animBoost

8 votes
Version: 
0.8
Date Updated: 
07/04/2012
Author Name: 
Changsoo Eun

animBoost is a set of maxscript that boost viewport performance for animated mesh.

Recently I found out that 3ds max still evaluates an object's modifier stack even though the object is hidden. I always assume that's not the case. For a non-animated object, this is not a problem, since 3ds max internally caches the final result of modifiers stack. But, if a hidden object is deforming over time, 3ds max wastes a lot of resources for this invisible object. For example, a typical character rig would have a low res proxy for faster playback. But, it becomes useless, since skinned hi-res mesh will be calculated anyway.

animBoost is an workaround for this problem. animBoost keeps monitoring scene and selectively turns on/off modifier when object is unhidden/hidden.

v0.8 Update
bugfix - If you turn on/off with Layer, eveything is OK. But, when you hide/unhide each nodes, animBoost forgot to turn on Mesher/SuperMesher/XMesh. This has been fixed.

v0.7 Update
Support SuperMesher
Support Frost
Support Mesher

Additional Info: 

How to install

Download zip file. You will see two folders(Scripts/UI) after unzip the file. You need to copy those two folders into your 3ds max's Scripts/UI folder.

How to use

Launch 3ds max. "Go to Customize User Interface". Select "animBoost" category. You wil have 3 new actions. Make buttons or assign shourcut.

"turn on animBoost" will show up as "animBoost_On" button. "turn off animBoost" will show up as "animBoost_Off" button. "animBoost manual mode" will show up as "animBoost_Manual" button.

Now all you need to do is click "animBoost_On" button. Now animBoost is monitoring your scene and invisibly turns on/off modifiers when you hide/unhide objects.

WARNING!

If you have a lot of modifier heavy objects, THERE WILL BE DELAY when you hide/unhide objects.

If you have any problems with this script, you can always click "animBoost_Off". Then animBoost will be removed from memory.

animBoost also support a "manual mode". Instead of using "animBoost_On", if you use "animBoost_Manual" button. You can run animBoost routine manually. If your system is really slow or you dont like the delay, you may use this.

Version Requirement: 
3ds max 2009+
Video URL: 

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sinokgr's picture

looks cool! Thanks for

looks cool! Thanks for sharing :D

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