Difference between revisions of "Max:Introduction"

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== What is the 3ds Max Plugin? ==
 
== What is the 3ds Max Plugin? ==
The 3ds Max Plugin is what Cyan originally used to create all the ages you'll find in Uru. It was released in its built form by Cyan on the 13th April, 2010. On the 6th April 2011, Cyan released the source code for the plugin.
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The 3ds Max Plugin (PlasmaMAX) is what Cyan originally used to create all the ages found in Uru. It was released in its built form by Cyan on the 13th April, 2010. On the 6th April 2011, Cyan released the source code for the plugin. As it stands, it will '''only''' work in two versions of 3ds Max - versions 7 and 8. Trial versions of both of these Max versions can be found on the internet. The 3ds Max plugin offers the user a reasonably user-friendly interface with which to develop maps for the Cyan Worlds Engine, without as many scripting requirements as [[PyPRP]]. However, as it requires out of date versions of Max, its usability by the general modding community is limited.
  
The 3ds Max Plugin (as it stands) '''only''' works in two versions of 3ds Max - versions 7 and 8. Trial versions of both of these Max versions can be found on the internet.
 
  
The 3ds Max plugin offers the user a reasonably user-friendly interface with which to develop maps for the Cyan Worlds Engine, without as many scripting requirements as [[PyPRP]]. However, as it requires out of date versions of Max, its usability by the general modding community is limited.
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== Get the 3ds Max Plugin ==
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''Main Article: [[Max:Installation|Installing The Max Plugin]]''
  
== Setting up the 3ds Max Plugin ==
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There are currently two versions of the 3ds Max plugin released by Cyan Worlds. These plugins work with 3ds Max 7 and 3ds Max 8.
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* [http://cho.cyan.com/bahrowings/MOULaPlugins871.zip Build 871]
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* [http://cho.cyan.com/bahrowings/MOULaPlugins917.zip Build 917]
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The only difference between the two versions are the kinds of Python files supported. If you are using the Python files provided with the initial open source release, you should use [http://cho.cyan.com/bahrowings/MOULaPlugins871.zip Build 871]. However, if you want to use newer Python files from the current [https://bitbucket.org/OpenUru_org/moulscript-ou OpenURU repository], you must use [http://cho.cyan.com/bahrowings/MOULaPlugins917.zip Build 917]. Please note that these plugins ''may'' not support the scripts from the [https://github.com/H-uru/moul-scripts H-uru/moul-scripts] repository. Only scripts designed for Python 2.3 should be used.
  
Firstly, you need 3ds Max version 7 or 8. Trial versions of these two programs can be found on the internet.
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Alternatively, you could build your own plugin from the source code found in the [https://github.com/H-uru/Plasma H-uru/Plasma] repository. Please note that doing so is beyond the scope of this article. The H'uru plugins support 3ds Max 7 though 3ds Max 2012. Later versions are not supported at the writing of this article.
  
Following this, make sure you have the latest service pack for your Max version.
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== Where can I find help with 3ds Max? ==
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3ds Max is one of the most used programs for modelling; therefore, there are lots of free tutorials. Google is your friend, and there are several excellent developer communities out there that use Max heavily, including [http://www.polycount.com Polycount.com] and [http://www.cgsociety.com CG Society].
  
3ds Max 7: http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/item?siteID=123112&id=5663191&linkID=9241178
 
  
3ds Max 8: http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/item?siteID=123112&id=7176150&linkID=9241178
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== Where can I find help with PlasmaMAX? ==
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There are several resources available to help you with the 3ds Max Plugin. If you still require assistance, please ask on the [https://forum.guildofwriters.org/viewforum.php?f=7 building subforum].
  
Then, you will need to install the plugin. TheMagician created an excellent video shortly after the release of the plugin on how to do this. It is included below:
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== External Resources==
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* [http://cho.cyan.com/bahrowings/PlasmaPlugins.doc Cyan's Documentation]
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* [http://www.agecreationtutorials.co.nr/ The Magician's Video Tutorials]
  
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjUomH6IMJ0&fmt=22
 
  
To set up the 3ds Max plugin, you need to do the following:
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== Tutorials ==
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''Main Article: [[Tutorials#3ds_Max|Tutorials]]''
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<!--Let's try to only put the best and most useful tutorials here in the main article-->
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* [[Max:Lightmaps|Lightmaps]]
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* [[Max:Stencils|Stencils]]
  
1) Copy all the .dll files that exist in the base directory of your Myst Online: Uru Live Again folder to the base directory of your 3ds Max installation.
 
