Maxwell Render | Official public forum

Posted: **Thu Jul 10, 2008 1:05 am**

What is the "sky Preview" in the general settings panel?

How can I use it?

Posted: **Thu Jul 10, 2008 3:55 am**

If you are using Max 2009, it doesn't work. Only for previous versions and you have to be using Direct3D driver. Correct me if I'm wrong, Bogdan.

Posted: **Thu Jul 10, 2008 5:07 am**

wow, I can see now. I'm using 2008. Thanks Brian.

but why not work at max2009?

Posted: **Thu Jul 10, 2008 5:34 am**

I don't know. I was told it was a "limitation" to be fixed in a future update.

Posted: **Thu Jul 10, 2008 7:37 am**

It works in Max 2009. It doesn't work in VIZ (which is now called Max Design) because Autodesk took out the viewport shader support from VIZ. We have found a different way of implementing it which will work in VIZ too, we'll do it for a future update.

Posted: **Thu Jul 10, 2008 10:41 am**

What is the "sky Preview" in the general settings panel?

It's the check that enables viewport preview for both Physical Sky and Image Based Environment. Due to the reason Mihnea explained above, it will only work on native Max versions for now.

Posted: **Thu Jul 10, 2008 2:28 pm**

Max 2009 and Max Design 2009 are the same program, one with SDK, one with light analysis tools. Those are the only differences. There is no more Viz. I would like to know if sky preview has worked for anyone with Max 2009.

Posted: **Thu Jul 10, 2008 2:43 pm**

They're not the same program, small things are missing from Design. One of them is support for viewport shaders. Make a standard material and look for a "DirectX Manager" rollup in the material editor. Max 2009 has the rollup, Design doesn't.

The feature works with the full version of 2009, as can be seen in this picture:

I've included the wonderfully useless but annoying SteeringWheels™ to show that it's 2009. :)

Posted: **Thu Jul 10, 2008 2:48 pm**

Wow, I didn't know that. Time to uninstall Design, and install Max 2009!!! Thanks for clarifying!

Posted: **Thu Jul 10, 2008 3:49 pm**

Ok, I have installed Max 2009 and am using Direct 3D driver and checked Sky Preview box, but no sky in viewport. Do I have to do anything else to see it?

Posted: **Thu Jul 10, 2008 4:26 pm**

The viewport should be in shaded mode, not wireframe. Just to double check that the installation went well, do you see the "DirectX Manager" rollup in the material editor now? Oh, and make sure you're using the DX9 driver if you're on Vista, the feature doesn't work with the DX10 driver.

Posted: **Thu Jul 10, 2008 4:50 pm**

Hmmm, no DirectX Manager rollup...
I completely uninstalled Max Design and deleted the Folder from explorer, then installed Max 2009. Any suggestions?

Posted: **Thu Jul 10, 2008 5:17 pm**

If you don't have DirectX manager after installing Max2009 it means you didn't install Max 2009. :)

Posted: **Thu Jul 10, 2008 5:36 pm**

Yeah, I just noticed it still has the "Lighting Analysis" tools on the menu... Guess I'll try again.

Posted: **Fri Jul 11, 2008 3:45 pm**

Brian, may you have same mine (and other users ) problem that i described in this thread:
http://www.maxwellrender.com/forum/view ... hp?t=28763

or your sky is not visible also when your scene is geometry empty?

Maxwell Render | Official public forum

What is the "Sky Preview" ?

What is the "Sky Preview" ?