formZ | Version History

Owned by ben (Unlicensed)
Last updated: 24 Nov, 2016
11 min read

Requires Maxwell Render 3.2 (3.2.1.4) (or greater) and formZ 7.3.4 (or greater) / formZ 8.0.2 (or greater).

v 3.2.1.7

Fixes

  • Corrected licensing irregularity affecting some users

v 3.2.1.6

Changes

  • Added option for Physical Sky / Sky Dome sun to follow the position of any formZ Distant light (Light Parameters Dialog)

  • Convert to Render Boolean option added in Object Attributes

  • "Allow Snap to Previous Placements" option added to the Maxwell Reference Place tool (Tool Options Palette)

  • Update to Maxwell 3.2.1.5 binaries

Fixes

  • Fixed issue where Scatter and Grass Modifier definition names could be changed while editing other modifier parameters
  • Fixed issue where Create MXS tool would crash in some circumstances
  • Lat-Long Stereo Lens "Parallax Distance" parameter units now correct

v 3.2.1.4

Changes

  • Option to enable/disable Base MXS animation scheme (Display > Display Options > Maxwell > Scene Tab)

  • When Base MXS animation option enabled, option to always include component meshes in the animated frames, allowing Components to 'Align to View' properly (Display > Display Options > Maxwell > Scene Tab)

  • New pulldown menu in Fire palette to specify the active view or any previously saved view. (Palettes > Maxwell Fire)

  • Completely rewritten Object Modifier backend (Extensions > Maxwell Render> Object Modifiers...)

  • New Rendertime rounding/beveling object modifier (Extensions > Maxwell Render > Object Modifiers...)

  • New UI for Blocked Emitters (Extensions > Maxwell Render > Object Modifiers...)

  • New Material hints: "Fast," "Fastest," "Glass Low Reflectivity," "Nickel," "Chromium," "Iron" (Palettes > Material Parameters > Maxwell representation)

  • Material Hints Optimized (To match hints in previous versions of the plugin, adjust "Hint Version" in Extensions > Maxwell Render > Project Settings...)

  • Material Hints in the first category ("Matte" though "Industrial Coating") are ordered from most efficient to least. (Palettes > Material Parameters > Maxwell representation)

  • Any materials using the deprecated hint "Closest Match" are upgraded to the new "Fast" Hint. "Closest Match" is now obsolete

  • New "Ambient Field" light type for flooding interiors with soft, diffused light. (Palettes > Lights)

  • Added 'Blur' parameter for Cone light types (Cone Light > Maxwell representation > Parameters tab)

  • Maxwell Sea animation option (Sea parameters > Animate)

  • MXS Reference objects now adopt the name of the MXS scene (in the Objects palette)

  • Additional Layers Export option: Duplicate (Layer) Structure (Display > Display Options > Maxwell > Scene Tab)

  • Plugin Log option to show only warnings and errors (Extensions > Maxwell Render > Log)

  • Plugin Log now shows the layer path and group path for problem objects (Extensions > Maxwell Render > Log)

Fixes

  • Scatter "Orient Toward Z+" parameter now labeled correctly
  • Scatter in animations working correctly again
  • Components facing view in Fire now render properly
  • Render Area Rectangle works correctly when Image Options set to 'Use Custom Size' and rendering dimensions are larger than viewport
  • Fixed regression where animations with non-animated Referenced MXS objects would not render
  • In Material Parameters palette, missing referenced MXMs are searched for when 'Preview' and 'Update shaded' buttons are clicked
  • Brackets removed from default view name "<Current View>", as these were reported to cause an issue with Rebus renderfarm
  • Object Modifier definitions copy between projects properly
  • Fixed crash when displaying Maxwell Log with extremely long filepaths
  • Fixed crash when adjusting auto-translated emitter material, when applied to multiple objects and Fire enabled
  • Package For Renderfarm works more than once per session
  • Frosted Glass Hint works with color bitmaps
  • Package For Renderfarm works more than once per session (Windows only)
  • Fixed occasional unresponsive UI when updating material preview (Windows only)

