[On graphics]

Hi there,

Yesterday i found in Autodesk AREA a tip on how to visualize textures correctly using directx shader, i was so happy, finally i could see my 60 mb arroway textures inside 3ds max viewport with huge detail. It didnt last long, because maxwell render wont recognize this kind of shader.

Using maxwell quality options does nothing, my textures keep showing with terrible resolution, its clearly a maxwell plugin issue as it wont happen with standard materials.

Some help plz... thanks

edit: its not only a maxwell problem, same happens with mental ray materials, but standard work fine.

[Bogdan Coroi]

If you have Hardware Shading checked (Customize->Preferences->Maxwell tab), you can increase the texture size from the Texture Resolution combo. In the next update we'll add support for resolutions higher than 1024x1024.

[On graphics]

Yes, hardware shading could help, but it ruins the viewport shading. Seems i´ll have to wait for plugin update.

Thanks anyway.

[Bogdan Coroi]

Every plugin that wants to support high resolution textures in viewport has to implement Hardware Shading. As you said, Autodesk implemented Hardware Shading for some Standard Materials but not for mental ray. We also tried to do it for Maxwell, but that part of Max's SDK is horrible and badly designed. The result is that some people reported problems on scenes with geometry imported from different CAD applications. We haven't been able to find the exact source of the problem yet.

[Lynchon]

oh... that means we shouldnt expect this to be fixed in the next plugin update?

Im one of those you mention reporting on problems with cad geometry and I understand is autodesk who never helps fixing this.

I know nothing on sdk´s or similar but wouldnt it be easier to make maxwell recognize directx shader? because it works much better than a standard material and it only affects on viewport.

Im sure you guys will find a much better solution.

[Bogdan Coroi]

It would help if you could send me a scene where you have the viewport problem. More scenes means more chances for us to find a pattern and hopefully solve the problem. Here's my email: bogdan.coroi@gmail.com

And no it won't be easier to make Maxwell recognize the DirectX Shader because that shader is a material linked to a DirectX effect file that gets executed by the video card. And since anyone can write their own effect files and load them in Max, it's impossible to know what one's trying to achieve with the effect and somehow translate that to Maxwell.

[On graphics]

Sure, next scene with texture problems will be sent. Thanks for the detailed explanation on shaders.

I dont want to be pushy, but i´ve been checking the new features in 3ds max 2011... please tell me maxwell plugin suports or will support all this features:

slate material editor
viewport canvas
material library
review 3
and other...

edit: once maxwell preview is out none of this will be necesary.. is´nt it?

[Bubbaloo]

Viewport canvas works. It paints to a predefined texture map.

[On graphics]

really? i get this error everytime i try to paint an object with a maxwell material:

-unknown property: "name" in material


what does it mean?

[Bubbaloo]

Maybe you have to paint on an object with a mental ray material applied, but then you can apply the painted map o your Maxwell material. You may even have to switch to mental ray renderer, I don't remember. But it's just a way to paint on your objects' maps in real time, you can then use those maps however you want (in a Maxwell material).