RyanSpaulding Posted November 8, 2006 Share Posted November 8, 2006 I've been set out by our company to do some research on Maxwell. We use MicroStation to build, but also have ACad and 3DSMax 8 on hand for conversion tools. Typically, we have built in MicroStation, used ACad to export to 3ds which we import into Vue 5 Infinite. Max doesn't get used often. I'm curious as to the work flow of Maxwell. The workflow tab on the website is unclear... So if Maxwell doesn't read DWG, can't import 3ds, how does one use Maxwell with 3DStudio? Is it a NEED to assign materials and all that in Max and use a plugin to export? I thought that was the reason they made it standalone...so you could build in a certain package, get it into a useable format, and bring it over for material assignments and lighting. How does this all work? Help is greatly appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devin Johnston Posted November 8, 2006 Share Posted November 8, 2006 You can import 3DS files into Studio and from there you can assign materials and set up cameras. There is a lot of debate on how useful Studio is, some people like it but that is only because the plugins for their 3D apps aren't working or don't exist. There isn't going to be a plugin for Vue or MicroStation but the plugin for 3D Studio is probably the most advanced on available right now so I'd recommend using it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanSpaulding Posted November 8, 2006 Author Share Posted November 8, 2006 So the best bet then is to not use Maxwell standalone at all then? I was looking for a way I wouldn't have to re-learn Max. I've been set out to find the best renderer and I'm debating between Maxwell and VRay. VRay, now with MR improvements, may be the most difficult of the renderers, but I like it's speed. Still, nothing compares to the look of Maxwell IMO EDIT: So, define 'studio' in your posts. There's Maxwell Studio and 3DStudio. I'm assuming you mean 3DStudio for all of those 'studios' because Maxwell Studio cant import 3ds, correct? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devin Johnston Posted November 8, 2006 Share Posted November 8, 2006 Don't get me wrong using Studio is possible and plenty of people do it, it's just that I'm a Max user and I have no need for it. If you’re trying to decide between Maxwell and Vray there are several differences you should consider. -with Vray you will be able to use 10 distributed render nodes and unlimited net render nodes with one license, Maxwell only lets you use 1 license on 4 CPU's. -Vray has animation capabilities Maxwell does as well but you need many licenses and a lot of time. -Vray offers many features that Maxwell has yet to implement like displacement mapping and plugin support. Those are just a few things off the top of my head, I'm sure others can fill out the list if you would like. Maxwell is great for exterior images but if you plan on doing lots of interiors you will either need lots of time or lots of render nodes and licenses in order to get a final image out in less than 24 hrs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanSpaulding Posted November 8, 2006 Author Share Posted November 8, 2006 Hmn...downloaded the demo and there is no 3ds import available.... Under import I have 'OBJ, STL, LWO, NFF, XC2, MXS, DXF'...but no 3ds. Do I have to use the plugin WITHIN Max to export the scene to a MXS? Is that how this works. Good lord user documentation is blah on the workflow end. Maxwell is an option for us because we do 99% exteriors. Fryrender is getting looked at heavily as well. As is VRay. Thanks a lot for your help BTW. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devin Johnston Posted November 8, 2006 Share Posted November 8, 2006 Yes that's another Maxwell bug, 3DS isn't listed but it is there and you can import any 3DS object. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanSpaulding Posted November 8, 2006 Author Share Posted November 8, 2006 You're the man! However, when I tried to open some of my 3ds files...CRASH. LOL. I hope this isn't a trend Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devin Johnston Posted November 8, 2006 Share Posted November 8, 2006 I just opened 3 different 3DS files just to make sure and it does work, I wouldn’t be surprised if NL disabled the 3DS import on the demo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanSpaulding Posted November 8, 2006 Author Share Posted November 8, 2006 No big deal, some did open well. I've got a few animals from the DeEspona collection. Tried to load the DUDO (aka Manitee) a few times and it crashed. But some of what I've created and output worked. Must be model-specific. I hope all my DeEspona stuff isn't like that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanSpaulding Posted November 9, 2006 Author Share Posted November 9, 2006 Wow. Been messing with this all night. Probably 50 or so crashes. Kinda frustrating. How is the stability of the plugin for 3dsmax? Better than the standalone? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devin Johnston Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 I'd say in an 8 hour day Max will crash 4 or 5 times if I don't do any of the things that I know will make it crash like double click on a material sphere in order to make it bigger. If you’re trying to do any animations just prepare your self for a life of misery while exporting the frames. The Maxwell plugin has to export a MXS file for every frame of your animation which can take hours, but add to that the fact that it's not stable and it crashes about every 50 frames. Max actually has the most advanced plugin if you don't count Maya's new one so be thankful you don't have C4D or Sketchup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanSpaulding Posted November 9, 2006 Author Share Posted November 9, 2006 Wow. 4 or 5 times? That's crazy talk. *remembers right when Vue 5 Infinite came out* EDIT: So where are the good tutorials at? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devin Johnston Posted November 10, 2006 Share Posted November 10, 2006 The only tutorials I know of are on the Maxwell forum. I have Vue 5 Infinite, I thought it was going to be the answer to my environment problems but so far it really hasn’t lived up to all the hype. Have you been able to do any architectural work with it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F J Posted November 10, 2006 Share Posted November 10, 2006 sup Ryan, i wonder if u've tried out the Maxwell exporter thingie for MicroStation? /vb/attachments/17037d1162259496-microstation-microstationmaxwellbeta001.zip weird.. it wouldnt let me post the link.. ok just replace with www .cgarchitect.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanSpaulding Posted November 10, 2006 Author Share Posted November 10, 2006 The only tutorials I know of are on the Maxwell forum. I have Vue 5 Infinite, I thought it was going to be the answer to my environment problems but so far it really hasn’t lived up to all the hype. Have you been able to do any architectural work with it? Yeah, it's got a crazy workflow though. I do all of our work in it. Vue 6's Spectral Atmospheres are said to be much more realistic...but I have yet to see that for sure. FJ: No,I haven't tried it yet...but that's because I read on the Bentley forums and I don't think anyone got everything to work. Later, I'll love this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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