monsterBlues | Technical Animator

Dynamic UI creation with MaxScript

2012-02-12T19:14:00.002-06:00

There are 3 ways to dynamically modify a MaxScript UI.

One way to to create all the UI elements you need in order to disable and enable them as needed. (This is the most common method)

A similar method is to use their visible property to turn them off and on.

The most complex way is to generate a maxscript on the fly and use the execute command to create the UI elements.

This script has an example of each method: Martinez_DynamicUI.ms

dotNet Treeview MultiSelect for MaxScript

2012-01-28T23:08:00.000-06:00

Recently I've been working on a MaxScript project that required a dotNet Treeview and the ability to select multiple items. I was really troubled that the default treeview doesn't support multiselect, only ancient looking check boxes. However, I was happy to find that someone else bumped into this problem and made their solution available. Unfortunately, there were no example on how to use it with MaxScript. Here's how to get it working:

Step 1 is to download the DLL control from here: http://sourceforge.net/projects/mulsel-treeview/
Step 2 is to unzip the DLL to a folder you can remember easily. I chose the UserMacro folder. You can get to it quickly by typing the following into the MaxScript Listener:

shelllaunch "$usermacros" ""

Step 3 is to remove the periods from the file name of the DLL or Max won't load it.
Step 4 below is an example how to load and use the plugin with MaxScript.

--LOAD THE CUSTOM PLUGIN FIRST

--NOTE THAT THERE ARE NO PERIODS IN THE FILE NAME OF THE DLL

dotnet.loadAssembly ((pathConfig.normalizepath "$usermacros") + "CodersLabWindowsControlsTreeView.dll")

--BASIC MAXSCRIPT ROLLOUT

rollout TreeViewMultiSelect "MultiSelect" width:300 height:200

(

--THIS IS A BASIC DOTNET TREE VIEW CONTROL

--dotNetControl tv "system.windows.forms.treeView" height:200 width:300

--USE THIS INSTEAD AFTER YOU INSTALL THE DLL

dotNetControl treeviewObjectList "CodersLab.Windows.Controls.treeView" height:192 width:292 pos:[4,4]

on TreeViewMultiSelect open do

(

--THIS TELLS THE TREEVIEW TO ENABLE MULTISELECT

ms = (dotnetclass "CodersLab.Windows.Controls.TreeViewSelectionMode")

treeviewObjectList.SelectionMode = ms.MultiSelect

--HERE ARE THE OTHER MODES AVAILABLE:

-- .MultiSelect

-- .MultiSelectSameLevel

-- .MultiSelectSameLevelAndRootBranch

-- .MultiSelectSameParent

-- .MultiSelectSameRootBranch

-- .SingleSelect

--LETS ADD SOME NODES TO THE TREE VIEW

for obj in objects do

(

--CREATE A NEW DOTNET TREE NODE

newNode = (dotNetObject "System.Windows.Forms.TreeNode" obj.name)

--ADD IT TO THE TREEVIEW

treeviewObjectList.nodes.add newNode

)

--OPEN THE ROLLOUT AS A DIALOG

createDialog TreeViewMultiSelect

Step 5 proof that it works!

The only issue I bumped into after replacing the default treeview is that the selectedNode property no longer seems to work. But I replaced it with selectedNodes.item[0]. Note the S in selectedNodes. Leave a comment if this helped!

Remove All Wire Parameters MaxScript

2012-01-13T01:09:00.001-06:00

RemoveAllWireParametersFromSelection.ms

I'm on a tech-art roll people! This MaxScript for 3ds Max will traverse your selection and disconnect all existing wire parameters, without prejudice! To use it, first um... download it, and then in 3ds Max go to MaxScript | Run Script... Make sure you have your objects selected as well.

Skin Mini Tutorial

2012-01-12T18:59:00.000-06:00

Situation: You have two skinned objects in 3ds Max, and you need them to be one skinned object. Again, this skin tutorial is written in a general way to easily reproduce when you bump into this situation.

