MAX Plugins.de News Archive

Archived Plugin News  –  May 2009
 

Plugin Update: Utilities

Changes for v1.02 are:
- Xref objects, standard materials, effects, and textures are now properly cast to their type
- UtilityObj along with multiple other types are now pluggable
- Pointer arrays in Mesh and some other classes are now cast to IList<...> interfaces
- Classes with methods that take pointer arrays (eg. GraphicsWindow) now take ICollectable<...> interfaces
- Many other fixes and changes

MaxDotNet is only free for non-commercial projects. Commercial licenses are available for $675 per 5 seats of Max (includes 5 hours of support (per license) and the (non-redistributable) source code and debug builds).


Plugin Update: Texturing

Changes for v5.3.4 are:
- Adds support for Max 2010 (32-bit and 64-bit)
- I know there are new features in there, but I don't know what they are
- Bug-fixes

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


Plugin Update: Particles

Changes for v3.0 SP2 are:
- Adds support for Max 2010 (32-bit and 64-bit)

ThinkingParticles is available for Max 6 to 2010 and costs €1495. This recompile for Max 2010 is a free download and can be acquired by registered users at the cebas Shop. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Modelling / Animation

Changes for v7.5 include:
- Adds Color and Alpha masks of single clouds and cloud layers in multi-pass renderer
- Adds 'Camera Mapping' to dramatically cut animation render times
- Adds spherical and planetary procedural terrains with infinite levels of detail
- Adds spherical cloudscapes (procedural, or based on real-world / modified cloud maps)
- Adds material painting and effect-driven material mapping in the Terrain Editor
- Enhanced multi-processor usage for procedural terrains, dynamic EcoSystems, panoramic renders
- Adds EcoSystem populations that can evolve over time
- Adds support for V-Ray in Max
- Cloud layers can now cast and receive shadows from other cloud layers and objects in the scene
- Improved OpenGL sky and cloud preview, colored EcoSystem instance previewing
- Other productivity and feature enhancements

Vue 7 xStream is available for Max 7 to 2010 and costs $1495. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Animation

Changes for v2.2 are:
- Adds support for Max 2010 (32-bit and 64-bit)
- Adds new extraction options allowing targets to be easily extracted in rows or columns
- Adds a new MAXScript command: MOM_HoldLicense()
- Fixes several MAXScript commands that only worked with integer values to support float values
- The Channel Target List now always updates correctly

Morph-O-Matic is available for Max 6 to 2010 and costs $249. A demo version is available here.


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

I'm off to Utrecht for the End User Event, so I won't be able to update the site for the next few days. Things will be back to normal on Saturday.


New Plugin: Objects

This is very similar to Max's own Blobmesh, but without the viewport preview. It also only works with V-Ray v1.50 SP3a. Advantages over the standard Blobmesh are:
- It requires very little RAM (it's possible to render 10,000,000 particles with ~2GB)
- It is perfectly smooth with no meshing artifacts
- It supports true 3D motion blur
- A very fast preparation time due to the lack of mesh generation at render time

More information and some examples can be found at the ChaosGroup forum.


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Changes for v1.1 are:
- Adds support for Max 2010 (32-bit only)
- Adds a 'User Data' parameter in the 'Appearance Parameters'


Plugin News: New pricing on Roof Designer

Batzal Software have lowered the price of their Roof Designer plugin from $98 to $25. They are also planning an update to the plugin later this week to add presets and support for Max 2010.

Roof Designer is available for Max 9 to 2009 (32-bit and 64-bit) and costs $25. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Changes for v2.1 are:
- Adds support for Max 2010 (32-bit and 64-bit)
- New MAXScript property to set the resolution (pixels/inch) of the PSD file
- Performance enhancements and bug-fixes

psd-manager is available for Max 6 to 2010 and costs €150. For registered users this is a free update and can be downloaded directly at the cebas shop.


Plugin News: messiah:Studio special offer...

I've only just noticed that pmG Worldwide, LLC. are running an offer for Autodesk users on messiah:Studio 4.0 Professional. Until June 19th 2009 you can buy messiah:Studio Pro for $499 instead of $999.


