I’m interested in developing an obj sequence reader for max. This could be a modifier like point cache or point oven or a type of scripted object. I can’t use point oven for importing object sequences of differing point count (like houdini particle simulations or growing objects). Houdini has a really simple and convenient solution: The import file node can load the mesh from disk on a per frame basis, thus can handle animated objects of differing point count. Therefore, I’d like to make one of these for max also.
In my research so far, I haven’t been able to find maxscript commands to switch out a mesh in an object container. I also not clear about getting the object from disk into the max object container. Would we need to use the sdk for this? Or can it be done with maxscript?
I’m not so much concerned with performance so I don’t mind using maxscript for it, as it would mainly be for rendering, not necessarily working on it in realtime.
If anyone can suggest a possible workflow, or project structure for this, I and another person would probably start working on it. Thanks!
To do it proper, I would think you should use the SDK and C++.
If can be cheated with Xref Objects, and Vray Proxies if you are using Vray, with incremental Object names in the xref file, or proxy files, and a scripted controller in a global track… but it’s not very stable…
Good luck… hope to see the results…
It can be done with maxscript. You will place your script in the prerender scripts.
the new version of MR in max 2009 has exactly this. Vray 1.5 SP2 that will be released in some weeks also has this feauture. Both vray and mr call this feauture animated proxies.