Go into Figure Mode or Skin Pose or Bind Pose, and set the slider to Frame 0.
Select both objects.
Go to Edit | Clone
Pick Copy and click OK.
Select the new copies and convert to edit poly to collapse the modifier stack.
Attach one object to the other.
Select your object and add a Skin Wrap modifier.
Click the Add button in the modify panel and add both of the original objects by clicking on them. (They should still be skinned.)
Change Deformation Engine to Face Deformation.
Check Weight All Points
Click on Convert to Skin.

Optionally, you can skip clicking Convert to Skin and when you update the skinning the two original objects the skin wrap will update as well. If you are exporting to a game engine, you do need to convert to skin though.

Reactor Physics Hinge Tutorial

2012-01-11T15:16:00.001-06:00

Reactor is the Physics system used in 3ds Max 2011 and earlier. I created this tutorial for a post on Polycount.com, but many people still use older versions of 3ds Max. So I thought I should post it here as well. Please comment and let me know if it works for you. The tutorial is written in a general way so that you can reproduce the steps on your own objects.

Click here to download the completed Max File

Reactor Hinge Tutorial Max File

Creating the Hinge:

Parent object b (the Small Box) to object a (the Larger Box).
Change the pivot on object b so that rotating the Z axis gives the effect you want.
Hold ALT + Shift and Right click for the reactor menu.
Select Hinge Constraint and click on the ground near your objects.
Select the Hinge object and in the modify panel set object B as the Child.
Check the Parent option and set object A as the parent.
Click on Child Space and Child Body.
Don't worry about the Min and Max Angles, the collisions will take care of that.

Creating the Hinge Solver:

Hold ALT + Shift and Right click for the reactor menu.
Click on Constraint Solver and click on the ground near the objects to create one.
Select the Solver and in the modify panel click on Pick and select the Hinge.
Select object a and b
Hold ALT + Shift and Right click for the reactor menu.
Click on Rigid Body Collection, the selected objects will be added automatically.
Select the Solver and in the modify panel set the RB Collection as the Rigid Body Collection object.

Create the Rigid Body Collection:

Open the Reactor right click menu and click on Open Property Editor
Select object A, and in the Property Editor check Unyielding and set Shell to 0.
(This means it's a hand keyed object that influences physics)
Select object B and give it mass.
(Doesn't matter how much, unless it hits other objects.)
Also and set Shell to 0.

Preview and Bake:

Go to the utility panel and open the Reactor utility.
Click on Preview animation.
You can edit the Timing setting and preview again.
If everything is cool you can click on Create Animation to bake.

Autodesk Sketchbook - Copic Edition

2012-01-07T01:46:00.002-06:00

I was goofing around with Autodesk Sketchbook - Copic Edition. It's freeware and really fun to use! Download it here: http://copic.jp/en/sketchbook-ce.html

You've been SpaceNapped!

2012-01-05T00:46:00.002-06:00

Head over to my new SpaceNapped! webcomic. The first two pages are up. I plan on putting up a new page every Saturday. You can subscribe if you are bad at checking for updates.

About SpaceNapped!:

SpaceNapped! is a science fiction webcomic that follows the adventures of Captain West and his unlikely crew as they chase bounties throughout the galaxy.

Click the pages below for a larger preview.

Hero Academy Released!

2011-12-20T14:38:00.002-06:00

Hero Academy by Robot Entertainment

I'm very happy to announce Robot Entertainment's 3rd game release of the year: Hero Academy! The best part is that the past 2 years I've probably only worked two weeks of crunch. Robot is such a great place to work, and I think it really comes though in our games.

I did a little animation on this one, but mostly tech work; including, writing the animation exporter and a Photoshop exporter. Hero Academy is free, but not free in a FarmVille sense. The social aspects involve making your opponent feel helpless and spamming taunts. :)

About the game:
Hero Academy is a free multiplayer tactics game for iOS from the strategy veterans behind Age of Empires and Orcs Must Die! The Council is a free team for all players. The Dark Elves can be purchased, and have different mechanics, but are balanced so that all players have an enjoyable experience. Purchasing the Dark Elves (or any future team) will remove ads from the game. Additional teams will be released for Hero Academy over time. All purchases beyond the teams are cosmetic in nature and do not affect gameplay. Players may customize their heroic teams with team colors, avatars and taunt animations.

