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Autodesk is introducing all-new experiences for Texture Baking and Install, major improvements to the Viewport, and key enhancements to Substance tools, ProSound and SketchUp import. You will also find speed improvements throughout your process from installation to rendering, and 3ds Max Python 3 now set as default Python interpreter.

User Challenges

The industries you serve are constantly changing and becoming more competitive. Customer demands and expectations are also increasing. New workflows and standards are required. More work needs to be done faster, and on projects that are growing in size and in complexity.

What’s New in 3ds Max 2021

MODERNIZATION

Bake to Texture

Streamlined, intuitive and fully scriptable texture baking experience, with support for PBR ( Physically Based Rendering), Overrides and OSL workflows.

• Modernized tools that support new physically based rendering (PBR) workflows
  • Roughness and Metalness maps added in Arnold
  • MikkT Normal maps support (industry standard)
•  New baked element for map override allows advanced and powerful workflow with OSL and procedural maps
• Streamlined experience
  • A more intuitive feature as all settings and functionalities are exposed in a linear way, align with the user journey.
• Fully scriptable for customization and automation.

Note: The legacy Render to Texture and Render to Surface tools are still available in 3ds Max. The goal is to have feature parity before removing the old functionalities.

Installer
The online and offline installation process has been overhauled for a simpler and faster experience.

• Faster and fewer clicks to install 3ds Max. Testing showed up to a 50% speed improvement, though results vary greatly based on machine specifications and internet bandwidth.
• In-product messaging to prompt user to install missing or optional components.

Scripting with Python 3
We are investing in improving 3ds Max’s Python support to offer developers and technical artists a modern and robust experience for extending and integrating 3ds Max into production pipelines.

• 3ds Max 2021 comes with Python 3 and an improved pymxs API that gives access to all the 3ds Max features.
• Our integration of PySide2 allows developers and technical artists to create cross-application user interfaces that work seamlessly in 3ds Max.
• Off-the-shelf Python 3 extension libraries are fully supported, extending the reach and power of the tools our user can create.

Note: Python 3 is the default Python interpreter, however Python 2 is still supported when explicitly enabled through a 3ds Max command line switch or environment variable.

Arnold as the Default Renderer
Presenting users with a modern and high-end rendering experience right out of the box.

• 3ds Max 2021 ships with Arnold 6.0
• Supports new Bake to Texture workflows.
• New Scene Converter scripts provided to efficiently convert from V-Ray and Corona materials to the Physical Material.

PERFORMANCE

Physically Based Rendering (PBR) 3ds Max 2021 adds several features to simplify the use of PBR workflows in the viewport when rendering, and when working with real time engines.

• The renderer-independent Physical Material in now the default everywhere, which facilitates modern, physically based rendering and real-time engines to take maximum advantage of it.
• New, simplified PBR Materials specifically intended for simplifying real-time engine workflows.
• The viewport shader for the Physical Material is improved to give a visual appearance that is much closer to the final appearance in real-time engines (game, VR, etc.)
• Full export/import of Physical Material in FBX.

Improved Viewport Quality & Settings
Simpler viewport configuration workflows allow you to produce high quality and high-fidelity viewports which were previously cumbersome to achieve.

• Viewport Settings can now be saved as presets
• New Progressive refinement controls in the UI
• Ambient Occlusion is now always visible when manipulating the viewport
• New roughness support for the Physical Material
• Viewport Statistics Performance improvements
• Shadows for lights are now on by default

OSL Shaders
Enhanced UI and new shaders improve the overall user experience with OSL.

• The OSL shaders now support a custom UI template designed in Qt designer, as well as several new ways to drive UI from the metadata, allowing a much more visually appealing and useable UI.
• (Some of the) new OSL shaders in 2021:
  • Color Correction
  • HDRI Environment
  • HDRI Lights
  • Float and Color Curves
  • Camera Projection
  • Object Projection
  • Spherical Projection
  • Uber Noise

File I/O
Saving scene files with a very large number of assets has been significantly sped up.

• This improvement also benefits Autobackup (Autosave) and Hold operations.
• Files with more assets have greater speed improvements. In our testing, we found that a scene with roughly thousand assets could save 50% faster.