v 3.2.0.4

Changes

  • formZ 8 Free now supported
  • Sample project included for formZ 8 (/Sample Scenes/Guggenheim_for_formZ)
  • Improved responsiveness and faster refresh rates in plugin Fire
  • Compatibility with Maxwell 3.2.0.0
  • Latitude-Longitude Stereo and Fish Stereo lens support
  • Layered Photoshop output
  • Nested Dielectrics support for autotranslated materials (Maxwell Material > Translate Shaded > Nested Priority)
  • Reflectance Channel option (object color without GI)
  • Grass grow toward world-up percentage
  • Scatter random uniform scaling option
  • Scatter "grow toward world-up" percentage parameter
  • Option to eliminate intersecting Scattered instances

Fixes

  • When Extra Sampling is enabled, but no Custom Channel or bitmap mask has been selected, a warning is posted to the plugin log

v 3.1.1.6

Changes

  • New 'Alpha Channels' interface for creating alpha channels from any combination of layers, objects, and materials. Replaces 'Layer Channels' feature. (Maxwell Display Options, Image Tab )
  • Extra Sampling support.
  • Render Area Rectangle support. (Maxwell Display Options, Image Tab ) (formZ 8.1+)
  • Scenes with Referenced MXS now render significantly faster.
  • MXS References can be non-uniformly and negatively scaled during placement, and edited after via the RMXS scale parameter. (Pick Tool Options, Parameters tab )
  • Optimized and improved Autotranslated material hints for AGS and metals. (To match hints in previous versions of the plugin, adjust "Hint Version" in Extensions > Maxwell Render > Project Settings...)
  • Added "Frosted Glass" material hint
  • Added "Mirror" material hint
  • Option to make all objects with Autotranslated AGS Glass hidden from Global Illumination. (Maxwell Display Options, Scene Tab )
  • Option to randomize Autotranslated material ID colors. (Extensions > Maxwell Render > Project Settings...)
  • Option to change all Autotranslated materials to 'Matte' or 'Realistic Match' in one go. (Extensions > Maxwell Render > Project Settings...)
  • Referenced MXM 'Update Shaded' allows mapping of bump channel (formZ 8.0+)
  • Added additional 'hide' flags to formZ Lights
  • Additional "Vertical Ratio parameter" in Maxwell Sea allows for more control of calm seas

Fixes

  • Referenced MXS placed at the world origin (0,0,0) will now render correctly.
  • Geometry is no longer clipped when in axonometric views with certain view parameters.
  • Framing corrected in axonometic views with certain view parameters. (If a saved view appears incorrect in Fire, enable Fire-- or export the scene-- then save the view again.)
  • Certain imported objects from Sketchup no longer cause export errors.
  • Channel files written in format/bit depth as specified in image pulldown.
  • Grass and Scatter Density parameter now converted correctly when preset is loaded into project with different units.
  • Grass MXM file selector now works correctly even if existing path is invalid.

v 3.1.0.4

Changes

  • Improved Cone light translation. Faster, more accurate, and eliminates issue where shroud geometry could intersect objects in some cases. Also, new falloff type parameter.
  • Improved IES light translation with simplified parameters.
  • Improved Projector light allows setting intensity via emitter luminance.
  • Option to export scene by Layers. (Maxwell Render Options > Scene Tab)
  • Added options for 'floating shadows' and 'floating reflections' in Fire. Useful for quick compositing with IBL background. (Fire Preferences)
  • Increased Fire back buffer maximum resolution to 2K pixels. (Fire Preferences)
  • Added button to release the plugin's Maxwell license. (Extensions > Maxwell Render > System Settings...)
  • Added support for HDTV and ACES color spaces. (Maxwell Render Options > Image Tab)
  • Added camera White Balance, Tint, and Sharpness controls. (Maxwell Render Options > Image Tab)
  • Added camera response presets (Maxwell Render Options > Camera Tab)
  • Added menu of common exposure presets (Maxwell Render Options > Camera Tab)
  • New option to mirror textures when using Autotranslated materials. (Material Parameters > Maxwell representation > 'Translate Shaded')
  • Added 'Hide from Camera in Shadow Channel' option. (Maxwell Object Attributes)

