hi
i am currently working on a script to simulate the lightwave modelling visualisation.
i found a solution to achieve this effect by adding two modifiers to the editable poly.
the first is a turntopoly modifier, to pass the baseobject edge selection and invert it
the second is a edit-mesh modifier to set all unneccessary edges invisible
but it does not update automatically. for example if you change the geometry of the baseobject, the edges are renumbered and the result will become distorted.
this script is written for max 5. i never tested it on previous versions.
the main part of the script is :
$.surfSubdivide = on
$.iterations = 3
select $.Edges
modPanel.addModToSelection (Turn_to_Poly ()) ui:on
$.modifiers[1].selectionConversion = 2
$.modifiers[1].selectionLevel = 3
modPanel.addModToSelection (Edit_Mesh ()) ui:on
modPanel.setCurrentObject $.modifiers[1]
subobjectLevel = 2
meshOps.invisibleEdge $.modifiers[1]
subobjectLevel = 0
modPanel.setCurrentObject $.baseObject
showendresult = true
it is like a simple batch processing
to view the effect it is important that you set your viewport to edged faces.
i am learning max-script at the moment, so please excuse the unproper code.
my main goal was to write a scripted plugin to get the same effect.
but i failed. my skills are to low.
the scripted plugin should do :
- get all edges of the baseobject-poly (as subdivided edges)
- invert this edge selection and turn them invisible
- update automatically when the geometry of the baseobject changes
i know that a lot of people are interested in a script like this.
so all good scripters like bobo or lfshade please take a look at it and help me to improve it. feel free to modify it
thanks
this is the script with an user interface:
— smoothwire script beta
— edged faces need to be turned on to see the smoothwire
(
rollout smoothwire “smooth wire” width:120 height:440
(
— button and spinner definitions
— button and spinner main rollout
groupBox grpb1 "SW Modifiers" pos:[5,5] width:110 height:90
groupBox grpb1b "" pos:[120,5] width:240 height:90
button btn1 "generate" pos:[10,25] width:100 height:20
button btn2 "delete" pos:[10,45] width:100 height:20
button btn3 "update" pos:[10,65] width:100 height:20
groupBox grpb2 "Display Settings" pos:[5,100] width:110 height:145
groupBox grpb2b "" pos:[120,100] width:240 height:145
button btn4 "base level" pos:[10,120] width:100 height:20
button btn5 "normal wire" pos:[10,140] width:100 height:20
button btn6 "red wire" pos:[10,160] width:100 height:20
button btn7 "backface cull on" pos:[10,180] width:100 height:20
button btn8 "control cage off" pos:[10,200] width:100 height:20
spinner spn1 "" pos:[79,225] width:30 height:16 range:[0,5,3] type:#integer --- subdivision iterations spinner
label lbl0 "Iterations" pos:[20,225] width:49 height:15
groupBox grpb3 "misc" pos:[5,250] width:110 height:183
groupBox grpb3b "" pos:[120,250] width:240 height:183
button btn9 "create spline" pos:[10,265] width:100 height:20
button btn10 "render viewport" pos:[10,285] width:100 height:20
button btn11 "preview" pos:[10,305] width:100 height:100
button btn12 " quick help >" pos:[10,405] width:100 height:20
– help text
button map1butt1 "" pos:[130,355] width:50 height:50
button map1butt2 "" pos:[190,355] width:50 height:50
button map1butt3 "" pos:[250,355] width:50 height:50
--bitmap map1 pos:[120,270] width:50 height:50 bitmap:(render outputwidth:50 outputheight:50 vfb:false mapping:true shadows:true )--bitmap:render ()
--bitmap map2 pos:[180,270] width:50 height:50 bitmap:(render outputwidth:50 outputheight:50 vfb:false mapping:false shadows:false)--bitmap:render ()
--bitmap map3 pos:[240,270] width:50 height:50 bitmap:(render outputwidth:50 outputheight:50 vfb:false forcewireframe:true mapping:false shadows:false)--bitmap:render ()
