MAX Plugins.de News Archive

Archived Plugin News  –  March 2015
 

New Plugin: Texturing

MultiTexMap is a bundle pack that includes material and texture maps that easily allow you to randomize materials and maps in your scene, based on random values, object id, material id, user properties and more.

The plugins in the pack are:
- MultiTexMap: randomizes maps based on random values, object IDs, user properties, face IDs, etc.
- MultiMaterialSelector: assigns materials based on ID
- VariationMap: creates random variations of a color/map based on HSV/RGB values
- ShellMap: switch between viewport, render and editor maps
- FrontBackMap: like the Front Back Material but as a map

MultiTexMap Bundle is available for Max 2013 to 2015 and costs €10.


New Plugin: Objects

This is a development build of the mental ray Domemaster3D shaders (a set of fulldome stereo and latlong stereo production lens shaders) that work with Vray 3.0 for Max 2014 and Max 2015, and Vray 2.5 for Max 2015.


Plugin Update: Modelling

Changes for v3.4 are:
- Adds support for Verts, Edges, Faces, Elements to RandomFly
- Adds Arc Tool to GeoOutline which is now a tool
- Adds support for Splines to One Object, Explode Object, Detach Selection and Break Selection
- Adds extra functions to Move 2 Point
- Adds viewBlueprint to quickly add an image plane for the current view
- Adds support for subObjSelection to CleanVerts and WeldVerts
- Adds support for EditPoly modifier to RandomSelect, RemoveLoop and RemoveRing
- Add +shift to WorkingPivot to place the working pivot
- MakeMultiMaterial no longer requires collapse
- MakeMultiMaterial from folder now uses V-Ray materials if it's assigned
- Improvements to Multi Hide
- GeoEdge is now a tool allowing to change the edge length on the fly
- Improvements to Create Polygon
- Improvements to Smart Toggles
- Sub Object Level toggles is now more aware of the modifiers
- Improvements to CopyReplace, SetObjectHeight and VrayCameraFromView
- Improvements to Copy/Paste Material to use the scene material if the same
- RappaTools3 Quad Menu can now be assigned to either ctrl+shift or ctrl+shift+alt
- Adds 'Delete Empty Layers' function
- Adds toggles for display color, vertex color and shade vertex color
- Adds RappaTools3 Menu and 2 extra HotBoxes
- Adds 'Clean Arch Models' to Unify Normals UI
- Various improvements and optimizations

RappaTools is available for Max 2010 to 2015 and costs €31.99.


New Plugin: Bitmap I/O

Allows you to load VTF (Valve Texture Format) image files into Max. VTF is the proprietary texture format used by the Source engine.


Plugin Update: Utilities

Changes for v1.026e are:
- Adds support for Max 2015


Plugin News: CameraMapGemini 2015 crowdfunding

Markus Boos, author of the very useful CameraMapGemini camera mapping plugin, has started a crowdfunding project to sponsor the release of the plugin for Max 2015.

If you are interested in seeing the plugin released, then head over to the crowdfunding page and show your appreciation for the work that goes into developing the plugin and keeping it up-to-date.

I'll be keeping an eye on how this works out, as it's something I've been thinking about for the large number of recompiles I do every time there is an SDK break...


Plugin Update: Utilities

Changes for v2.12.20 are:
- Adds support for the release version of Corona Render
- Fixes issues with merging XRef objects and Proxies
- Fixes some issues with Favorites
- Fixes an issue with the cut operation for files and folders
- Fixes an issue with duplicate search results for files which contain a description

Project Manager is available for Max 2010 to 2015 and costs $75. A demo version is available here.


New Plugin: Modelling

This commercial MAXScript takes a series of splines and uses them to create branching geometry which can be used for roots, branches, nerves, etc.