Modeling
New Chamfering improvements and Weighted Normals modifier

• Chamfer improvements: Providing consistency with the Chamfer modifier work that was added and refined in previous 2020 releases, we have added support for our new chamfer technology to the vertex, edge, and face level component modes of an Edit Poly modifier and Editable Poly object. Users can now utilize the benefits of 3ds Max’s leading chamfer technology to add detail and refinement to their Poly models.
  • Enhanced chamfer support for Edit Poly and Editable Poly operations inside of 3ds Max
  • Preserves and works with existing UV data when generating new mesh results
  • Added support for Uniform, Radial, and Patch chamfer types
  • Added support for Edge Depth, End Bias, and Radial Bias control and refinement
  • Smoothing support for the generated results so that you can blend the new geometry into existing mesh data.
• Weighted Normals modifier: Based on user demand, we’ve added support for weighted normals to be calculated and applied to models in 3ds max. o Generate new explicit normals for your mesh data faster and better than ever before possible inside of 3ds max.
  • Use Area, Angle, or Largest Face weight options to influence the direction of the computed normal results
  • Generate hard edge normals for your mesh via defined Smoothing Groups/Defined Hard Edges, UV seams, and/or Edge Angle that you have already placed on your mesh.
  • Control the smoothing/blending of the various results to increase the output

FIT & FINISH

SketchUp Import
We continue to enhance the ATF-based SketchUp importer in an effort to make it the only SketchUp importer necessary in 3ds Max.

• Based on customer feedback, we have added the following options:
  • The ability to completely skip importing Hidden Elements from the SketchUp file
  • The ability to preserve Layer information from the SketchUp file and use it automatically assign imported objects to matching Max layers

Substance
New Substance2 map type, performance improvements, and many new capabilities.

• Updates to latest Substance engine for native SBSAR file loading. No longer need to export maps from Substance Designer.
• Support for up to 8k textures.
• Support for all render engines that ship with Max (Arnold, Scanline, Quicksilver, ART)
• New, scripted tools to quickly set up Substances with a particular type of material or to bake out maps to files.
• The Substance plugin now comes as a separate component to install; therefore, you only need to install it when you need it.

Note: The legacy Substance map is still included, however we may look to remove it in the future.

ProSound
Improved audio support.

• Added support for 24bit .wav files
• Added support for 88.2kHz and 96khz sample rates.
• Added support for unlimited number of audio clips. (Previously there was a maximum of 100 clips.)
• Fixed sound issue causing audio to play at 50% volume after frame 100.

FBX Improvements

• The option to export animation only when exporting to FBX is now available in the UI. It was formerly available via scripting only.
• Added support in FBX exporter for Shell material – option to export the original of the baked material.
• Along with Physical Material support, FBX was updated to support exporting and importing OSL nodes in 3ds Max
• Post-Sampling key reduction can be disabled by script. This may be useful when importing subtle animation data that needs preserved when resampled.

3rd Party Developer Tools
Plugin compatibility with 3ds Max 2020, and improvements to Plugin Packaging.

• 3ds Max 2021 supports plugins compiled for 3ds Max 2020, giving users the freedom to migrate when they are ready, without worrying whether their preferred tools and plugins are available.
• The Plugin Package format now supports AMG and OSL shaders, and Scene Converter extensions. This allows a wider range of plugins to use the application plugin packaging format.
• Using the application plugin package format makes it easy to distribute the plugins on the Autodesk App Store, and simplifies development and installation of plugins for 3ds Max.

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Find out more

Visit our product page here for more details 

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Contact Us

Call us on +353 (0)1 526 6717 or email sales@bluegfx.eu

Focused on workflow efficiency, easy-to-use texturing and rendering tools, and offering a safe and secure workspace environment, 3ds Max now has new rendering capabilities added to Arnold, a new Bake to Texture functionality, and enhanced features to popular modelling tools.

Safe and Secure Environment

Security:

• Safe Scene Script Execution offers protection against malicious scripts embedded in 3ds Max scene files, regardless of whether these scripts use Maxscript, Python or .NET commands, by blocking the execution of unsafe commands.
• The Malware Removal functionality detects and removes known malicious scripts from scene files and startup scripts. This prevents the spread of malicious code to other users. The Malware Removal functionality is powered by the Scene Security Tools plugin, which is updated whenever Autodesk becomes aware of a new malicious script.

In 3ds Max 2022, users are notified when a new version of the Scene security Tools is available on the Autodesk App Store.