label lbl1 "<--- generates smooth-wire modifiers" pos:[125,25] width:230 height:20
label lbl2 "<--- deletes smooth-wire modifiers" pos:[125,45] width:230 height:20
label lbl3 "<--- updates smooth-wire (after geometry change)" pos:[125,65] width:230 height:20
label lbl4 "<--- toggles to base level and back" pos:[125,120] width:230 height:20
label lbl5 "<--- toggles to normal nurms wire and back" pos:[125,140] width:230 height:20
label lbl6 "<--- toggles to red subdiv mode and back" pos:[125,160] width:230 height:20
label lbl7 "<--- toggles backface cull on and off" pos:[125,180] width:230 height:20
label lbl8 "<--- toggles controll cage on and off" pos:[125,200] width:230 height:20
label lbl9 "<--- set the subdiv iterations" pos:[125,220] width:230 height:20
label lbl10 "<--- creates a spline of smoothwire line" pos:[125,265] width:230 height:20 color:blue
label lbl11 "<--- renders the viewport" pos:[125,285] width:230 height:20 color:blue
label lbl12 "<--- click to render a small preview" pos:[125,305] width:230 height:20 color:blue
label lbl13 "or use the other render types below" pos:[143,320] width:210 height:20 color:blue
label lbl14 "mapping" pos:[135,338] width:100 height:20 color:blue
label lbl15 "V solid" pos:[195,338] width:100 height:20 color:blue
label lbl16 "V wire" pos:[255,338] width:100 height:20 color:blue
spinner spn2 "" pos:[310,356] width:45 height:16 range:[0,1024,500] type:#integer
spinner spn3 "" pos:[310,389] width:45 height:16 range:[0,1024,500] type:#integer
— toggle states
global abutt =1 – button btn4 “base level” toggle state
global bbutt =1 – button btn5 “normal wire” toggle state
global cbutt =1 – button btn6 “red wire” toggle state
global dbutt =1 – button btn12 ” quick help >” state
global ebutt =1 – button btn7 “backface cull on” toggle state
global fbutt =1 – button btn8 “control cage off” toggle state
– mics globals
global spntemp = 1 — spinner spn1 iterations tempstate
global baseedgeselection = #() – stores original edgeselection
global modname1 = “SW Edit Mesh” — define modifier name #1
global modname2 = “SW Turn to Poly” — define modifier name #2
— functions
fn testPoly = — single editable poly check
(
if selection.count == 1 AND classof selection[1] == Editable_Poly do (setcommandpaneltaskmode mode:#modify; return true)
)
fn modifiertest = — no modifiers check
(
if $.modifiers.count == 0 do (setcommandpaneltaskmode mode:#modify; return true)
)
fn modifiertest2 = — checks if smoothwire modifiers are assigned
(
if $.modifiers.count == 2 and $.modifiers[1].name == modname1 do (setcommandpaneltaskmode mode:#modify; return true)
)
fn catchoperation = — error handling (redrawviews + messagebox)
(
enablesceneredraw()
redrawViews()
messagebox "error occured" title:"Smooth Wire"
)
on btn1 pressed do – generate modifiers button
(
try
(
undo “sw generate” off
(
modPanel.setCurrentObject $.baseObject
if modifiertest2() == true do (messagebox “modifiers already generated!” title:“Smooth Wire”; return())
if testPoly() != true do (messagebox “Single Editable Poly only” title:“Smooth Wire”; return())
if modifiertest() != true do (messagebox “please delete or collapse all other modifiers first” title:“Smooth Wire”; return())
setWaitCursor()
disablesceneredraw()
$.surfSubdivide = on
$.iterations = spn1.value
baseedgeselection = (polyop.getEdgeSelection $.baseobject as array)
subobjlev = subobjectLevel
select $.Edges
modPanel.addModToSelection (Turn_to_Poly ()) ui:on
$.modifiers[1].name = modname2
$.modifiers[1].selectionConversion = 2
$.modifiers[1].selectionLevel = 3
modPanel.addModToSelection (Edit_Mesh ()) ui:on
$.modifiers[1].name = modname1
modPanel.setCurrentObject $.modifiers[1]
subobjectLevel = 2
meshOps.invisibleEdge $.modifiers[1]
subobjectLevel = 0
modPanel.setCurrentObject $.baseObject
subobjectLevel = subobjlev
