This set of plug-ins was created to improve the connection between Maxwell Render and Nuke, allowing Nuke to import MXI high dynamic layered renders, and adjust the light intensity and color in a similar way to the MultiLight feature in Maxwell Render.
It includes:
- an MXI reader which allows Nuke to import and read MXI renders (with all the information contained in it, including independent emitters and render channels)
- an MXI mixer which mixes all the independent emitters' information into a single image allowing independent adjustment of each emitter intensity (to produce precise color correction during the compositing process)
- a MXI render node, which allows the user to resume the render from Nuke
- an MXI mask node, which creates masks based on the object/material ID buffers, and a Color Adjustments script, which allows intensity and color adjustment of each independent emitter present in the sequence, created to mimic the intensity and Color adjustment in MultiLight.
It is important to note that in order to get independent access to adjust each individual emitter, the render must be launched with the MultiLight feature on (although Color MultiLight is no longer needed). Be careful about using the color MultiLight feature, it generates a huge MXI and is not usable in Nuke. You only need the classic MultiLight.
Constant refinement
An interesting feature in Maxwell Render is the constant refinement approach of the render, which allows the post-production process to start while the render process is still going on, working in parallel and saving an extraordinary amount of time. You can load your MXI render or sequence at a low level of quality (i.e at SL=4) and start the post-production process at this moment, while the render process continues. Each time Nuke detects that the footage file has changed, it automatically refreshes it, showing you the latest and cleanest version available.