This plugin/MAXscript combination performs UV Unwrapping based on Least Squares Conformal Maps. It is based on the blender3d implementation by Brecht Van Lommel and Jens Ole Wund. Not everything works yet, but enough for a public test.

Changes for v2.4 are:
- I don't know, this version is still under development

SpecularWizard is a Max procedural map which handles special kinds of speculars, usable to create scratched metals, velvet cloth and much more.

SpecularWizard features are:
- advanced anisotopic specular control
- new anisotropic model 'Reversed'
- radial highlights
- tiled speculars with built-in patterns
- multi-layered speculars with separate bump controls

SpecularWizard is available for Max 6, 7 and 8, and costs $49.99. A demo version is available here.

Changes for v2.11 include:
- Fixes a problem loading CAT 1.4 files
- Fixes a bug with cloning characters
- A few other bug-fixes

CAT is available for Max 6, 7 and 8, and costs $995. A demo version is available here.

EPHERE Productions Inc. have released Ornatrix v1.5 for Max 8. A build for Max 7 should be available soon.

Registered users will have to request a new serial number in order to unlock v1.5, just send an email to EPHERE for the new one.

A utility that exposes the class ID of a plugin. May be useful for plugin developers.

Changes for v1.3.111 are:
- Several fixes in core engine
- Improvements in mesh generation
- Fixes a visualization bug with particle look->drops<
- New authorization scheme

glu3D is available for Max 5 to 8, and costs €495. A demo version is available here.

GHOST 3D, LLC have announced the release of Max 8 versions of all of their plugins (Surf-iT, ResErect, Scribe-iT).

Changes for v1.18 are:
- Fixes a problem with exporting skinned meshes

Changes for v1.3.4 are:
- Alpha channel is now supported
- Time limit for preview rendering has been added
- The free version now has all the features of the commercial version, but with a watermark

BusyRay is available for Max 5 to 8 and costs $49.95 for a one-year license. A demo version is available here.

GroundWiz is a procedural 3d terrain map that can be used as a diffuse map, a bump map or any other map type. It uses fractal algorithms to generate terrain textures and mimic real-life terrain. Numerous controls give users the ability to control the look of terrain materials while seamlessly integrating into Max workflow.

It also includes an importer for Terragen world/surface/terrain files, and an importer for raw binary data and 3DEM terrain matrix files.

GroundWiz is available for Max 5 to 8, and costs $180. A demo version is available here.

I have just added another 40 mental ray shaders to the database.

The Jan Sandström shaders aren't adapted for Max yet, but I have sent him all of the files needed, and he will be updating his shaders soon.

More shaders will be coming soon. Dave.

Changes for v6.7 are:
- Polygon Cruncher is 40% faster and needs less memory
- Less Light / More Light commands
- New view menu organization
- VRML import improved
- 3DS import improved
- 3DS now exports correctly with hidden objects in the scene
- Fixes a problem with objects being invisible on some graphics cards

Polygon Cruncher is available for Max 4 to 8, and costs $109. A demo version is available here.

e-on software, inc. have put up some information on their upcoming plugin Vue 5 xFusion, which integrates Vue 5 Infinite with Max.

The list of fixes and improvements is quite long, you can find it here. The free version (3D Photo Browser Light) has also been updated.

3D Photo Browser for 3D Users is available for Max 4 to 8, and costs $39. A demo version is available here.

Bloodhound is a modifier for automatic generation and manipulation of vertex color maps. Painting and selection are very fast and easy, needing very little user input.

The basic features are:
- built-in algorithms automatically create maps based on topology, proximity etc.
- resolution-independent
- animation of maps creation as well as spread, smooth and contrast
- layering adds the ability to combine several maps using different mix modes
- import of maps from the VertexPaint modifier and import of soft selections
- output results as selection

Bloodhound is available for Max 6, 7 and 8, and costs $49.99. A demo version is available here.

If you take a look at the menu on the left, you might notice that I have started to add mental ray Shaders to the database. If you know of any shaders that work in Max, then please let me know. Thanks, Dave.

Changes for v1.1 are:
- Selection of output sequence numbering
- Allows 8 or 16 bpc output
- Inversion of values for red channel
- Uses given max displace value for processing

This is an updated version of the shipping UVW Unwrap with an improved checker pattern built in, and a hardwired default setting for the relax dialog which no longer resets after one session.