Download! on iTunes

More info on the game: www.HeroAcademyApp.com

SpaceNapped! Crew

2011-12-07T00:10:00.001-06:00

I'm excited to start work on the first chapter of SpaceNapped! The first chapter will be a 24 page series, with a new page released each week. This image is a rough design of Captain West, Model S2, Dora Amano, and Prince Neeto. These are the four main characters aboard the UF4. Dora Amano is the ace pilot. The Model S2 takes care of the engineering duties. Prince Neeto is the brains of the operation. And Captain West… I'm sure he does something.

Visit SpaceNapped.com and subscribe today!

SpaceNapped! - Dora Amano

2011-12-03T21:29:00.001-06:00

I've got a new project underway. A webcomic named SpaceNapped! I'll have more detail soon, but here is a rough concept for one of the main characters, Dora Amano!

Final: Invincible Redesign

2011-11-27T23:05:00.001-06:00

Here is my final drawing for the Invincible Redesign contest. I'm not really expecting to win, but it was fun to enter! I started this in ArtRage iPad, then finished in ArtRage Pro.

I was trying to go for a more retro feel. I think the only thing that bother's me about the real costume is the bug eye goggles. I also wanted to give him a cape because I think those look heroic. I wanted to color this, but ran low on time.

http://www.tencentticker.com/projectrooftop/

Invincible Redesign Alternative

2011-11-23T22:32:00.001-06:00

I wasn't really happy with my first attempt. I like this one much better. Now I just need to ink and color it by Monday. :)

Hero Academy

2011-11-21T19:56:00.001-06:00

Here is the new game I've been working on at Robot Entertainment! I tagged on at the end to help with some animations. It's coming this winter to the App Store.

Hero Academy

Loot

2011-11-15T17:02:00.000-06:00

Song I composed a while back.

Everyone on Polycount is sharing their music! Check it out:
http://www.polycount.com/forum/showthread.php?t=91100

Loot by monsterblues

Work in Progress Animation Reel

2011-11-07T21:56:00.000-06:00

It's been a few years since I put something together. Some of the animations are not finished, and the editing is pretty bad right now. I'm just trying to get a good feel for what should stay in and what should go.

Orc Plushies

2011-11-06T01:22:00.000-05:00

Quick design of some OMD toys.
One of my ArtRage paintings: Orc Plushies

Miss Marvel VS Wonder Woman - Update

2011-11-04T16:11:00.003-05:00

Progress on the Miss Marvel VS Wonder Woman. I think maybe Wonder Woman is too thick? What do you think? Maybe the torso is too long...

I really want to finish this one!

Here is the sketch from ArtRage iPad.

Invincible Redesign for Project Rooftop

2011-11-03T02:12:00.001-05:00

Invincible Redesign for Project Rooftop.

I'm pretty sure I won't win, so I'm posting the design a little early to see if I get any feedback.

Here is more info on the contest.

http://www.tencentticker.com/projectrooftop/2011/10/24/project-rooftop-and-thwipster-present-“invincible-viltrumite-vogue”-redesign-contest/

Blogger Follower Widget

2011-11-02T15:48:00.001-05:00

I was having a lot of trouble with the blogger follower widget not reliably loading on my blog. If you go directly to the Google Friend Connect site and make a Member Gadget, it seems to load every time.

http://www.google.com/friendconnect/

Dogman

2011-11-02T12:35:00.000-05:00

This is my first zbrush model. Took about 20 minutes.

Pocket Yoga Practice Builder

2011-10-31T19:17:00.001-05:00

Pocket Yoga - Practice Builder

My friend worked hard on this app. Check it out! You know you want to!

Halo Wars: Spartan Hijack

2011-10-23T12:22:00.001-05:00

Just found this animation. This was used in Halo Wars as a concept for the Spartan's hijack ability.

P:R Redesign: Coran Stone’s Batman!

2011-10-20T17:37:00.001-05:00

via tencentticker.com

Great Drawing by Coran Stone!

Thought it was #OccupyDallas. But it was the #RaceForTheCure.

2011-10-15T12:49:00.001-05:00

Two men walk into a bar...

2011-10-12T09:31:00.001-05:00