March 1

From: Judah Baron (jbaron@accolade.com)
Date: Wednesday, February 25, 1998

I have an animation that non-uniformly scales an object. I need to swap axes, but I want the scale to remain relative to the geometry. What I have done is write a script that rotates the axis about x 90 degrees, then swaps the Y and Z scale key values. The script works, but the object's axis is broken. I am considering buffering the whole scale controller, deleting the animation entirely, then re-constructing it. but I still wonder what happened to the object's coordinate system. The axis is not right (as in 90 degrees right). This is not the first time I have experienced this and I was wondering if anyone else has seen this happen.

thanks
-Judah
Get it Here

Refractor 1.0 - Particle Refraction Utilities

From: Marco Vogel (ratbref@geocities.com)
Date: Saturday, February 28, 1998

MarcoV Scripts presents another script, this time useful for everyone.

Whether you just want to slow particles down at a specific place, create a visible light beam refracting through lenses, or even want to create a distance dependant caustic map for your crystal skull, Refractor 1.0 will give you the tools to do all this.

Refractor 1.0 is very similar to the Sisyphus plugin called Aegis, in that it supports refraction in planar, spherical and universal refraction. Diffusion, IOR Offset, Object motion Inheritance, Out speed, and a variation to that speed.

It contains a useful planar convertor to enable the more advanced options.

It is floatable and un-floatable, so you can keep on working with your scene without having to switch back and forth between MAX Script.

You can store and load presets defining the type of refraction you want.

AND... best of all, it is ANIMATABLE.
And not just 'Yeah, you can set keyframes' no... it is Animatable.
Refractor will update when you move the time slider. And the refractor dialog will even show you if any keyframe has been set for that frame.
So simply click the big 'Animate' button in the MAX interface, and you're ready to go.

And ofcourse, as with all MarcoV scripts, Refractor is fully documented in HTML format.
And as a starting point, a sample/tutorial scene has been included.

There are currently no options for 'pass speed' or any of the other very advanced features of Aegis, but that's why this is free, and Aegis is not :)

Information on Aegis can be found here:


And you can find Refractor 1.0 in the link below.

Have fun with it, and let me know of any requests, additions, or things you have done with it.

Regards,
MarcoV


REFRACTOR.ZIP
Refractor 1.0

Freeware Plug-Ins for MAX 2.0
From EFXware

Adplate.dlo - Advertisement Plate 1.0

Rubik.dlu - Rubik's Cube Animator 2.0 Beta

 

March 07

Informatix Software International Ltd
3D Studio MAX plug-in (64K)
Use this plug-in to generate EPIX files which you can then paint in Piranesi. This version  also works with 3D Studio VIZ.
(New version 22 December 97)

3D Studio MAX Release 2 plug-in (64K)
Use this version of the plug-in if you have Release 2 of 3D Studio MAX.
(New 22 December 97)

New Tutorial
TBT: The Soccer Ball (NEW 2/3/98)


Freeware Plug-Ins for MAX 2.0
Tprint.flt - Text Printer 1.0


New Tutorials

Creating non-seamed surfaces using privately developed U-Casting Techniques

Learn how to skin models using SURFACE TOOLS

Learn how to skin models using RHINO

Ideas on how to skin models using LOFT/FIT Deformation
 

March 08

The Incredible Comicshop is shipping!
Available for $695
Versions are available for both 3D STUDIO MAX R1 and R2! Comicshop is being published by Digimation, Inc.. You can contact them (1-504-468-3372 or 1-800-854-4496) for ordering and info. You can also visit the Comicshop website directly, by clicking here.


The Incredible Comicshop is the most powerful 3D-cartoon rendering engine in existance. Comicshop offers a sophisticated Inking engine with fully controllable variable line weights, a professional level "toon" shader and a tightly integrated rendering engine. Nothing else even comes close.



New Scripts
New front end to the Flocking script
From: Andy Cook (acook@microprose.ltd.uk)
Date: Wednesday, March 04, 1998

This is a new front end for the flocking routines (Flockfns.ms) that were written by John Wainwright and came with 3DS MAX R2

I wrote this script (my first MAX script so excuse any bad practices used) in order to be able to use John Wainwrights simple flocking type functions in a recent project. His example file (Flocking.ms) is 'hardcoded' for use with his example MAX file. This new script should allow you to easily use it with your own animations.