Fixes

  • Fixed issue where 'Edit in MXED' button would not work in some cases
  • 'Package for Renderfarm' and 'Workstation Transfer' commands can again be executed more than once per session.
  • Projector Light image map can be loaded more than once per session.
  • openGL 'Shaded' bitmaps created from RenderZone procedural textures now exported properly to Maxwell.
  • Fixed translation of Renderzone procedural bump maps.
  • If 'Scale Model' mode is enabled, MXS References are now correctly scaled.

v 3.0.1.7

Fixes

  • Extensions crash in Fire fixed (OSX only)
  • File dialog now displayed correctly in "Export MXM" and Object Modifiers Save/Open contexts

 

v 3.0.1.6

Changes

  •  New plugin for formZ 8
  • formZ 8 Autotranslate Shaded supports Bump channel

  • Warning in Log when Autotranslated Emitter material is applied at face-level (not supported by Maxwell)

  • Density parameter added to "Field 3d" Volumetric Type

  • Low Dynamic range images can now be used in IBL

  • Built with Maxwell 3.0.1.3 SDK

Fixes

  • Smooth Shading translation improved
  • Plugin will no longer search for missing MXMs when scene 'Material Override' is enabled
  • fixed crash when converting certain formZ 6 Symbol libraries to Components
  • Fixed lag in materials palette when Maxwell Render Suite is unlicensed or not installed

v 3.0.1.0

Changes

  •  Built with updated 3.0.1.0 SDK
  • Shift Lens values no longer restricted to +/-100%

Fixes

  • Temperature/RGB specification for sun now stored
  • Projector Light now loads correct image types (Windows only)
  • Certain Autotranslated materials no longer cause render artifacts

v 3.0.0.11

Changes

  •  Light Names shortened; easier to read in multilight

Fixes

  • MXS Reference Place tool viewport proxies aligned correctly in all cases
  • IBL Light, when used in Detail mode now works correctly when paths for some channels are not set.
  • Scatter "Up (+)" option corrected
  • Restored Save & Load Physical Sky definitions

v 3.0.0.10

Changes

  •  New “MXS Create” Tool for making MXS references from selected formZ objects. MXS created is automatically loaded into the “MXS Place” tool.
  • MXS Reference objects are now duplicated as Instances within the Maxwell scene.
  • MXS Reference objects now created with snapping off by default, to avoid placing them on one another
  • Support for approximating formZ "2D Perspective" views with Maxwell's Shift Lens. Due to inherent differences between "2D Perspective" and "Shift Lens," this does not provide an identical match, but rather a starting point for cropping, which can be readily refined in Fire.
  • Scatter definitions now have three density specification options:
    • Number of instances per area unit (sqft or m2)
    • Number of instances per object
    • One instance every n area units (sqft or m2)
  • New option for unique scatter random seed per object
  • New option to tag the name of any objects which cause export errors, to make finding those objects easier

  • 'Matte' and 'Shadow Matte' options available for Autotranslated materials

  • Improved search for missing bitmap files referenced by formZ materials

Fixes

  • Referenced MXS display as points crash fixed (Issue on Windows only)
  • Plugin Log interface restored
  • Scatter Seed bounds now correctly enforced
  • 8192x8192 resolution available for Maxwell Sea
  • License checking improved
  • Proxy previews for MXS references with transforms modified in Studio appear correctly
  • Loading previously exported Grass and Scatter definitions more reliable
  • Autotranslating materials with reflection set to "Constant" now works correctly

v 3.0.0.5

Changes

  •  Pulldown in Render Options, Image tab allows for isolating diffuse or reflections components in rendering