SplineBrancher is available for Max 2012 to 2015 and costs $14.99. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Utilities

Changes for v1.01.20 are:
- Adds support for the release version of Corona Render
- Fixes issues with merging XRef objects and Proxies
- Fixes some issues with Favorites
- Fixes an issue with the cut operation for files and folders
- Fixes an issue with duplicate search results for files which contain a description

Models Manager is available for Max 2010 to 2015 and costs $30. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Utilities

Changes for v1.42 test are:
- Converts to Tiled EXR and translates BitmapTexture to VRayHDRI
- Converts to Tiled TX and translates BitmapTexture to VRayHDRI
- Adds a 'Check VrayHDRI Gamma' settings function
- Fixes preview for Set / Rename Path

Bitmap Tracking/Resizing is available for Max 2009 to 2015 and costs $9. A demo version is available here.


New Plugin: Import / Export

This plugin allows you to import .map (Quake2, QuakeIII, Soldiers of Fortune II, Call of Duty 4, etc.) and .vmf (Half Life 2, Counter Strike: Source) files into Max.


Plugin Update: Connections

Changes for SR5.2 are:
- Improves material support for extremely large HDR textures
- Fixes preview rendering of tangent space normal maps with strengths other than 1
- Extreme normal map intensities now render correctly in FireFly
- Joint blending information is now stored correctly for spherical zones
- Morphing tool Create mode: Save a copy now has correct default parameter name
- Morphing tool Create mode: Object mirroring is now based on selected actor
- Force limits is now enabled on magnet zone scale parameters of legacy content
- Fixes normal maps causing instability during simulation in Cloth Room
- Re-enabled import of LWO files
- Fixes instability when importing 3DS files (Mac OS X only)

Poser Pro is available for Max 2012 to 2015 and costs $499.99.


Plugin Update: Utilities

Changes for v3.01 are:
- Fixes a bug that caused the SSS states to store incorrectly

Render Passes and State Sets Tool is available for Max 2014 to 2015 and costs $15.


New Plugin: Import / Export

Allows you to import srtm3 files from NASA's Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM). More details about the format can be found here.


Plugin Update: Modelling / Texturing

Changes for v4.3.7 are:
- Fixes a crash when using Edge mode with Exclude Falloff
- Fixes a crash with Mental Ray distributed rendering and Forest Color using Tint/Map by Element
- Fixes Octane materials for the Gravel presets library
- Loading materials from the library now updates both the Custom Object and Geometry->Material
- Increases limit of Animation->Samples from 20 to 999
- Removes Mental Ray warnings when using IRay

Forest Pack Pro is available for Max 9 to 2015 and costs €200. A demo version is available here.


New Plugin: Animation

Shater Autorig takes the technical work out of rigging and lets you focus your effort on animating.

Features include:
- FK-IK controls
- Stretchy limbs and spine
- Bendy/curvy limbs
- Biped mocap support
- Pose manager
- Clean layering system for rig bones
- Helper controllers

Shater AutoRig is available for Max 2011 to 2015 and costs $99.90. A demo version is available here.


New Plugin: Renderers

3Delight is a RenderMan-compliant renderer that combines path-tracing and the REYES algorithm.

Features include:
- Production grade path-tracing and REYES algorithms
- High quality rendering of smooth subdivision surfaces and fine displacements
- High quality rendering of hair, particles and motion-blur
- High quality rendering of depth of field, subsurface scattering and more
- Multi-Light output and interactive mixer
- Easy to use physically plausible materials
- An advanced Layers system unique to 3Delight
- Support for third party plugins (inc. Massive, Shave, OpenVDB)
- Support for many V-Ray shaders

The first license (limited to 8 cores) is free with no restrictions for commercial use and no time limit. A maximum of one free license is available per customer. This free version has all the features and is only limited in performance by using a maximum of 8 cores during rendering.


Plugin Update: Modelling

Changes for v1.4 are:
- Adds new 'Mid Between 2 Points' function for creating points in the middle of two other points

miauu's Polyline is available for Max 2010 to 2015 and costs €15.


