Modo plugin - Render

In modo all the scene settings, parameters are connected to scene items. For example you can change render setting by adjusting the properties of the render item. Plugin follows the same logic, Maxwell render settings are connected to the Render item.

To adjust Maxwell Render settings first you have to click on the Render item. In case the render item is selected, you can see the Maxwell render parameters in the Maxwell Properties viewport.

Because of the big number of Render parameters we have grouped these into three Form Tabs: Render settings, Render Output and Channels/Layers.

Render Settings

Export Directory

Export directory is the place where the exporter saves the exported mxs scene, images, etc. files. You can set the default export directory in the Preferences window, but here you can set export directory for the actual scene. If Export Directory is in (from Preference) mode, it means the scene doesn’t have its own export directory, it uses the global default. If you select (Browse...) from the drop-down list, you can set custom export directory for the scene.

Export Hidden

In case you want to export your hidden scene items you have to check this control. It is only useful if you want to tweak your scene in Maxwell Studio. If you export your scene directly to Maxwell Render it is better to keep it unchecked, so the exported “*.mxs” file and the render data won’t contain the unneeded item data (the export process will be faster).

Export Lights

Check this control if you want to export/convert your modo lights to Maxwell Render. Although Maxwell doesn’t have modo compatible light system, Maxwell plugin for Modo R2 can covert modo lights for Maxwell Render (see chapter Lights).

Protect Geometry

If you export the scene in protected geometry mode, Maxwell Studio won’t allow further export from the exported scene file.

Render Time   

Set the maximum render time (in minutes) for the render. The longer the time, the cleaner and more accurate your image will be.

Sampling Level   

maximum sampling level required. The render will stop when this SL is reached.

CPU Threads

Number of threads dedicated to the render. By default, 0 means that all available CPUs/ Cores will be used. 

Global Scale

You can scale up or down the Maxwell scene during the export process. Value 1.0 means the exported items will have the same size what they have in modo. 

Quality

Two different qualities are available: Draft and Production quality.

Priority

You can set the rendering process to normal or low priority. This is useful if you wish to work on your computer while rendering.

Mutilight

Disabled / Intensity / Color and Intensity are the different Multilight modes. You can even choose between exporting all the emitters contribution to independent images (Separate), or saving only the composed render (Composite).

Command Line

Pass command line parameters to Maxwell Render. About the available command line parameters please read the Maxwell Manual (Parameters).

Motion Blur

Control scene motion blur. You have three options: Disabled – no motion blur, Camera only – motion blur only from camera movements, Enabled – item and camera motion blur.

MB Steps

The number of transformation steps the plugin exports for geometry items.

MB Offset

You can set when the shutter opens compared to the current frame.

• MB Offset=1: Shutter opens before the current frame and closes at the current frame.
• MB Offset=0.5: Shutter opens before the current frame and closes after the current frame (this is how modo MB works).
• MB Offset=0: Shutter opens at the current frame and closes after the current frame.

Displacement

Enable/disable displacement rendering.

Dispersion

Enable/disable dispersion rendering.

Render Output

The Render Output properties are also part of the normal Maxwell workflow.

Channels/Layers

The Render Channel and Render Layer properties are also part of the normal Maxwell workflow.