CAD-like dimensions for 3dsmax

[simonenastasi]

dimaster, maybe? http://www.scriptspot.com/bobo/

[Bobo]

Is there a plugin for Autodesk VIZ that can create CAD-like dimensions to show up in VIZ scenes?

It's not something that would drive any geometry, just a typical CAD-like dimension object that can be attached to any two points of geometry of any type, for the visuals only.

I remember seeing something like that years ago.


I have not tested DIMaster in VIZ, but I tested it in Max 7,8 and 9. Since VIZ is based on the same core, I would expect it to work. The only thing that might not work is the animation system - DIMaster allows you to animate anything in the DIMaster objects, but there might be limitations in what VIZ allows to be animated (at least in the early days there were some).

I would be VERY interested in hearing from you whether it worked and if it did not, please let me know where it failed. In that case I might have to create a VIZ-specific version -- after all, DIMaster makes more sense in VIZ anyway.

[santiago]

dimaster, maybe? http://www.scriptspot.com/bobo/

I think this is exactly what I'm looking for.
I'll test it on VIZ 2007 and VIZ 2008.
Thanks Bobo!

[santiago]

I have not tested DIMaster in VIZ, but I tested it in Max 7,8 and 9. Since VIZ is based on the same core, I would expect it to work. The only thing that might not work is the animation system - DIMaster allows you to animate anything in the DIMaster objects, but there might be limitations in what VIZ allows to be animated (at least in the early days there were some).

I would be VERY interested in hearing from you whether it worked and if it did not, please let me know where it failed. In that case I might have to create a VIZ-specific version -- after all, DIMaster makes more sense in VIZ anyway.

Hi Bobo.
Just before leaving work I put DIMaster to the test.
It works just fine in VIZ 2007, when it comes to creating linear dimensions.
That's all I had time for, next week I'll completely test it in VIZ 2007 and 2008.

What I'm experimenting with is the following:
I model with Inventor, and will be creating some presentation graphics with VIZ and Vray.
The rendered stills and animations I have in mind would show the assembly of structures, and I thought that introducing the dimensions would give the animations some added value.

I realized that the DIMaster objects don't stay locked on the points they are dimensioning.
I'm sure there is a workaround for this, perhaps you already have something in mind.
The project I'm working on involves changing configurations based on similar base designs, and it would be interesting to see the dimensions change along with the change of confiigurations. The engineers and architects I'd show this to would probably be very interested in seeing something like that.

[Bobo]

I realized that the DIMaster objects don't stay locked on the points they are dimensioning.


Uhmm, that is up to you. The DIMaster objects use Point Helpers as guides - the dimension is the distance/angle/position defined by these points. You can use any MAX-own methods to link these point helpers to other points, attach them to vertices using Attachment Controllers, or keyframe them by hand to follow points independently.

So you can create animated dimensioning that grows dynamically with your objects, adjusting the text as it goes, even CHANGING the text displayed (the checkboxes that swtich between custom text, dimensions, prefix and suffix are all animatable, so your line could read "BUILDING..." while the object is growing and then switch to the real dimension the moment the final size is reached. The sky is the limit.

If you find anything else you would like to do but you cannot, please don't hesitate to post here!

Cheers,

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