polyop.setEdgeSelection $.baseobject baseedgeselection
showendresult = true
enablesceneredraw()
redrawViews()
–btn1.enabled=false
)
)
catch
(
catchoperation ()
)
)
on btn2 pressed do — delete modifiers button
(
if modifiertest2() == true then (
try
(
setWaitCursor()
disablesceneredraw()
deleteModifier $ 1
deleteModifier $ 1
enablesceneredraw()
redrawViews()
setArrowCursor()
)
catch
(
catchoperation ()
)
)
else
()
)
on btn3 pressed do – update modifiers button
(
try
(
undo “sw update” off
(
if modifiertest2() != true do (messagebox “no modifiers generated! press generate first!” title:“Smooth Wire”;return())
setWaitCursor()
disablesceneredraw()
showendresult = false
modPanel.setCurrentObject $.baseObject
baseedgeselection = (polyop.getEdgeSelection $.baseobject as array)
subobjlev = subobjectLevel
select $.Edges
deleteModifier $ 1
modPanel.addModToSelection (Edit_Mesh ()) ui:on
$.modifiers[1].name = modname1
modPanel.setCurrentObject $.modifiers[1]
subobjectLevel = 2
meshOps.invisibleEdge $.modifiers[1]
subobjectLevel = 0
modPanel.setCurrentObject $.baseObject
subobjectLevel = subobjlev
showendresult = true
polyop.setEdgeSelection $.baseobject (baseedgeselection as array)
enablesceneredraw()
redrawViews()
setArrowCursor()
)
)
catch
(
catchoperation () – function
)
)
on btn4 pressed do – base level button
(
try
(
undo “sw base level” off
(
if modifiertest2() != true do (messagebox “no modifiers generated! press generate first!” title:“Smooth Wire”;return())
case of
(
(abutt == 1) : (
setWaitCursor()
disablesceneredraw()
showendresult = false
modPanel.setCurrentObject $.baseObject
$.iterations = 0
$.surfSubdivide = off
btn4.text = “leave base level”
btn3.enabled=false
btn5.enabled=false
spn1.enabled=false
btn6.enabled=false
btn7.enabled=false
btn8.enabled=false
btn9.enabled=false
lbl0.enabled=false
spntemp = spn1.value
spn1.value = 0
abutt = 0 – switch button state
enablesceneredraw()
redrawViews()
)
(abutt == 0) : (
setWaitCursor()
disablesceneredraw()
showendresult = true
modPanel.setCurrentObject $.baseObject
$.iterations = spntemp
$.surfSubdivide = on
btn4.text = “base level”
btn3.enabled=true
btn5.enabled=true
spn1.enabled=true
btn6.enabled=true
btn7.enabled=true
btn8.enabled=true
btn9.enabled=true
lbl0.enabled=true
spn1.value = spntemp
abutt = 1 – switch button state
enablesceneredraw()
redrawViews()
)
)
)
)
catch
(
catchoperation ()
)
)
on btn5 pressed do – normal wire button
(
try
(
undo “sw wire change1” off
(
if modifiertest2() != true do (messagebox “no modifiers generated! press generate first!” title:“Smooth Wire”;return())
case of
(
(bbutt ==1) : (
setWaitCursor()
showendresult = false
bbutt = 0
btn5.text = “lightwave style”
btn4.enabled=false
btn3.enabled=false
spn1.enabled=false
btn6.enabled=false
btn9.enabled=false
lbl0.enabled=false
)
(bbutt ==0) : (
setWaitCursor()
showendresult = true
bbutt = 1
btn5.text = "normal wire"
btn4.enabled=true
btn3.enabled=true
spn1.enabled=true
btn6.enabled=true
btn9.enabled=true
lbl0.enabled=true
)
)
)
)
catch
(
catchoperation ()
)
)
on btn6 pressed do – red wire button
(
try
(
undo “sw wire change2” off
(
if modifiertest2() != true do (messagebox “no modifiers generated! press generate first!” title:“Smooth Wire”;return())
case of
(
(cbutt ==1) : (
setWaitCursor()
disablesceneredraw()
modPanel.setCurrentObject $.modifiers[1]
subobjectLevel = 2
meshOps.visibleEdge $.modifiers[1]
modPanel.setCurrentObject $.baseObject
–subobjectLevel = 1
showendresult = true
enablesceneredraw()
redrawViews()
cbutt = 0
btn6.text = “smoothwire line”
)
(cbutt ==0) : (
setWaitCursor()
disablesceneredraw()
modPanel.setCurrentObject $.modifiers[1]
meshOps.invisibleEdge $.modifiers[1]
subobjectLevel = 0
modPanel.setCurrentObject $.baseObject
--subobjectLevel = 1
showendresult = true
enablesceneredraw()
redrawViews()
cbutt = 1
