ScriptSpot - Your community resource for 3ds Max tools

Maxscript 101 - Free Online Training

Admin — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 16:49:46 +0000

The creator of Maxscript (John Wainwright) has made his previously commercial training DVD available for free on Vimeo! It's broken up into easy to watch chunks and even though it's a bit dated it remains one of the best introductions to MAXScript available.

A sincere thanks from the ScriptSpot community to John Wainwright for releasing his incredibly valuable training series for free and to our very own "Garp" for putting in the time to get the video split into sections & uploaded. Thanks!

Call for Python tutorials

Admin — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 07:28:14 +0000

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?

Project Manager

Kstudio — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 16:37:17 +0000

After a long stretch of development, Project Manager 4 is officially out — the biggest release in the product's history, and now with full 3ds Max 2027 support.
The headline is AI Asset Classification.
Your library gets sorted automatically — by object type, material, and style — no manual tagging.

Project Manager 4 — What's New Since v3

Changelog · 3ds Max 2016–2027

AI-Powered Asset Classification

Automatic categorisation of 3D models and textures by object type, material, form, and style — no manual tagging required
Runs entirely on your machine — no cloud, no subscription, your assets never leave your computer
GPU-accelerated background processing at low priority — won't interfere with rendering or active work
Reclassify specific folders or categories on demand — no need to reprocess the entire library
Scale across a team: multiple workstations share the same database and classify in parallel

Colour Tools

Find assets by colour — pick from a palette and instantly see matching models or textures
Perceptual colour similarity search — finds visually related assets, not just exact hex matches
Find Similar by Colour in the right-click menu for models and textures

Find Similar

Find similar by content — AI matches 3D models by style, shape, and visual look
Find similar by colour palette — matches assets to a reference image or mood board by dominant colour proportions

Smarter Search & Filtering

Multi-keyword search: "Chair, Glass" finds a file named Chair.max described as "glass"
Category filter correctly includes all subcategories — filtering Furniture also returns Furniture → Chairs → Dining
Combine category and material filters: find glass-and-metal tables, or wooden ones, in one click
Categorised / Uncategorised quick filters — see which assets still need attention

Gallery & 3D File Browsing

Three gallery tabs for .max files: Models, Materials, and External Links
Drag materials directly from the gallery into your open 3ds Max scene
3D viewport preview for FBX, 3DS, OBJ, and other formats — inspect geometry before importing
Edit external links inline — fix or replace missing textures without opening the .max file
Zoom & Pan for images — inspect textures at full resolution inside Project Manager

Migration & Compatibility

v3 and v4 share the same database format — point v4 at your existing library and go; no rebuild required
Run v3 and v4 side by side on the same team; supported from 3ds Max 2016 through 2027

Performance & Other Fixes

Significantly improved overall performance — faster navigation, filtering, search, and file/folder operations
Live sync in shared database mode — changes by colleagues appear automatically without reloading

More about new features ⇒ Project Manager version 4

BOA Asset Browser

Francisco Hermida — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:02:53 +0000

HCG Asset Browser is now BOA Asset Browser

Rewritten in Qt to work with current versions of 3ds Max -> Still free.

Batch Camera Render

sergo — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 11:29:44 +0000

This script aims to replace standard 3dsmax's Batch Render and imitates Houdini Output Node workflow. Using it you can specify rendering parameters - frame size, frame number, output path - directly to camera object, so every camera in scene 'knows' what it intended to render. Additional functionality is Lighting Assignment - you can specify which light will be turn on or off for selected camera during the rendering.

1.19:

Support 3ds max 2026

1.18:

Support for 3ds max 2023 Update fixed

1.17:

Corona and Vray Sun inside Daylight System fixed (thanks to busseynova for reporting)

1.16:

CoronaSun supported inside Daylight System

1.15:

Don't Save Render Elements Checkbox (Thanks to antomor)
Limited support for camera objects in xref scene files (Only root objects in first level xrefs. Cameras in nested xrefs not supported)

1.13 Bugfix:

Deadline submission should work now

1.12 New Feature:

Deadline support.
Very basic imlementation, it allows you to submit your jobs on a deadline server. Enter deadline repository address and check "Use Deadline" checkbox. Other checkbox doesn't matter in this case ("Net render", "Show Submit Dialog").
Probably it requires Deadline 3ds max Submitter installed. I didn't have a chance to check it on a clean machine.

1.11 Features and fixes:

State sets support added
"projectname" keyword added which resolves to project's folder name
other fixes and improvements

1.10.3b Fixes:

Crash when vray ir/lcache maps are set to auto-save
Region render was not set properly during the rendering

This is major update of the script, so it may not be as stable as before. Backup scenes or cameras at least before running this version. More information can be found here - 1.10b Multiple presets for each camera

Previous updates:

1.10.2b Fixes:

Problems with render elements paths
Copy/paste of render region settings
Properly convert render region values when change resolution

New features:

Multiple presets for each camera
New keyword %presetname% to support multiple presets
Distributed rendering checkbox added to vray common settings
Bugfix - Net render not starting after cancelling during local rendering.
Improved performance with scenes with lots of cameras
Added support of Vray RT as a production renderer
Added support of using MFRender script to render scenes through BatchCamera script.
Bugfix - Error was popping up sometimes during drag-n-drop
Bugfix - Render elements didn't render in certain conditions
Bugfix - Pre-render/post-render scripts didn't work on network rendering
Bugfix - Select All and Toggle All buttons didn't work properly

Here are some details: http://usakhelo.github.io/batchcam/batchcam-1.9.20.html

EffectsChannelSet

Kstudio — Sun, 10 May 2009 23:30:06 +0000

Management the Material ID and Objects ID.
Assigning a wirecolor for objects.
Automated creation MultiMatteElement for V-Ray renderer.
Automated creation MatteRenderElement for Mental Ray renderer.
Automate the creation of CMasking_Mask for Corona Renderer.

