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The plugin's toolbar looks like this:
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Note |
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Please, notice that the first five buttons except Fire will be greyed out if Maxwell | SketchUp is unlicensed. You can activate the product by going to Extensions menu > Maxwell > Checkout License and activating your license or a demo one. |
From left to right, the commands are as follows:
Command | Function |
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Rendering & Export | |
Render | Exports the scene to an MXS file and renders it using Maxwell Render. |
Export to Studio | Exports the scene to an MXS file and opens it for editing in Maxwell Studio (this button might be greyed out if there's no Studio license available). |
Network Render | Exports the scene to an MXS file and renders it using the Maxwell Network Rendering system. |
Maxwell Fire | Opens or closes the Maxwell Fire window. |
Export MXS | Exports the model to an MXS file. |
MXM Functions | |
Browse for an MXM file | Allows you to browse for an MXM file from the local disk. If Maxwell Render Suite is installed, Maxwell MXED will be used for browsing; select the desired MXM file by double-clicking on it in the browser. Otherwise, a standard file browser dialog will be shown. |
Browse the MXM Gallery | Allows you to browse for an MXM file from the Maxwell Render MXM Gallery. If Maxwell Render Suite is installed, Maxwell MXED will be used in MXM Gallery browsing mode. Otherwise, the plugin will attempt to navigate to the online MXM Gallery website in your default browser. |
MXM Status Report | Shows a list of all materials and the status of their MXM paths. |
Scene & Camera | |
Scene Manager | Shows the plugin's Scene Manager window. |
Object Properties | Shows the plugin's Object Properties window. |
Select Tool | Provides an eye-dropper for selecting the materials of entities in the model. |
Set DOF, Z-Clip, or Z-Buffer | Prompts for two points in the scene and once chosen, adjusts either the camera's DOF (Depth of Field), Z-Clip Planes, or Z-Buffer distances. |
Set Focal Distance | Prompts for a single point which, once chosen, is used to set the focal distance of the camera. |
Maxwell Grass | Shows the plugin's Maxwell Grass window. |
Maxwell Sea | Shows the plugin's Maxwell Sea window. |
Maxwell Volumetric | Shows the plugin's Maxwell Volumetric window. |
Maxwell Scatter | Shows the plugin's Maxwell Scatter window. |
Insert MXS Reference | Prompts you to choose a Maxwell MXS file, which will then be inserted into the model as an MXS Reference. |
Help & Info | |
Plugin Manual | Opens the plugin's PDF manual page in general documentation site. |
About | Opens the plugin's About box, which contains information about the currently installed plugin. |
2. The Scene Manager Window
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All versions of the plugin are provided with a set of assets, which may be found in Maxwell's installation directory. These assets are organized into several sub-directories:
Folder | Contents |
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mxm files (inside material database folder) | Contains a rudimentary collection of pre-made .mxm files, along with associated texture files, located in a textures subdirectory. Maxwell MXM files may be used in plugin materials by using the material's MXM Mode. |
ies | This folder contains the collection of .ies & .ldt files that ship with Maxwell Render Suite. IES & LDT files may be used in the creation of Maxwell emitter materials, by choosing the IES File material Character. |
ior (inside material database folder) | Contains the collection of .ior files that ship with Maxwell Render. IOR files may be used in the creation of Maxwell materials, by choosing the Complex IOR material Character. |
skies | Contains various Maxwell .sky files, which may be imported in the Scene Manager's Environment page. |
simulens maps | Contains various maps which are designed for use with Maxwell's SimuLens feature. |
preview | Contains Maxwell MXS files which are used by the plugin material editor to provide its list of material Preview Scenes. |