Plugin Update: Modelling / Animation

Changes for v1.06 are:
- Fixes some surface issues found in previous versions

PWrapper is available for Max 7 to 2010 and costs $295. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Particles / Animation

Changes for v1.08 are:
- Adds support for Max 2010 (32-bit and 64-bit)

This 2010 recompile is only available for the ACAP (Autodesk Certified Animation Plugin) version from Turbosquid. The non-ACAP version available directly from Orbaz Technologies will not be recompiled for Max 2010. Instead, version 1.5 will be released for Max 2010 (and for Max 9, 2008, and 2009), which will be an upgrade. Version 1.5 is currently in beta-testing.

The ACAP version of Particle Flow Tools: Box#3 Pro is available for Max 9 to 2010 and costs $595.


Misc Update: New hotfix for Max 2010 released...

Autodesk have released a new hotfix for Max 2010 and Max Design 2010 which addresses the following issues:
- Fixes a cursor problem in the Particle View window when using an English Max on a Japanese OS
- When saving to a custom library, bitmaps and their full paths are now saved correctly
- Fixes a problem with encrypting MAXScript files
- Fixes Wire Sub-Controllers being removed due to the MAXScript Garbage Collection process
- Various instances of actions not appearing in the Undo Stack have been resolved


Plugin Update: Objects

Changes for v3.0 are:
- Adds support for Max 2008 to 2010 (32-bit and 64-bit)
- Adds dummy objects which have imposter sub-objects
- License is now free

Branches used to be a commercial plugin, but Andrew has now switched to free licenses and has added a PayPal Donate button to his site. If you find the plugin useful, please remember to donate something so that he can continue to develop it.


Plugin News: First preview of fryrender RT / RC5...

RandomControl, SLU. have posted a short video demonstrating the capabilities of their ongoing development project fryrender RT / RC5. fryrender RT is an extended version of fryrender which provides the tools necessary to export your scene into a format that the real-time engine RC5 can navigate at interactive framerates.

fryrender RT is still in development, and at the moment there is no release date, no information on pricing and no demo version. As it uses the same plugins for Max as fryrender, it will work with Max 6 to 2010, both 32-bit and 64-bit.


Plugin Update: Objects

Changes for v2.5.200 are:
- Adds support for Max 2010 (32-bit and 64-bit)


Plugin Update: Modelling / Animation

Changes for v5.0 are:
- Adds support for Max 2010 (32-bit and 64-bit)

natFX is available for Max 9 to 2010 and costs $990 (inc. 10 seeds). A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Atmospherics / Animation

Changes for v4.0 include:
- Fully integrated suite of plugins
- Breakthrough Spectral 2 and Volumetric atmosphere models
- Real 3D clouds
- Super-fast rendering technology
- Animated clouds and sunsets in a breeze
- Extensive library of over 150 predefined atmospheres

Ozone is available for Max 7 to 2010 (32-bit and 64-bit) and costs $295. An upgrade from Ozone 3.0 costs $95.


Plugin Update: Modelling / Animation

Changes for v4.2 are:
- Adds support for Max 2010 (32-bit and 64-bit)

SpeedTree MAX is available for Max 9 to 2010 and costs $495. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Renderers

Changes for v1.0.421 are:
- Fixes a potential final gather crash on MacOSX
- Now using the updated QT 4.5.1 Core
- Adds support for memory-mapped .map texture files
- Adds support for rectangular re-mapped .map texture files

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


New Plugin: Texturing

XRayUnwrap is an unwrapper based on the LCSM algorithm used in Blender. Features include:
- Fast and accurate UV unwrap solution (conformal and angle based supported)
- Allows you to select and preserve your own custom seam solution
- Lets you set the color of the user defined seams to improve visual clarity
- Two unwrapping modes give you optimal unwrapping for every surface
- Fill holes option to prevent UV overlap and reduce distortion
- Less input parameters speed up your workflow even more

XRayUnwrap is available for Max 8 to 2010 and costs €5.


