MAX Plugins.de News Archive

Archived Plugin News  –  November 2008
 

Plugin Update: Texturing

Changes for v1.03 are:
- The trial face-count limitation has been raised to 1600 faces
- Trial mode is now automatically activated upon installation
- Minor usability improvements in the user interface

Unwrella is available for Max 9 to 2009 and normally costs €99. If you purchase a license before December 1st, it will only cost €79 and you get a free upgrade to v2.0 when it comes out. A demo version is available here.


Plugin News: Digimation plugins for free

Digimation is celebrating the launch of their new website by releasing 12 formerly commercial plugins for free. They are available for Max 4 to 2008 (32-bit only) except for FractalFlow, which is only for Max 4 to 8, and Atomizer, Glider and Spray Master, which are only for Max 9 and 2008.

The plugins are:
- Atomizer - allows Max particle systems to use any 3D object as a particle
- Bones Pro - a powerful and easy to use skeletal deformation system
- Chameleon - places textures based on the location of an animatable gizmo
- Clay Studio - an advanced metaball modeler
- DigiPeople - a collection of procedural, low-resolution mannequins
- Fractal Flow - can be used to warp any image, video, or 3D object
- Glider - can animate any object or particle along the surface of another object
- Lightning - a procedural electric arc generator
- MaxSculpt - advanced mesh sculpting with support for pressure sensitive tablets
- SandBlaster - a flexible particle system with a unique emitter and target system
- Spray Master - can be used to spray geometry on, or around, other objects
- Tree Factory - generates a wide variety of trees and ground foliage


Plugin Update: Texturing

Changes for v3.2.2 are:
- The plugin is now commercial
- Adds a load more options for controlling the gradients
- Bug-fixes

Gradient Edge is available for Max 8 to 2009 and costs $40. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Changes for v1.0 Build 1696 are:
- Bug-fixes and optimisations


Plugin Update: Particles / Animation

Changes for v1.42.01 are:
- Significantly reduced 'popcorn' effect for PhysX simulations

RayFire Tool is available for Max 9 to 2009 and costs $285. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Texturing

Changes for v1.02 are:
- Fixes the License Manager reporting 'exception: Not found' on Windows XP

Unwrella is available for Max 9 to 2009 and normally costs €99. If you purchase a license before December 1st, it will only cost €79 and you get a free upgrade to v2.0 when it comes out. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Renderers

Changes for v1.0.395 include:
- Fix to volume shaders to support optimisations to light sample caching
- Adds diagnostic information upon mi importer errors regarding type and location

Rendition is available for Max 9 to 2009 and costs $395. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Updates: BlurBeta plugins have finally been recompiled...

With huge thanks to the guys at Blur, the old BlurBeta plugins from Splutterfish have finally been recompiled for Max 2009 (32-bit and 64-bit). There are also a few plugins in the pack that aren't available in the old versions. You can grab them at the Splutterfish download page.


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Changes for v1.0 are:
- Adds support for Max 2008 and 2009 (32-bit only)


Plugin Update: Texturing

Changes for v1.01 are:
- Fixes a License Server activation compatibility problem with Vista

Unwrella is available for Max 9 to 2009 and normally costs €99. If you purchase a license before December 1st, it will only cost €79 and you get a free upgrade to v2.0 when it comes out. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Renderers

Changes for v1.0.394 include:
- Fix to light sample caching
- Optimisation to light shader evaluations
- Optimisation to light sample caching
- Removed internal Deadline Plugin as one is now included in the Deadline release
- Fix to mi_trace_probe to correctly support raystop

Rendition is available for Max 9 to 2009 and costs $395. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Renderers

Changes for v2.5 are:
- Adds a Pencil+ 2 file output render-effect
- Adds support for wire-frame rendering
- You can now set the background color for rendered output
- Updates the display name of Pencil+ 2 materials in the interface
- Improved authorisation process

There is also a new Pencil+ 2 Material Converter which can convert standard, finalToon and Illustrate! materials to Pencil+ materials. Both the update and the Material Converter are free to registered users.