Fixes

  •  Proxy display of metric MXS references now correct
  • Fire now updates immediately when adjustments made to lights, scatter, and several other contexts.
  • Eliminated potential crash with Scatter when no object specified
  • Manual Filepaths" option now works correctly

v 3.0.0.4

Changes

  • Fire
    • Faster Fire interaction; full re-voxelization now unnecessary in many cases.
  • Views
    • Axonometric and Orthographic view types supported
    • Additional Camera Types: Pinhole, Fisheye, Spherical, and Cylindrical
  • Maxwell Scatter Object Modifier
    • Randomly distributes MXS scene references upon any formZ object (e.g., plants on an undulating ground plane)
    • Complex scenes may be built with no penalty on your formZ memory or file size.
    • Load/Save scatter definitions for reuse
  • Maxwell Reference Object Type
    • Tool to place MXS scene references
    • Multiple options for random scaling and rotation, dynamic placement along surface normal, etc.
    • Massive MXSs take up very little memory / disk space in your formZ project
    • Bounding box or proxy points display
  • Maxwell Sea Object Type
    • Generate bodies of water within formZ
    • Sea placement tool

  • Maxwell Volumetric Object Type

    • Render haze, fog, and underwater suspended particulate effects
    • Volumetric placement tool
  • Layer Channels
    • Allow making custom alpha channels from any number of formZ Layers for fast and easy adjustment and compositing
    • Option to merge alpha layers

  • Lights

    • New image "Projector" light type, with parameters of field angle, spin, etc.
  • Materials
    • New "Wireframe" Material
    • New "Matte" Material
    • Translate 'Shaded' with map alpha channel now supports negative roughness values. (Texture map is inverted if parameter is less than 0.)
    • 'Is Emitter' setting is no longer necessary for referenced emitter materials
  • Object Attributes
    • Backface culling (single-sided surface display)
    • Backface Material (specify material for the back side of objects)
    • Object Transparency control
  • Environment
    • New Sun Radius Factor allows for softer sun shadows.
    • Sun Color by RGB option.
  • Render Text Overlay
    • Custom text + more than a dozen options to display filename, view, SL achieved, etc.
  • Scale Model
    • Render scene as a scaled architectural model for enhanced depth-of-field effects
    • Options for common architectural scale factors following the metric 1-2-5 rule, and fractional inches-to-foot for imperial projects

 

v 2.7.2.2

Changes

  • Materials
    • New system for updating 'Shaded' Renderer texture maps to match MXMs.
    • Autotranslated materials can now map the alpha channel of the color map to MXM roughness or bump.
    • Autotranslated materials can now be exported as MXMs for further editing
    • Material ID color for auto-translated materials can now be explicitly set.
    • Resource Manager now heals referenced MXM paths as soon as material is selected in Material Parameters palette.
    • Resource Manager can now automatically search for missing bitmaps referenced by autotranslated materials, instead of relying on project-embedded bitmap export
    • Scene Material Overide option.
    • New Autotranslate Material Hints:
      • Anodized Aluminum
      • Industrial Coating (automotive paint; powder coat)
      • Rubber
      • Simple Subsurface Scattering
    • Ability to set all preview render thumbnails to the MXED embedded thumbnail. Useful when opening formZ 6 files (which do not store thumbnails) for the first time.
  • Scene
    • Normals and Position channel support
  • Interactive Preview
    • New FIRE Preview window options: fixed sized 1:1 ratio, and fixed sized 2:1 ratio

Fixes

  • Rare formZ 6 files with custom Maxwell attributes no longer crash on open.
  • Certain error messages reported to plugin from formZ no longer lead to crash.
  • Displacement MXMs applied at the face-level of objects no longer leads to crash in Maxwell.
  • Including an unnamed (0-character) project view no longer leads to unreadable MXS.
  • Occasional glitched Fire display fixed.
  • Image Scale parameter in Maxwell Options / Image now works correctly again.
  • 'Realistic Match' material hint, when used with embedded textures, no longer leads to crash.
  • Project-relative 'Resources' folder no longer created automatically.

v 2.7.0.4

Changes (from Maxwell for formZ 2.0.6.2):

