Call for Python tutorials

866 votes

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?

... 

FYI - for those that are curious, here's a great thread on cgtalk about MAXScript & Python. http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?f=98&t=509631

 

 

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jedie's picture

replace maxscript with python

Everyone who will see Python in 3dsmax should vote here: https://autodesk.uservoice.com/forums/80701-publicsdkandscriptingenhance...

EdgyDesign's picture

Complex...

To me Python seems pretty complex. While I appreciate the possibilities the complexity makes me shy away. So I would appreciate some basic beginners guide and especially how it compares to MAXScript. Thank you guys for all the links!

Gefenzync's picture

Awesome!

Awesome!

roxanne's picture

I am only new in making

I am only new in making scripts and still learning things. I find this website a very helpful one. About your favor, I want to help you also with some resources for Python with 3d max. I used this once and it is quite effective. Here: http://www.rtrowbridge.com/blog/2009/02/24/python-in-3ds-max/ . Hope it will help you also.

diatom's picture

Blur provides a way to

Blur provides a way to integrate python into max.
http://code.google.com/p/blur-dev/
This is a challenging install, but as of now, the best and maybe only way to use python in max.
After a considerable effort, I finally managed to get it all working. Their documentation is not perfectly clear just yet. To make it easier for everyone, here is a step by step that did work for me.
I installed on XP 64bit using max 2009.

1) install python for win 64
http://www.python.org/download/releases/2.6.3/

rename Python26 to Python26_64

open python IDLE just to be sure it is working. run calander.py as a test. f5 to execute.

2) install visual studio 2008 - commercially available from microsoft,
or alternately install the open source version MinGW
http://www.mingw.org/

3) install Qt
read this for installation instructions
http://doc.qt.nokia.com/4.6/install-win.html

http://qt.nokia.com/downloads
if you installed visual basic use this -> Qt libraries 4.6.2 for Windows (VS 2008, 194 MB)
if you installed MinGW use -> Qt libraries 4.6.2 for Windows (minGW 4.4, 278 MB)

4) copy max to c:/max2009_x64 - blur has hardcoded their paths to this location.
open plugin.ini and InstallSettings.ini. edit paths to reflect this new location.
you may have to reinstall max to this location. I did, after i ran into a problem.

5) download and run these "blur core" files

http://www.blur.com/blurBeta_files/blurBeta_MAX.exe
this installs blurs core plugins and scripts. Be sure to read the readme and clean up the details.

http://www.blur.com/blurBeta_files/blurBeta_Docs.exe

http://www.blur.com/blurBeta_files/blurBeta_ProductionDirs.exe
install blur's directory structure for projects. It migth help to make their scripts work better but maybe not necessary.

6) install Blur DLLs for 3dsMax Blur Libraries Python26 x64
http://code.google.com/p/blur-dev/downloads/list
Blur3dsMax2009_python26_x64_install_9218.exe
Let it install it at the default location, which will be c:\max2009_x64\ and c:\python26_64\
this installs blur's plugins, dlx etc and maxscripts

7) install blur's PyQT PyQt4_gpl_4.6.1-Py2.6-win32-msvc2008_64.exe -- Blur PyQt x64 Libs (Python26)
http://code.google.com/p/blur-dev/downloads/list
PyQt is the pythonic bindings to the Qt framework - opening up all that amazing power of Qt to the Python language.

8) install QT dlls qt_install_4.5.2-1_win32-msvc2008_64.exe
http://code.google.com/p/blur-dev/downloads/list
Output folder: C:\windows\system32\blur64

9) install blur_pyqt_modules
http://code.google.com/p/blur-dev/downloads/list
blur_pyqt_modules_install_python2.6_9251_win32-msvc2008_64.exe
Output folder: C:\Python26\\Lib\site-packages\blur

10) install Python for 3ds Max 2009 x64 (Python26)
http://code.google.com/p/blur-dev/downloads/list
Py3dsMax2009_python26_x64_install_9051.exe
this installs into the max folder and the python folder..

installs some .pyd files - dlls that make python work in max - socket.

hopefully it will be working at this point.
Fire up Max and look for the python menu.

hope that helps

Thomas

Aline3D's picture

Hi, I'm studing python a lot

Hi, I'm studing python a lot on the last monts.

I'm working in a project manager like OpenPipeline (http://www.highend3d.com/maya/downloads/mel_scripts/data_management/open...)

using python. Connecting with max by COM server and maya by telnet. Its working very well. 

 

AlineLima
Script Developer - O2 filmes

AlineLima
Script Developer - SeagullsFly
www.seagullsfly.com
Brasil

Miller's picture

If anyone ever does find the

If anyone ever does find the tutorial, will it posted here or will there be a link to it somewhere? Did I already miss that comment? online casino

markschum's picture

www.python.org is a main

www.python.org is a main source of the python documentation. I had not seen anything on a max implementation of it though :(

taemoor's picture

Hi I saw this very handsome

Hi I saw this very handsome intro to intermediate and beyond level of online training for Python here
http://www.3dbuzz.com
just scroll the left menu down to bottom and click on python.
You have to register yourself first, registration is easy and amazingly free.
I thought I should contribute.
Thanx

Dragon's picture

I was just looking at

I was just looking at Multi-Gen and see that Python is also their scripting language

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