Pencil+ is available for Max 6 to 2009 and costs ¥45,150. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Particles / Animation

Changes for v1.42.00 are:
- Adds interactive demolition support for groups
- Adds a minimum size limit for interactive demolition
- Adds a demolition depth level property in custom RayFire properties
- Adds substeps support for unyielding objects
- Adds interactive physical properties for Physx dynamic simulations
- Adds a 'Simulate as concave' property for unyielding objects
- You can now activate deactivated impact objects using animated textures

RayFire Tool is available for Max 9 to 2009 and costs $285. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Render Effects

Changes for v1.0 are:
- Adds support for Max 2009 (32-bit and 64-bit)


Plugin Update: Render Effects

Changes for v1.0 are:
- Adds support for Max 2009 (32-bit and 64-bit)


Plugin Update: Utilities

Changes for v1.0 are:
- Adds support for Max 2009 (32-bit and 64-bit)


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Changes for v1.0 Build 1692 are:
- Bug-fixes and optimisations


New Plugin: Texturing

Unwrella is a fast and effective texture map unwrapper. It is designed to allow you to easily deal with large numbers of objects that need to be unwrapped. With a single mouse click you can now unfold low and high-poly objects and produce UV Maps with an exact 1:1 stretch ratio and optimal UV space utilization. This type of 'texture seam and surface stretch reduced mapping' allows for displaying nearly seamless textures and normal maps in realtime engines or any other type of 3D production.

Unwrella is available for Max 9 to 2009 and normally costs €99. If you purchase a license before December 1st, it will only cost €79 and you get a free upgrade to v2.0 when it comes out. A demo version is available here.


New Plugin: Import / Export

This plugin enables Max to import SMD files from Valve games. It is currently in development, and at this time offers the following import options:
- Import mesh
- Rebuild smoothing normals
- Import materials
- Import bones
- Use dummy for orphan bones
- Use dummy for end bones
- Attach mesh to bones
- Convert from left handed co-ordinate space


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Changes for v1.4 are:
- Enables correct export of vertex normals


New Plugin: Objects

The VRayFurStyler is a modified VertexPaint modifier which can be used to paint RGB vertex maps to drive the generation of VRayFur.

This plugin only works together with V-Ray, you need to put it in the 'vrayplugins' folder.


Plugin Update: Render Effects

Changes for v1.1 are:
- Adds support for Max 2009 (32-bit and 64-bit)


Plugin Update: Modifiers

Changes for v1.0 are:
- Adds support for Max 2009 (32-bit and 64-bit)


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Changes for v1.07 are:
- Fixes export of UV coordinates when vertex colours are also present


Plugin Updates: Recompiles from Blake Robinson...

I've only just noticed that Blake Robinson has recompiled his Battlezone import/export plugins for Max 2009 (32-bit only). The VDF/GEO/SDF plugins can be downloaded here, and the updated XSI exporter can be downloaded here.


Plugin Update: Texturing

Changes for v1.0.6 are:
- Minor bug-fixes

f-Edge is available for Max 6 to 2009 and costs €29. A demo version is available here.


New Plugin: Objects

This is a modified version of the Spawn and Collision Spawn operators for MAXScripters. Both store the particle ID of their parent to the spawned particles Integer channel. In addition to this the modified Collision Spawn test also stores the normal vector of the object at the impact point into the Vector channel.


Plugin Update: Materials

Changes for v1.1d are:
- Adds support for Max 8


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Changes for v0.8.1.217 are:
- Adds 64-bit support
- Bugfixes


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Changes for v5.18 are:
- Adds support for Max 2009
- The plugin has been compiled against the new version of the PathEngine SDK

groundExport is part of the PathEngine SDK, and is available for Max 6 to 2009. A basic license for the SDK costs €5000.


