AvizStudioTools - A2Dimage

7 votes
Version: 
1.21
Date Updated: 
06/20/2022

A2Dimage

A2Dimage is a scripted 3ds Max plug-in for adding simple 2D images with alpha channel to your 3ds Max scene. Script reads the height of the image from the end of the file name and on render generate automatically shadows based on alpha channel of the image. With this script you can render fast previews and final images with correct shadows in one pass without compositing all individual elements later.

Additional Info: 

|New in version 1.21:

  • Free 15 Day Trial for the Pro version
  • Fixed "Rotate all to camera" option
  • Fixed UI alignment in create and modify
  • Fixed other small bugs

New in version 1.20:

  • Two new materials types
  • Additional shortcuts to change the file for the object
  • When using V-Ray DR, the shadows are generated correctly before the file is sent to other render nodes

New in version 1.15:

  • Option to search for missing bitmaps in the object’s material
  • Other small bug fixes

New in version 1.12:

  • Two new material options - Mental Ray & Maxwell
  • Relink Pro Tool - Relink A2Dimage from folder base on best match algorithm
  • Scatter Pro Tool - Scatter A2Dimage objects by replacing existing object. Watch video here
  • Convert Pro Tool -  Convert A2Dimage objects and shadows in editable mesh

New in version 1.10:

  • Fix image preview in some versions of 3ds Max
  • Batch render with Vray now works. For other renderers see Camera Overwrite Pro Tool
  • New Pro Parameters and Tools:
    - Color Multiply
    - Viewport Preview
    - Fast Shadow Cache
    - Fast Shadow Calculation
    - Camera Overwrite
    - Relink A2Dimages

New in version 1.03:

  • Fix the orientation of A2Dimage objects in orthographic views

New in version 1.02:

  • Option for V-Ray materials 
  • Disable Bitmaps Filtering
  • Reuse Scene Materials
  • Auto rotate to the camera in the viewport

Installation:

  • Download and unzip the desired version
  • From 3ds Max menu select: MaxScript> Run Script ...> AvizStudioTools_A2Dimage.mse
  • If you want to load the script automatically, copy the content of the archive in the 3ds Max root folder\scripts\startup\
Version Requirement: 
3ds Max 7 or later
Video URL: 

Comments

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futuraa's picture

speed check

another great script!! im having some speed issues that i dont know if its normal, takes a lot to load for the first time the parameters on 3d max 2012, also when you select a a2dimage already created to reload the parameters takes more than 15-20 sec any ideas?

great great tool, i wonder if the pro version will give me same speed issues?

vhector's picture

In my case, with the batch

In my case, with the batch rendering it doesn't work. Overall, really nice script.

atanasbak's picture

Orthographic view

Hi rawshark,
Thanks for noticing the problem with orientation of the object in orthographic views.
New version 1.03 fixes this problem.

rawshark's picture

Rotate to camera

Thanks for the great script!!
However for me the 'Rotate to Camera' functions strangely - e.g. panning in the 'Top' viewport causes the image to change orientation. Clicking in the 'Camera' viewport corrects the orientation but still seems strange to have that behavior...unless I'm missing something?

atanasbak's picture

Transparency

Set transparency in the viewport to "Best".
V-Ray materials don't support transparency in the viewport.

1rv's picture

And it works

correctly with Batch render (diffrent camera and sun locations saved in scene states). Wow!!!
Mirza's billboard manager does't do this.

1rv's picture

Dude this is script of the Year

for me. Huge thank you!
The minor glitch (not critical). The a2dimage object in viewport is shown without transperency (black background) while 'transparency and show maps' is 'on'.
Imagecells tiffs were used.
Do you know how to fix it?

atanasbak's picture

To 1rv

Version 1.02 have option for V-Ray material.
For no GI of the image plane right mouse click on selected objects > V-Ray properties > turn off "Generate GI"

1rv's picture

I've found workaround:

Converting (via VrayMtlConverter) to Vray matereal solves the problem
but still I'd be a pleasure if only you could fix it within the script itself.

1rv's picture

something is wrong with gamma\RGB levels

1.The A2images objects look too dark in the render output (though the matslot and
viewport look overexposed). (The Imagecells tiff files were used for the first tests).
Setting the RGB level at ~15 (adv. parameters) solves this problem, but creates
over-lighted areas around the object).
Could you fix it please?
( BTW I use 'linear gamma workflow':
In the Max preferences:
Gamma 2.2, input 2.2, output 1
Vray color mapping rollout: gamma set 2.2)

2. Could you please add 'don't generate vray GI' option?
P.S. Man this plugin is awesome! Huge thank you!

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