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skuby
09-12-2005, 05:20 AM
In 3D Studio Max this is quite a simple task. I'm making a demo reel and I need to show off my wireframes in quad wireframes, is there a "simple", "high-quality" and "effective" way to do this with Maya's default tools, or perhaps with the use of a 3rd party plug-in?

So far I have already experimented with the following complicated/low-quality methods and they were of no use to me...

1. http://www.jozvex.com/tutorials/wireframe.html
This method is complicated, and the results aren't that great.

2. Take a UVSnapshot and load that as the diffuse texture. Again, this produces pretty low-quality results.

3. Use Maya's Vector renderer. This produces decent but not great results but unfortunately, the aspect ratio of the renders, using the same exact camera, differs from Maya Software rendering, making a nice transition effect in Adobe Premiere from the textured model to the wireframe render impossible.

4. Wireframe on shaded in combination with the hardware render buffer. This so far is the simplest solution I have found so far. It's not horrible, but it does leave a lot to be desired, for one it doesn't produce the same quality of wireframe renders I've seen in really good modeling reels.

Could someone please post a professional solution, thank you -Derek
farbod
09-12-2005, 06:16 AM
you can use Provide3D polyData & nurbsData
http://www.provide3d.com/
junaid_r
09-12-2005, 06:58 AM
i guess there is a plugin that does the desired effect. i m not too sure . guess u'll have to check Highend for that.. its WireData as far as i remember
skuby
09-12-2005, 07:11 AM
Polydata looks like it would be perfect for me but I don't think I can afford it right now.

I couldn't find Wiredata either.

When I was searching through old threads on this topic some people said there was a free maya plug-in to convert meshes into PaintFX strokes that were then renderable. Anyone know about this?

Also I downloaded "createWire-v1.2" which is listed for Maya 3.0. I'm using Maya 7.0 and I have 6.5 if I absolutely have to go backwards, but I'd rather not to be honest. I couldn't figure out where the plug-in installed itself, or if it even installed at all. Anyone know about this one?
Digit
09-12-2005, 07:32 AM
I think you can set up the vector renderer to do this. Although I've never had much luck apart from rendering simple objects. Still, Ive never tried all that hard either. Theres a thread or two about this already which might be able to help you.
skuby
09-13-2005, 12:17 AM
Does anyone know of the maya plug-in to convert wireframe meshes into PaintFX strokes that are then renderable?
Zergxes2
09-13-2005, 12:40 AM
Do you want just the wireframe or do you want a wireframe-on-shaded look?

I took a uv snapshot at a higer res- making sure I had antialiased lines turned on, dumped it into photoshop, used the uv as a multiply over a color layer (for my poop-brown character) deleted the alpha channel, flattened and resaved and then put it into the color channel in Maya, and it looked pretty good. It gave the wireframe-on-shaded effect. I think I tweaked with the color and opacity of the uv layer in photoshop till I was happy.

Luck! I'm sure somebody here will give you some better advice.
skuby
09-13-2005, 02:28 AM
I am looking for Wireframe on Shaded, so I will give that another shot. I tried before just as a diffuse/ambient map 4096x with AA on and it just didn't look that great, maybe your different shader approach will work better.
wdaniel
09-13-2005, 12:01 PM
in maya 7 ther is a snap shot button in the render view it will render out the wire frame for you. it seems to work for me. just make sure you hide what you don't want to be seen.
AmyScott-Murray
09-13-2005, 01:49 PM
The Tomcat toon shader (free download) works by converting lines to pfx strokes... I think if you fiddle enough with the settings you might get what you're looking for. Sorry I haven't used it enough myself to know exactly how to do it.. maybe someone else can help?
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