3ds Max allows you to enter scripting commands directly on the command line. When you launch 3ds Max from a DOS command line, you can have it run a specified launch MAXScript or Python script. This can be useful for tasks such as unattended batch rendering.
This capability uses the existing -U command line switch that names a utility to be run when 3ds Max is started. The -U switch allows an optional extra argument which, for MAXScript and Python, is taken to be the name of the launch script to run. The case (capitalization) of MAXScript must be as shown in the following example (entered after you CD to 3ds Max directory):
This example command line would launch the 3ds Max executable , start MAXScript, and then have it run the launch script rendercams.ms.
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The following example launch script loads two scenes, renders frames from each of the cameras in them, and then quits 3ds Max:
This example makes use of the quitMax() method to exit 3ds Max when the script is finished. Launch scripts need not be batch scripts as in this example, but may be used to condition 3ds Max for interactive use, for example by loading a scene file and setting some user-interface options.
The normal startup scripts, startup.ms and those in the scriptsstartup directory, are run before the launch script. It is also possible to install scripts into individual scene files that run automatically when that scene is open or closed or at certain other events.
Note: Command line -U MAXScript startup scripts are run after3ds Max has completely booted and the standard scripts and startup scripts have been run.
MAXScript and Python Command-Line Switches
The following switches work specifically with MAXScript and Python files and functions.
Switch | Effect |
---|---|
-mip | Starts 3ds Max in a minimized mode – but never allows you to open the window for interactive usage. |
-mxs | This switch is essentially the same as -U MAXScript file.ms, but avoids the need for the .ms file. You can follow the switch with MAXScript commands. |
-silent | Comparable to the MAXScript command, setSilentMode, this switch suppresses all MAXScript and 3ds Max UI dialogs so that batch scripts specified by the –U command do not get interrupted. |
-u MAXScript <filename> | Opens a specified MAXScript file. |
-u PythonHost <filename> | Opens a specified Python script file. |
Examples of desired syntax usage:
This example starts 3ds Max in silent mode, opens file.max and renders each camera view to a BMP file without showing the Rendered Frame Window.
This example suppresses the splash screen while starting 3ds Max in a minimized state, opens file.max from a network server and runs myScript.ms found on another server. If myScript.ms contains the same commands as the first example, both of these examples would give the same results.
The final example suppresses the splash screen while starting 3ds Max in silent mode and in a permanently minimized state, opens file.max, renders each camera view to a BMP file showing the Rendered Frame Window, then exits 3ds Max.
The set contains three models: a relief map of the coterminous United States with surrounding area, a separate relief cutout of the state area, and a separate plain cutout
of the state outline.
The map projection is Lambert Azimuthal Equal-Area -100/40. Geographic extents: W:-125; E:-40; S:14; N:50.
The 3D relief is taken from reprojected NASA shuttle radar topography data, with the elevation exaggerated.
The relief is baked into a 750x586 mesh with 884449 polys, 443579 vertices (for the main map).
An additional 16-bit bump texture is used for fine-grained detail.
The texture is rendered from color processed NASA satellite images. Included are borders, cities, interstate highways, rivers and water areas.
Separate b/w texture masks are included for:
- state area
- state exterior
- land/ocean areas
- rivers and inland water areas
- cities
- interstate highways
- borders
- ocean floor depth
A multi-layered material (3ds Max version only) together with the provided texture masks allows extensive changes to the appearance of the map.
Possible customizations include different colorings or complete removal of separate features like cities or borders, or different colorings for
the state area and the surroundings.
A description of the multi-layered material and texture masks can be found in the accompanying PDF-manual.
Previews are rendered with mental ray, but the project uses only standard materials.
The .obj and .fbx versions will require new texture assignments after import.
of the state outline.
The map projection is Lambert Azimuthal Equal-Area -100/40. Geographic extents: W:-125; E:-40; S:14; N:50.
The 3D relief is taken from reprojected NASA shuttle radar topography data, with the elevation exaggerated.
The relief is baked into a 750x586 mesh with 884449 polys, 443579 vertices (for the main map).
An additional 16-bit bump texture is used for fine-grained detail.
The texture is rendered from color processed NASA satellite images. Included are borders, cities, interstate highways, rivers and water areas.
Separate b/w texture masks are included for:
- state area
- state exterior
- land/ocean areas
- rivers and inland water areas
- cities
- interstate highways
- borders
- ocean floor depth
A multi-layered material (3ds Max version only) together with the provided texture masks allows extensive changes to the appearance of the map.
Possible customizations include different colorings or complete removal of separate features like cities or borders, or different colorings for
the state area and the surroundings.
A description of the multi-layered material and texture masks can be found in the accompanying PDF-manual.
Previews are rendered with mental ray, but the project uses only standard materials.
The .obj and .fbx versions will require new texture assignments after import.