Plugin Update: Atmospherics / Animation

Changes for v1.2c are:
- Installer update
- Stop/continue with animated parameters now works properly
- Simulation is now the same when using different number of threads
- A source linked to animated FumeFX grid no longer produces a wind
- Due to the MXS name conflict, fuel cast/receive shadows has been renamed

FumeFX (including 2 simulation licenses) is available for Max 7 to 2010 and costs $845. Additional simulation licenses can be purchased for $195 for a pack of four. The upgrade can be downloaded from the Sitni Sati members area


New Plugin: Import / Export

This plugin allows Max to export Source vertex animation files used in face flex animation using the morpher modifier and shapekeys.


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Changes for v2.8.19.0 are:
- Fixes an XSI problem with synthetic root bones
- Fixes a Max plugin bug in the Skin modifier extraction
- Adds ExtendedData members to granny_model and granny_skeleton
- You can now add / delete passthrough edges to Callback nodes in the Blend Graph editor
- Adds GrannyPreserveEmptyMaterialGroups to the granny_mesh_builder API
- Adds GrannyAddBoolArrayMember function for the granny_variant_builder interface
- Corrects unit tests and tree_walker tutorial for array inline members
- GrannyInlineMember types in granny_data_type_definition can now have non-zero ArrayWidths
- Fixes a potential string overread in granny_track_group / granny_skeleton rule-based matching
- Brings back the Maya 8.0 build

Granny Exporter is available for Max 6 to 2009, and is part of the Granny Toolkit which costs $12500.


Plugin Update: Animation

Changes for v3.5.4.0 are:
- Fixes lack of response to cache dump messages from dependent particle systems

This version of Ghost Trails is available for Max 2010 and costs $99. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Objects

Changes for v6.01 are:
- Adds support for Max 2010 (32-bit and 64-bit)


Shader Update: mental ray Shaders

Changes for 2009.05.18 are:
- General improvements in usability
- Should now work in Max 2010


Plugin Update: Renderers

Changes for v2.1.25 are:
- Adds support for Max 2010 (32-bit only at the moment, 64-bit is on the way)
- Increased performance for large, complex scenes in both authoring and published scenes
- Enhanced support for built-in Max materials
- New and improved navigation features (orbit and fly modes, customizable gravity for walk mode)
- Automatic basic lighting gets you up and running quickly
- Commonly used menus are now accessible through modeless dialogs / right-click menus
- New customizable ground and sky gradients
- Published .EXE files are now compressed for more than 50% smaller files
- Expanded publishing controls for ordering and switching between multiple cameras

rtre is available for Max 9 to 2010 and costs $2495. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Updates: BlurBeta plugins for Max 2010

SplutterFish have released the recompiled BlurBeta plugins for Max 2010 (32-bit and 64-bit). There are 57 plugins in the pack, which is available here.


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Changes for v1.6.2 are:
- Fixes a static-init issue in ptloader on Windows
- Fixes a texture scaling issue when using buffers
- x2egg is no longer broken
- Threading in OSX build has been fixed
- Fixes an issue with flickering colors in Shader Generator
- Eggcacher now uses less RAM
- Missing 'models' dirs in packpanda games fixed
- Eggcacher step in Panda3D installer is now optional
- Fixes broken shortcut links in Start Menu on Windows
- Shader Generator now supports clip planes
- Bug with combine modes in Shader Generator fixed
- Fixes a bug with Texture::make_copy()
- Fixes a bug with Actor LOD
- Fixes a bug with missing geometry in Collada converter
- OdeUtil.collide instability fixed
- OdeBody setData/getData methods have been exposed to Python


Plugin News: Chaos Group announces V-Ray RT for 3ds Max

The Chaos Group have announced the upcoming availability of V-Ray RT, an interactive rendering system which allows immediate interaction between the user and the virtual environment. Designed to improve and speed up the texturing and lighting stage, V-Ray RT follows the user's actions while working on the scene and automatically and progressively generates a photorealistic preview of the scene.

