Max_Retopo_tool (Beta Testers required)

[cyfer]

hi there , i've been trying to ease the process of retopo dense meshes with standard max tools (poly)
and i came up with this tool
you can see how it works here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n724G7uMuPE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-icAsOZbJc


please note : the second video features is more likely to be disabled for the
sake of speed

i'm in bad need for beta testers , if you're interested let me know
i need people with high hardware specs , and with low specs

forgot to mention , this tool is gonna be free and i'm asking for free beta testers


Mods : Couldn't find the right section for posting this So , fell free to move the thread to any appropriate section

[poopipe]

based on the first vid that is very cool indeed.

There's a fair chance it might even be cooler than topogun and as such I'm volunteering - if you'll have me of course :)

[Mr. Bluesummers-3DT]

This is a simple yet innovative approach for doing re-topo in 3dsMax. I like the direction you're taking in the second video- building tools that utilize the tools you've already made. Note, though, that you'll be in competition with the usual suspects like ZBrush's retopo tools, in addition to some fringe tools like PolyBoost's on-mesh painting abilities.

[Mr. Bluesummers-3DT]

P.S. Is this in MXS or C++? I bet that if you really tightened it up and put your mind to it, you could make it fast.

[cyfer]

hi there

first of , thanks for the kind words

there are 2 points i would like to mention
-those videos were recorded on a fairly outdated machine with single core
Amd Sempron 3G and 1,25 Gigs of ram (yes , 1 and quarter Giga Ram)
So there are good chances that you'll have a better performance


-the videos were recorded on max 2009 , if you worked enough on that release you may be familiar with the bug that leaks memory after 30 min or so that slows max gradually , so again ... if you've just opened max and run the script or work on max 2008 , i believe you'll have a better performance .

on a machine with production specs .. i had faster performance , but i wanted to go with the low specs machine .. if this tool is fast with the low specs .. it will be faster and safer with higher specs

poopipe

thanks , sure you're in .... you will get the script as soon as i write a short guide for how to use it safely

BlueSummers-3DT

this is completely Mxs and no C++ involved
i wouldn't consider this tool a competitive tool with any other retopo solution
the whole point is .... trying to ease the pain we experience during this process ... this is completely free tool . i'm asking for beta testers to make it more error proof ... and more practical for daily use .




one thing i should mention , You don't have to be a Programmer to be a beta tester for this tool

all i'm asking is you work with the tool ... try to break it , then try to reproduce the same steps you did to get an error or crash and then send those steps to me ... that's all you have to do

[poopipe]

the reason this appeals to me is that I find zbrush's retopo tool to be a bit simplistic - there's no quick way (afaik) to connect a ring of edges etc.

topogun is a lot better in that respect but I still really missed the max poly tools sometimes when working with it.

anyway - cheers :) I'll be looking forward to it.

[cyfer]

poopipe

thanks for participating in this ... check your PM

[TekNeek]

This looks really cool. I'd be happy to participate in testing it out for you.

It'll priobably be of great use for the dominance war.

[cyfer]

TekNeek

thanks mate check your PM


Guys .... Please test freely , the last thing i want is to make you feel tied to report and give results
think of the tool as if you downloaded it from any website ... and use it on your own pace

[TekNeek]

thanks, cyfer.

Your tool is awesome. I recommend others getting it.

[cyfer]

thanks mate

i fixed the modifier issue
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrhOiCHd-To

[le1setreter]

hey cyfer,
your tool looks nice. may i also do some testing? tia.

[NinthJake]

Wow Cyfer, you are a life-saver.
Another forum that I am a member of is gonna make a game and we were in desperate need of something like this for our models.

May I also be a beta-tester? :D

[cyfer]

hi guys
anyone can be a beta tester .. whenever you want to try the tool
either pm or post here

currently i'm distributing the non- modifier support version
i'll distribute the last version as soon as i get over some stuff i'm encountering now and then

people using this should be careful , this is a beta state ... and you shouldn't trust a beta in production unless you know all the glitches you may face .

[le1setreter]

are we supposed to pm you the results or could it be better to collect all in here so everybody can see what others has already statet?!

anyway, just found the time to do some testing and got an error when running the script.

right now i am on an older machine: pentium duo 2,8 - 2 gigs of ram - winXp pro 32 - max 9

[cyfer]

hello le1setreter

i wish i can help in that , but unfortunately i can't
the script can't run properly in versions prior to 2008 , you can only run it on 2008 and 2009 releases

the error you have is due to the nature of the file "mse" , although this can be changed in no time , the script it self is based on interfaces only available in 2008 and above releases

i hope you have access to 2008 or 2009

regarding the error report .. i actually have no problem if its here or in my mail box
but when you find something .. we may have a long road to fix it ... if its OK by mods at this board to put them all here .... then sure its OK by me

[le1setreter]

ok. i have also max 2009 on other and better machine but "she" ;) is mostly busy with rendering. dunno if i can test this week. we will see.

[cyfer]

glad to hear you have 2009
take your time on testing ... i have to finish something and get back to that tool

[Angrykimchi]

I'd like the opportunity to beta test if possible, want to see if this tool can work a bit better in my work flows.

[ienrdna]

I wondered what going on with this tool. You promised it to come out last mount or so? Eny chance to get into beta?

[cyfer]

here is the first version

http://www.4shared.com/file/97508888/d67a4d0e/Max_Retopo.html

[Hangs]

Hi cyfer,
i used your Tool the last 3 Days(with 3ds Max Design 2010) and i had no bugs or errors (only used the normal snap funktion). Sometimes it snaped different like i expected, but after a while i realized how it react and it worked out really fine.

Its a great tool ! I Like it.

Maybe a additional snap would be nice, so that you can let the Vertex snap in the Z direction of your view and not only to the nearest position of the target Mesh.

Greetings
Hangs.