Realflow Plugin For 3ds Max 2016 30

RFConnect is a connectivity plugin between standalone RealFlow and DCC applications. The plugin is a successor of RF Connectivity and RF RenderKit (RFRK). The plugin supports following DCC applications: 3ds Max, Maya, Cinema 4D, and Houdini. The plugin is also available for Lightwave and Softimage but the development is currently not active.

- Fixed issue with 3d Max plugin list configuration file (.csv). Now checking user-farm scene used plugins work fine with 3ds Max 2020 version- Fixed issues with plugin scripts crash and startup issues for 3ds Max 2017 in Full animation mode, 3ds Max 2017 with V-Ray 4+ and 3ds Max 2021.1- A fixed missing version of PhoenixFD plugin in .gfs- Fixed issue with detecting & copying PhoenixFD grid cache - Fixed issue with missing Corona versions in .gfs- Fixed issues with relinking proxies assets saved without proper extension (.vrmesh)- Fixed issues with .vrimg output format. Not .vrimg is blocked in Still image (strips) mode and allowed in all animation modes

- Changed workflow for scenes containing XRef assets. Due to 3Ds Max asset tracker limitations (not displaying all texture/assets links for XRef objects which are connected to the main scene), we decided to automatically merge XRef scenes to the main one. This process is done at plugin startup (from the renderBeamer menu) and before showing plugin UI. After merging XRefs to the main scene, the plugin will save the scene and start searching for missing assets, and if there are any - it will show standard missing assets popup window.- Fixed checking of Anima version & purchased actors assets.- Fixed issue with "¿" sign in the asset name- Fixed issue with wrong camera name saved in .gfs - Fixed issue with incorrectly relinked .ifl sequence- Fixed issue with overwriting cameras with the same name- Added support for 3ds Max 2020

- Improved support for the .vrscene exporter. Now every exported .vrscene which contains missing assets will have empty assets paths inside- Improved scene saving procedures (lost render settings). Now plugin saves the main scene before maintaining any operations- Added support for the temporary directory- Fixed issues with .vrscene exporter (overwrite .gfs file and wrong exported scene names)- Fixed issue with not relinking .fgmap file (Mental Ray)

- Added Domemaster plugin in .gfs (setting file) for auto-deployment purposes - Fixed issue with the .stat cache being not uploaded- Fixed issue with failing GI merge job- Fixed issues with incorrect padding for PhoenixFD cache files- Fixed issue with GI bake being blocked by main 3ds max output. Now all kind of camera bake scenes (like bFarm and so on) got main output always off- Extended support for assets connected directly to VRay frame buffer. Now we are supporting additional files which are working in VRay frame buffer options - Background image, LUTs, OCIO and ICCs- Multi render engine support - now our system auto-deploys VRay+Corona (if both engines are used in the scene)

- Improved scene checking procedure - now all check procedures (like assets, paths and links) are done before starting plugin GUI.- Upgraded workflow for Anima plugin.- Added support for using symbolic/hard links instead of copying original files for upload. This feature works for movie clips, assets, and caches. It drastically reduces the duration of scene preparation and disk usage. Using symlinks requires preparation process to enable it.- Added Render Cost Calculator to plugin menu.- Added checking for paths longer than 256.- Added prompt about using Corona denoiser with strips mode.- Added prompt and checker for non-standard resolutions in strips mode.- Added prompt for vertical tilt correction issue (not supported).- Added support for XMesh assets.- Added support for .ifl sequences in the VRayHDRi object (Dome Light).- Fixed prompt for Corona UHD asset.- Fixed relinking md5 texture name.- Fixed issue with empty texture name after scene upload.- Fixed issue with output format set to .avi (for render elements).- Fixed issue with output format set to undefined.- Fixed issue with Phoenix FD caches linked via. VRayVolumeGrid object.

