Soulburn 3D Education Page Updated Nov 21st 2016

The Soulburn CG Education Page has been updated:

http://www.neilblevins.com/cg_education/cg_education.htm

Updated the Curvature Based Edge Wear tutorial with a new video showing how to use the Curvature modifier in 3dsmax 2017.1

Visit the page above for the full tutorial, or if you already know the theory and just want to see the video tutorials showing the new features, follow this link...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgQfbxsp-iQ

CGTools Updated Nov 17th 2016

Updated 1 older Asset Packs:

Soulburn_MaterialAssetPack_Free_v002: Updated the asset pack to use the BlendedBoxMap and Data Channel Curvature available in max 2017.1

http://www.neilblevins.com/cg_tools/assets/assets_3dsmax.htm

You can still download the older v001 of the asset pack if you're using max 2012-2016, but the max 2017 material asset pack will be the only one to get updates from now on.

Soulburn 3D Education Page Updated Nov 16th 2016

The Soulburn CG Education Page has been updated:

http://www.neilblevins.com/cg_education/cg_education.htm

Updated my Blended Box Mapping and Blended Cube Projection tutorials with new videos showing how to perform these techniques using the new BBM map inside of 3dsmax 2017.1

Visit the pages above for the full tutorials, or if you already know the theory and just want to see the video tutorials showing the new features, follow these links...

Blended Box Mapping 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=js3tA-wYj0c

Blended Cube Projections 3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDQPXunmTfQ

SoulburnScripts Updated Nov 16th 2016

For years I have wanted a Blended Box Map and a Curvature Map in max. I wrote my own scripts to hack something together, but really they were just good enough to work, they lacked the polish that only actual max plugins could bring.

Well, 3dsmax 2017.1 adds a BBM and Curvature to the max base package, and I couldn't be happier! You can expect new scripts, new assets, and new tutorial videos from me in the coming days to show off the new workflows.

Lets start with a brand new script pack that use the new tools, with the option to always go back to the old soulburn methods for people who want to use older copies of max. First, download 3dsmax 2017.1 from your autodesk account. Then install the latest script pack...

Added 2 new scripts:

blendedCubeProjectionManager: Lets you change parameters to any Blended Cube Projection inside the material you currently have active or the objects you have selected.

curvatureManager: Lets you change parameters of any Curvature Data Channel on your selected objects. Also lets you propagate an existing curvature modifier to all selected objects. So say you have 3 objects that have a curvature Data Channel modifier and you add 2 objects to your model, propagating will copy and paste that modifier to all 5 objects. 

Updated a bunch of older Maxscripts:

blendedBoxMapMaker: You can now create a BlendedBoxMap using max's BlendedBoxMap map. Also added compatibility with vray's Triplanartex map.

blendedBoxMapManager: You can now update the parameters of a Max BlendedBoxMap map.

blendedCubeProjectionMaker: You can now create a BlendedCubeProjection using max's BlendedBoxMap map.

cameraMapTemplateRenderer: You can now render max's BlendedBoxMap map projections.

curvatureMaker: Renamed script from cornerEdgeToVertexMap to curvatureMaker. Added ability to create new max 2017 Data Channel Curvature.

modelPreparer: You can now render your projections with max's BlendedBoxMap map.

groupWithPoint: Added option to have it not size the point based on bounding box size. The point will be of whatever default size you last chose. Added option to use a dummy instead of a point, which helps when exporting the scene as fbx to maya. Point is still default.

wireMaker: Fixed an issue where not having SplineMesher installed causes tons of error dialogs.

subdivisionAutomator: Added UV boundry controls for Opensubdiv. Now will always place the subdiv modifier under the data modifier in the stack.

modifierUtilities: Adjusted preset modifiers a bit. Added "Collapse To Modifier By Type" and "Collapse To Modifier By Name"

layerCleaner: Fixed a bug where it would not work in max2017 or higher.

http://www.neilblevins.com/cg_tools/scripts/3dsmax/soulburnscripts.htm

Inc I'm Going

"I looked out the main viewport to see us flying in mere moments across the landscape that took me weeks to cross. We ascended toward the blue sky, then upward as it turned dark and filled with stars."

An image for the Inc Book Project. Primarily photobashing with a lot of hand paint on top, source images from a photoshoot I did in Utah. Starship design by Jeremy Cook.

CGTools Updated Oct 12th 2016

Updated 1 older Asset Packs:

Soulburn_ModelAssetPack_Free_v004: Added 3 new commonly requested primitive models, a Subd Pole, a Subd Slab and a Subd Pipe Elbow.

http://www.neilblevins.com/cg_tools/assets/assets_3dsmax.htm

The Space Pirates

"The Widows Revenge descended to the ground, and the captain emerged on the boarding ramp with a cocky sense of victory. Inc immediately aimed his welder at him. Captain Sturges seemed unfazed, almost charmed by Inc’s actions."

Link Removed

New Starship Hull and Xeelee Sequence Concept Sketch

The Funeral

“Are they trying to keep people out, or in?” INC asked. “Definitely out,” I replied. “We just need to wait for the funeral.”


Link Removed

Soulburn 3D Education Page Updated Aug 16th 2016

Updated my Reflections and Highlights tutorial with tons of new info, especially about IORs, Fresnel, and how a rough surface affects Specular Reflections.

http://www.neilblevins.com/cg_education/reflection_highlight/reflection_highlight.htm