Run this script on freshly imported Revit models via FBX. It will move all objects on a Layer that corresponds to the Category and Family as illustrated. This script is not a plugin and does not save data in the scene. You only need to run it once a while. The FBX import/link or 3ds [...]
Have you ever wanted to display the material and layer names of objects in the 3ds Max Scene Explorer? Or what about listing the type of object as well as its material name and type? This can be done with a relatively simple MAXScript that you must install under the \Scripts\Startup directory of your 3ds [...]
Xrite’s Color Munki allows for calibrating monitors and measuring spectral samples. This is an excellent tool for measuring colors of materials and finishes for improved accuracy in computer renderings and simulations. The measured color palettes can be exported from the Color Munki software as *.CxF files and read back in 3ds Max with the help of a plugin now [...]
I recently wrote a document for Autodesk about the typical steps around the usage of mental ray in 3ds Max for architectural visualization workflows. I thought I would share it here since it may benefit many 3ds Max users, especially beginners. My goal was to create a document where the main features of 3ds Max [...]
Manufacturer-based glazing data Several glass manufacturers provide optical data to the Windows® operating system and Daylight Group of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (http://windows.lbl.gov). This group maintains a database and publishes this data via a program called Optics 5. From Optics 5 you can then export a Radiance Material (*.rad file), which can be interpreted [...]
This tool is an assistant which controls the date and time of a Daylight System object for key moments in the year. It will also control Text objects to display the current Time and Date of the Daylight System: Here is a video demonstrating its usage: You can download the tool here.
If you noticed that the location of your Daylight System object created by FBX Import in 3ds Max does not match the project coordinates of Revit, this is a simple thing to fix. In Revit, go in the 3D view you will export to FBX Edit the Graphic Display Options Specify a Location and Time [...]
If you import an FBX model from Revit in 3ds Max you will most likely see more polygonal edges than expected. Those are not extra polygons, it is simply that generally, 3ds Max hides adjacent edges by default. In the case of FBX import, meshes are created with all edges being visible – and the viewport [...]
People complain about the fact that FBX files exported by Revit are too large. The size of the FBX files exported by Revit is influenced by the following aspects: Model size: Obviously, the more details in your 3D view, the larger it will be. There is not much you can do about it besides controlling [...]
The NASCAR Hal of Fame honors drivers who have shown exceptional skill at NASCAR driving, all-time great crew chiefs and owners, and other major contributors to the sport. The exterior twisted steel ribbon representing a race track created a potential of glare for pedestrians and cars passing near by. My mandate was to help the [...]
I am proud to say that the daylight simulation tools in 3ds Max Design 2009 (and beyond) has been validated by the National Research Council of Canada. I have participated in the process and contributed to the authoring of the following paper: 3ds Max Design Exposure Validation (pdf – 5835Kb) – which describes the process [...]
Exterior Lighting This project consisted into developping exterior lighting concepts for the tower of a casino in Quebec City. Color mixing LED light fixtures where selected for their compact size and ease of control for increased flexibility. Lighting Design: Martin Gagnon Conceptual Illustrations, Technical Coordination & Diagrams: Pierre-Felix Breton
Planning of the exterior lighting system Planned in 1840 by architect Richard Upjohn and consecrated five years later, the Trinity Church is one of the oldest church in North America. Now surrounded by the tall buildings of Wall street in New-York (Upjohn would certainly not have made that prediction!), the construction exposes rich details pertaining [...]
Planning of the broadcast lighting system Established on the UNESCO World Heritage site at the foot of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, the Scottish Parliament has been completed in 2004. My involvement with the project consisted into working with the lead lighting designers (OVI, Office for Visual Interaction) on the development of a lighting solution that meets [...]
The headquarters of the New-York Times will inevitably become a landmark in Manathan’s skyline. Its impressive height and its envelope – a giant semi-transparent screen made with clusters of glossy ceramic bars – will capture environment lighting during daytime in a totally different manner than during night time. The lighting concept calls for a very [...]
Planning of the decorative lighting system The addition of a pedestrian walkway and a 3rd lane was done in 1997-1999. This was an opportunity for the local authorities to transform the bridge into a landmark for Nova-Scotia with the installation of decorative lighting system. My involvement with the project consisted into developing lighting simulations to [...]
The Montreal Casino’s driveway was relit with custom designed color-mixing LED fixtures. I executed concept design illustrations, detailed integration diagrams and conducted on-site mockups under the supervision of the Lighting Design firm commisionned for the project. Lighting Design: Martin Gagnon Conceptual Illustrations, Technical Coordination & Diagrams: Pierre-Felix Breton
I am pleased to contribute to the authoring of an upcoming book on 3ds Max 2010 published by 3DATS, a well known team of 3ds max training specialists. My involvement consisted into writing a chapter on the measurement of material finishes with affordable hardware for replicating in physically based rendering systems. More details here.
MacroScript files for 3ds Max Design 2009 created to improve the workflow of lighting analysis projects.
I will present 2 classes at Autodesk University 2009 . The first one will be on the topic of Daylight Simulation with 3ds Max Design 2010. The second one will be about strategies to estimate optical characteristics of surface finishes for accurate renderings. Daylight and Lighting Analysis with Autodesk® 3ds Max® 2010: How to predict [...]
