Implemented a node-based editor instead of several rollout dialogs that allows you to manage all GrowFX components in one window.
This gives us the opportunity to increase GrowFX functionality indefinitely by introducing various new types of nodes.
Added new types of nodes:
Public Parameter node - used to create an animated parameter, as well as to display the parameter on the main GrowFX panel.
Math node - performs some math operations, can be used instead of the Affect node.
Added a Node Editor instead of standard windows. Now you can see the entire GrowFX data structure, and it will be easier to edit and optimize your plants.
Added Repeat parameter in the Curve node, and you can also connect another Curve node to the Scale factor parameter.
Added Use All Distributors option for the Deviation direction modifier, which makes it easier to configure this modifier.
Added Parameter: Radius for the Cylinder mesh and Meta mesh, this passes the value of the actual radius at some point. You can also directly pass the radius value to another value, for example, to Offset of the branches.
What's new in GrowFX 1.9.9 (Service Pack 9)
Removed the Convert to Mesh & Convert to Spline options from the Preference parameters;
Many bugs are fixed.
What's new in GrowFX 1.9.9 (Service pack 8)
Added full compatibility with 3ds Max 2020 (64-bit);
Added the ability to specify your own copyright to the GrowFX model;
Improved the Looping animation algorithm for the Wind Animation modifier;
Added the Prevent Penetration option and the Min distance for the Object reaction modifier. This feature avoids the penetration of branches into the object surface;
Some minor bugs are fixed.
What's new in GrowFX 1.9.9 (Service pack 6)
Added full compatibility with 3ds Max 2019 (64-bit);
Added a new Shape modifier that allows the user to modify lines of path by control points;
Added Use Last Level option in the Path and Path position distributor, which will allow using only the last level of the parent path;
Added Path Pos - Min % and Path Pos - Max % parameters in the Instanced geometry, which will allow to control the appearance of the instanced objects along the parent path;
Added the ability to affect to the Material ID of the mesh builders;
Added the ability to affect to the Displace UVW Mapping parameters of some mesh builders;
Added full compatibility with 3ds Max 2018 (64-bit);
Improved algorithm related to Chaos Count % in the Distributor in point group and Count rate % for all Distributors. Now the calculation is more accurate. Please note, that the plants shape may change slightly;
Some minor bugs are fixed.
What's new in GrowFX 1.9.9 (Service pack 4)
Added a Playback Options in the Cache mode settings;
Some minor bugs are fixed.
What's new in GrowFX 1.9.9 (Service pack 2)
Added full compatibility with 3ds Max 2017 (64-bit);
Added a new parameter Strength factor in the Axial rotation group;
Added a new parameter Angle Strength in the Orientation for leaves group;
Added the Invert lines button in the Eraser modifier;
Many bugs are fixed.
What's new in GrowFX 1.9.9
Added full compatibility with 3ds Max 2016 (64-bit);
Added the Cache mode. Now you can bake the growth or wind animation of your model, and then use the cache files in other projects. The recording process is multithreaded, so it works more faster for a whole animation than usual tree building when rendering;
Added the Bake Direction feature for the Object Reaction modifier. This allows you to bind the vines (for example) to the animated reaction object;
Added full compatibility with 3ds Max 2015 and 3ds Max Design 2015 (64-bit);
Improved viewport performance in 3ds Max 2015;
Added a new parameters group called Alarm limits to the Preference parameters. By setting these parameters, you can be sure that your model will not cause a memory overflow;
Some minor improvements and bugfixes.
What's new in GrowFX 1.9.6
Added a new Eraser modifier that allows the user to erase unwanted lines (stems, branches, leaves etc.) directly in the viewport;
Added full compatibility with 3ds Max 2014 and 3ds Max Design 2014 (64-bit);
Added the Displacement map for the Meta mesh builder;
Added a new Align Children modifier that enables the user to align child paths in case the parent path is too distorted. This modifier must be added BEFORE the modifiers that distorts the parent path, thus eliminating its effect on child paths;
Added a possibility to track the distance between a GrowFX object and any other object, and create an Affect from this value affecting other parameters. See Distributor parameters;
Added Override steps options for the following mesh builders: Cylinder mesh, Meta mesh and Leaves mesh. It allows you to change the lineal length of mesh polygons without changing its shape. You can now create several models of the same plant with a different number of polygons. This and the previous feature also allow you to create models where the number of polygons is directly related to the distance from camera;
Added a new parameters Count Rate % and Seed offset for all Distributors;
Introduced a completely reworked data storage method and algorithms. As the result, a lot of minor bugs have been fixed.
Also we've released a new plugin: GrowFX MultiMap for 3ds Max 9 / 2008 / 2009 / 2010 / 2011 / 2012 / 2013 / 2014.
You can find more information and discuss this release on the forum HERE.
What's new in GrowFX 1.9.0
Added the After Mesh Modifiers feature. This will enable you to apply direction modifiers after the calculation of all meshes. For example, the wind animation will now be calculated very quickly and, in some cases, in real time;
Added a new parameter Seed offset for all direction modifiers;
Added a new option Disable all Meta meshes in the Preference parameters rollout. This will allow you to configure your trees much easier with Meta mesh builders, in which all Meta meshes will be presented as cylindrical mesh. Don't forget to turn it off when you are finished configuring the tree;
New feature for the Meta mesh: Stop stitching by Radius. This makes it easier to optimize the calculation of the Meta mesh;
Added a new parameter Angle axis for the Leaves mesh;
Now it's possible to change the order of color components in the Vertex Color;
Added ability to apply one of several presets for any Graph parameters;
Added new Align width and Along edge options in the UVW Mapping rollout for the Leaves mesh;
Smooth growth of ending point for Noise direction modifier;
Added ability to disable calculations (for opening 3ds Max crashing scenes).
