3ds Max 2015 Extension 1 available for Subscription Customers

By Martin Phelps

What’s in Studio Max extension 1

In brief, OpenSubdiv and Alembic support and Enhanced ShaderFX

OpenSubdiv Support

• Top feature request on User voice.
• Support for OpenSubdiv Libraries, offers new Crease workflows.
• Models can be visualised interactively without the need to render for a better WYSIWYG experience.
• Faster in viewport performance for meshes with high subdivision levels taking advantage of both parallel CPU and GPU architectures.
• Reducing the guess work when animating models and help shorten production times.
• Smoother surface representation.
• Create complex topology in less time using crease modelling workflows with CreaseSet modifier and Crease Explorer.
• Data transfer models to other packages that support OpenSubdiv using Autodesk FBX exchange technology to achieve a consistent appearance.

Alembic Support

• View massive data sets in the Nitrous Viewport also al
• Data sets can be transferred
• Work with production proven technology, co-developed by Sony Pictures Imageworks Inc. and Lucasfilm Ltd.
• Move complex data through a pipeline in a manageable form: complex animation and simulated data is distilled into a non-procedural, application-independent set of baked geometric results.
• Get more from your workstation, with highly efficient use of memory and disk space.
• Faster data transfer and load times, with the ability to export and load only selected geometry.

Enhanced ShaderFX

More options and better shading interoperability between 3D Studio Max, and Maya

• Create a wider range of procedural materials with new node patterns – wavelines, voronoi, simplex noise and brick.
• Create normal maps from 2D greyscale images with the new bump utility node.
• Get faster access to shaders with a searchable node browser.