correct distance to the edges of the UV map
- Error reporting for MAXScript use has been modified

Unwrella is available for Max 9 to 2010 and costs €149. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Modelling / Texturing

Changes for v2.5.5 are:
- Adds support for Max 2010 (32-bit and 64-bit)
- Adds support for collision objects
- Adds regular structures, easily controlled by UVW mapping
- Adds distribution along splines
- You can now scattering inside/outside splines
- Adds a 'Contrast' option in the VRayScatter texture
- Adds camera clipping
- You can now offset scattering from splines and geometry edges
- Adds custom behavior for splines and geometry edges
- Adds support for the Asset Tracker
- Most of the VRayScatter settings are now animatable
- New demo version

VRayScatter is available for Max 9 to 2010 and costs €200 for a workstation license. This is a free upgrade for owners of version 2.0. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Utilities

Changes for v10.04 are:
- Adds support for Max 2010 (32-bit and 64-bit)
- 3DS plugins have been improved
- Patch conversion for objects with quadrangular faces has been improved
- New Zip command lets you create zips from selections or directories (incl. sub-directories)
- Polygon Cruncher no longer crashes when optimizing scenes with groups
- Patch conversion no longer leads to a crash
- Fixes a bug where the application sometimes opened 2 viewers
- Zip browsing no longer fails when a zip contains another zip

3D Photo Browser for 3D Users is available for Max 4 to 2010 and costs $69. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Changes for v1.23 are:
- Adds support for Max 2010 (32-bit and 64-bit)


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Changes for v1.0 Build 1712 are:
- Experimental hardware shader support
- Bug fixes


Plugin Update: Texturing

Changes for v1.12 are:
- Padding between UV charts has been adjusted
- UV charts now keep correct distance to the edges of the UV map
- Fixes incorrect memory allocation when baking lots of objects into a map
- Flatiron modifier map channel info no longer displays the wrong mat channel

Flatiron is available for Max 9 to 2010 and costs €249. A demo version is available here.


Plugin News: Roof Designer discount for MAXPlugins.de users...

The guys over at Batzal Software are running a special discount for users of MAXPlugins.de, giving you a 30% discount for a limited time on their Roof Designer plugin. To take advantage of this offer, just click here.


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Changes for v1.0 are:
- Adds support for Max 2010 (32-bit and 64-bit)


Site News: No updates for the next 10 days...

I'm going to be out of the office (and country) for the next 10 days, so there won't be any updates until July 22nd.


Site News: MAX Plugins.de is 9 years old tomorrow...

Almost nine years ago, on the 12th of July 2000, MAX Plugins.de went online after a month or so of getting everything set up. Since then the site has been getting more and more popular, and it doesn't show any signs of slowing down.

Up to July 9th, the site has had 13,988,498 pageviews (2008: 12,411,148, 2007: 10,791,278). The database has a total of 6,724 free plugins, 231 mental ray shaders, and 394 commercial plugins. The free plugins total looks a bit 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 and Max 2008.

I'd like to say a big thank you to the (very) few people who have actually helped support this site. I am always very grateful for anything that helps keep the site going, so please think about clicking on the PayPal button if the site has helped you out at all.

All the best, Dave


Plugin Update: Utilities

Changes for v1.1 are:
- Interfaces.dll has been renamed to Autodesk.Max.dll
- MaxDotNetLoader.dlu has been renamed to Autodesk.Max.Wrappers.dlu
- Removes MaxDotNet.dll, you only need Autodesk.Max.dll and Autodesk.Max.Wrappers.dlu now
- Fixes assembly loading exceptions introduced in previous build
- Now using custom assertion dialog which allows access to error text for copying
- Started adding managed collections for suitable objects
- Add more context-specific enumerations
- Max.NET now uses a web installer instead of manual file placement


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Changes for v2.0.1 are:
- Changes the mesh animation 'Track' property to 'TrackName'
- The object selection dialog now uses the generic one that the XSI and Maya exporters use
- Fixes a bug with mesh skeletons that caused meshes to be stretched to infinity
- Fixes a bug with the sample type not being set correctly in the UI


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Changes for v2.8.23.0 are:
- Extract IK info for Max bones that have either IIKControl or IIKChainControl derived controllers
- Adds a mesh flag 'Use color map detection heuristic' to the Max exporter
- Fixes the Max exporter taking the ID of the first color channel from the currently displayed vertex color parameter
- The Max exporter now default initializes vertex alpha to 1
- The exporter now supports XSI 7.5
- Store the vertex and normal transform for Max meshes in the ExtendedData member
- Fixes a problem with the Max 2010 exporter compile process
- Altered the way GrannyReadAtMost, GrannyWrite, and friends are handled
- Fixes a flag omission in the write_raw_file.cpp sample preprocessor command
- Support extraction of the Knot and Control vert arrays from Maya NurbsCurve objects
- Fixes a crash in the viewer from unorthodox bone indices
- MaskName parameter for GrannyExtractTrackMask now const

Granny Exporter is available for Max 6 to 2010, and is part of the Granny Toolkit which costs $12500.