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Changes for Build 1901 are:
- Fixes Infinity Shader regressions


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Changes for v2015.1 are:
- Add support for Max 2015 and Maya 2015
- Removes support for Max 2012 and Maya 2012
- Changes the exporter name suffix from 'amd64' to 'x64'
- Fixes the 'skinning check' on export to properly interface with Max's 'skinOps' functionality
- Updates Maya HeroMaterial shader plugins for improved performance and better viewport2.0 support

Hero Engine Exporter is available for Max 2013 to 2015 and is part of the art pipeline that comes with the Hero Engine, which costs $99 / year.


Plugin Update: Renderers

Changes for v1.00.02 are:
- Licensing server is now a 32bit application and has an option to run without UI
- The framebuffer sidebar is now on by default
- Fixes some crashes/freezes when parsing geometry
- Fixes the wxWidgets assert and/or crash when starting Corona
- Fixes crashes (error -1073741795) when starting Corona
- Fixes a crash caused by displaying a CoronaColor texmap in the viewport
- Fixes 'error 127' when loading Corona on Windows Vista
- Fixes different frames being rendered on render nodes than on master when using DR
- When used with no license, the material editor no longer renders black
- Changes the default sensor width from 35mm to 36mm
- Fixes a bug sometimes causing Corona Scatter not to be displayed in the viewport
- Fixes Corona VFB spinners not working if system decimal point / thousands separator are the same
- Fixes crashes when using XRef-ed scenes containing CoronaSun
- Fixes a bug that sometimes caused Corona Scatter to report negative polycount values

Corona Renderer is available for Max 2011 to 2015 and normally costs €24.99 per month or €548 for a permanent license. For a limited time you can get a license for €19.99 per month or €448 for a permanent license. A demo version is available here.


New Plugin: Utilities

Reference Watcher is a utility from the Max SDK that allows you to see internal reference messages. It can be used to help understand the reference structure of a chosen item and to monitor the reference messages it sends. The plugin provides a quick, visual way for developers to examine the use of references in Max.


Plugin Update: Modelling / Animation

Changes for v3.1.4.0 are:
- Fixes a sporadic crash when applying an Ornatrix shader inside the material editor
- 'Guides from Surface' and 'Hair from Guides' now update when a distribution channel is (un)assigned
- 'Guides from Surface' now updates when painting vertex colors used to control distribution
- Fixes Nitrous viewport hair not having texture coordinates
- Fixes guides not transforming correctly after being moved at root
- Fixes 'Hair from mesh strips' not updating when rendered in a sequence
- Planting new guides now respects the direction of the source guides
- Adds an Edit Guides modifier CreateRootAtCoordinate MAXScript function

Ornatrix is available for Max 2009 to 2015 and costs $499. A demo version is available here.


New Plugin: Import / Export

MaxToC4D can transfer your current Max scene to Cinema4D with just 2 clicks, solving common import / export problems automatically.

If you are an artist using both Max and C4D, you can add a new dimension to your Max workflow by using the C4D renderer, the object library, or the integrated hair/grass system, etc.

If you are more of a C4D user, maybe you would want to use Max modelling tools, or convert assets that you have bought in the .max format. Even if they have V-Ray materials, the materials will be converted to standard C4D materials (you must have V-Ray for Max installed to do this).

MaxToC4D is available for Max 2015 (and maybe other versions as well, there is no information on the web site) and costs $25 for a limited time.

Update:
The price is no longer $25, it has gone up to $49.


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Changes for Build 1900 are:
- Fixes Infinity Shader regressions


Plugin Update: Renderers

Changes for v6.1 are:
- Adds support for Max 2015


Plugin Update: Texturing

Changes for v3.1.1 are:
- Fixes a bug when renaming the User Section with the same name
- Fixes a bug when renaming the User Category with the same name
- Fixes a bug when renaming the User Material with the same name
- Fixes issues with saving User Category/Material notes
- Fixes a potential issue with 'Open User Material full preview' on unselected materials
- Fixes minor issues with User Library lists headers info
- Adds 'Right Click' functionality to the opened full preview image
- Adds tool-tips and option to show/hide tool-tips
- Adds the ability to set Max Subdivs (reflection/refraction) for materials
- The Default Library is now divided into Legacy materials (V-Ray 2.x) and V-Ray 3.1+
- Updates the test scenes
- Updates the UI style
- Adds new materials and updates some old ones

V-Ray Material Presets Pro is available for Max 2013 to 2015 and costs €140.