EffectsChannel 1.67.4

Some fixes and speed improvements

EffectsChannel v1.64

Fixes an issue with assigning ID to sub-materials in the version 1.62

EffectsChannel v1.62

This version speed-up opening on complex scenes. The time of opening on a very big scene decreased from 16 sec to 0.094sec.

EffectsChannel v1.60

Adds support to Corona Renderer: Automate creation of CMasking_Mask.

FilePathFinder Pro & Light versions

Kstudio — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:19:51 +0000

Using the FilePathFinder you can be sure that you have complete control over external links into your scenes.

Asset tracking features include support for XREF files and easy linking with external files.

Using the FilePathFinder (and Batch Render&Relink), you can search for missing assets and relink external files.

In addition, files that are linked to selected objects are displayed in Interactive Mode, and bitmap textures can be toggled and placed within the Material Editor.

Also with this tool, you can easily make an archive a 3ds Max scene.

Note that FilePathFinder supports the highest number of asset types of any plug-in.

The Batch Render&Relink tool helps manage your asset files into the 3D model and material libraries in Batch Mode.

BR&R is capable of rendering thumbnails for 3D models, materials, and IES photometric files.

Batch Mode makes for an easy way to gather and compile many assets at once.

The new version of FilePathFinder is released with support to 3ds Max 2026

and many new features that improve managing scene assets

FilePathFinder Pro version 4.17.01

Adds support to 3Ds Max 2026
Play IFL, and animated GIFs directly in the list view
Play IFL and animated GIFs in the external Asset Viewer
Ability to change selected assets directly from the Asset Viewer using keyboard shortcuts
Adds an ability to include/exclude search directories by filename
More accurate material/texture placement in SME
Drops support to light theme
Fixes an issue with including/excluding search directories by filename
Fixes an issue with searching, relinking, collecting, and archiving the content of IFL files
Fixes an issue with relink assets in batch mode for Demo version [Batch Render&Relink]
Fixes an issue with renaming external scene links with status #Found
Fixes some issues with relink assets using exclude directories
Fixes a bug with relinking assets in huge scenes
Fixes a bug when using the tool together with Materials Manager and Models Manager
Some other optimizations, fixes and speed improvements

Sweep Profile

Kstudio — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 12:48:11 +0000

The new version of Sweep Profile PRO has been released

version 1.01.36

Adds support to 3Ds Max 2026
New Demo Molding profiles
Drops support to 3Ds Max 2014/2015

version 1.01.30

Adds support to 3Ds Max 2025

version 1.01.27

Adds the "Assign" button
Adds German and Japanese localizations
Better zooming to profile on rendering preview
Adds an ability to add multiple directories with profiles using the checkbox "Include Subfolders"
Fixes an issue with changing profile dimensions in 3ds Max 2023-2024

The main functionality of the Sweep Pro lies in its ability to offer a quick and convenient way to build architectural profiles using the Sweep modifier.

The pack includes pre-made architectural profiles (10 for the free version and 37 for PRO version), providing users with a solid base to start from.

However, the functionality doesn’t stop there; users also have the option to add new profiles from the scene or add profiles from a specific folder.

Also, the tool has a very convenient option for changing the profile size on the fly.

Kitchen Cabinet Creator

goruss — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 00:55:47 +0000

Kitchen Cabinet Creator is a script for 3ds Max which is intended to automate process of making kitchen cabinets.

Version 1.01 is available.

Albero Art Studio

Relink Bitmaps

colinsenner — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 22:34:23 +0000

Relink Bitmaps is a script to easily relink all missing files (Bitmaps, VRayMeshes, Mental Ray Proxies, VRayHDRI, IES, etc) when they change directories or when you move computers, check out the short video tutorial below for more detailed information.

Unlike some other scripts of its kind, this is free! There is a small donation link within the script if you choose to donate, I will remove the nag. It is a simple licensing system, that does not force you to transfer network cards or be connected to the internet and will work with all versions of Max that are supported by the script. If you choose to donate I'll be more than happy to license multiple computers as well.

Features:

[*] All 3dsmax supported Bitmap Texture types
[*] (new) Relinks Mental Ray Proxy files
[*] (new) Relinks VRay Proxies (.vrmesh)
[*] (new) Relinks VRayHDRI files
[*] (new) Relinks IES files (including VRayIES files)
[*] (new) Automatically checks for script updates and new versions
[*] 250% speed increase from previous versions
[*] Command-line mode available for automating repetative tasks (see documentation on the website)
[*] Configurable default user options saving button clicks and wasted time

Relink Bitmaps webpage:

https://colinsenner.com/relink-bitmaps/

Supported Max versions: Max 2018+
(Older versions should work, but are not supported moving forward)