Recent Posts
1
RailClone Pro (*) / Re: Railclone and Forest optimization
« Last post by iToo on Today at 12:25:58 PM »Hello,
- For RailClone, unfortunately we cannot control the way that 3DS Max handles the spline notifications (or any other reference used by RC).
Max just notifies to the plugin when spline changes (and that happens for any action), and we must rebuild RC to keep it updated.
There are some tips which may help you. But really there is not a simple solution, specially for heavy objects:
a) Use 'Quick-Mesh' or 'Point-Cloud' for Display mode, not 'Mesh' (which is the slowest mode).
b) While editing, simplify the model. For example, for parametric buildings, reduce the number of floors. Once adjusted, set it to the final value.
c) Remember you can rebuild objects from the Lister: select objects in the first column, and use the toolbar icon to rebuild.
d) For objects which are not being edited, use Display->Proxy Cache mode. When enabled, RC object is locked, geometry and instances are stored internally, and it's not necessary to rebuild the object anymore, until you need to make some change.
This state is also saved in the scene file. You can enable it from the Display rollout, or from the RailClone Lister (latest column).
- Regarding Forest, we are aware of the performance issue with Point-Cloud mode. Although it worked well with older 3DS Max versions, its performance is not the best with recent changes in Nitrous.
We have some ideas to improve it, but that also will change significatively the way that Point-Cloud is shown. We have to test it and decide.
Meanwhile, we suggest to use Display->'Proxy'. That's the most efficient mode.
- For RailClone, unfortunately we cannot control the way that 3DS Max handles the spline notifications (or any other reference used by RC).
Max just notifies to the plugin when spline changes (and that happens for any action), and we must rebuild RC to keep it updated.
There are some tips which may help you. But really there is not a simple solution, specially for heavy objects:
a) Use 'Quick-Mesh' or 'Point-Cloud' for Display mode, not 'Mesh' (which is the slowest mode).
b) While editing, simplify the model. For example, for parametric buildings, reduce the number of floors. Once adjusted, set it to the final value.
c) Remember you can rebuild objects from the Lister: select objects in the first column, and use the toolbar icon to rebuild.
d) For objects which are not being edited, use Display->Proxy Cache mode. When enabled, RC object is locked, geometry and instances are stored internally, and it's not necessary to rebuild the object anymore, until you need to make some change.
This state is also saved in the scene file. You can enable it from the Display rollout, or from the RailClone Lister (latest column).
- Regarding Forest, we are aware of the performance issue with Point-Cloud mode. Although it worked well with older 3DS Max versions, its performance is not the best with recent changes in Nitrous.
We have some ideas to improve it, but that also will change significatively the way that Point-Cloud is shown. We have to test it and decide.
Meanwhile, we suggest to use Display->'Proxy'. That's the most efficient mode.
2
RailClone Pro (*) / Re: Irregular stone wall
« Last post by Michal Karmazín on Today at 11:59:07 AM »Hi,
The mentioned tutorial was done by Adán Martín (3dcollective.es). I don't think that the scene is publicly available, but by using the mentioned workflow (for the Displace modifier, he is using a texture from https://www.textures.com/), you should be able to prepare your own version relatively quickly.
Best regards,
The mentioned tutorial was done by Adán Martín (3dcollective.es). I don't think that the scene is publicly available, but by using the mentioned workflow (for the Displace modifier, he is using a texture from https://www.textures.com/), you should be able to prepare your own version relatively quickly.
Best regards,
3
Forest Pro (*) / Re: Frost/snow on top of cut hedges
« Last post by Michal Karmazín on Today at 11:12:19 AM »Hi Chris,
It should work in a very similar way for hedges as well. A possible setup would be to use the Planar from World XYZ mapping for the Gradient map to target only the top. I hope that helps.
Best regards,
It should work in a very similar way for hedges as well. A possible setup would be to use the Planar from World XYZ mapping for the Gradient map to target only the top. I hope that helps.
Best regards,
4
Forest Pro (*) / Re: Forest Pack --> Select Library - very slow first opening
« Last post by iToo on Today at 10:25:35 AM »Hi,
Really Forest or RailClone dosn't require any specific permissions. Everything runs under 3DS Max, which uses permissions of the current Windows user.
Perhaps there was some custom library path, not accessible to the Windows user ? The default libraries are installed in a folder with user permissions.
Really Forest or RailClone dosn't require any specific permissions. Everything runs under 3DS Max, which uses permissions of the current Windows user.
Perhaps there was some custom library path, not accessible to the Windows user ? The default libraries are installed in a folder with user permissions.
5
RailClone Pro (*) / Railclone and Forest optimization
« Last post by Jahred on Today at 10:05:14 AM »Hello,
Year after year, RailClone and Forest become more and more difficult to manage in my workflow as Forest objects or RC tiles become too heavy. I really have the impression that both tools (especially RailClone) scrutinize every possible change within 3ds Max and really influence its fluidity. Especially when I use an XY spline to lay out my tiles in RailClone, every time the spline moves it recalculates in real time, which is sometimes unmanageable for working: switching the RailClone update on and off is really impractical if I'm constantly going back and forth.