- Added support for MaxFluid Cache (2018.4 updates and up)- Fixed VRayProxy assets handling- Fixed & improved coping Anima assets- Fixed listening Camera objects in the plugin setup window

- Fixed "lock" switch on selected camera (now its automatically disabled)- Fixed override project name option when using the multi-cam scene- Fixed plugin issues with older 3ds Max versions (2013)

- Extended plugin setup for strips mode - now you can render VRay strips with every GI configuration, LC modes are now creating GI caching job- Added full support for multi-camera scenes with all renderers (Mental Ray, VRay, Corona) and all possible render modes- Improved plugin GUI layout for displays with lower than HD resolution- Disabled 32bit Vray raw exr. Now exr internal format setup will have the same settings as the original scene

- Disabled hardware acceleration for denoiser filtering in VRay 3.x (GPU mode)- Disabled CXR format in Corona renderer with strips mode (CXR is still available in all animation modes)- Fixed Corona 1.6.1 ""missing assets"" dialog window (in 3DMax 2017/2018)- Other improvements to plugin speed & stability

- VRay RT - now you can render scenes with VRay RT set as main render engine on our farm. VRay RT works with "render as is mode"- Added support for VDB cache files- Extended support for Corona renderer features- Now you can render scenes with multiple cameras with one plugin usage- Corona multiple cameras work with strip image and animation mode- CXR format support added for animation scenes- Render elements outputs got additional _ sign at the end of the file name

- New feature - Vray scene exporter- Now you can export .max scenes to .vrscene and render them with our farm- All plugin features (like GI caching for each mode, render outputs etc) are supported with a .vrscene exporter- Fixes with "store direct light" switch

- Fixed Real Flow caches re-linking procedure- Full support for anima assets upload & relinking procedure- If the process is cancelled plugin will delete temporary files- Checking procedure for Corona with strips mode

- Rebuilding assets re-linking procedure - now relinking & copying assets works faster and more stable (including non-latin paths & assets names- Overall fixes to plugin stability- Vray Standalone exporter - now you can render the 3dmax scene as a .vrscene project!- Support for Vray assets like proxies, vrmaterials, vrobjects

- Added support for multiple cameras with still shots scenes (strip modes)- Every camera is now rendered as a separated scene with GI caching on/off (user setting)- Added support for VRay RAW image output- Minor fixes for plugin stability & features

- Rebuilding strip render mode (VRay)- New GI setups supported with strip rendering (distributed still shot)- Bruteforce, Light Cache, and combinations with Irradiance map supported with strip mode (VRay)- Fixes for plugin speed and stability

Maya is a comprehensive piece of simulation and animation software. It sets itself apart from 3ds Max in areas of animation, lighting and VFX. Despite the extensive nature of the software there is always room for improvement and that is where bespoke plugins come to the fore. Maya has a strong community of developers that have set about making our workflows easier by putting easy to use tools in our hands. In this article we're going to take a quick whistle-stop tour of 10 of the plugins which you should take a look at.

This is not technically a plugin but I thought it was worth a mention all the same! It's a brilliant solution to lighting your model as it lets you set up custom designed HDR images that can then be used in any renderer. Its interface is visually led making it very intuitive to work with.

This plugin is an absolute steal from Chaos Group. It allows Maya users to create a variety of simulations including fire, water and smoke. It is quick, versatile and incredibly straight-forward to get quickly realistic results. Check out the trial and you'll never look back.

This one is a little random although I hope some of you find it a helpful recommendation! It's called MiArmy and it is a crowd simulation plugin. It allows for AI and behavioural led animation and creates crowds that interact in a believable manner.

Another plugin for crowd simulation purposes is Golaem Crowd. What I love about this plugin is that it has a diverse array of free characters and motions that can be utilised in your scenes. It also has a physical simulation feature which can achieve some pretty cool results.

KeyShot is a real-time ray tracing solution and as of 2016 it is now compatible with Maya as a direct plugin. This is good news for Maya users. KeyShot's speedy and efficient workflow makes it a perfect rendering solution for both product visualisations and interior renders.

This plugin has been utilised by an incredible variety of clients in the games and VFX industries. Its track record speaks for itself. It is compatible with all the major renderers and can be relied on for creating impressive results. It is largely texture map driven enabling users to increase realism.

Many of the plugins I have selected for this article have stood the test of time. They are plugins which are utilised in industry pipelines, making them reliable and trustworthy solutions. I would highly recommend that you keep an eye on Maya forums to keep ahead of the game in terms of developers releasing plugins to make your life easier. Anything that can save you time, will save you money and therefore makes it a no-brainer for investment. There are plenty of paid plugins out there but it's important to not discount free ones as they often do an excellent job. 2b1af7f3a8