returning to max after 2+ years.

[robmaxwell]

SubD's in Max: If you are modeling with an editable poly you can subdivide like in Lightwave by simply toggling on or off "NURMS" mode. You do this either from the modify panel of the editable poly or from the quad menu "NURMS TOGGLE". To be more like Lightwave, you can map a keyboard shortcut to the "NURMS TOGGLE" command.

Generally for character work you use "NURMS" for modeling. When modeling is completed you take off the "NURMS" and apply a mesh smooth modifier. Now meshsmooth will have an option to subdivide using the "NURMS" interpolation here, so you are assured the same results as you were getting with the "NURMS TOGGLE" in editable poly. Generally meshsmoth is applied after uvw and skin modifiers in the stack, so you get the character's subdivision after the mesh has been deformed by the bones.

Note: You can subdivide in editable poly without having to add a modifier.

Haven't played with HSDS much yet. But from what I have ascertained, you can edit the model at different levels of subdivision, and subdivide certain areas more than others. ersonally I like to control all of this with my cage details. Must be the Lightwave in me. :D

[orion 77]

cheers thats clarified a lot of things rob.
say didnt u die off a yacht in the greek islands? (robert maxwell was a tycon in the 80's incase nobody knows).
with being used to lw and no construction history max seems weired though.
although the lack of a drag tool is gonna annoy me. having to click on each point and having to enable the viewport too.

[Reality3D]

orion 77: Max3 modeling capabilities with polys is very weak compared to max4,5 and lw 6.0

[orion 77]

lol did i say 3 i meant 4, whoops.

[visualboo]

Make sure you get meshtools 2.5 and csPolyTools. You'll love life after that.

although the lack of a drag tool is gonna annoy me.
Not sure what you mean. It's like that automatically. Just click a vert and drag. You can "pre-set" the current axis with a quick click on the gizmo axis before you move the point.

hope that helped a little. :beer:

[edit] oh I forgot.... www.scriptspot.com for the scripts.

[robmaxwell]

yeah, I really don't like the fact that you have to enable the viewort every time by clicking in it.:thumbsdow

With Lightwave all you have to do is move the cursor over the viewport and it is activated.:airguitar

[Reality3D]

robmaxwell, check this bobo script to activate a viewport when the mouse is over:
(only works in layout4 mode and speficic resolution but you could change it with local mid_x and local mid_y )

macroScript MouseViewTracker category:"Bobo_s Tools"
(
rollout timer_rollout "MouseViewTrack"
(
timer mouse_clock interval:100 active:true
button close_it "CLOSE MVTracker"
on close_it pressed do destroyDialog timer_rollout
on mouse_clock tick do
(
local mpos = mouse.screenPos
local mid_x = 500
local mid_y = 500
if viewport.getLayout() == #layout_4 then
(
if mpos.x < mid_x and mpos.y < mid_y then viewport.activeViewport = 1
if mpos.x < mid_x and mpos.y > mid_y then viewport.activeViewport = 3
if mpos.x > mid_x and mpos.y < mid_y then viewport.activeViewport = 2
if mpos.x > mid_x and mpos.y > mid_y then viewport.activeViewport = 4
)
)
)
try(destroyDialog timer_rollout)catch()
createDialog timer_rollout 140 30 0 150
)

[orion 77]

mesh tools 2.5?
thinkin about it max 4 came out in 2000.
thats shady. we used 2.5 at first then switched to max 4. it was a nightmare doin the first animation
its comin in a few days, should be fun using it again.
another of my complaints is the selection tools. lw has the lasso while xsi has 4 selection tools. max needs a good lasso tool, any plugins knocking about?

[Astral]

http://www.scriptspot.com/

check here

[Reality3D]

Try with uzife(very cool) for lasso selections
http://www.3d-designer.dk/download/plugins.html

[Mahlon]

Doesn't max have a lasso tool?

Mahlon

[ivo D]

uh..why..

well ive worked with max3 at school.. and it has a lot of irritating points..

so its better to get max 4 or 5

[ivo D]

yea ther is a paintbrush like lasso tool.. you can just.. paint in 3d.. and that way you select them.. really cool and handy.. for got the name do.. i have like 999 plugins on my hd.. just still have to install them aal :P

[orion 77]

im so amazed at how powerful max is, when i first used it i didnt have a clue about 3d. although im very surprised about the amount of plugins and tutorials available too.
some great stuff like meshtools and the layer management.
ive been turned down for 2 jobs cos i didnt know max. im glad i made the decision now.

[ivo D]

well.. lots of gl to you!:D..

i think that when you know max.. you can easally switch to other 3d programs.. its very advanced.. and.. althrough it doesnt have a ll the simple plugins for some things in it for standard..

it has a major 9999999 plugins to find on the net..

well.. im just very proud to be a max user:))

[visualboo]

Originally posted by orion 77
im so amazed at how powerful max is, when i first used it i didnt have a clue about 3d. although im very surprised about the amount of plugins and tutorials available too.
some great stuff like meshtools and the layer management.
ive been turned down for 2 jobs cos i didnt know max. im glad i made the decision now.
Our community rules too. If you have any questions just post away here on cgtalk. You'll get an answer really quick guaranteed.

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