Workflow Efficiency

Smart Extrude:

• Edit Poly modifier support: Smart Extrude has been extended into the Edit Poly modifier, providing the same functionality and features users have come to love from the Editable Poly implementation. This extension of Smart Extrude enables artists to further benefit from this freeform modelling method, and complement their poly modelling workflows in 3ds Max.
• “Cut Through” implementation: When first introduced in 3ds Max 2021.2, the Smart Extrude functionality enabled artists to extrude with fewer constraints during the creative modelling process. “Cut Through”, the latest addition to Smart Extrude, further enhances this functionality to give artists the extrude they deserve.

When performing an inward or outward Smart Extrusion (Shift+ LM B drag operation on an Edit Poly or Editable Poly), complete intersections of these results will now add, unify, or completely cut-through and remove faces of the operand result with your mesh geometry. This new Smart Extrude enhancement enables artists to freely construct unified mesh geometry, enhancing the poly modelling experience in 3ds Max.

Slice Modifier:

3ds Max includes performance enhancements to the Slice modifier and new modelling features based on user feedback. These enhancements and new features are powerful complements to 3ds Max workflows, as they reduce data processing operations for Autodesk Retopology Tools in 3ds Max.

• Capping: Open holes created by the Slice operation can now be capped along their boundary edges on both Mesh and Poly objects.
• Multi-Axis Cutting: Perform a X-, Y-, and/or Z-aligned planar slice of your mesh based on the position of the slice gizmo through a single modifier.
• Radial Slice: A new Radial slice operation enables control of the cutting results based on a set of user-defined min and max angles.
• Alignment options: Quickly align the cutting gizmo to faces on an object, or reference another animatable object in your scene.

Extrude Modifier:

The Extrude Modifier, one of the most frequently used modifiers in 3ds Max, offers significant performance improvements to the speed of the initial extrude calculation, and to the responsiveness of the output when adjusting the amount parameter. This allows complex splines, which used to take minutes to be processed, to be operated on in a matter of seconds. Artistes can achieve a desired look faster and more interactively.

Symmetry Modifier:

The symmetry modifier, a commonly used modelling modifier in 3ds Max, includes new features and enhancements that benefit modelling and retopology workflows in 3ds Max. Symmetry can now produce faster results, and offers a more interactive experience in the viewport.

• Multi-Axis Symmetry: Planar symmetry has been updated to perform, X, Y, and/or Z symmetry results on the symmetry gizmo.
• Radial Symmetry: A new Radial symmetry function allows artists to quickly duplicate and repeat a geometry around the gizmo centre. This new feature based on user feedback enables artists to rapidly create new variations.
• Alignment options: Align the symmetry gizmo to faces on an object, or reference another animatable object in your scene.

AutoSmooth:

AutoSmooth operations, which are used to improve the visual quality of mesh data throughout 3ds Max, have ben updated to generate new smoothing data faster, regardless of whether you are smoothing thousands or millions of faces. This update helps artists when adjusting smoothing data on objects like Mesh, Poly or Spline. It also benefits other modifiers such as Smooth, Chamfer, Edit Mesh, Edit Poly, ProOptimize, and many more.

Relax Modifier:

3ds Max now includes a ‘volume preserve’ option which has been added to the Relax modifier. When active, the Relax algorithm will perform additional calculations to reduce small detail and noise out from models, all while retaining the shape and definition of the overall mesh that the modifier has been applied to.

This functionality is especially useful when working with data containing a large amount of unwanted small or micro surface detail, as seen with Scan and Sculpt data. Reducing this small ‘noisy’ data with Relax can improve the processing time of the Autodesk Reptopology Tools for 3ds Max.

Accessible Texturing and Rendering

Rendering:

• New render configuration window; faster, snappier, all QT-based UI.
• Quicksilver render settings are now QT-based, for a faster, more responsive experience. The Viewport Bloom settings have also been synced to the Quicksilver settings.
• By utilizing the new Viewport Ambient Occlusion sampling value in the Viewport configuration settings, users can further refine their Viewport lookdev and optimize their GPU performance by increasing or decreasing the Viewport Ambient Occlusion quality.

Arnold:

• The ‘Auto-tx’ can now be used to automate the process of converting texture files to .tx file format at render time.
• Imagers can now be applied, removed, re-ordered, and edited directly in a dedicated tab of the Arnold RenderView to post-process rendering without additional render time.
  – A new Light Mixer imager makes it possible to interactively edit the contribution of each light group AOVs during and after rendering, without restarting the render.
  – Bloom or “glow”, a post-processing effect, has been added to the Lens Effect imager to blur pixels above a given threshold across the frame and simulate light bleeding on an imperfect lens.
  – Noice Denoiser is now a post-processing effect. Artists can automatically denoise images every time they render a scene. Edit the denoising settings and see the resulting image directly in the render view.
  – OptiX Denoiser: The OptiX™ denoiser is now available as a post-processing effect. This imager also exposes additional controls for clamping and blending the result.