To do this just click Start menu > All programs > Exlevel > GrowFX for 3dsMaxXXXX XX-bit > Disable calculations;
Correct copying of a path name when you copy the path;
Multiselection of paths for deleting and highlighting;
The message window does not show up every time anymore;
New direction modifier Wind animation and a new Wind helper object enable quick and easy creation of wind animation of any plant;
New direction modifier Hard bend, allowing you to create a hard bend of directions, mostly to create fractures in the leaves of palm plants;
New option Flip normals for Leaves mesh allows you to invert the normals of polygons in leaves;
Support for the Nitrous viewport display mode in 3ds Max 2012;
Some minor bugs are fixed.
What's new in GrowFX 1.6.0
Added full compatibility with 3ds Max 2012 and 3ds Max Design 2012 (32 and 64-bit);
Added ability to save and open model presets;
Added a new option called Use Vertex Color in Surface distributor. This allows the use of vertex colors as part of the distribution density. Where white color is used, the density will reach a value of Density, where black color is used, the density will be zero. Accordingly, it is possible to use the standard modifier VertexPaint to draw on the surface, specifying the place where paths appear;
Now it is possible to scale objects used in Instanced geometry, and they will also be displayed in the scaled form in the resulting model;
Some minor bugs are fixed.
What's new in GrowFX 1.5.0
Added a new mesh builder called Meta mesh, that creates smooth transitions between trunks and branches. Using the new feature, you can create very realistic trees. Some examples of using Meta mesh:
Added a new direction modifier called Optimize steps that makes it possible to create more optimized models of plants;
Added a new influencing parameter called Parameter: offset for Distributor in point;
Added a new option named Scale length by Radius to UVW Mapping. The option allows the user to scale texture coordinates by length depending on the radius of Cylinder mesh;
Fixed minor bugs.
What's new in GrowFX 1.4.0
New direction modifier: Spline direction. The modifier allows the user to set the direction of a path along a spline. Moreover, this algorithm can be used to make smooth interpolation between splines. For example, low branches may have one shape while upper ones have another;
Current time - Sets time for animated objects, which is different from the current time of the animation. Users can influence and animate this parameter on their own. The parameter can be used in animation, as well as in creation of static models;
Deform along Path - Deforms an object along path directions. The parameter allows the user to create custom geometric shapes by specifying the required direction for them;
Use hierarchy - Allows using all objects from the hierarchy of a selected object;
Generate MultiMaterial - Collects all information on object materials, creates a multimaterial and assigns it to itself;
Display as bounding box - If Combine meshes is not used, objects in Viewport are displayed as boxes;
One BBox for hierarchy - Displays the entire hierarchy as a single box;
For example, you can create an animated flower from several associated objects, assign different materials to them. Then, the flower grows on branches / stems at different times. A GrowFX object automatically assigns to itself a new multimaterial where all materials of source objects are collected;
Improved interface:
There is an opportunity to resize all lists by moving their bottom border;
When the user clicks the right mouse button on the Graphics, Affects, Chaos Mat ID buttons, a context menu appears where one can find more control options;
New option on the main panel called Show x-points on the paths. To make work with graphic parameters more visual, this option enables the mode that displays knot points of a graph as x-points on lines in Viewport;
Some minor bugs are fixed.
What's New in GrowFX 1.3.0
New direction modifier: Deviation direction. The modifier allows the user to deflect the trunk in the direction opposite to the growth of branches at the points where they distribute;
Version for render node. This version is built for installation on render-farm or additional network computers, which are intended for rendering. The version does not require activation and has no parameters. To get the version for render node, please contact our support at support@exlevel.com;
New parameters for Path distributor: Range parameters. These parameters allow the user to set the start and end positions for distribution of branches on the trunk (or other branches) in percent or in absolute values. It speeds up calculation for plant animation because the use of Density graph is not required.
New parameters for Distributor in point: Angle bend and Chaos angle. The new parameters replace Min angle and Max angle of Random angle bend parameters. When old files are opened, the values of these parameters are converted to new values automatically;
Enhanced algorithm to prepare data for building mesh;
Random color for paths while creating new paths;
Minor bugs fixed.
What's New in GrowFX 1.1
Multi-threaded calculations for multicore computers;
Now, the calculations are made very quickly!
New parameter: Chaos Length Path;
It allows the user to set up different length of the paths more easily!
New options: Auto radius and Radius < Parent radius for automatic reduction of radii for Cylinder mesh;
Now, you don't have to influence radii of Cylinder mesh to reduce them along with the reduction of the radii for parental paths.
New variants for Vector direction and Vector orientation: Another point target, Another target surface and Use view as point target; Another target surface allows the user to lay leaves more correctly on a surface when creating clambering plants; Use view as point target allows the user to direct leaves to viewport or camera view.
Restore windows with parameters when selecting GrowFX object;
New faster algorithm for Instanced geometry when using Combine meshes and converting to Editable mesh;
For faster viewport, please, enable Combine meshes.
Improved interface and added new features:
Copy/Paste components (paths, distributors, modify directions and meshes);
Enable/Disable components (paths, distributors, modify directions, meshes and affects);
Move Up/Move Down for components;
Fixed bug in rendering animation when using Instanced geometry (ScanLine and mentalRay renders);
Fixed bug of a little jump of branches when using animation;