Sprite Render Script

22 votes
Version: 
0.7
Date Updated: 
08/08/2010

This script will render animations and pack them into a sprite sheet. It exports the image file, the animation frame data as an XML file, and optionally a heightmap.

Improvements and Bug Fixes (v0.7)

+ Render Lists use XML. (they work now)
+ Included an option to turn cropping off.
+ Config settings are now written and read in a consistent way. (now it works)
+ Border padding has been fixed.
+ Added an option in the viewer to toggle the frame borders

* See the readme for features and instructions. (its included with the script, too)

You can create "Data Points" (point helpers with custom attributes) and link them to your scene objects. These points' positions are raycast into frame coordinates and stored with the animation data in the exported file. This technique can be used to make complex, dynamically-assembled sprites in a game.

Additional Info: 

The zip contains a folder with 2 files: "SpriteRender.ms" and "Custom.ms". Just copy the folder into your "userscripts" directory and run from there. The script will create a config file (.txt) and a readme (.hmtl) in the "Sprite Render vX.X" folder.

You may need to log-on as an administrator to run the script. In theory, because it's in the "userscripts" directory, you shouldn't need to.

Version Requirement: 
Max 8+

Comments

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mabulsoud's picture

Download links are gone

Is there any way to get this script now that the links are broken? Anyone who has it mind sharing it?

Thank you

lightcube's picture

I returned to this script

I returned to this script today using 3ds Max 2013... and I've got the same problems I posted last year. I did find a solution, though. Add this code to line 1134:

global roll_SpriteSheetViewer

_______________________

Shawn Olson

Developer of Wall Worm

lightcube's picture

Great Tool

You've got a great tool here. I just pulled it back out to share with a friend and noticed that there are still some errors:

The first time I run it I always get this error:

-- Error occurred in btn_save.pressed(); filename: C:\Program Files\Autodesk\3ds Max 2012\Scripts\Sprite Render v0.7\Sprite Render.ms; position: 34495; line: 1135
-- Frame:
-- depthmap: undefined
-- canvasbitmap: undefined
-- f: "C:\Users\Shawn\Documents\Vault\Demonstration\sceneassets\images\sprites\tp_melt.png"
-- roll_SpriteSheetViewer: undefined
>> MAXScript Rollout Handler Exception:
-- Unknown property: "canvasbitmap" in undefined <<

Also.. even though the docs mention installing it into userscripts, I still get an error when loading it from userscripts on a machine that hadn't previously run the script as admin. It appears that the docs file is hard-coded to come from the 3ds max root help.

_______________________

Shawn Olson

Developer of Wall Worm

Slather's picture

Runtime Error

Ok, I've changed the script to use the "userscripts" directory and to not write the readme right away, only when accessed. If the readme can't write, the script won't break anymore. You can use the link on this page, or go to the website anyway.
- Matt

ladman's picture

getting a wired error when running your script

I am new to 3ds max.i have the 2011 version. i opened your script and ran it. It cant create the readme file it needs so it wont run? do you know a solution to this problem.

I also sent you and email on this yesterday with the exact error message im geting. Here is the messae

--Runtime error: FileStream cannot create: C:\Program Files\Autodesk|3ds max 2011\scripts\Spriterenderv0.7readme.html

It also highlights this part of your code:

fn writeStringToFile str filename =
(
local f = openFile filename mode:"wt"
format "%" str to:f
close f
)

tortenazor's picture

Hello, I'm using an older

Hello,

I'm using an older encrypted version of this script which has several bugs, including the "render from file" option not working. It seems that the download domain has expired. Is there anyone kind enough to post the original unencrypted script ? I'd like to try to fix those bugs myself.

Thanks !

Waxmodeler's picture

Excellent Script, it works

Excellent Script, it works with Max 8 and also the output is great for Unity3D. Coooool.

Michele71's picture

Good Script very, very useful

Good Script very, very useful :)

Slather's picture

Version 0.6 is out, with

Version 0.6 is out, with many bug fixes! I've written a readme that has features, instructions, and tips for use.

fajar's picture

Good script !! thank!!

Good script !! thank!!

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