News - Maxwell Render News
06/04/2010 - form·Z plug-in updates :: Version 2.0.1.3
form·Z
Version 2.0.1.3 Release Notes

The Maxwell Render for formZ plug-in has been completely rewritten, providing important changes, adaptations and major improvements. The plug-in is available for Windows and Mac OSX, for formZ version 6.5 or higher.

User Manual
  • Completely new user manual.
Interface Improvements
  • Completely overhauled MaxwellZ GUI.
  • GUI restructured for clarity and consistency with both formZ and Maxwell Studio.
  • Grammatical improvements.
  • All slider values have been changed to provide commonly used values (but it is still possible to type outlier values into the text box).
  • All render options parameters now respect the same (or similar) minimum and maximum bounds as found in Maxwell Studio.
General Render Options
  • File path text boxes now multiline to display longer file paths.
  • Added button to copy the MXS file path/name to the MXI and image file path fields. There are posts warning if files already exist. The current image format selected in pulldown menu is used.

  • Added Output Image format pulldown menu containing all output image file types supported by Maxwell Render. Automatically changes the filename if adjusted.

  • The "overwrite file" dialog is now provided by the OS rather than the plug-in.
  • Filepaths are now displayed in posix form for clarity and consistency with the current OS (OSX only).
  • Added support for output image Bit Depth parameter (as pulldown menu).
  • Added support for output image Color Space parameter (as pulldown menu).
  • Maxwell Studio now becomes the focus when launched from formZ (broken with previous MaxwellZ versions.) (Mac OSX only).
Export
  • File translation and export options are now grouped under this new tab.
Cameras and Views
  • Added pop-up menus with traditional photographic values for shutter speed, f-stop, and ISO (in 1/3 stop increments).

  • Filmback is now expressed in millimeters. Compatible with formZ projects saved with earlier versions of the plug-in and vice versa (still stored internally in meters).

  • Added “automatic” film back option which fixes a problem where image size ratios wider than 3:2 would render the wrong region. (A more comprehensive solution will be implemented in a future version of the plug-in.)
  • Maxwell Render now uses the correct image size when no view is active in the formZ views palette, rather than the default size of 320x240. (Current window size or “custom size” is used, depending on user settings.)
  • Maxwell Render now uses the correct image size when a view is active in the views palette, but the view is not specified as a camera.
  • Maxwell Render now renders zoomed-in formZ views. (Works only when exported directly to Maxwell Render; a 100% view will be shown in Maxwell Studio, because the “BLOW UP” function is not supported in Maxwell Studio at this time. Due to differences between Maxwell Render and formZ, extreme zooms -- like 4000% -- may not show exactly the same area.)
Environment
  • IBL has been restructured and relocated to the Environment tab, like Maxwell Studio.
  • Added support for “Use for Disabled (IBL) Channels”.
  • IBL file path dialog now returns the user to the location of the previously specified file, rather than always to the “Documents” folder.
  • IBL file paths are now filtered for appropriate types (.hdr, .mxi, .exr).
  • IBL image offset values are now correctly translated into Maxwell Render.
Lighting
  • Color Multilight is now supported through the plug-in.
Animation
  • Maxwell Render now begins rendering the correct animation file when “Generate Animation...” is selected (Mac OSX only).
  • When rendering animations, the correct frame range specified is now rendered.
  • Underscore added between filename and animation frame number.
Materials (Surface Styles)

  • MXM set file path dialog now returns the user to the correct location of the previously specified file.

  • Upon opening formZ projects with missing referenced MXMs, the missing MXM name and file path are displayed in the file open dialog for easy reference.

Performance
  • The plug-in no longer leaks memory during export of MXS.