V-Ray RT will be released worldwide on June 1st 2009 with a suggested end user price of $599 / €499. For a limited time only, there will be a promotional price of $299 / €249.


Plugin Update: Utilities

Changes for v1.01 are:
- Adds support for Max 9 and 2009 (32-bit and 64-bit)
- Numerous bug fixes (involving remoting, delegate invocation and native code calling)
- Adds full XML documentation of Interfaces.dll for use with Intellisense inside Visual Studio


Plugin Updates: Max 2010 recompiles from Blake Robinson

Blake Robinson has recompiled his Battlezone plugins for Max 2010 (32-bit only):
- XSI Exporter v1.0
- SDF Import v1.0
- VDF Import v1.0
- GEO Import/Export v1.0


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Changes for v2.0 are:
- Adds support for Max 2009 and 2010 (32-bit only)
- Adds support for the latest QuickTime 7.x.x SDK

maxVR.qt is available for Max 4 to 2010 and costs €195. The update costs €95 and can be purchased at the cebas shop. For registered users of maxVR.qt for Max 9 and higher, this is a free upgrade.


Plugin News: Special offer from Craft Animations

Craft Animations are offering a 50% discount on their Craft Airplane Extended plugin, taking the price down from $829 to $415. The offer is valid for the month of May, more details can be found here.


New Plugin: Utilities

MatManager gives you the ability to store an unlimited amount of materials. There is no need to browse for a material library or scene file, once you have stored a material it will always be there, just one click away. Plus, the materials can be organized into different libraries so that they can easily be found, even if you have hundreds stored. And of course there is no limit to the number of libraries you can have.

MatManager is available for Max 9 to 2010 and costs €10. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Utilities

Changes for v4.205 are:
- Fixes V-Ray previews occasionally pausing after finishing
- Adds a Deadline 3.1 custom submission script
- Tweak to try to give Brazil R/S more time to finish local rendering
- Adds ini switch to control BB 'Global Submission Setup' default for new scenes

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.


Shader Update: mental ray Shaders

Changes for v1.3 are:
- Updated to work with mental ray 3.7+, which ships with Max 2010


Plugin Update: Utilities

Changes for v4.8.0 are:
- Adds support for Max 2010 (32-bit and 64-bit)


Plugin Update: Modelling / Animation

Changes for v1.2.2 are:
- Adds compatibility with Max 2010 (32-bit and 64-bit)
- Adds a new option for Leaves mesh: 'Without central edges'
- Fixes a small bug with activation

GrowFX is available for Max 9 to 2010 and costs $325. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Animation

Changes for v1.2 are:
- Adds compatibility with Max 2010 (32-bit and 64-bit)
- Significant speed improvement when working with selections from HerculesSelect or Cluster-O-Matic
- The Hercules Deformer list now display 20 deformers
- Adds the option to display deformers as box
- Fixes a problem with negative deform and smoothing
- Fixes TAB ordering
- Price lowered from $599 to $499

Hercules is available for Max 6 to 2010 and costs $499. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Changes for v5.7.3.4950 are:
- Fixes an issue where Deep Exploration was causing the network license server to lock up
- Improved control over the connection and disconnection of network licenses
- Fixes issue with Max 2009 closing before importing a Max file in Deep Exploration

Deep Exploration CAD Edition is available for Max 4 to 2009 and costs $1995. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Texturing

Changes for v2.02 are:
- Improved installer handling of Max Design 2010
- Improved installation support for Japanese and Chinese Max versions
- Fixes occasional compatibility problems with other plugins
- Improves unwrapping in polygon mode for complex polygons
- Caching of UV map data has been enhanced significantly
- A few minor user interface fixes

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


Plugin Update: Texturing

Changes for v1.11 are:
- Improved installer handling of Max Design 2010
- Improved installation support for Japanese and Chinese Max versions
- Fixes occasional compatibility problems with other plugins
- Improves unwrapping in polygon mode for complex polygons
- Improves speed and accuracy of material slot detection
- Enhanced handling of error messages for automation via MAXScript

