Call for Python tutorials

Admin — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 03:28:14 -0400

I've been seeing a lot of discussion about using Python with 3ds Max for quite a while now... I'd love to get some resources up describing Python - 3ds Max integration / workflow / processes. If you've got or would write a beginner tutorial or even an advanced tutorial, please share it with the community!

Some questions to get the ball rolling... What is Python? How does it compare to MAXScript? Why should someone use Python? Is Python best for end users or developers? How do you create a simple "hello world" Python script?

Autodesk acquires Softimage

Christopher Grant — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 20:17:07 -0400

Pretty big news - http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?id=12022457&siteID=123112

Editable mesh / Poly modifier

aklvis — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 18:17:43 -0400

Hey Guys,

recently I've been doing quite a few curtain-walled high rises. My usual workfow for this (to retain procedurality, so it can be changed as the building is further refined) is to create a single pane of glass and then using itoo's clone plugin I instance it a number of times then apply a path deform. Which wraps it around the building. I then apply another clone modifier which arrays it up the building.

I then usually put an edit-poly above it and then using soulburns script I apply a small amount of random rotation to the planes to give a more realistic reflection.

Job: Technical Artist – Sports - Blue Castle Games – Burnaby, BC

Admin — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 00:06:07 -0400

BLUE CASTLE GAMES (www.bluecastlegames.com) is a full-service, multi-project and multi-platform 3rd party developer located in Vancouver, Canada. The studio was formed in 2005, fulfilling the desire to start a company where creativity, experience and hard work come together to create outstanding games. We are currently a 100 plus-person studio with plans to expand to 150+ in 2008. In its short tenure, Blue Castle has already developed and shipped The BIGS (published by 2K Sports in June 2007) on PS3, 360, PS2, PSP and Wii. We are well underway on three new projects – an unannounced Action title and two Sports titles.

A Technical Artist at Blue Castle Games, is someone who can proactively identify the artists needs, proposing and delivering effective tools and workflow. Extensive scripting work in MaxScript, Mel and Python will be required. You will do this by providing support to automate processes while working as a liaison between Software Engineers and the Art/Animation teams.

An equal combination of a strong creative/visual aesthetic and technical knowledge are a necessity – the job is roughly a 50/50 split in these areas. You should also be experienced in one of the following other areas – Animation, Character Modeling or Environments.

...

For more details and instructions on how to apply, view the attached PDF job description.

SoulburnScripts Updated Sept 18th 2008

Neil Blevins — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 14:52:10 -0400

NOTICE: I had to make some major changes to sLib to remove several recursion bugs that could cause max to crash. I've successfully removed the bugs, but it's possible I may have introduced new ones, despite a lot of testing to make sure all of the functions still work correctly. If you see any weirdness where scripts you know worked aren't working as expected anymore, please get in touch with me immediately. Thanks.

Updated several older scripts, here's the major updates:

saving only visible object

BenOoo — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 07:15:19 -0400

Hello
I'm thinking about a script to save only objects displayed in the camera field (like "save selection" but for the camera viewport)
the goal is to make my huge architecturals scene easier to render, because sometimes i just want to render a part of the project (my camera field) and not the total scene,i think this could make my render faster
I'm working on it, so if you have suggestion or if a similar script already exists, please tell me !
(Sorry for my poor english, i'm french! )

Looking For This Script

othoap — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 13:33:08 -0400

I can't find this script again. I don't know the name but this is what it dose;

It
tacks on a interface to the right side of the UVW Unwrap edit
interface. This script had tools to align points, rotate polyfaces in
45,90,180 increments. I have looked and looked but can't find it. Any one know were or what it is?

Starting out big.

Tanke — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 02:53:04 -0400

I've been working as a technical modeller for two months now, after a four year game design education. Speed and low polycount is crucial so, shortcuts are the key.

I've come across one problem, i wish to solve with scripting.

Converting animation constraints, ie look-at-constraint to keyframes.

This is because our in-house exporter and simulator can't handle dummies or that kind of thing.

The way i've been doing it is manually copying and pasting every rotation coordinate for 100 frames. It needs to end! rawr.

Max/VRay scene exporter

AlexH — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 22:50:15 -0400

Hello,

Not actually a script request strictly speaking (although it could probably be implemented as a script, at least partially), I thought that some people over here might also be interested in plugin development.

We are looking for a freelancer in order to write an exporter for 3DSMax and VRay scenes (geometry, materials, lights, etc) into a custom file format for realtime usage.

More information can be found here:
http://www.vtales.com/www/job_programmer3.html

Price is negotiable. Contact info is on the bottom of the job posting page above.

Thanks for reading,
- Alex

SoulburnScripts Updated Aug 20th 2008

Admin — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 11:51:13 -0400

(Copied from Neil Blevins' email list)

Max script update:

Updated several older scripts, here's the major updates:

nameManager: Added a new mode for renaming maps, not just bitmap maps.
texmapPreview: Added some simple mentalray support.
bitmapCollector: Now gets maps associated with UnwrapUVW modifiers.
selectionHighlighter: Now when you turn off the script, it will turn the Preview Selection mode of your objects to what they were before you entered Selection Highlighting mode.
parameterManager: Now handles the CastShadow property of lights.