Jon Berntsen Posted August 3, 2017 Share Posted August 3, 2017 I've posted a suggestion for implementing a road tool in the Autodesk forums. https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/3ds-max-ideas/road-tool-in-max/idi-p/7273645 Please upvote it if you agree. PS: I had a similar suggestion 1-2 years back, but it's been removed without any notice. It had some kudos as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devin Johnston Posted August 4, 2017 Share Posted August 4, 2017 Will do, it's becoming clear to me that Autodesk is in the process of killing Max. When you compare it to the newer 3d apps it's lacking in so many things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khaledbou Posted August 8, 2017 Share Posted August 8, 2017 Indeed roads on slopped terrain are a big hassle, I remember buying the plugin Ghosttown just for them, but didn't do the job well, I've also tried cityengine it's much better (suitable for aerial renders), but now I'm doing it all manually... I don't think autodesk will work on this, they probably want people to use civil 3D in coordination with max to make roads, highways, bridges... etc. Just like they want us to use Revit for modeling architecture, but revit geometry is the worst I've seen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Berntsen Posted August 8, 2017 Author Share Posted August 8, 2017 Indeed roads on slopped terrain are a big hassle, I remember buying the plugin Ghosttown just for them, but didn't do the job well, I've also tried cityengine it's much better (suitable for aerial renders), but now I'm doing it all manually... I don't think autodesk will work on this, they probably want people to use civil 3D in coordination with max to make roads, highways, bridges... etc. Just like they want us to use Revit for modeling architecture, but revit geometry is the worst I've seen Probably a good point, but it's very bad for our pipeline (their customers), and they should know this. It's really not possible to work dynamically with roads embedded in the terrain from Infraworks. At least, if they want us to work like this, they should have made Infrawork road objects work in max. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larissa Holderness Posted August 8, 2017 Share Posted August 8, 2017 Currently trying to re-create sloped roads in Max from SketchUP geometry. SMDH. It is impossible. Have to start create them from scratch. Even though I worked at Parsons Brinckerhoff creating nothing but visualizations for roads, bridges, etc ... I still cannot make a decent looking road in Max without center lines and whatnot. Will upvote. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Francisco Penaloza Posted August 8, 2017 Share Posted August 8, 2017 I also think like @khaled, and that's the Autodesk trend, they have too many specialised software and they want you to use all of them, that's why they are selling in suites, if you want architectural Modeling, use REVIT, if you want to render use 3D Max, if you want game engines to use Maya LT and Stingray and so on so forth, AutoCAD electricity, AutoCAD Architecture, AutoCAD MEP and Autodesk drink light beer Autodesk regular beer. What it looks like a good idea at the beginning sooner become a nightmare. that's why Max is running like a chicken without a head wonder what to do next, where to jump in with half baked options. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Berntsen Posted August 8, 2017 Author Share Posted August 8, 2017 (edited) Well, they can't be seriously thinking that making roads in 3d studio max will compete with Infraworks. Max users and Infraworks users are two complete different professional branches. 3d studio max never gets to make documentation for regulations, building permits or government analysis like Infraworks does. And Infraworks is never going to become a creative tool. The difference should be (and probably is) the grade of flexibility in making creative stuff for visualizations and games. Like, I don't need our regulation people to make me a road just for making a quick archviz. Or I don't need to use our regulation people to make revisions on a road whose only purpose is to make the composition look better. And not to speak of the level of detail. Max should be able to make better roads polygon-wise, and Infraworks should be able to make better roads documentation-wise. I don't share your obviousity for Autodesk's allegedly arguments for not making a good road tool in 3d studio max. Edited August 8, 2017 by chroma Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Berntsen Posted August 8, 2017 Author Share Posted August 8, 2017 Currently trying to re-create sloped roads in Max from SketchUP geometry. SMDH. It is impossible. Have to start create them from scratch. Even though I worked at Parsons Brinckerhoff creating nothing but visualizations for roads, bridges, etc ... I still cannot make a decent looking road in Max without center lines and whatnot. Will upvote. Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Berntsen Posted August 8, 2017 Author Share Posted August 8, 2017 Indeed roads on slopped terrain are a big hassle, I remember buying the plugin Ghosttown just for them, but didn't do the job well, I've also tried cityengine it's much better (suitable for aerial renders), but now I'm doing it all manually... I don't think autodesk will work on this, they probably want people to use civil 3D in coordination with max to make roads, highways, bridges... etc. Just like they want us to use Revit for modeling architecture, but revit geometry is the worst I've seen About that... Not to go too far off topic here, but Autodesk's not been able to make clear about the different uses of Autocad and Revit. (?) So Autodesk perhaps doing too many different programs is true. But they don't need to stop developing good tools in Max. They could kill Maya instead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Francisco Penaloza Posted August 8, 2017 Share Posted August 8, 2017 any of you tried this plugin? https://rendering.ru/splineland.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Berntsen Posted August 9, 2017 Author Share Posted August 9, 2017 any of you tried this plugin? https://rendering.ru/splineland.html I've seen it, but haven't tried it. Is it good? Worth paying for? I notice it's not compatible with 2018 yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Francisco Penaloza Posted August 9, 2017 Share Posted August 9, 2017 No, I haven't, that why I was wondering if any of you had experience with it. It seems good, but I used to use Multiscatter and I was not too fun of the software, so wonder if this would deliver good results. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Berntsen Posted August 9, 2017 Author Share Posted August 9, 2017 No, I haven't, that why I was wondering if any of you had experience with it. It seems good, but I used to use Multiscatter and I was not too fun of the software, so wonder if this would deliver good results. Multiscatter for spline tool? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Berntsen Posted August 9, 2017 Author Share Posted August 9, 2017 (edited) Autodesk just changed the status on the road tool idea to Future Consideration. It's now important to keep the comments and upvotes coming at a good pace. If you think a road tool would have been great in 3d studio max, please upvote and/or ask your colleagues to consider it too! Edited August 9, 2017 by chroma Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Francisco Penaloza Posted August 9, 2017 Share Posted August 9, 2017 Multiscatter for spline tool? no I meant that the same company that developed Multi scatter created that road tool so I wonder if the software would perform well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Berntsen Posted August 10, 2017 Author Share Posted August 10, 2017 no I meant that the same company that developed Multi scatter created that road tool so I wonder if the software would perform well. Ah, right. Multiscatter, isn't that software almost obsolete now after Forest Pack Pro entered the market? Which also means doubtful further development, and maybe the reason why it doesn't support max2018 yet, a year in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terri Brown Posted August 11, 2017 Share Posted August 11, 2017 Itoo Railclone all the way guys. Not only does it ship with ready-to-use road presets, but it is super handy for so many other tricks in Max. Highly recommended, although a bit of a learning curve to start off with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Berntsen Posted August 11, 2017 Author Share Posted August 11, 2017 Itoo Railclone all the way guys. Not only does it ship with ready-to-use road presets, but it is super handy for so many other tricks in Max. Highly recommended, although a bit of a learning curve to start off with. Even if it's parametric and somewhat programmable, I'm not sure if railclone automatically makes cuts and fills in the underlying terrain for your roads, and updates cuts/fills when moving the road? If it does, please let me know. Did you see the cities:skyline road video? Can't imagine railclone as simple as this, rather the opposite... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Francisco Penaloza Posted August 11, 2017 Share Posted August 11, 2017 Yeah, to me the street building or sidewalk is not much of a problem but the actual terrain. Also, the road is built flat, or mostly flat, and keeping soft slopes and flat road in a hilly terrain is a pain in the neck. Even matching the slab of the building with the terrain get most of the time complex. I own rail clone and is a great tool in deed but is not an actual solution for the terrain issue. I think my next hilly project I may bite the bullet and purchase that spline land plugin and give a try. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Berntsen Posted August 11, 2017 Author Share Posted August 11, 2017 I'm considering the same. Let us know how it performs, if you're the first of us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Berntsen Posted August 11, 2017 Author Share Posted August 11, 2017 MCG has been suggested, and could be one way to make cuts/fills with different parameters to choose from, but I imagine also making different road segments and intersections through the same tool. Just like making roads in cities skylines. That would be so sexy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now