Plugin Update: Utilities

Changes for v2.4.25 are:
- Adds 'View Files-List by Selection' filter
- Fixes some interface issues
- Fixes an error when starting the demo version

FilePathFinder Pro is available for Max 9 to 2010 and costs $25. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Utilities

Changes for v0.721 Beta are:
- Fixes a small bug when starting the script

HCG Asset Browser PRO is available for Max 2009 to 2010 and costs $50. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Renderers

Changes for v5.10.1.0 SR1 are:
- Adds support for Max 2010 (32-bit and 64-bit)
- Adds support for 3D sound
- SDK: the Depth Decal can now be set between -1000 and 1000
- Explorer: the cameras original position and FOV can now be reloaded
- Explorer: adds a new type of plugin - Controls Plugin
- Explorer: direct integration of the controls Orbit/Pan/Zoom
- Explorer: adds new 'Simple mode' controller
- Explorer: adds support for publishing to Nova Server
- Explorer: adds support for multi-selections when launching scripts or shaders
- Revit: adds support for Revit 2010
- Revit: adds texture export
- Revit: adds camera special effects (black & white, anaglyphic stereoscopy, bloom)
- Revit: you can now export selected views
- Revit: you can now create interactions between objects
- Adds a new action: RaiseEvent
- Adds new options for the ControlUI action

The free Personal Learning Edition has also been updated.

Nova is available for Max 7 to 2010 and costs €7000. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Utilities

Changes for v0.85a are:
- Adds support for Max 2010 (32-bit and 64-bit)
- Adds support for Vray 1.5 SP3/SP3a (ambient occlusion handling)
- Adds support for Vray RT
- Less buttons and shorter window
- New render methods
- Basic/advanced GUI (adv. tools)
- Includes the QuickCreate toolbar for fast Vray object creation
- New and less presets: better and cleaner renderings
- Better glossies interpolation (if desired)
- New 'Perfect Caustics' option for realistic and sharp caustics
- Reflect/refract interpolations have been separated for more comfort
- Draft, Preview and Minipreview are 150% faster
- Now keeps the render panel open/closed when SR is launched/closed
- No more flashing DOS window when starting
- New bucket management for EXR savings compatibility
- Adds a new 'select active cam' option for more comfort
- Quality buttons have been replaced by a slider to gain some space
- Color of selected buttons in SR can be changed for more comfort
- Much improved glossies interpolation (when on)
- Fixes black pixels / zones in SP3 caused by 'check sample visibility'
- Max 2010 gamma handling is finished

SolidRocks is available for Max 9 to 2010 and costs €64.58. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Utilities

Changes for v0.72 Beta are:
- New 'render thumbnails' option lets you use a custom scene and custom render presets
- You can now display materials thumbnails from a specified asset path
- Adds support for mental ray proxies
- Adds mental ray render thumbnail compatibility
- Adds support for Max 2009 and Max 2010 (32-bit and 64-bit)
- You can now resize the item preview
- Fixes a problem with network paths
- The spacing value in paint settings is now working
- Fixes a problem when clicking off the categories button
- Fixes a runtime error when you delete your merged model and then select a surface
- Fixes an error when accessing deleted files without a refresh
- Fixes orientation problems when applying the object to the surface
- Fixes a surface problem in 'render thumbnail'

HCG Asset Browser PRO is available for Max 2009 to 2010 and costs $50. A demo version is available here.


Plugin News: Di-O-Matic announces Voice-O-Matic v3.0

Di-O-Matic have announced the upcoming release of their lip-sync plugin Voice-O-Matic v3.0. The plugin, which will be released this summer, has the following new features:
- Added compatibility with Max 2010
- 64-bit support for Max 9 to Max 2010
- Improved lip-sync quality
- Enhanced and updated user interface
- Additional presets for Phoneme mappings
- Ability to save Voice-O-Matic mapping in 3D scene
- Use Weighting option
- Restrict Time Range for keyframes creation
- Optimized integration with Facial Studio (3ds max edition)