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


Plugin Update: Texturing

Changes for v1.02 are:
- Improved installer handling of Max Design 2010
- Improved installation support for Japanese and Chinese Max versions
- Fixes occasional compatibility problems with other plugins
- A few minor user interface fixes

UV-Packer is available for Max 9 to 2010 and costs €79. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Renderers

Changes for v1.0.420 include:
- Fixes finalgather sampling to prevent potential infinite looping
- Adds script support for mouse wheel events
- Adds control of view zoom to interactive view

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


New Plugin: Modelling / Animation

This is a ready-to-use animated parametric escalator with controls for direction, rise, width and inclination. It comes with eight full body and hand rigged and animated characters walking onto and getting off of the escalator.

MeAnEscalator is available for Max 9 to 2010 and costs $139.


Plugin Update: Modelling / Animation

Changes for v3.2.3 are:
- Improved rendering of 3D trees
- Custom V-Ray shader for billboards: Self-Shadowing detection, improved GI
- Viewport redrawing is now much faster
- Adds new viewport display modes: Pyramid and Box
- New Geometry List options: Add multiple, Copy, Paste
- Normals alignment options added to Surface rollout
- Adds support for Max 2010 (32-bit and 64-bit)
- And much more... You can find all changes in the release notes

The freeware version, Forest Pack Lite, has also been updated and can be downloaded here.

Forest Pack Pro is available for Max 7 to 2010 and normally costs €250. For a limited time it is on sale for €200. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Modifiers

Changes for v2.4 are:
- Adds support for Max 2010 (32-bit and 64-bit)


Plugin Update: Materials

Changes for v1.1 are:
- Adds support for Max 2009 and 2010 (32-bit and 64-bit)


Plugin Update: Utilities

Changes for v2.6 are:
- Adds support for Max 2009 and 2010 (32-bit and 64-bit)


Plugin Update: Modelling / Animation

Changes for v1.0 are:
- Adds support for Max 2009 and 2010 (32-bit and 64-bit)

StairMAX is available for Max 4 to 2010 and costs €150. An update costs €59 and can be purchased directly at the cebas shop. For registered users of StairMAX for Max 9 and higher, this is a free upgrade.


Plugin Update: Modelling

Changes for v1.0 are:
- Adds support for Max 2009 and 2010 (32-bit and 64-bit)

ScalpelMAX is available for Max 4 to 2010 and costs €150. An update costs €59 and can be purchased directly at the cebas shop. For registered users of ScalpelMAX for Max 9 and higher, this is a free upgrade.


Plugin Update: Modifiers

Changes for v1.84 are:
- Adds support for Max 2010 (32-bit and 64-bit)


Plugin Update: Particles / Animation

Next Limit have released an updated version of the Max plugin for their RealFlow RenderKit which fixes a bug with subdivisions in symmetry objects.

RealFlow RenderKit is available for Max 7 to 2009 and costs €370. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Modelling / Animation

Changes for Tree Storm 2010 are:
- Adds support for Max 2010 (32-bit and 64-bit)

Tree Storm is available for Max 6 to 2010 and costs $495.


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Changes for v2.8.18.0 are:
- Fixes a crash bug that could be triggered by meshes in Max with 0 verts
- Adds a new blend graph node: Callback
- Adds a timeline reset button to the Blend Graph editor
- Changes the way unconnected nodes return default results
- Sequence and Animation nodes now respond to 'Duration' as a GetFloat query
- Brings back the output activation action
- Adds additional mouse handling in the Blend Graph editor
- You can now rename edges in the blend graph
- Fixes some needless complication in the morph target tutorial
- Corrects a bug in the documentation sample code for the blend graph
- Adds a new internal parameter check

Granny Exporter is available for Max 6 to 2009, and is part of the Granny Toolkit which costs $12500.


Plugin Update: Renderers

RandomControl, SLU have released a Max 2010 version of their fryrender plugin. Registered users can now download it from the customer FTP server.

fryrender is available for Max 6 to 2010 and costs €795 for 1 master license and 2 slave licenses. A demo version is available here.


