ShaderFX 1.5 is now available
polycounter lvl 18
Hi Everyone!
Kees Rijnen and I would like to announce that version 1.5 of ShaderFX (the node-based real-time shader editor for 3ds Max) is now available at http://www.lumonix.net/shaderfx.html. This version is a free upgrade to those who have already purchased the plugin - and as always - a free demo is available for download.
After we released the first version of ShaderFX, we received tons of good ideas for how to make the software better. We went to work and had a great time adding all kinds of powerful new shader tools. We're including some features in this version that were previously only possible in high-end software renderers - or to artists backed by a team of graphics programmers. These complex effects are now possible in ShaderFX by simply wiring a few nodes together. We've been able to create some really amazing shaders in the process of developing the tool, and we're really excited to launch this new version and see what all of you guys can create with it.
Here's a quick look at some of the new features we're including in the new version:
* Subsurface Scattering For skin and other translucent materials
* Perlin Noise To create procedurally generated texture effects
* Glow Material - For creating bright glowing objects
* Bump Mapping For adding surface detail with a gray-scale height map
* Object Space Normal Mapping Extended normal map format support
* DXT5 Normal Maps For high quality four to one compression of normal maps
* Relief Mapping Simulates complex surface detail while maintaining a low poly count
* Refraction Light bending for transparent objects
* Multi-Subobject Materials - Allows for multiple shaders on a single model
* Projected Texturing Can project a texture onto a model in world or object space
* DXSAS Support Export shaders using Microsoft's standard for annotation and syntax
* Custom Code Node Programmers can insert custom HLSL code into the node tree
* Instruction Count Report Shows shader's performance and allows for optimization
We've included a more detailed description of each of the new features on the web site as well as demo videos on most of the new features. Come visit the site, take a look at the new features and tell us what you think!
http://www.lumonix.net/shaderfx.html
Kees Rijnen and I would like to announce that version 1.5 of ShaderFX (the node-based real-time shader editor for 3ds Max) is now available at http://www.lumonix.net/shaderfx.html. This version is a free upgrade to those who have already purchased the plugin - and as always - a free demo is available for download.
After we released the first version of ShaderFX, we received tons of good ideas for how to make the software better. We went to work and had a great time adding all kinds of powerful new shader tools. We're including some features in this version that were previously only possible in high-end software renderers - or to artists backed by a team of graphics programmers. These complex effects are now possible in ShaderFX by simply wiring a few nodes together. We've been able to create some really amazing shaders in the process of developing the tool, and we're really excited to launch this new version and see what all of you guys can create with it.
Here's a quick look at some of the new features we're including in the new version:
* Subsurface Scattering For skin and other translucent materials
* Perlin Noise To create procedurally generated texture effects
* Glow Material - For creating bright glowing objects
* Bump Mapping For adding surface detail with a gray-scale height map
* Object Space Normal Mapping Extended normal map format support
* DXT5 Normal Maps For high quality four to one compression of normal maps
* Relief Mapping Simulates complex surface detail while maintaining a low poly count
* Refraction Light bending for transparent objects
* Multi-Subobject Materials - Allows for multiple shaders on a single model
* Projected Texturing Can project a texture onto a model in world or object space
* DXSAS Support Export shaders using Microsoft's standard for annotation and syntax
* Custom Code Node Programmers can insert custom HLSL code into the node tree
* Instruction Count Report Shows shader's performance and allows for optimization
We've included a more detailed description of each of the new features on the web site as well as demo videos on most of the new features. Come visit the site, take a look at the new features and tell us what you think!
http://www.lumonix.net/shaderfx.html
Replies
Does a purchase also include future upgrades?
I'll probably pick this up later tonight. Great work
Yeah, ShaderFX is great. Makes it very easy for artists to create awesome shaders.
So I'm curious - now that you've tried it out, what do you think is still missing? What additional features would you like to see? Kees and I have some pretty cool ideas for including in the next version - but I'm interested to hear what you guys think we should add.
-Ben
Not sure if that's possible, but it'd be damn cool
ShaderFX can do a lot of things that Max's software render doesn't allow you to do, like control the lighting model directly. It's much more flexible. On the other hand, Max's software renderer can do a lot of things that real-time shaders aren't capable of - like ray tracing, global illumination, high quality texture filtering and anti-aliasing, etc. The two renderers weren't intended to be compatible with each other and I'm pretty sure that trying to make them work together would not be possible.
Instead of redesigning the way Max renders, we've chosen to focus on building a system that works with the way Max currently works. So if you want a shader that will show in the viewport as well as render, you can use the renderable material shot that appears at the bottom of the DirectX material rollout. While this does require you do "do it yourself" - building the renderable material from scratch based on your settings in the shader, it does allow your viewport shaders to be rendered.
Now that I think about it though - we could probably design a system that would automatically populate that map slots in that renderable material based on your real-time shader settings. We'll look into it. Thanks for the cool idea!
Still like the idea of scanline conversions though.
Seeing this tool Ben makes me wish we used fixed-function shaders! Kudos to you and Kees.
so what your shader does is render in viewport...plus has lots of other toys to mess around with right? and is more user friendly for peeps that don't know how to write shaders?
also, is it superior at displaying textures ie: normal, spec, etc...than DX display? or am i missing the mark on understanding this?
i may not be making sense...i'm tired. ha.
thankns
One thing that I've seen lots of studios doing is using ShaderFX for a mock-up and communication tool. So the artists will create the shader in ShaderFX that they want, export the FX file and take that to the programmers and say - "Make it like this!" That way it gets both groups on the same page - so the artists can see what they're getting in a visual way, and the programmers can see what the artists need in a code sort of way. Then the programmers can implement it in the engine (adjusting for specific engine requirements, etc) and the artists can use ShaderFX in Max to preview what they'll be getting once they export. So it becomes a useful tool in the pipeline even though the "fixed function" ShaderFX code isn't being used directly in the final product.
Fritz -
So - what I hear you asking here is "If Max already has the DX Display feature, what's the point of having ShaderFX?" I think that's the more blunt question that you wanted to ask.
Basically ShaderFX is way more flexible than the DX Display check box and gives you an order of magnitude more control over your shader. With Max's standard material, you're stuck with basically making the same shader every time. It's a Blinn lighting model and you can choose what maps you want to apply. With ShaderFX, the sky is the limit. If you want to create a Phong lighting model instead of Blinn, you can do that. If you want to do reflection mapping, refraction, relief mapping, subsurface scattering, animated UV coordinates, texture blending with vertex colors, etc, etc, you can do that. You can even invent your own lighting models - or use no lighting model at all.
So - to sum it up, the DX Display feature is basically one shader with a few options you can choose from, and ShaderFX is a super flexible system that lets you create pretty much anything you can think of.
Take a look at some of the demo videos from ShaderFX version 1.5 to see what I mean:
http://www.bencloward.com/ShaderFX/ShaderFXPerlinNoiseNodeDemo2.wmv
http://www.bencloward.com/ShaderFX/ShaderFXReliefMappingDemo.wmv
http://www.bencloward.com/ShaderFX/ShaderFXprojectedTextureDemo.wmv
http://www.bencloward.com/ShaderFX/ShaderFXUVrotatorNodeDemo.wmv
There are more of them on the site if you want to check it out further.
thanks again!!!