btn6.text = "red wire"
)
)
)
)
catch
(
catchoperation ()
)
)
on btn7 pressed do – backface cull button
(
if modifiertest2() != true do (messagebox “no modifiers generated! press generate first!” title:“Smooth Wire”;return())
case of
(
(ebutt == 1) : (
setWaitCursor()
disablesceneredraw()
$.backfacecull = off
ebutt = 0 -- switch button state
enablesceneredraw()
redrawViews()
btn7.text = "backface cull on"
)
(ebutt == 0) : (
setWaitCursor()
disablesceneredraw()
$.backfacecull = on
ebutt = 1 -- switch button state
enablesceneredraw()
redrawViews()
btn7.text = "backface cull off"
)
)
)
on btn8 pressed do – controll cage button
(
if modifiertest2() != true do (messagebox “no modifiers generated! press generate first!” title:“Smooth Wire”;return())
case of
(
(fbutt == 1) : (
setWaitCursor()
disablesceneredraw()
$.showCage = off
fbutt = 0 -- switch button state
enablesceneredraw()
redrawViews()
btn8.text = "control cage on"
)
(fbutt == 0) : (
setWaitCursor()
disablesceneredraw()
$.showCage = on
fbutt = 1 -- switch button state
enablesceneredraw()
redrawViews()
btn8.text = "control cage off"
)
)
)
on btn9 pressed do – create spline button (creates a spline of the smoothwire-line)
(
try
(
undo “sw create spline” off
(
if modifiertest2() != true do (messagebox “no modifiers generated! press generate first!” title:“Smooth Wire”;return())
setWaitCursor()
disablesceneredraw()
showendresult = false
modPanel.setCurrentObject $.baseObject
baseedgeselection = (polyop.getEdgeSelection $.baseobject as array)
subobjlev = subobjectLevel
select $.Edges
deleteModifier $ 1
modPanel.addModToSelection (Edit_Mesh ()) ui:on
$.modifiers[1].name = modname1
modPanel.setCurrentObject $.modifiers[1]
subobjectLevel = 2
max select invert
meshOps.createShapeFromEdges $.modifiers[1]
max select invert
if cbutt == 0 then
(
meshOps.visibleEdge $.modifiers[1]
subobjectLevel = 2
modPanel.setCurrentObject $.baseObject
subobjectLevel = 1
showendresult = true
enablesceneredraw()
redrawViews()
)
else
(
meshOps.invisibleEdge $.modifiers[1]
subobjectLevel = 0
modPanel.setCurrentObject $.baseObject
subobjectLevel = 1
showendresult = true
enablesceneredraw()
redrawViews()
)
)
)
catch
(
catchoperation ()
)
)
on btn10 pressed do – render viewport button
(
undo off
(
local tempstate = showEndresult
showEndresult = True
local tempsurf = $.surfSubDivide
$.surfSubDivide = True
local temprender = render renderer:#draft
$.surfSubDivide = tempsurf
showEndresult = tempstate
temprender = undefined
gc light: true
)
)
on btn11 pressed do —- preview render button
(
setWaitCursor()
previewmap =(render outputwidth:133 outputheight:100 vfb:false mapping:true shadows:true rendertype:#selected)
btn11.images=#(previewmap, undefined, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1)
gc light: true
)
on btn12 pressed do – help button
(
–try
–(
undo “help button” off
(
case of
(
(dbutt ==1) : (
for e = 120 to 365 by 5 do
(
smoothwire.width = e
sleep 0.002
dbutt=0
)
btn12.text = ” quick help <“
map1bitmap=(render outputwidth:50 outputheight:50 vfb:false mapping:true shadows:true renderer: #draft rendertype:#selected)–bitmap:render ()
map2bitmap=(render outputwidth:50 outputheight:50 vfb:false mapping:false shadows:false renderer: #draft rendertype:#selected)–bitmap:render ()
map3bitmap=(render outputwidth:50 outputheight:50 vfb:false forcewireframe:true mapping:false shadows:false renderer: #draft rendertype:#selected)–bitmap:render ()
map1butt1.images=#(map1bitmap, undefined, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1)
map1butt2.images=#(map2bitmap, undefined, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1)
map1butt3.images=#(map3bitmap, undefined, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1)
)
(dbutt ==0) : (
for f = 350 to 120 by -5 do
(
sleep 0.002
smoothwire.width = f
dbutt=1
