Bonzai3d | MXS Reference

Owned by
ben (Unlicensed)
Last updated: 06 Dec, 2013
3 min read

 

Using the Reference tool, MXS files may be placed within your Bonzai3d project. They will appear as simple proxies in the modeling window, but will be fully rendered in Fire or Maxwell.

MXS References offer many advantages:

  • It is possible to create a library of ready-to-render figures, furniture, and props-- complete with material assignments.
  • Static parts of a Bonzai3d project can be turned into one or more References. This can conserve memory and increase responsiveness when working with very complex projects.
  • A Reference consumes very little memory and disk space, and if set to display as a bounding box, will not degrade viewport performance at all.
  • A Reference appears a single object, so it does not clutter the Bonzai3d Object list.
  • A Reference's materials are not brought into your project, and so do not clutter the Bonzai3d Material list.

Reference Tool

 

 

 

 

 

To place a Reference, select the Maxwell Reference tool at the bottom of the Tools palette. (If the Maxwell tools are missing, select Workspace > Reset Workspace from the main menu.)

 

Tool Options

  • Open: Select MXS.
  • Delete: Delete MXS filepath.
  • Display
    • Bounding Box: for maximum viewport performance and minimum storage requirements
    • Points: Use when alignment or distribution is critical. It is possible to switch between Points and Bounding Box display after creation
  • Scale
    • No Scale: Scale will be the same as that of the original MXS (1,1,1)
    • Dynamic: Interactively scale Reference after establishing the base point with the first mouse click
    • Preset: Use preset scale indicated by x,y,z fields
    • Random Uniform: Each mouse click will place a different, uniformly scaled Reference within the range specified by the pair of fields
    • Random Non-Uniform: Each mouse click will place a different, non-uniformly scaled Reference within the range specified by the pairs of x,y,z fields
  • Rotate
    • No Rotation: Rotation will be the same as that of the original MXS (0,0,0)
    • Dynamic: Interactively rotate the Reference after establishing the base point with the first mouse click
      • Orientation: XY, YZ, ZX, or Surface Normal. Controls the base plane for the rotation. Also used for the latter two options, below.
    • Preset: Use preset rotation indicated by azimuth and altitude fields
    • Random: Each mouse click with place a different, rotated Reference in the range specified by the pairs of azimuth,altitude fields

 

Vegetation

To place plants and trees on an undulating terrain mesh, try these settings:

  • random uniform scaling set to minimum 0.8, maximum 1.2
  • random rotation
    • azimuth set to minimum -180, maximum 180
    • altitude to minimum 0, maximum 0
    • orientation set to XY so the plants always grow upwards

Parametric

Maxwell References are parametric objects, and can be edited after creation. To edit, select one or more Reference objects with the Pick tool, then click on the Parameters tab.

Creating References from Bonzai3d objects

Instructions for making MXS files for use with the Reference Tool and the Scatter Object Modifier:

  1. Copy the objects to wish to make into a new reference into a new Bonzai3d project. In most cases, place the objects at the origin. The initial click point with the Reference Tool corresponds to the origin in this Bonzai3d file (and the resulting MXS file).
  2. Save the Bonzai3d project with the name of your reference to a convenient location.
  3. Render Options > File: Set to 'Output File Paths' to 'Automatic'
  4. Render Options > Scene: Set 'Launch Application' to 'None'
  5. Render the Maxwell scene. Rename and move as desired.