  • Interactive Preview
    • Added Maxwell Fire support for real-time previewing views, lights, materials and objects.
    • Possible to store image ‘snapshots’ of the preview as it is rendering.
  • File handling
    • Dramatically faster export from formZ to Maxwell Scene.
    • Added Resource Manager which automatically detects and filepath-corrects any missing dependencies (IES, MXMs, HDRs, images, etc.). Makes moving projects between workstations and using resource servers easy.
    • New Workstation Transfer and Package for Renderfarm commands replace the legacy pack-and-go functionality.
    • Added file autoname options to enable/disable the inclusion of project name, scene name, and/or view name.
    • Added file autoname option to include time stamp. (Enabling this option avoids a situation where network rendered images could be overwritten.)
  • Interface
    • Improved Render Options dialog/palette organized into five new tabs.
    • Growl support (OSX only).
    • Added console Log to diagnose problems and evaluate scene performance.
    • New Forum command takes you to the user support forum, and provides vital system information for including with your post.
    • New Maxwell Documentation and Plugin Documentation commands take you directly to the online documentation.
  • Materials
    • Completely new translator to convert the native 'Shaded' display materials to MXMs.
    • Converting to MXMs uses a new material 'hint' to guide the translation process. Hints include: Closest Match, Realistic Match, Emitter, several varieties of glass, metals, and water.
    • Added texture map adjustments (saturation, contrast, interpolation, etc.) for auto-translated formZ materials.
    • Maxwell materials can now be previewed in the Materials Parameters palette, rendered on the standard cube, sphere, cylinder, or plane. Option remains to use the MXM preview embedded by MXED, if preferred.
  • Lights
    • Point and Cone light type support completely rewritten. These light types will now match those in Shaded Full view (and RenderZone) much more closely.
    • New Softbox light type. This new light works much as it's real-world photographic namesake, and is faster than Point or Cone lights. Parameters include width, height, intensity, temperature, and many others.
    • New IES light type. Load the IES or EULUMDAT file into the light, set the intensity, aim it like any native light type, and adjust the 'spin' parameter if required. Light emanation pattern is shown in the modeling space as a collection of points.
    • New IBL light type. Multiple IBL environments can be included in your project for different times of day, etc. Unused channels use the shining Physical Sky or Sky Dome light (if any).
    • New Sky Dome light type. Multiple Sky Domes can be included in your project for different times of day, etc.
    • 2-color gradient Sky Dome now supported.
    • New Physical Sky light type. Multiple Physical Skies can be included in your project for different times of day, etc.
    • When creating a new project, a Physical Sky may be automatically added if there are no Maxwell light types in your template file. (Avoids ‘no light sources, render will be black’ error)
    • Added ability to load and save Physical Sky definitions. (Known Issue: gmt offset value is not read correctly.)
    • Added ability to set longitude and latitude via list of cities (for Physical Sky and Sky Dome).
    • Sun day-of-year now indicated by month and day. Date can be entered in many formats (December 20, dec 20, d 20, and 12/20 all work).
  • Extensions
    • Added Maxwell Grass support.
  • Scene
    • Added pop-up menu for commonly used maximum time values
    • Added global enabling/disabling of Dispersion and Displacement
  • Animation
    • New animation system uses a "delta" scheme, where only changed entities are exported for each frame, resulting in dramatically faster export and much smaller mxs files.
  • Cameras
    • New Focus Camera command focuses the camera on the plane of selected entities, without changing the view cropping.
    • Added EV (Exposure Value) Lock.
    • Added Simulens support.
    • Added Devignetting support.
  • Channels
    • Added option to save channels as separate files, or embedded within one image file (where supported by image format and bit depth).
    • Alpha Channel now supports 'transparencies as opaque' option. When enabled, transparent materials will appear as solid white in the alpha channel.
    • Minimum and maximum depth values can now be defined for the Z (Depth) Buffer channel.
    • Added support for Motion, Roughness, and Fresnel render channels.
  • General
    • Separate Maxwell Attributes plugin eliminated; functionality now included in the main Maxwell plugin.

Fixes:

  • Scaling IBL to less than 1 (and negative values) now possible.