Autodesk have posted a free version of EASYnat v2.5 from Bionatics s.a. for Max 8, including 4 free plants. You can download it here.

Changes for v2.1 are:
- Support for Max 8
- New streamlined interface for better workflow
- Adds automatic update function
- SwiftLoop inserts/places a loop at a specific position on an edgering
- PolyBranch paints multisegmented extrusions from polygons in screenspace
- Drawing distance tolerance in PolyTopo increased
- Speed increases in the PolyDraw draw tools
- Better memory efficiency in the Topology tools
- GrowLoop now works on open edges
- Color tolerance added for BitmapSelect
- Shift-clicking RemoveLoop only removes the selected edges, verts, faces

PolyBoost is available for Max 5 to 8, and costs $96. A demo version is available here.

Changes for v2.1 are:
- An even more powerful procedural spine
- Export to Gamebryo fixed
- Support for small icons and dark colour schemes
- Many important bug fixes

CAT is available for Max 6 to 8, and costs $995. A demo version is available here.

Pandasoft have started working on their Panda DirectX Exporter again. At the moment, testing has just started on the Max 8 version, and there is also a 'work-in-progress' version that fixes the vertex color alpha channel problem in Max 7.

Changes for v1.05 are:
- Adds Express Save operator to speed up file-saving during regular Save / Auto-Save
- Adds Repair Cache System utility to deal with cache system misbehavior after merges
- Some functionality improvements in Lock/Bond operator

Registered users of Orbaz plugins can dowload the update at the Support/Download forum.

Particle Flow Tools: Box 1 is available for Max 5 to 8, and costs $195. A demo version is available here.

This is a map plugin that allows you to have a single map render out to multiple material ID's. There are times when a Multi-Sub *material* is way more than you need, where the only real difference between the different materials will be one or two maps. So just use maps instead. Current limitation is that it is not mental ray compatible. Also that it is hard-wired to 15 slots.

Changes for v4.30 are:
- Adds Max 8 support
- Adds support for Augmented Reality
- Fixes a couple of bugs in the Translator

VR4MAX is available for Max 3 to 8, and pricing starts at €850. A demo version is available here.

Just a reminder that Maxwell Render v1.0 from Next Limit Technologies is due out this month, and that there is still a chance to take advantage of the pre-order discount of 51% off the final retail price.

Bionatics s.a. have cut the price of their natFX plugin from $1350 to $990 (price includes 10 seeds). They are also now shipping the Max 8 version of natFX v3.0.

Changes for v1.3.1 are:
- High quality antialiasing
- Guided rendering mode (choose areas of interest using crop box)
- Editing of tone mapping parameters
- Output of High Dynamic Range information

BusyRay is available for Max 5 to 8, and costs $49.95 for a one-year license. A demo version is available here.

Max2Mdl is an exporter that enables you to easily take a model in Max and write it in the 3d Gamestudio MDL5 or MDL4 format, complete with textures and animations.

Some of max2mdl's main features:
- Virtually unlimited number of vertices and faces in exported model
- Easily scale time, e.g. making a 100-frame animation into a 5-frame MDL sequence
- Export into both MDL4 and MDL5 formats
- Define sequence names and ranges before exporting in properties window
- Support for standard materials, textured and untextured, mapped on any channel
- Support for baked materials
- Support for IFL bitmaps, automatically creating multiple skins
- Optionally center model to pivot or world center

Max2MDL is available for Max 5 to 8, and costs $18. A demo version is available here.

This plugin outputs 3D data for use inside your C language application in the easiest and fastest way possible. This version replaces the old exporter (1.0.9a) and contains a lot more functionality. The files generated by the PVRExporter are 'include' files that you can compile with your own application.

This plugin is part of the PowerVR MBK SDK, an OpenGL ES SDK which provides a set of documentation, source code and tools that allows developers to create applications using the OpenGL ES graphic library.

Well, Max 8 is shipping, and I haven't had any time to update the site! I've got a load of news to catch up on, but have been extremely busy with real work for the past couple of weeks. I'll try to get everything up to date at the weekend.

If you want to download the Max 8 demo, head over here.

This shader is linked to the Environment Range of the camera, which makes it very easy to render anti-aliased Z-Depth images. There is also a map available at the link above.