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Changes for v1.4 are:
- Adds support for Max 2010 (32-bit and 64-bit)


Plugin Update: Import / Export

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


Plugin Update: Import / Export

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


Plugin Update: Lighting

Changes for v1.4 are:
- Adds support for Max 2010 (32-bit and 64-bit)

EnLight is available for Max 9 to 2010 and costs approximately $145 (depends on the exchange rate).


Plugin Update: Lighting

Changes for v1.9a are:
- Adds support for Max 2010 (32-bit and 64-bit)

ScatterVL Pro is available for Max 9 to 2010 and costs approximately $145 (depends on the exchange rate).


Plugin Update: Render Effects

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


Plugin Update: Render Effects

Changes for v2.1 are:
- Adds support for Max 2010 (32-bit and 64-bit)


Site News: Lack of updates recently...

Sorry about the lack of updates this last week, but I've been up to my eyeballs in work. Things have calmed down now, so I'll be slowly catching up on everything that's been going on.

Dave


Plugin Update: Animation

Changes for v3.5.3.0 are:
- Adds support for Max 2010 (32-bit and 64-bit)

Ghost Trails is available for Max 6 to 2010 and costs $99. A demo version is available here.


Plugin News: 2010 recompiles from Pavel Kuznetsov

Pavel Kuznetsov has started recompiling his plugins for Max 2010 (32-bit and 64-bit).
The following plugins are now available:
- Adjust Color v1.5
- Distance Fade v1.6.1
- G-Corrector v1.0
- Milky Way v3.0.1
- Object ID v1.0
- Replace ID v1.0
- Trail v3.7.1


Plugin Update: Render Effects

Changes for v3.7.1 are:
- Fixes the display of simple particle systems with a negative time value



Plugin News: ACAP plugins for Max 2010

TurboSquid has officially released a selection of their Autodesk Certified Animation Plugins for Max 2010. Plugins now available are:
- AfterBurn 4.0b (32-bit and 64-bit)
- DreamScape 2.5e (32-bit and 64-bit)
- FumeFX 1.2 (32-bit and 64-bit)
- Kaldera v1.0 (32-bit and 64-bit)
- NodeJoe 1.11 (32-bit and 64-bit)
- Texture Layers 2 (32-bit and 64-bit)
- rtre v2.1 (32-bit only)

According to TurboSquid, the nPower plugins are due out within another week or so, and Particle Flow Tools: Box 3 Pro is scheduled for release in May.

Existing plugin owners can get free updates of these plugins by contacting the TurboSquid Member Services team.


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Crytek have released a new version of the Mod Software Development Kit for Crysis Wars. Among loads of other good stuff, it contains updated versions of the CryENGINE2 Exporter and the PolyBump plugin for Max 9, 2008 and 2009 (both 32-bit and 64-bit).


Plugin Update: Modifiers

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


Plugin Update: Objects

Changes for v0.2 Beta are:
- Adds support for Max 2010 (32-bit and 64-bit)


Plugin News: XRayUnwrap enters open beta testing

Raylight S.r.l., an Italian games developer, has started open beta testing of their upcoming plugin XRayUnwrap, an unwrapper based on the LCSM algorithm used in Blender.

Features include:
- Fast and accurate UV unwrap solution (conformal and angle based supported)
- Allows you to select and preserve your own custom seam solution
- Lets you set the color of the user defined seams to improve visual clarity
- Two unwrapping modes give you optimal unwrapping for every surface
- Fill holes option to prevent UV overlap and reduce distortion
- Less input parameters speed up your workflow even more
- Available for Max 2008 and 2009 (32-bit only). Other Max versions coming soon


Plugin News: New project from Marsel Khadiyev

Marsel Khadiyev has posted some information and screenshots on his latest project Zookeeper.

