This documentation helps to understand how to work with the plugin for Rhinoceros for Mac.
What do I need to know to use the plugin?
Note that the Maxwell plugin for Rhinoceros for Mac does not have the same functionality as the version for Windows. Therefore, we are also including Maxwell | Studio as a complement in case you need to access all the features that Maxwell offers. For information on how to work with Studio, please check this link: Maxwell Studio. We'll keep evolving the plugin trying to add as many features as we can in order to provide the best workflow possible.
System Requirements
The plugin requires a minimum of Mac OSX 10.9 and Rhino for Mac 5.2.2.
Installation
To install the plugin, follow these steps:
- Double-click the plugin's .dmg file.
- Inside, double-click the maxwell_rhino.macrhi file.
- Rhino will start, and will install the plugin.
- Restart Rhino.
The standard Rhino installation location for the plugin (in case it should be necessary to start Maxwell applications from outside the plugin) is:
/Users/<username>/Library/Application Support/McNeel/Rhinoceros/MacPlugIns/maxwell_rhino.rhp
The maxwell_rhino.rhp file is a bundle, which contains the plugin files, its included Maxwell applications, and related support files. To open it, right-click and choose Show Package Contents.
Toolbar
The plugin's toolbar (which may be shown or hidden using Window > Active Tool Palettes > Maxwell) contains six buttons:
| Button | Description |
|---|---|
| Render | Export the model to MXS format and render the file in Maxwell Render. |
| Export to Studio | Export the model to MXS format and open it in Maxwell Studio. |
| Open MXED | Start Maxwell MXED; if an object is selected, an MXM file named for its material will be created (or opened, if it already exists). |
| Camera | Set Maxwell camera properties for the currently-active viewport. |
| Environment | Set Maxwell environment properties. |
| Output | Set MXS output properties. |
Rendering and Export
When the Render or Export to Studio buttons are pressed, the plugin will translate the model to Maxwell's MXS format, and either render the written MXS file, or open it in Maxwell Studio. The location of the exported MXS is controlled using Output > Output Directory; if no path is set here, the MXS will be written next to the .3dm file (or in <home>/Maxwell, if the document has not yet been saved). If any warnings or errors are generated during the export, they will be reported in the Rhino command log.
See the main documentation for more information on Maxwell Render and Maxwell Studio.
Maxwell MXED and Materials
Materials are handled by reference, with the names of Maxwell MXM files being associated by name with the Rhino materials assigned to objects. To edit an object's material, simply select the object and click Open MXED; an MXM file corresponding to the selected object's Rhino material will either be created or opened in MXED, depending on whether it already exists in the textures folder created next to the current .3dm. When a Rhino material's corresponding MXM file is created, it will be based on a translation of the Rhino material; similarly, Maxwell materials will be generated during export, for any Rhino materials that lack associated MXM files.
For information on designing MXM materials, see the main materials documentation.
Camera Properties
For each view in Rhino, an associated Maxwell camera will be exported. By default, the Maxwell camera will take its resolution and film size from its associated viewport; however, by disabling the Use Viewport Resolution option, it is possible to set any resolution and film size desired. Keep in mind that in order to keep a perspective match between the viewport and Maxwell camera, it is necessary to ensure that the film is either 24mm high, if the viewport is wider than it is tall, or 24mm wide, if it is taller than it is wide.
For information on the camera parameters, see the main camera documentation.
Environment and Output Properties
The parameters exposed by these commands are explained in the main documentation. Note that no GMT offset parameter is exposed, as this is calculated automatically during export.
Commands
All of the above-mentioned features may be scripted, as they are implemented in terms of Rhino commands:
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
| MaxwellAbout | Print plugin build and licensing info to the Rhino command log. |
| MaxwellCamera | Set Maxwell camera properties for the currently-active viewport. |
MaxwellCheckoutLicense MaxwellReleaseLicense | Check out or release the license. |
| MaxwellDebugLevel | Set the level of verbosity for warning/error messages. |
| MaxwellEditTemplateMXS | Open the MXS template in Maxwell Studio. The template is an MXS file that is used to determine the default values of most scene parameters. |
| MaxwellEnvironment | Export the active model to Maxwell MXS format, optionally rendering it in Maxwell Render, or opening it in Maxwell Studio. |
| MaxwellExport | Set Maxwell environment properties. |
| MaxwellMXED | Start Maxwell MXED; if an object is selected, an MXM file named for its material will be created (or opened, if it already exists). |
| MaxwellOutput | Set MXS output properties. |
What is and what is not included in the plugin?
In this table you can check some of Maxwell's key features and which are included or not:
| FIRE | |
| Multilight (intensity and color) | |
| GPU support | |
| Rhino native materials automatic translation | |
| Integrated Maxwell material editor | |
| Referenced Maxwell materials (MXM) | |
| Access to online Material Gallery | |
| MXED Procedural Textures | |
| Network rendering system | |
| Render channels | |
| Simulens | |
| Extra Sampling | |
| Motion Blur | |
| Instances support | |
| MXS referencing | |
Maxwell extensions (Grass, Sea, Volumetrics,...) |