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Changes for v3.50.09 are:
- Minor bugfixes


Plugin Update: Utilities

Changes for v1.40 are:
- Adds 'Rename files on HDD' functionality

Bitmap Tracking/Resizing is available for Max 2009 to 2015 and costs $9. A demo version is available here.


Shader Update: mental ray Shaders

Changes for v1.7.0 are:
- No changes to the Max shader, just various Maya fixes


Plugin Update: Utilities

Changes for v6.1.2 are:
- Modifies the plugins for Max and Maya to support upcoming application changes
- Adds 'Wheel Forward 5x' and 'Wheel Backward 5x' button actions
- Rotation center is now set to point on model after activating the 'QuickZoom In' command


Plugin Update: Utilities

Changes for v8.5.4 are:
- onChunkStart, onChunkEnd and onChunkRequeue functions are now invoked from the Dispatcher
- onChunkEnd in the instance context now reports the final status string correctly
- The SDK is now recompilable using SWIG
- Disconnecting Console from a different Dispatcher service no longer retains the wrong queue
- Pressing the ESC button on the templates editing window no longer makes the windows unusable
- Fixes an issue with capturing subframe progress when a multiple lines output is generated
- Fixes an issue where onJobEnd was only invoked in the global template
- Adds a V-Ray standalone template
- Adds a 3D Studio Max integrated connector
- Muster now searches for a MUSTERPYTHONPATH environmental variable on startup
- Fixes an issue in the Redhat/Centos linux init.d scripts with an undefined NETWORKING variable

Muster is available for Max 6 to 2015 and costs $85 per node. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Modelling

Changes for v2.4.5 beta are:
- Fixes the rotation component of UVW XForm in V-Ray
- Fixes the Max. faces warning message in Corona Renderer
- Fixes rendering of RC objects with modifiers in V-Ray RT
- Fixes problems with the Style Editor disappearing on multi-monitor configurations

RailClone Pro is available for Max 9 to 2015 and costs €200 A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Changes for Build 1899 are:
- Fixes Infinity Shader regressions


Plugin Update: Texturing

Changes for v1.3.2 are:
- New Crossmap v1.3.11 included
- Adds support for Corona Renderer v1.0
- The maximum number of rows is now 10,000 instead of 1,000
- Fixes the deactivated blur value being set to 0.01 on plugin creation

Walls & Tiles is available for Max 2011 to 2015 and costs €59. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Texturing

Changes for v1.3.11 are:
- Adds support for Corona Render
- Fixes support for VRay3 instances
- Fixes a crash when selecting random but unique first in scenes with an old Crossmap version
- Fixes per-face mapping not working correctly in Max 2015
- Fixes a crash when using Y-Mirror
- Fixes linear selection underflowing

Crossmap is available for Max 2010 to 2015 and costs €39. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Objects

Changes for v1.3.2.57959 are:
- Fixes incorrect per-vertex normals
- Fixes loading OBJ files when using some non-English locales such as German


Plugin Update: Animation

Changes for v1.3.2.57959 are:
- OBJ export now exports texture coordinates as UV instead of UVW when all W are zero
- Improved performance of the polymesh exporter
- Fixes saving soft selection for polymesh files
- Fixes an error when loading XMesh Saver in multiple concurrent tasks on Deadline
- Fixes 'Save Material Library' for TP Multi/Sub-Object materials that contain certain materials

XMesh Saver MX is available for Max 2010 to 2015 and costs $495. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Particles