Feel free to share this script with anyone you think may find it of use.

As far as I know the script couldn't do any damage but it's worth saying:
USE THIS SCRIPT AT YOUR OWN RISK!

Andy Cook


FLOCKHEL.ZIP
New Front end to Flocking script


Refractor 1.01
From: Marco Vogel (ratbref@geocities.com)
Date: Thursday, March 05, 1998

For everyone who has downloaded version 1.0, the following problems have been addressed.

Faulty tutorial scene; Fixed
Load preset/cancel bug; Fixed
Better Presets handling; Added

For those who don't know what Refractor does, take a look at the documentation, here :

Download Refractor 1.01 here

Also note that There is now an official page for my scripts here

Regards,
MarcoV

GenesisVFX for Photoshop Manual in Acrobat format.                                      Get it  Here
If you don't have an Acrobat reader, download it here.

New Review
Outburst: The Ultimate Particle Plugin for 3D Studio Max
By: Nathan Reese
Read it Here

March 10

New Plugins
by: Peter Watje (Spectral Imaging)
Mask Modifier 1.0 Max 2.0 allows you to use bitmaps and maps to mask the effect of modifiers.
Download Here

Particle Spline Object Beta 1.01 is a spline object that is dependant on a particle system. Basically it takes a particle system and connects all the particles with splines.
Download Here

Patch MatID and Patch Out 1.0 modifiers are a work around to the problem of a patch only being able to hold one material ID.
Download Here


Character Studio 2.0
From: Adam Felt (adam.felt@ktx.com)
Date: Monday, March 09

No, character studio 2.0 is not just a rumor. It is in development now, but the
specifics of the product, and its release date has not been made public yet.

Adam


New Script (atleast an update :) )
Miss Frames 1.30
From: Marco Vogel (ratbref@geocities.com)
Date: Sunday, March 08


Fixed since 1.25:

Non-chronologic rendered sequences;
If you rendered out frames 50-100 first, and then 0-49, they would appear to miss
frames just like that. And she would report that all your frames are missing. That has
been fixed.

If you are one of the many ( I'm not one of them ) people who render to a format as:
{projectname}-
So all your files will look like
{projectname}-0000.ext
{projectname}-0001.ext
{projectname}-0002.ext
Etc.
Then you'll be glad to hear that the problem with Miss Frames recognizing the
{projectname}--1.ext file ( generated by the network rendering error ) as a frame file
has been fixed.

So no more need to remove that file before running miss frames.

Regards,
MarcoV

      MISS_FRAMES(1).ZIP 
      Miss Frames 1.30



daVinci3D
daVinci3D is an exciting new product that provides advanced surface modeling and animation capabilities with unprecedented ease of use. Based upon proprietary technology resulting from over 10 man-years of research, daVinci3D brings unparalled power and flexibility to the computer animator.
Get a beta of daVinci3D!
READ THIS: This beta program will expire on March 15th. Please check back then for an updated version.
Download the daVinci3D beta (v0.75)Here

New Tutorials:
Tutorial 1.1: Making a mountain
After finishing this tutorial, the user will be able to create a simple membrane surface and modify it using a single control point, resulting in a mountain-like shape.

Tutorial 1.2: Making the mountain a volcano
Building upon the first, the second tutorial introduces the user to daVinci3D curves as we add a crater to the mountain top.

Tutorial 1.3: Making a sharp ridge around the volcano rim
Finally, by controlling how the curve interacts with the surface, we show the user how to make the ridge along the crater rim sharper by modifying the slope of the surface along the curve we introduced in tutorial 1.2.

Tutorial 2.1: A template for heads
As a starting point for modeling heads, this tutorial will show the user how to create a template for a head using just the boundary curve and its tangent strip.

Tutorial 2.2: Adding a nose to the head template
Next, we add a nose to the head template using both open and closed curves and a couple of points. We also introduce how to add and manage multiple materials on a single membrane.

also some rumours:

X-Ray will be released by the end of this week

March 13 (oops was Friday the 13th)

NEW Script!
Imatrix 0.91b
Imatrix converts an image into objects, which
represent pixel values.
This is BETA and you may not distribute it.


