Help - using proxy objects

[Ausmax]

Hello,

Could someone be so kind as to show me how to make a proxy object?

I can't click on the source object button - written on the button is 'None' and there is an cross next to it. I read in the max help files that you had to do something under modify before you could use this button. Is this correct? I haven't been able to find anything that

relates to the proxy functions.

 

Any help would be great.

 

Thankyou.

[maciejwypych]

Hello,

Could someone be so kind as to show me how to make a proxy object?

I can't click on the source object button - written on the button is 'None' and there is an cross next to it. I read in the max help files that you had to do something under modify before you could use this button. Is this correct? I haven't been able to find anything that

relates to the proxy functions.

 

Any help would be great.

 

Thankyou.

 

Just click on "None" and select the object you want. Then you can save it to a file.

 

Better way is to use Master Zap's script http://www.lysator.liu.se/~zap/ad/mental%20ray-mrProxyBake.mcr which allows you to convert object to a proxy.

[Lutz1973]

Imagine the proxy-object as a seperate object, that works like a "container" for your original geometry.

 

Assuming that you're talking about mr-proxies:

1. create the object you want to save as a proxy

2. select create -> geometry -> mrProxy -> click and drag somewhere in the viewport to create a proxy object (looks like a wireframe box)

3. select the proxy object you just created, click on "source object" and select the object you want to turn into a proxy

4. adjust viewport verts settings and write object to file (materials are not saved with the proxy)

 

If you want to re-use your proxy:

1. create a new scene

2. create a new proxy-object (step2 above)

3. select the proxy-object and load the proxy-file

4. assign a material

[dreamer86]

Make an object that you want to proxy, then click create-mental ray-mr proxy and click into the viewport to create it. Then you can click on "none" button and pick the object you had create before. Last thing to do is click on "Write object to file..." button

Edited May 24, 2010 by dreamer86
same time :P

[Ausmax]

Hey, you guys are brilliant!

This will help me alot tonight - have a job due tomorrow.

 

I will see how I go, but now the mr proxy procedure makes sense and I should not

have any more issues.

 

Thankyou very much!

[Justin Hunt]

an easier workflow,

 

select your object

CRTL + Alt Rightclick (brings up a quad menu)

Select "convert to mrProxy" , navigate to where you want the file to be saved

OK

 

A mrProxy is created and incerted into the scene, the original object remains, Remeamber to apply a material to the proxy as material assignments are not carried over.

 

jhv

[dreamer86]

thanks justin i didnt know that method a lot faster than mine

[Ausmax]

Hi Justin,

Yes thanks , I agree this is a great method.

How often can you and should you use mr proxy objects?

(probably, the answer to this question is obvious but thought I would ask it anyway).

 

Cheers

[Justin Hunt]

Main guide line I use is if the mesh is heavey and going to be copied many times then use Proxies. obviouse choice is trees, bushes, grass and cars. Although I have used it for chairs in a food court, coverted houses which were then instanced around a large site and in one case 3D people.

 

Proxies alone will get you part of the way, to be fully benificial you have to set them up logically and set your render settings properly.

 

Use Instance copy.

Save the .mib file to a library so you can use them in other projects

Keep the multi-sub material efficient, (IE get rid of unused slots)

Use BSB2

Turn OFF Scanline

and ON Use Placeholder objects,

 

jhv

[Ausmax]

Justin, thanks for that helpful information!

[Christ1982]

Following up on this thread, I have managed to create my own proxy grass object (with the help of grass-o-matic) and have successfully used ground-wiz plug-in to distribute it over the surface of a solid imported from Microstation. However, has anyone got any tips on how to keep the proxies within the boundaries of the mesh. At present I am getting the proxies overhanging the edge of the mesh, it makes it look very odd. Is there a way of constraining the distribution within the boundaries of the mesh?

 

Cheers.

 

Chris.