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Changes for v2.0 are:
- Adds support for Max 2010 (32-bit and 64-bit)
- Adds OgreMax extended view for viewports
- Adds OgreMax scene windows
- Adds OgreMax progress window, used during export
- Adds a window to monitor the OgreMax log
- Adds uninstall functionality to the installer
- Adds a details window to the installer
- Adds support for animated skies
- Adds more internal criteria for exporting meshes, submeshes, instances, and names
- Adds logic to prevent using the OpenGL render system when Max is already using it
- Adds 'Export as Morph' option to mesh animation settings dialog
- Adds a new mesh animation type called 'Combined Morph Only'
- Adds 'Global Settings' dialog
- Adds 'Enabled' setting to the Node Animation dialog
- Scene Settings -> Environment adds the settings 'Export', 'Ambient Light', 'Background', 'Fog Start', 'Fog End' and 'Fog Color'
- You can now synchronize background and ambient light colors to scene settings
- Adds shader program support for a number of parameters
- Adds 'Native' setting for vertex color format on Meshes page of the Scene Settings dialog
- Adds resizing functionality to most dialogs
- Adds an 'Animated Skeleton Root' setting to Mesh Animations page of the Object Settings dialog
- Adds an 'Optimize Skeleton Animations' setting to the Meshes page of the Scene Settings dialog
- Adds 'Split Mirrored', 'Split Rotated', and 'Store Parity in W' settings to the Scene and Object Settings dialogs
- Adds support for 'material' usage with the user data types feature
- Adds user data support to the OgreMaxMaterial type
- Adds logic to sort shader parameters by name
- Adds logic to automatically generate edge lists for meshes when stencil shadows are used
- Adds a tutorial to the documentation describing how to configure shadows
- Adds a tutorial to the documentation describing how to merge meshes
- And much much more... A full list of changes can be found here


Plugin Update: Utilities

Changes for v2.4.16 are:
- Object selection has been accelerated
- Adds 'View Files - List by Filetype' filter
- Adds 'Check for Update' function

Alexander has also released a 'Lite' version of FilePathFinder which only costs $10. The major differences to the Pro version are:
- No elaboration of xRef files in automatic mode
- No asset file finding in automatic mode in xRef scenes
- No collection and sorting of files to subfolders
- No renaming of links by mask

FilePathFinder Pro is available for Max 9 to 2010 and costs $25. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Renderers

Changes for v1.0.428 are:
- Fixes setup of state barycentric coordinates
- Adds 3D position output channel
- Fixes shader attributes that are array types in the Maya plugin
- Fixes perlin_noise calculations for some platforms

Rendition is available for Max 9 to 2010 and costs $395. A demo version is available here.


Plugin News: The July special offer from Craft Animations

Craft Animations are running a new special offer until the end of the month (July 31st), giving a 50% discount on Craft MotionFilterCam. This brings the price down to $75 or €56. More information here.


Plugin Update: Particles / Animation

Changes for v1.45 are:
- New Glue function for glueing objects together and breaking the connection during simulation
- Adds support for deformable / point-cached objects
- New 'Simulate by timeslider' checkbox lets you create a simulation by dragging the timeslider
- The user interface has been reworked
- New 'Treat group as' selection box allows you to define how RayFire should treat groups
- New function 'As group of object' simulates each object separately while keeping them in a group
- Adds the 'Attach selected' tool for attaching all selected objects into one
- Adds the 'Bake group' tool
- Fixes a few bugs

RayFire Tool is available for Max 9 to 2010 and costs $285. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Changes for v1.0.10 are:
- Adds support for Max 2010 (32-bit and 64-bit)
- Adds 64-bit support for Max 9 to 2009
- Fixes several issues

MachStudio Pro is available for Max 9 to 2010 and costs $4999.


Plugin Update: Renderers

Changes for v1.0.427 are:
- Fixes mi_metallic_paint to handle odd flake scales
- Adds error correction to mi_db_access and mi_db_access_type
- Adds rendering profiles for Max 2010
- Adds Max 2010 plugins (32-bit and 64-bit)
- Adds Max 2010 acceleration shaders
- Adds further script support for TCP sockets
- Fixes renderMI to correctly handle some frame ranges

Rendition is available for Max 9 to 2010 and costs $395. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Renderers

Changes for v1.5 are:
- Adds support for Max 2010 (32-bit and 64-bit)

Liquid+ is available for Max 9 to 2010 and costs ¥45,800. A demo version is available here.


New Plugin: Utilities

This commercial script is an asset manager and browser with the following features:
- Display thumbnails of your models
- Library Example to show how to arrange your own libraries
- Merge as vrayproxy: convert the model and save .vrmesh
- Merge on references: replace your scene models with other models
- Paint mode over surfaces, good for vegetation
- Render thumbnails of your models

The script will be in Beta stage until all the planned features for the final version have been implemented. It has only been tested on 64-bit Max 2009, but it may work on other recent versions.

HCG Asset Browser PRO is available for Max 2009 and costs $50. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Connection

Changes for v4.0 are:
- Full 32-bit and 64-bit support for Max 2009 and 2010
- Re-designed Dynamite VSP Civil Explorer
- Support for Point Groups from AutoCAD Civil 3D 2010
- New render-time Sight Distance Analysis tool
- Most data import panels now use a new unified user interface design
- New re-designed Object Placement Style Editor
- New US Metric and Imperial Country Resource Kits
- And much more... A full list of changes can be found here

Dynamite VSP is available for Max 2009 and 2010.


Plugin Update: Animation

Changes for v1.22 are:
- Adds support for Max 2010 (32-bit and 64-bit)

CityTraffic is available for Max 9 to 2010 and costs €360. A demo version is available here.


Site News: Tweet tweet

Just a reminder that all of the headlines from here now get fed to Twitter, so if that's your thing head over there and start following.