For Forest, it's the Point Cloud mode that becomes unmanageable after a certain number of entities, to the point where it's no longer really usable in terms of number of images per second; I limit the number of entities visible, but it's no longer representative of true positioning. Even so, we need this "Point Cloud" mode to be able to place individual objects precisely, so we may have to find an alternative solution in the long run. At the moment, I place them in "Plants" proxy with a limit of visible entities, for want of a better solution.
Is there not a way of preventing both tools from constantly scanning the scene, a "semi-automatic" mode that only updates at the end of a spline edit? If I'm missing any best practices for both tools, I'd love to hear from you.
Year after year, RailClone and Forest become more and more difficult to manage in my workflow as Forest objects or RC tiles become too heavy. I really have the impression that both tools (especially RailClone) scrutinize every possible change within 3ds Max and really influence its fluidity. Especially when I use an XY spline to lay out my tiles in RailClone, every time the spline moves it recalculates in real time, which is sometimes unmanageable for working: switching the RailClone update on and off is really impractical if I'm constantly going back and forth.
For Forest, it's the Point Cloud mode that becomes unmanageable after a certain number of entities, to the point where it's no longer really usable in terms of number of images per second; I limit the number of entities visible, but it's no longer representative of true positioning. Even so, we need this "Point Cloud" mode to be able to place individual objects precisely, so we may have to find an alternative solution in the long run. At the moment, I place them in "Plants" proxy with a limit of visible entities, for want of a better solution.
Is there not a way of preventing both tools from constantly scanning the scene, a "semi-automatic" mode that only updates at the end of a spline edit? If I'm missing any best practices for both tools, I'd love to hear from you.
6
RailClone Pro (*) / Irregular stone wall
« Last post by iCreateLtd on December 06, 2023, 06:24:52 PM »Hi all
I need to make this to go on an external wall of a building. I've found textures that are quite similar but I then saw this video:
https://www.itoosoft.com/tutorials/stone-walls-and-floors-with-railclone?back=page%3Dall%26search%3Dstone
Does anyone know if the scene files exist for this as I'm on quite a tight deadline ?
I also need to have them with varying heights. Can anyone see this being a problem using Railclone?
Thanks
I need to make this to go on an external wall of a building. I've found textures that are quite similar but I then saw this video:
https://www.itoosoft.com/tutorials/stone-walls-and-floors-with-railclone?back=page%3Dall%26search%3Dstone
Does anyone know if the scene files exist for this as I'm on quite a tight deadline ?
I also need to have them with varying heights. Can anyone see this being a problem using Railclone?
Thanks
7
Forest Pro (*) / Frost/snow on top of cut hedges
« Last post by chrisc0le on December 06, 2023, 05:05:33 PM »Hi All
I'm wondering if this is possible as the leaves are not one object & while I suspect my method is working it's affecting the entire scatter rather than the top only (masked with a gradient map).
I can make snow/ice appear on the top most polys of a tree using the Z-world falloff (towards/away) & a gradient map (as mapped source) (See example image attached).
But because the cut hedges are multiple objects scattered it doesn't work the same.
Is there a way I can achieve frosty leaves on only the top using a gradient or other method?
Hope this poor explanation is sufficient.
Best regards
Chris
I'm wondering if this is possible as the leaves are not one object & while I suspect my method is working it's affecting the entire scatter rather than the top only (masked with a gradient map).
I can make snow/ice appear on the top most polys of a tree using the Z-world falloff (towards/away) & a gradient map (as mapped source) (See example image attached).
But because the cut hedges are multiple objects scattered it doesn't work the same.
Is there a way I can achieve frosty leaves on only the top using a gradient or other method?
Hope this poor explanation is sufficient.
Best regards
Chris
8
RailClone Pro (*) / Re: Low brick wall
« Last post by Paul Roberts on December 06, 2023, 02:41:58 PM »Apologies, here's a file saved back to previous Max versions.
Best,
Paul
Best,
Paul
9
RailClone Pro (*) / Re: Low brick wall
« Last post by FU1154 on December 06, 2023, 01:38:26 PM »Thanks ! i don't have max 2024 is it possible in 2023 ?
10
RailClone Pro (*) / Re: Low brick wall
« Last post by Paul Roberts on December 06, 2023, 01:11:37 PM »HI,
Thanks for the question. This might be quite challenging for RailClone because it's necessary to fill a complex area with geometry that doesn't look as though it it tiles. If however, it's more like regular bricks that are surrounded by larger areas of concrete, then you might be able to do something like the attached file which uses the same style by raises it on the Z axis and rotates the array by a further 90 degrees. For more irregular bricks you could always pre-compose some stones shapes like in this post
I hope that helps, please let me know if I can do anything further,
Paul
Thanks for the question. This might be quite challenging for RailClone because it's necessary to fill a complex area with geometry that doesn't look as though it it tiles. If however, it's more like regular bricks that are surrounded by larger areas of concrete, then you might be able to do something like the attached file which uses the same style by raises it on the Z axis and rotates the array by a further 90 degrees. For more irregular bricks you could always pre-compose some stones shapes like in this post
I hope that helps, please let me know if I can do anything further,
Paul