Changes for v2.0.17.57846 are:
- Adds support for Thinking Particles 6.x beyond 6.0
- Fixes the licensing of Stoke components unrelated to Simulation
- 'MaterialID' has been renamed to 'MtlIndex' in Magma channel sampling operators

Stoke MX is available for Max 2013 to 2015 and costs $595. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Utilities

Changes for v7.0.3.0 are:
- Ensures that only subfolders with names representing a valid job ID can be deleted by Deadline

Deadline is available for Max 2010 to 2015 and costs $185 per node. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Utilities

Changes for v1.026d are:
- Adds support for Max 2013 / 2014


Plugin Update: Modelling

Changes for v1.2 are:
- Fixes a bug in the Look At Preview function
- Detail Objects with a WWMT Helper now use the WWMT Helper mesh for scene representation

Detailer is available for Max 9 to 2015 and costs $12.95.


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Changes for Build 1898 are:
- Fixes Infinity Shader regressions
- Webpage renderer upgrade (latest Mozilla/Gecko) - WIP
- Fixes multi-monitor support


Plugin Update: Utilities

Changes for v2.12.00 are:
- Fixes a bug that sometimes occurs when merging objects
- Fixes some issues with merging animated objects
- Fixes issues with merging CAT objects
- The object hierarchy is no longer destroyed
- Fixes issues with Copy/Move of directories to the Favorites
- Adds the ability to Copy/Move the Catalogs to the Favorites
- Fixes a bug with generating bug-reports

Project Manager is available for Max 2010 to 2015 and costs $75. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Utilities

Changes for v1.01.00 are:
- Fixes a bug that sometimes occurs when merging objects
- Fixes some issues with merging animated objects
- Fixes issues with merging CAT objects
- The object hierarchy is no longer destroyed
- Fixes issues with Copy/Move of directories to the Favorites
- Adds the ability to Copy/Move the Catalogs to the Favorites
- Fixes a bug with generating bug-reports

Models Manager is available for Max 2010 to 2015 and costs $30. A demo version is available here.


Plugin News: MaxToC4D beta testing

An interesting new plugin called MaxToC4D is calling for beta testers.
It's features include:
- Transfer scenes from Max to C4D with 2 clicks
- Quickly make C4D libraries from Max models
- V-Ray support converts Max V-Ray materials or lights to C4D standard materials
- Open models made for Max and send them to C4D
- Use the powerful Max modeling tools and transfer the scene to C4D with 2 clicks
- Send scenes from Max to C4D and from there to After Effects CC
- And much more...

It looks like the plugins will be released soon, so if you are interested in beta testing, head over to this page.


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Changes for v1.7.0 are:
- Adds the tint map to Max shader effects
- Adds support for emissive, reflection, refraction, rim and detail maps
- The exporter now automatically converts to meters, so the scale option is no longer needed
- The exporter now automatically uses Y-up convention for UV coordinates


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Changes for v1.2.4 are:
- Updated to support the new Keyshot v5.2


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Changes for v2.0 Beta are:
- Adds a missed time value to the Max export plugin
- Adds an alphabetical sorting of surfaces and animations for Max and Maya export plugins

These are just the changes to the Max tools included in the distribution. There are a huge number of changes to the engine itself, a full changelog can be found here.

Unigine is available for Max 2008 to 2015 and pricing is set on a per-case basis. A demo version is available here.


New Plugin: Utilities

Models Manager is a utility for organizing 3D models and working with them in Max. The organization system allows you to reference the same folder in different catalogs. The models in the catalogs can browsed using thumbnails, which also show all relevant information. Using the utility is very simple, you just drag and drop models or folders to the Models Manager navigation panel.