  
2) Download (see below) and extract the plugin. Copy over the MaxPlasmaLights.dlo and PlasmaMax.gup files to your Max version's "plugins" folder.
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[[Category:3ds Max]]
 
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3) Once doing this, boot up 3ds Max. If all goes well, it will crash out. Once it crashes, go to your Max installation's "plugcfg" file and open up the newly-created "PlasmaMAX2.ini" in a text editor like Notepad.
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4) You need to replace the entire text with something that will actually work, like this:
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[Menu]
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Version=10
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[SceneViewer]
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Directory=PathToYourOutputDirectory
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[Export]
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X=411
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Y=322
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Dir=
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Replace "PathToYourOutputDirectory" with a real folder. This is where Max will export your files, and where you need to place your files for Max to read them!
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5) Start up Max again. If all goes well, you should launch up and a dropdown menu saying "Plasma" will exist on the top bar.
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Congratulations! Plasma is now installed. Now go and make us some fancy content!
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== Where can I find the 3ds Max Plugin? ==
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That's easy -
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http://cho.cyan.com/bahrowings/MOULaPlugins871.zip
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== Where can I find help on the 3ds Max Plugin? ==
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Mark (Chogon) from Cyan released basic documentation with the plugin. It's by no means perfect, but interested parties will gain at least something out of it:
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http://cho.cyan.com/bahrowings/PlasmaPlugins.doc
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The best individual source for help on the Plugin is Andy Legate's series of tutorials. Andy's placed them in several places over his time writing them, and two of those locations are below:
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http://dusty.homeunix.net/wiki/Andy%27s_Max_Tutorials
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http://guildofmaintainers.org/Forum/viewforum.php?f=154&sid=9a15c40d57a4e31c1481942d7b25ecb4
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In addition, TheMagician created a series of video tutorials that every new developer should watch. You can find them collected together at this website:
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http://www.agecreationtutorials.co.nr/
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You can also drop into the Guild of Writers' 3ds Max sub-forum and ask questions there.
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== And finally... ==
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A word from the wise. Max is the most used program out there for modelling, and therefore the amount of free tutorial content on how to do stuff is huge. Google is your friend in working with Max, and there are several excellent developer communities out there that use Max heavily, including http://www.polycount.com and http://www.cgsociety.com. Good luck, and have fun!
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Latest revision as of 12:39, 28 June 2016

Disambig gray.png

This is a tutorial page.Versions available: PyPRP; 3ds Max; Korman.
 

What is the 3ds Max Plugin?

The 3ds Max Plugin (PlasmaMAX) is what Cyan originally used to create all the ages found in Uru. It was released in its built form by Cyan on the 13th April, 2010. On the 6th April 2011, Cyan released the source code for the plugin. As it stands, it will only work in two versions of 3ds Max - versions 7 and 8. Trial versions of both of these Max versions can be found on the internet. The 3ds Max plugin offers the user a reasonably user-friendly interface with which to develop maps for the Cyan Worlds Engine, without as many scripting requirements as PyPRP. However, as it requires out of date versions of Max, its usability by the general modding community is limited.


Get the 3ds Max Plugin

Main Article: Installing The Max Plugin

There are currently two versions of the 3ds Max plugin released by Cyan Worlds. These plugins work with 3ds Max 7 and 3ds Max 8.

The only difference between the two versions are the kinds of Python files supported. If you are using the Python files provided with the initial open source release, you should use Build 871. However, if you want to use newer Python files from the current OpenURU repository, you must use Build 917. Please note that these plugins may not support the scripts from the H-uru/moul-scripts repository. Only scripts designed for Python 2.3 should be used.

Alternatively, you could build your own plugin from the source code found in the H-uru/Plasma repository. Please note that doing so is beyond the scope of this article. The H'uru plugins support 3ds Max 7 though 3ds Max 2012. Later versions are not supported at the writing of this article.

Where can I find help with 3ds Max?

3ds Max is one of the most used programs for modelling; therefore, there are lots of free tutorials. Google is your friend, and there are several excellent developer communities out there that use Max heavily, including Polycount.com and CG Society.


Where can I find help with PlasmaMAX?

There are several resources available to help you with the 3ds Max Plugin. If you still require assistance, please ask on the building subforum.

External Resources


Tutorials

Main Article: Tutorials