Plugin Update: Renderers

Changes for v1.0.392 include:
- Adds support for console messages from parser comments
- Adds support for mi_query mode miQ_FUNC_TAG
- Adds miSetModuleHandle support for shader libraries
- Adds support for mi_abort

Rendition is available for Max 9 to 2009 and costs $395. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Particles

Changes for SP2 are:
- Speed increases have been made in various operators and calculations
- UI memory problem with 64-bit OS has been fixed
- Random operator has been fixed
- Shape collision fixes: Changing group now works
- Path follow with selected edges was broken and has been fixed
- Surface position on edges or vertex having no UVW's has been fixed
- Overall stability enhancements to Fragment Operator
- PhysX support added back into installer

ThinkingParticles is available for Max 6 to 2009 and costs $1695. Service Pack 2 is a free download and can be acquired by registered users at the cebas Shop.


Plugin Update: Particles / Animation

Changes for v1.3.23 are:
- Adds a new node object called gluBaker for caching / playing glu3D animation

glu3D is available for Max 7 to 2009 and costs €495. A demo version is available here.


New Plugin: Utilities

This plugin was developed together with Philips 3D Solutions, the company behind the WOWvx technology, and enables you to create high quality content for 3D displays. The content creation tool is optimized for current WOWvx 3D displays and is easy to use, supporting professional render engines such as Mental Ray and V-Ray.

Features include:
- Full control over WOWvx depth map
- Separation of depth map possible
- Full animation of depth sensation
- Image file formats b3d, bmp, png, tiff

WOWvx is available for Max 8 to 2009 and costs €695. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Connection

Changes for v7.0 include:
- Full integration with Max
- Vue 7 xStream now works with all supported applications and renderers
- Spectral II cloud technology
- EcoSystem III
- New radiosity engine
- Improved SolidGrowth IV plants
- New water editor
- New OpenGL engine
- Advanced object scripting
- Collada file import
- New natural algorithms
- Faster rendering (up to 4 times faster)
- ...and much more. For a full feature list, take a look here

Vue 7 xStream is available for Max 7 to 2009 and normally costs $1495 for a full license and $595 for an upgrade from Vue 6 xStream. For a limited time you can purchase a full license for $1195 or upgrade for $395. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Changes for v1.0 Build 1691 are:
- Bug-fixes and optimisations


Plugin News: Unwrella Beta 5 available...

3d-io have released an updated final beta version of their texture map unwrapper Unwrella (Beta 5) for open beta-testing. This version fixes a problem in the installer.


Plugin Update: Materials

Changes for v1.1d are:
- Fixes the Tile map so it works properly as a bumpmap


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Changes for v0.2.18 are:
- No changes, just a recompile for Quest3D 4.2.1


Plugin News: Brazil r/s multi-license discount (ends Monday!)

Splutterfish, LLC. are running a Halloween special that is only valid until Monday November 3rd. If you buy 3 or more licenses of Brazil r/s in a single order, you can get a 25% discount. All the details can be found here.

Brazil r/s v2.0 is available for Max 4 to 2009 and costs $995. A demo version is available here.


Plugin News: Unwrella Beta 4 available...

3d-io have released the final beta version of their texture map unwrapper Unwrella (Beta 4) for open beta-testing. This version features numerous bug fixes and a proper licensing system which does not require internet connection and supports render farm operation.

Changes include:
- New licensing system with render farm support
- Fixes an installation problem
- Fixes problems with plugin loading on MAX startup
- A few minor bug fixes

If there are no major bugs found in this revision, they expect to start with pre-ordering very soon.


Plugin News: CityTraffic v1.0 Final Release available

iCube Creative Group have made the final release version of their AI-based traffic animation system City Traffic available. The final release contains a few enhancements, namely a large decrease in file size when files contain animation, and a free version of City Traffic for network rendering (only for registered users).

CityTraffic is available for Max 9 to 2009 and costs $740. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Utilities

Changes for v8.2.1 are:
- Connecting to an Alienbrain 8.2 server via HTTP(S) is no longer limited
- All PDF files can now be displayed by the Alienbrain preview
- All Alienbrain components now register correctly on 64-bit machines
- Japanese version only: The 'Merging/Differencing' options pane is now fully translated

Alienbrain is available for Max 9 to 2009 and pricing starts at $12,000. A demo version is available here.