Models Manager is available for Max 2010 to 2015 and costs $30. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Utilities

Changes for v2.11.23 are:
- Fixes some issues with context menus
- Fixes some issues with replacing and renaming the scene materials
- Fixes issues with opening scene materials in the Material/Map Browser
- Fixes potential issues with merging the models and materials
- Fixes an issue with merging the models in Max 2010-2014
- Fixes some minor issues
- Fixes a potential issue with creating materials from bitmaps
- Fixes a potential issue with merging the model as Proxy
- Fixes minor issues with saving the Favorites folders

Project Manager is available for Max 2010 to 2015 and costs $75. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Utilities

Changes for v1.50.70 are:
- Fixes potential issues with relinking the models and materials
- Fixes some issues with the interface
- Fixes some minor issues with checking for updates
- Fixes an issue with setting the size of the thumbnails when rendering the preview
- Fixes some issues when the system uses text with size greater than 100%
- Fixes a conflict with unknown plug-ins
- Fixes an issue with hiding the Vray VFB window
- Fixes some minor issues
- Updated the help

Batch Render&Relink is available for Max 2010 to 2015 and costs $15. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Utilities

Changes for v1.385 are:
- Adds 'Rename files on HDD' functionality

Bitmap Tracking/Resizing is available for Max 2009 to 2015 and costs $9. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Texturing

Changes for v1.0.1 are:
- Minor bug-fixes

Corona Material Presets Pro is available for Max 2013 to 2015 and normally costs €125. Until March 28th 2015 you can get a license for €125.


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Changes for v0.4.0 RC2 are:
- Adds support for Max 2015
- Precision information in IFC is now used more faithfully
- A number of fixes and improvements
- Fixes errors in triangulation due to zero-length normals
- Fixes for parsing files with comments
- Unique IDs are now written in Collada files
- Output of Wavefront OBJ files has been speeded up
- Minimizes unnecessary nurbs conversion in STEP and IGES output
- The validity of solids and fillets is now checked
- Parsing and serialization has been made locale-independent

There is also a preview release of v0.5.0 available with additional functionality. Full details can be found here.


New Plugin: Utilities

This utility, based on the Q3Radiant Editor brush code, allows you to build meshes for exporting to a Quake 3 map.


Plugin Update: Renderers

Changes for v2.21.1 are:
- Adds support for multiple UV channels (3 at the moment)
- Updates the material converter to support a load of new materials and texmaps
- Adds support for out of core memory usage

OctaneRender for 3ds Max is available for Max 2010 to 2015 and costs €459. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Modelling

Changes for v1.1 are:
- Adds new Spline Morph modifier for progressive and blended spline morphing
- The Spline Relax algorithm has been improved, giving better results
- Adds a granularity option to Freehand Spline
- Adds the ability to draw a Freehand Spline on top of an object (with offset)
- Adds Overwrite, Multiply or Add selection weight options to Spline Influence
- Adds a new selection modify option to Spline Influence: Convert Selections (with Fall Off)
- Normalize Spline2 can now use a total knot count or a per Spline knot count
- Adds a 'Keep Tangents' option to Normalize Spline2
- Adds a 'Preserve Form' option to PathDeform2
- ReSpline is now between 30% and 50% faster

SplineTools is available for Max 2010 to 2015 (64-bit only) and costs $95. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Modelling / Animation

Changes for v3.1.3.0 are:
- Fixes hair disappearing when using guides as hair mode in Hair from Guides modifier
- Fixes root distribution patchiness in release builds
- Fixes hair from mesh strips changing orientation if object is moved to another layer
- Fixes strand detail modifier causing popping due to non-thread safe smoothing code
- Fixes the UV channel having no effect on uniform distribution
- Adds OxGetStrandCount, OxGetStrandPointCount, OxGetVertices global MXS functions

Ornatrix is available for Max 2009 to 2015 and costs $499. A demo version is available here.


New Plugin: Utilities

This commercial MAXScript automatically finds and relinks new assets during the file open process. It searches for missing assets in the folders and subfolders closest to the merged file, and relinks anything it finds.

Open and Relink is available for Max 2010 to 2015 and costs $4.50. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Utilities

Changes for v1.25 are:
- Bug-fixes

Merge and Relink is available for Max 2010 to 2015 and costs $4.50. A demo version is available here.