FreeFlex

MaxScript Release 0.21 Beta Source FOR MAX 3 (7/24/1999)

SHORT DESCRIPTION

FreeFlex turns any FreeFormDeformation Modifier into a Flex Lattice.
It lets you apply a regular Flex modifier to a mesh using only the few
control points of the FFD modifier.
This is work in progress and not production-ready.

CREDITS

Thanks to Brandon Davis of ComputerCafe for the idea and concept.

USAGE

Version 0.21 (7/24/99)

To install, evaluate, customize a toolbar,
drag&drop the FreeFlex from the ComputerCafe category.

Load the MAX scene and play the animation.
The first Cylinder is animated with a Flexed FFD.
The second is with Flex for comparisson.

To turn an FFD modifier into a FreeFlex modifier,
select any geometry object, add an FFD modifier to it
(2x2x2, 3x3x3, 4x4x4, Box or Cylinder), and click the
FreeFlex button.
A new control object with the FF_ prefix will be created,
a Flex modifier will be applied to it, and it will be displayed
in the Modify panel. In addition, the control points of the
FFD will be connected via Scripted Point3 controllers to
the vertex positions of the control mesh.

Note that by default the Control Mesh is NOT being displayed.
It consists of Vertices ONLY.
You can edit these vertices as you want to get any lattice form you want.
You can also select the FF_ control mesh using the "Select by Name" dialog
and activate the Vertex Ticks under Display tab to see them all the time.
They will be almost coincident to the FFD points, so the Lattice will
be enough to see where the control mesh would be.

The FFD control points are controlled by scripted controllers,
so you cannot change their position anymore. You have
to move the vertices of the control mesh instead.

DOWNLOAD FreeFlex

Version 0.21 MacroScript Source