)
btn12.text = " quick help >"
)
)
)
–)
–catch
– (
– catchoperation ()
– )
)
on spn1 changed val1 do – subdivision iteration spinner
(
undo “sw iterations” off
(
setWaitCursor()
if modifiertest2() != true do return()
try
(
if val1 == 0 then
(
disablesceneredraw()
showendresult = false
modPanel.setCurrentObject $.baseObject
$.iterations = val1
$.surfSubdivide = off
enablesceneredraw()
redrawViews()
)
else
(
disablesceneredraw()
showendresult = false
modPanel.setCurrentObject $.baseObject
$.surfSubdivide = on
$.iterations = val1
select $.Edges
deleteModifier $ 1
modPanel.addModToSelection (Edit_Mesh ()) ui:on
$.modifiers[1].name = modname1
modPanel.setCurrentObject $.modifiers[1]
subobjectLevel = 2
if cbutt == 0 then
(
meshOps.visibleEdge $.modifiers[1]
subobjectLevel = 2
modPanel.setCurrentObject $.baseObject
subobjectLevel = 1
showendresult = true
enablesceneredraw()
redrawViews()
)
else
(
meshOps.invisibleEdge $.modifiers[1]
subobjectLevel = 0
modPanel.setCurrentObject $.baseObject
subobjectLevel = 1
showendresult = true
enablesceneredraw()
redrawViews()
)
)
)
catch
(
catchoperation ()
)
)
)
on map1butt1 pressed do — render an image with mapping, shadows, render selected, draft
(
render outputwidth:spn2.value outputheight:spn3.value vfb:true mapping:true renderer: #draft shadows:true rendertype:#selected
gc light: true
)
on map1butt2 pressed do — render an image with no mapping, no shadows, render selected, draft
(
render outputwidth:spn2.value outputheight:spn3.value vfb:true mapping:false renderer: #draft shadows:false rendertype:#selected
gc light: true
)
on map1butt3 pressed do — render an image with no mapping, no shadows, render selected, draft, force wireframe
(
render outputwidth:spn2.value outputheight:spn3.value vfb:true forcewireframe:true mapping:false renderer: #draft shadows:false force2sided:true wireThickness:2 rendertype:#selected
gc light: true
)
)
createdialog smoothwire
)
goddamn. Was it necessary to post the whole script like that? I scrolled for hours. Sorry, sounds like a cool script but please post a link next time.
Thanks
A4R
I hope you get this to work good, I miss this from lightwave in max.:annoyed:
wow…thats long…umm…dunno what you’re reffering to in lightwave since i never use it…as soon as i saw its interface…(after using max) i was like”nuh uh…this aint gonna work”…hope u have luck tho…:buttrock:
Can you post a screenshot of how Lightwave modeling looks? I’d like to see what you’re trying to achieve…
i never used lightwave, but i saw a lot of screenshots, showing a clever way of displaying subdivided meshes.
for all of you, who don`t know what i mean by lightwave modelling style.
the advantage of modelling like this, is that you see only the original edges subdivided. that makes it easier to work with edgeloops. it is a bit like “nurbsmodelling”.
That is simply wonderful. Let me extend thanks on behalf of everyone in the Sub-D thread for sharing this with us. It’s simply awsome that you would take the time to build this, and then to share it with us.
Very, very cool.
I’m looking forward to the final polished version, but even still, this rocks. There are some obvious problems, but this could really be a big deal to alot of people.
Congrats!
A4R: dude, come on, that’s a totally fine way of showing a script. Heaven for bid you have to scroll a few times.
:rolleyes:
-3DZ
Have someone tested how is it?
Is it like in lightwave?
Yup, I’ve tested it.
It’s definately displaying the smoothed mesh like LW, ie, with the spline loops, but I cannot seem to edit them…well, I can, but only using the control cage.
It’s really great, actually.
Just copy and paste the script to an empty document and then ssame it as a .mcr file.
Then, just drag and drop it into an open session of Max, and POOF! it’s there.
Have a look at it.
-3DZ