Bake to Texture:

• The Bake to Texture interface has been simplified to offer easier navigation and selection of baked map types by grouping render elements under common map names. Now, users don’t need to remember the specific element name in the render engine they are using to bake frequently used map types like color maps, normal maps, and other PBR compatible maps that are needed in production.

Bake to Texture now includes a few utility maps, such as Rounded Corners and Material ID maps, as examples of what previously required a complex material setup workflow prior to baking. These utility maps now achieve the same outcome in only a few clicks.

Viewports:

• Turn any floating Viewport into a full-screen, borderless view. When using Presentation Mode, all gizmos are hidden allowing your 3d scene to be the true hero.
  
  Use the “CTRL+Space” hotkey to jump in/out of full-screen Presentation Mode.

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Contact Us

Call us on +353 (0)1 526 6717 or email sales@bluegfx.eu

One app to schedule, track and collaborate your Game Development.

Friday, October 21, 2016 2:00 PM BST – 3:00 PM BST

Bluegfx and Autodesk are delighted to give you the opportunity to see how Shotgun can help you improve efficiencies within your game development workflow. Some of the leading games studios are already relying on Shotgun to securely unify their pipeline right across production. Its gives them the flexibility to schedule, track and review the creative process, automatically providing globally visible data. Simple and effective tools connect internal and external teams, integrating complex workflows so that everyone from artist to developer is fully in control of production.

Webinar headlines:

• Understanding the benefits of Shotgun
• A quick look at the Shotgun interface and some real world examples
• Shotgun’s background and why it is one of our fastest growing products in games dev
• Access to a free 30 day trial. 

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Bluegfx provides 3D software and content creation tools to some of the most exciting creative studios in the entertainment industry. Join us and learn how Shotgun can immediately help you collaborate better and work faster.

Get in touch

Call us on +353 (0)1 526 6717 or email sales@bluegfx.eu

On 20th July we held our VR in Architecture Event at the Coin Street Centre, and are thrilled with the turn out and feedback that we’ve had.

VR is undoubtedly changing the way we approach visualisation and experiential marketing, and naturally lends itself to architecture where a fully immersive experience is key to properly understanding the building or space.

We invited some industry wizards – including VR specialists and experts in creating interactive architectural presentations – to come and share some knowledge with a like-minded audience. We had VR headsets to play with and technology demonstrations for 3ds Max and games engine Stingray.

We were overwhelmed with the response we had – not only the amount of people who registered, but the genuine level of energy at the event (despite it being the hottest day of the year!). So here’s a roundup of talks, general going’s on, and the all-important product links.

VR in architecture: A Bluegfx production

An overview of the afternoon. If you have any questions about the event please don’t hesitate to email info@bluegfx.com.

An interview with Oliver Kibblewhite, Rewind

REWIND is a creative agency and digital production studio who specialise in VR and the creative production behind unforgettable experiential events. Oliver chats about VR, 3ds Max and REWIND’s great relationship with bluegfx.

Stingray for Design Visualisation: Jamie Gwilliam, Autodesk

Stingray is Autodesk’s 3D game engine and real-time rendering software. Use the Stingray engine to create 3D games, real-time design visualizations, and stunning virtual reality experiences. Stingray connects directly to Autodesk 3D animation tools.

VR in Architecture: Oliver Kibblewhite, Rewind

REWIND have worked on VR production projects for a number of high-profile clients, including a virtual tour for Savills, giving users a guided tour of a multi-million pound mansion with an additional option to explore the property for themselves.

Sergio Irigoyen, Neutral Digital

Neutral Digital bring together 2D, 3D and advanced VR elements to create engaging experiences across different media – from immersive 360º videos for architects to user interfaces for the world’s leading airlines.

Buy 3ds Max, V-Ray For 3ds Max and Stingray

Buy 3D modelling, rendering and animation software 3ds Max

Buy lighting, shading, and rendering toolkit V-Ray for 3ds Max

A huge thank you to our sponsors: Autodesk, Chaos Group and AMD.

Get in touch

Call us on +353 (0)1 526 6717 or email sales@bluegfx.eu