[JDHill]

Maxwell for SketchUp
Version 2.6.10 Release Notes

This version brings several fixes, improvements, and new features. Listed below are all changes since the previous public release, version 2.6.0.

Changes

• Added installers for the Standalone plugin on Windows and Mac OSX.
• Added an update checker (see Output > General > Update Check).
• Re-worked IBL user-interface to reflect Maxwell 2.6 capabilities.
• Added Maxwell 2.6's Sharpness parameter to Output > Tone Mapping.
• Added new IES File material Character type, for IES-based emitters.
• Added Temperature parameter to Emitter & IES material characters.
• This version should trigger the document's 'dirty' flag less often.
• Implemented a new heads up display style UI for Maxwell Fire.
• Added a new 'Maxwell Links' overlay in the Maxwell Fire window.
• Added Ruby network configurability via MX::Settings.network.
• Added support for Silverlight 5 on Windows, and detection on OSX.
• Maxwell Fire & material preview renders are now double-buffered.
• Added new Full Screen mode to Maxwell Fire in Render Suite plugin.
• Added new Actual Size/Fit to Window options to Maxwell Fire.
• Added a new Lock function, which prevents inadvertent re-starts.
• Added a readout showing the actual Maxwell Fire output resolution.
• Instances with emitters are exported as meshes automatically.
• Emitters are now supported on geometry which has been mirrored.
• Updated PDF manual to reflect changes in 2.6.x plugin builds.
• Pretesselated displacement has been removed; use MXM files.
• Added output name macros (%skp, %scene, %time, %date, etc).

Fixes

• Output auto-naming broke Maxwell Fire in the Render Suite plugin.
• Various UI elements were flickering on mouse-over, when on Mac OSX.
• Nd input remained disabled when switching from Custom Metal character.
• Auto-focus was calculated using the current view, even for other Scenes.
• C++ export could use outdated camera values previously stored by Fire.
• Plugin About box missing background image on some versions of Safari.
• A crash could occur when switching from displacement to bump.
• License activator now supports machines with multiple MAC addresses.
• IBL channels other than Background were showing Screen Map button.
• The IBL Copy channel function was not working properly in some cases.
• Non-existent output directory was silently switched to use SKP directory.

[DiditzZz]

Greetings JDHill,

Thank you for the ever updating versions of Maxwell Render!

A question, where can we find the

Updated PDF manual to reflect changes in 2.6.x plugin builds.

Thank you.

[JDHill]

If you want to find it on your disk, it is in the SketchUp plugins folder, under maxwell/doc; if you just want to look at it, you can use the Plugin Manual menu/toolbar commands.

[DiditzZz]

Thank you!

I have summary-read through the pdf and have not found any essential information about using IES material type (new feature) inside SketchUp. Hopefully this can be implemented soon.

[JDHill]

Really, IES is only briefly mentioned in the Material Character section. Do you have any specific questions on their use?

You can find an example IES Dynamic Component I made, during the development of the feature, here: http://www.maxwellrender.com/forum/view ... 07&t=37967. Basically, you just set your material's Character to IES File, set the path to an IES File, and apply that material to any entity (usually a small sphere, hidden to camera and/or reflections & refractions) that has a transformation (i.e. group or component), so that you can control the directionality of the light.