Zoookeeper is the successor to the Scene Manager plugin. It is a plugin written 100% in .NET using his Max.NET wrapper. Zookeeper can be used for managing large scenes, objects inside them, and the relationships between these objects. Combining a powerful schematic interface, versatile tree view, and a categorical palette interface, Zookeeper allows for many different 'views' into a scene. One of the main features of Zookeeper is the ability to cross-reference any type of object inside Max all inside the same view. These may be materials, textures, effects, objects, nodes, and anything else that can be created or is pluggable.

Zookeeper is still in alpha stage, but it is being continuously worked on and improved. Applications for beta-testing can be submitted on the Zookeeper page.


New Plugin: Materials

TexPaint3D allows you to directly paint bitmap-information onto 3D objects in the viewport. At the moment it is only available in a 32-bit version.


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Changes for v1.11 are:
- Fixes a crash when exporting vertex colours


Plugin News: VrayScatter v2.5 pre-release available

iCube Creative Group have announced that all registered owners of VrayScatter v2.0 can now download the pre-release version of the upcoming v2.5 update. It works with the licenses from v2.0.

New features are:
- Adds collision objects
- Adds regular structures
- Adds scattering inside splines
- Adds a contrast option in the VrayScatter texture
- Adds camera clipping
- Adds offset scattering from splines and geometry edges
- Adds support for Max 2010
- Adds an Asset Tracking connection

Be warnes that this is not the final version and may contain some bugs. Documentation and a demo version will be available soon.


Plugin News: Vue 7.5 pre-release available

e-on software, inc. have made the pre-release version of their upcoming update Vue 7.5 xStream available to users who have a maintenance subscription.

Changes in v7.5 include:
- Adds support for the V-Ray renderer for Max (xStream)
- Adds support for EcoSystem painting in XSI (xStream)
- Adds Color and Alpha masks of single clouds and cloud layers in multi-pass renderer
- Adds 'Camera Mapping' to dramatically cut animation render times
- Adds spherical and planetary procedural terrains with infinite level of detail
- Adds spherical cloudscapes (procedural, or based on real-world cloud maps)
- Adds Material Painting and effect-driven material mapping in the Terrain Editor
- Enhanced Multi-Processor usage for procedural terrains, Dynamic EcoSystems and panoramas
- Adds ecosystem populations that can evolve over time
- Adds cloud layers that cast and receive shadows from other cloud layers and objects in the scene
- Improved OpenGL sky and cloud preview, colored EcoSystem instances
- Other productivity and feature enhancements

Vue 7.5 xStream is expected to ship during Q2 2009. Registered users under Standard or Premium maintenance will receive the upgrade to Vue 7.5 at no charge. Vue 7.5 xStream will retail for $1,495, with upgrades from Vue 7 xStream available for $495.


Plugin Update: Import / Export

Changes for v1.6.1 are:
- Threading layer is now enabled by default
- Fixes cTrav.showCollisions
- Fixes broken MovieTexture
- OpenAL is now also stable on Linux
- OpenAL now supports dynamic playrate changing
- MayaPandaTool now handles NURBS correctly
- Fixes particle panel and directtools bugs
- Fixes a crash with the Collada exporter in Windows
- Fixes the ARToolkit jittering
- It is now possible to override shader vertex/fragment profiles
- Fixes the Maya exporter in OSX
- Fixes depth texture crash for padded textures
- Fixes a bug that made OdeUtil.collide return empty geoms
- Fixes a crash with render.flattenStrong() when using trackball
- Several improvements to the ODE layer
- Performance improvements to GeoMipTerrain
- Adds GeoMipTerrain.setBorderStitching to fix seams between terrains
- Adds installpanda.py for installing Panda on Linux without deb/rpm
- Several other minor bugfixes


Plugin Updates: GHOST 3D, LLC plugins recompiled for Max 2010

GHOST 3D, LLC have announced that their range of plugins (Scribe-iT, Surf-iT and ResErect) is now available for Max 2010.


Plugin Update: Renderers

Changes for v1.7.11 are:
- Adds support for Max 2010 (32-bit and 64-bit)


Site News: Headlines on Twitter

As you can see in the menu on the left, I've started feeding the headlines from here to Twitter. I've been testing it the past few days, and it seems to work OK. Head over there now to start following...