Just thought I’d drop a little line here to promote Jerry Ylilammi’s Bercon Maps, and Bercon Gradient in particular:
http://www.ylilammi.com/BerconMaps.shtml
http://www.ylilammi.com/BerconGradient.shtml
It’s basically a Gradient Ramp map combined with the Falloff map and particle-based effects (the standard age/speed/size) with great tweakability. However, the best part – that makes it on-topic for this forum section – is that it is scripter-friendly.
With the Gradient Ramp map, you could never add keys, remove keys, set key info, etc. With Bercon Gradient, you can.
I posted a little snippet of code with sample images up on our Forums, have a peek there:
http://splutterfish.com/forums/showthread.php?p=126223#post126223
The plugins are absolutely free (as in beer), but if you like the map(s), why not make use of the paypal button on his site?
Followed the maps with interest, but never realised you could set grad keys by script. That really explodes the possibilities.
Small brief on maxscript access (with examples) can now be found at the very bottom of the gradients help page ( http://www.ylilammi.com/BerconGradient.shtml ).
- Jerry Ylilammi