Updated Plugin
Mask Modifier 1.1 Max 2.0 has been updated.
It fixes the lack of animation bug.
Download Here


4D Vision
Sculptor ProTools patches and updates to be posted on the 11th or 12th. We expect to produce patches for all previous versions. A new demo is expected to be released
also this week.


Super Glow
has finally been released for 3D Studio Max 2. :)  This plugin allows you
to create a great looking glow on an object. Special thanks to Sandeep Shekar for
this recompile.
Download Superglow for Max 2 - (5 k)


Edit Spline 2 ver 1.55for Max 2.0
It puts back the non end point weld, leaves vertex ticks always on, and as a Refine/Connect option.
Download here

March 15

Spiritwalk Visioneering's Shameless Plugs
Straight Dope© $95.00 US + $4.00 US shipping and handling
Copyright © 1997 by SpiritWalk Visioneering
Have you ever wished you had an easier solution for syncronizing sound to animation?
THEN YOU NEED THIS!
Straight dope is a set of two plugin utilities for 3D Studio MAX 2.0. Time Slider and Key Phrase are designed to bypass the exposure sheet process for animations produced in 3DStudio Max. They can be used with almost any kind of animation inside of Max.
more info here

Reviews
MaxMatter
Check out the latest review on MaxMatter.
Click here to go to the review


LumaObject
This is quite an extensive review of LumaObject, part of Real Lens Flare Pro,
or Cebas ProOptics Suite.
Download the review here


Patch
Digipsrv.exe (MAX2) digipsrv2.exe 51 K 11-MAR-98
Digipsrv2.exe will update the DIGIPSRV.EXE that currently resides in your
MAX 2 root directory, to correctly meter your license database across your
local area network. This patch is only required for those who are currently
using DIGIPSRV.EXE in conjunction with 3DSMAX 2.
Installation instructions:
The file, digipsrv2.exe, is a self-extracting zip file that should be unarchived in
your MAX 2.0 root directory. For example C:\3dsmax2

If you have any questions that are not see answered here, please drop us a
note!

Thanks!

the Digimation Tech Support Team
E-mail: techies@digimation.com
Phone: 504.468.3372
Fax: 504.468.5494

DEMOS
JetaReyes is available NOW for MAX R1 & R2. SRP US$ 395 +Shipping
JetaReyes is a gesture synthesis system for use with 3D characters. Its unique approach to facial animation offers animators a very interactive, productive and time saving alternative to the more traditional methods of morphing or gesture capture.
DOWNLOAD DEMO R2(now for WIN95) (4Mb)



CartoonReyes is available now for MAX R1 & R2. SRP US$ 495 + Shipping
CartoonReyes is a rendering program that produces high quality 2D cartoon images, based on 3D data from scenes. CartoonReyes brings to the Cartoon the flexibility of all features of  3D animation such as camera control, texture mapping, and automatic shading. The quality and definition of the 'artists' line in an animated sequence is where CartoonReyes excels, providing outlines and sketch lines which appear and disappear smoothly and naturally throughout an animation
DOWNLOAD DEMO R2(3Mb)

 

March 16

New Plugins
by:Spectral Imaging

Planar/Spherical/Cylindrical Gravity 1.0 Max 2.0 has been added to the Max2 Pluggin Section. Planar and Spherical gravity are just localized gravity modifiers. Cylindrical Gravity is a localized modifier that can create whirlpool and eddie like effects.
Download Here

Cross Section Object 1.0 is a a tool for Surface Tools similiar to the CrossSection modifier except it works on spline objects.
Download Here

Edit Spline 2 ver 1.56 for Max 2.0 has been added to the Max2 Pluggin Section. It fixes a few bugs and adds a linear and closed option to the Refine&Connect.
Download Here


Sculptor ProTools patches and updates to be posted soon.

Hopefully this week  ending 20th.

New Comm Plugins for 3D Studio Max and Viz
By:Double Duck Productions
Octagonal Windows...... Available soon for Max 2.0 $10.95
          non-90 Trianglular Windows....
          Round & Near Round Window (round, elliptical)

Base Cabinets.....Available soon

Wall Cabinets......Available soon



4D Paint 1.8 Patch
dpatch.zip

Contains an executable for patching 4DPAINT (either the CD version 1.13 or
updated version 1.15) to version 1.16. Read the included text file prior to using
this patch.

DO NOT use this with the demo version.
Click 4dpatch.zip (508k) to download